1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky

Played on the Wells Family Gavioli 89 key V.B.. Scale
An orchestral showstopper with additional military bands, a full orchestra, bells and artillery effects. This instrument, in spite of its non-chromatic bass and accompaniment departments takes it all in its stride to give a creditable performance complete with glockenspiel and artillery effects courtesy of all 16 bass notes 8 fundamental and 8 trombones going off at the same time.

[@napierdalacband]

19th century MIDI be like

[@briansrandomstuff411]

Mechanical MIDI. 😉

[@dayoki8091]

acoustic midi

[@NandrewNordrew]

Autistic midi

[@Mimikyu949]

That was what I was about to say

[@h.seanhsu8965]

Modern day organ consoles are but midi keyboard plugged into electronically controlled pipe organ. Back in college I saw the church organist recording the postlude silently while the sermon was still going on and had one of the choir members hit play when it’s time, so he could leave early for something. I have also seen the same organ console showing in the performance hall and hooked up to a synthesizer. That made me wonder if an organist is still needed at all.

[@peter_smyth]

The only disappointing part was that there weren't any punchcard-triggered cannons at the end!

[@Mekanixmuzak]

In the military band version there are no bangs at the very end. The bangs occur when the Russian Anthem is playing (around 11'30) Admittedly they could bave been louder, but they are there all 16 bass nots at the one and same time

[@randolphfriend8260]

​@@MekanixmuzakAhhhhhh...... 💙 I was listening. Yet, I've grown accustomed to the cannons. 😁

[@Mekanixmuzak]

Actually there are, but I have the book back and am cogitating on how to enhance the Bangs!!!

[@txcrix9236]

Good Lord I never imagined I would hear a fairground organ play a piece like the 1812 Overture. That's amazing! 👍👍👍

[@udontseemeiseeuuseemeiseeu]

imagine just having this thing in your possession

[@timmyc9915]

I'd take that with me to certain family events for being the background music.

[@KobiMusic-Software]

my bro actually has one kinda like this, it is a 96 key gavioli

[@guysumpter6653]

By far the best and most complete arrangement for the mechanical organ I have heard. Well done Kevin!

[@Roc_kLobster]

The big stack of paper with the holes passing through the machine looks like 1800s version of the Matrix computer screen with falling letters.

[@Cotif11]

It literally is though lol. That's analogue 1's and 0's for you

[@dasy2k1]

Absolutely this is the 18th century version of MIDI Although the first thing to use punched card to control a machine was the jacquard loom for weaving patterned fabrics

[@awsomehog1]

KZbin recommendations doing good work yet again

[@RWBHere]

Thanks, Chuff. That was a very creditable arrangement, and not easy to do well, even on an 89-key scale. I gave up when considering arranging it for 35 notes with no percussion! It definitely needs the wider dynamic range of the Gavioli.

[@alexcsr6450]

9:43 The best part is here

[@NikoNikolaia]

I love playing rollercoaster tycoon

[@AlexPayneKU]

Гениальное произведение и гениальная машина! СПАСИБО!

[@user-iu6yy3ub6i]

Как же это здорово!

[@walterbrink5391]

I like how you can easily identify where the cannon fires because of them being just big holes. Makes sense

[@richardclay]

What a display of talents that are no longer... The composer of the music, the arranger of this piece for the machine, the man who designed and built the music machine, the woodworking that went into the construction, the individual maintaining this machine... WOW! 1000-thanks. One of the best things I've seen on miserable KZbin.🎹🎶

[@Mekanixmuzak]

You are right. I actually arranged the music for the organ and the Chap who owns and maintains the instrument rebuilt the case and instrument under the direction of a known Fairground Organ Builder. Thanx for your nice comments. It makes. it all worthwhile

[@GeorgeG-is6ov]

This is so cool!

[@charlesbryan7039]

Thanks for sharing , very unusual !

[@MaurizioMGavioli]

Nice! Glad to see the family is still remembered!

[@GeorgeG-is6ov]

Legendary video

[@danjelowitsch]

The only downside was the fixed camera position I would’ve liked some closeups of the instrument and some wide angle views of everything else that’s going on

[@Mekanixmuzak]

Thank you for that constructive comment. I will look into moving around so that you can see other bits of the instrument in play, the trouble is that the sound varies with the position of the camera. But I think I will try it on a shorter piece as an experiment. Once again Thanx!!!!!

