"March" - W. Bell Reed Organ

For more information on this organ and restoration, visit:
www.rodneyjant...
Newly restored after an 18 month restoration and rebuild, this extra large W. Bell reed organ is singing to its full potential once again. The reed chests in this instrument are above the keyboards in the upper section of the case, so when the volume shade open, the sounds are directly at the player - and it is loud! It was made in Guelph, Ontario Canada in 1892, the provenance is currently unknown, although it has been housed in at least two museums over the past 40 years or more. Everything about this instrument is big and heavy, including the sound.
I am playing a tune called "March", the composer is anonymous.

[@uwemommens]

This wonderful instrument inspires in many ways: the eyes cannot get enough and the ears are offered fantastic sounds. Even my heart seems to be beating faster.

[@Richard-vq7ud]

Beautiful as always. I wish i could hear one of this beauties inside a church with really live acoustics.

[@jrzzrj]

If it were not for you and your skills in reed organ restoration, this magnificent organ may have ended up in some landfill. For the years I have been following you....you get older and better!

[@ReedOrgans]

...and I'm getting more grey too! :)

[@Aeolian4]

WOW! What a sound, and your incredible skill playing.

[@arcticwolf4029]

Beautiful playing on a beautiful instrument!

[@fnersch3367]

What a magnificent specimen of late Victoriana. They sure don't make product like this anymore. Great playing of such an appropriate piece for this. Thanks.

[@tgb9531]

Rodney, I did not notice the swell louvers at first! of course, I heard them. You've done a great job here. tgb

[@jenniferkersey4252]

Mighty in all respects!

[@Knappa22]

Yay, a Bell :) This is very similar to my reed organ, though the cabinet of Rodney's is much more elaborate. I love Bell reed organs - at tutti they punch you in the face!

[@Jm4steam]

What a grand sound. Nice piece.

[@parrotlover9035]

A reed organ with swell shutters? What a glorious instrument! I had no idea these existed. The standard reed organs aren't very inspiring, but this one takes it to a completely different level. And it is exquisitely beautiful. I'm so glad you rescued and restored it.

[@andrewbarrett1537]

This special instrument has a 'vertical action', so most of the reed ranks (banks) are stacked vertically in the upper rear of the case, rather than located under the keyboard like in conventional parlor organs. Vertical action reed organs are quite a bit larger and heavier than regular ones (and much rarer!) and several other examples are on this channel. Another good example of a vertical action reed organ (although with tubular pnueumatic action rather than tracker action) is the Aeolian Orchestrelle player reed organ, particularly the medium to large size models like the V, W, Y, and F.

[@duaneadams5210]

You've saved another one...and what a gem of an instrument it is. Magnificent sound. Sometimes when I've been working on a restoration, I've wondered "Am I ever going to get this done"?? but then when you are able to play the first hymn it makes it all worth it. I envy your work..it's beautiful.

[@roniesanderson]

Nice sound indeed. The swell louvers on the front seem to work well. I havn't seen one this large before.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

This has a 21 Note Sub-Bass which goes from C1 to G#2 so it actually would be a great fit for other pieces of music like Nun Danket Alle Gott by Karg Elert.

[@Bajussz1]

My goodness, what a reed organ! What craftsmanship it took to build it back then and to restore it now! I love how the swell shades visibly move! Great job in restoring this fabulous instrument and wonderful playing, as always! Thank you for your videos and posts, Rodney, bouth on youtube and on facebook!

[@wheidelberg]

I can not express how wonderful this is. A trinity of restoration, sound and performance!

[@Spudeaux]

The swell shades seem pretty effective on this one. Nice!

[@mauriziotorelli3078]

Ha un suono bellissimo

[@josephcampbell8687]

I didn't think it was possible, but it sounds as good as it looks! Brilliant restoration and playing, Sir!

[@MichaelStBede]

Congratulations on this marvellous accomplishment !

[@danusekalusova3446]

Krásné.

[@edgardickens7757]

These swell shutters remind me of some that were built into a wall in the choir loft at my grandparents' church. When I was a child, I used to be so fascinated by their movement, it was one of my favorite parts of services there.

[@KahnUmaga]

Magnificent Instrument and restoration.And the woodworks.. all the lovely shadings of the wood once more brought back to life with tender sanding , oiling and varnishing. Not to forget the Sound of this MAJESTIC organ. You did a outstanding job there Rodney.

[@bartligtvoet3701]

Rodney, what you have done, it is a miracle. And the sound is great, I love that very much. Thanks for doing this job.

[@ohger1]

Nice job sir. Sounds as magnificent as it looks.

[@newfyboy]

Magnificent job Rodney.....what a great sounding organ that is & beautiful to look at also! That was a great choice of music also & wonderfully played....congrats my friend!

[@MarcoRoepers]

What an impressive instrument!

[@ab4805]

Love the sound and what a beautifull piece of furniture for music. Saw the shopsmith in the corner. I too own and work with a shopsmith. Have not found anyone to take all my collected part of player piano and reed organ. I guess I will have to throw it away or burn it. I enjoy your music.

[@gregorylagerstam2488]

Amazing! What a restoration!! Kudos!!

[@canoeman621]