[@gaz312]

I wish you could have this as a fax machine so you could fax your friends different music. 😂

[@mrwhaley6975]

very cool

[@jimmybarr9411]

Bravo 👏!

[@kormagogthedestroyer]

12:30 to skip to the best part

[@Geddes7030]

41,000 views. Hopefully he keeps growing. Keep doing your stuff and build the channel!

[@Mekanixmuzak]

Will do - having the most fun doing this!!!

[@michaelnash5542]

Magnificent!

[@GigsVT]

we gettin out of the cathedral with this one

[@pinheadlarry8401]

WOOOOOOO

[@PJB-ks9vn]

The Song Of The Unicorn and Fire Truck Rocket.

[@ul7185]

Farandole by Georges Bizet (100 Subscribers Special)

[@Mekanixmuzak]

You may be in Luck..... I am in the process of getinng the book set up. It will take time by the old Try square and pencil method, but rest assured it will be done. By the way a very good choice as the tune fits the limited scale of the organ.....,. Watch this space. MM

[@Wildcard71]

Only issue: the camera is in an unfortunate position.

[@Mekanixmuzak]

Not much I can do given the limited space in the back of the truck.

[@i08dragons]

I'm curious. It looks like the page folds are angled. Or is that lens distortion?

[@Mekanixmuzak]

No the card is four square, it is the camera angle

[@pinheadlarry8401]

YEEEAAAAAA

[@alcalderini161]

Wonderful and amazing!! I'm sure a lot of hard work went into this and it really paid off. I've at least 25 recordings of the 1812, including some 78s, and this one has now become one of my favorites. Thanks so much for posting. Do you have any posts that shows the other side of the player as I'm sure that's something to see.

[@Mekanixmuzak]

Yes I will try and post a full frontal film in a soon while !!!

[@alcalderini161]

Thank you....am looking forward to it. There's an instrument similar to yours at Windmill Island in Holland, Michigan and you're able to see both the front and back while it's performing. Last two times I was there it performed Strauss Sr's Radetzky March and a piece called "Emil Jannings" (the German actor who won the first academy award).

[@ChrisWeedPiano]

I love the notes, like "the last throw of the dice for the french", do you have a list of them? Sometimes they can be hard to read because of the resolution

[@Mekanixmuzak]

I'll have to get to the organ and go through the book to collect the notes, I'm in Hampshire and the book is in Banbury. I will get them for you when I next visit. Thanx for the interesting comment

[@QUEfrang]

4:30 seems to be the only part people listen to

[@everythings_probably_ok_I_h0p3]

T E C H N O L O G Y

[@Shye_pph]

звучит лучше чем оркестровое исполнение!

[@randolphfriend8260]

🙉 WOW! Can ANY player organ play that piece?! 💙

[@Mekanixmuzak]

To be honest, I don't think any mech organ canplay this. The action has to be super quick and the reservoir needs a copious amount of wind. Some of the organs I know are woefully short of these 2 attributes.

[@katrinabryce]

Jonathan Scott (ScottBrothersDuo) has two versions of it on his channel

[@Mekanixmuzak]

Jonathan has a fulluy chromatic instrument with as many bells and whistles that he can muster - I had only 89 keys to do everything even then, the instrument was not fully chromatic. But therein lies the challange.@@katrinabryce

[@drtee51]

Creepy! Sounds lik it's about to catch on fire.

[@secundaria6615]

Nunca he visto un instrumento de este tipo, sabia y he visto las pianolas pero esto...es poco comun y con la opertura festiva 1812 😮

[@Mekanixmuzak]

Muchious Gratias

[@SasiakGnarly]

Lamentablemente no son tan conocidos en paises de habla hispana. Lo mas cercano que tenemos es el organillo.

[@QUEfrang]

5:32 what does the tewxt say

[@Mekanixmuzak]

It gives a synopis of the course of the battle - I shall be producing a list of comments later on when I get the time.

[@vadnegru]

No canon?

[@ronliebermann]

Is it possible to play two punch card musical instruments at the same time? You could put a player piano in the same room.

[@Lestor_]

jak v kostole

[@steelman86]

Other than sounding extremely mechanical, this is a great rendition, wonderful machine!!.,

[@Mekanixmuzak]

so the performane reflects thatThanx fir that - After all it is a mechanical Organ

[@Cotif11]

Wow, a song on a "mechanical organ" sounds mechanical. Who would've thunk it

[@mr.hashundredsofprivatepla3711]

12:29

[@DynV]

This must be costly to maintain.

[@Mekanixmuzak]

I consulted the owner of the instrument and rig, he says that it is an expensive hobby. That is a s far as he would say. I can safely say the the average book of music 15 or so metres in length costs around £200-£250, not a cheap way of ordering your music.

[@craigmhamm]

Needs more cannons!

[@Mekanixmuzak]

Yes I agree, several of you have flagged this up. I am hoping to get hold of the book and alter the fuses in ye Cannon. I remember that I didn't use all the bass notes at my disposal, so I shall sort that out and also add some lower reeds in the countermelody and then re post. Thanx for your thoughts.

[@drphipshiolidge]

What’s the Organ called

[@Mekanixmuzak]

This instrument is Gavioli Fairground Organ of some 89 Keys and Plays off Folding Concertina Card Music Built in 1895.

[@ul7185]

The American Gavioli

[@Mekanixmuzak]

Yes tis the American Gavioli that kame over to the Uk in bits in a container.

[@dasy2k1]

Does this one have registers or is it 1:1 mapping?

[@Mekanixmuzak]

The Organ has 4 automatic registers, the 8 bass trombones have keys of their own, a legacy of when organs like this were operated by the Barrel and pin mechanism@@dasy2k1

[@matushorvath]

You really should upgrade the machine to have real cannons.

[@Mekanixmuzak]

Have just got the arrangment back to make the canons louder and put a few more in. So, watch this space

[@electriceagles]

this is real artificial intelligence, which will be remembered in 300 years...

[@makimaki500]

not really its just analogue

[@ilfarmboy]

where is the cannon shot?

[@chunkyjoe8673]

Yuo see this is supposed to be performed by a farmer with some shotguns

[@ilfarmboy]

@@chunkyjoe8673 thanks

[@MarekWyandotte]

I don't know why, but I found this extremely creepy...

[@Mekanixmuzak]

Most interesting, I think because it is being performed on a single automatic instrument with nobody at the keyboard as opposed to a 100 piece orchestra has got to be a main reason for its creepyness. Does that make sence?? Would like to hear your take on my theory.

[@Veso266]

Did u ever tried making your own song for it I guess u only need this special paper and make holes on apropriate places

[@Mekanixmuzak]

Yes I have composed couple of pieces for the instrument and it is a joyous experience

[@Veso266]

@@Mekanixmuzak oh realy thats awesome Could u make a video how u do that? Do u first make it in midi and then have a punching machine or something Where do u get this thick paper and how do u fold it like that?

[@Mekanixmuzak]

1812 was done in the old fashioned way of making a playing pattern in single ply card, testing it on the organ to see if I got everything right, and when I was satisfied with the result The pattern was overlayed onto the folding 2 ply card and with the aid of a scrubbing brush and boot polish, the pattern was copied onto the card. This then was cut out on a foot treadle cutting machine. It took some time. Nowadays I set the tune out on Cakawalk send it off via e-mail to a friend of mine who then edits the arrangment and sends it off to another friend of mine who can produce the cardboard book with the aid of a computer controlled laser cutting machine.@@Veso266

[@Veso266]

@@Mekanixmuzak would love to see the process of making music the old fashioned way, it doesnt need to sound pleasing neather be long (like 1-5 seconds would be enough just to see how this is done

[@Mekanixmuzak]

Thanx to you I am going to produce a video of how the music is arranged. It will take more that 1.5 sec but you and others have shown interest so a video of the old fashioned complicated way of producing the music is on its way. Sooooooo Watch this space and tell anyone elso interested.@@Veso266

[@rafaelcotillard7623]

Pov the french anthem at 9:42

[@nikkichurchill4286]

Whats the instrument called?

[@Mekanixmuzak]

This is a Gavioli Fairground Organ built in 1895 and it plays on the concertina punched card system. It was probably put in a Bioscope Show(early cinema) to attract the crowds. It is also known as the American Gavioli.

[@Mekanixmuzak]

@Mekanixmuzak 0 seconds ago This is a Gavioli Fairground Organ built in 1895 and it plays on the concertina punched card system. It was probably put in a Bioscope Show(early cinema) to attract the crowds. It is also known as the American Gavioli.

[@Jim1971a]

It’s not being played with feeling. It sounds so robotic.

[@Mekanixmuzak]

That is beccause the instrument is a mechanical organ !!!!!!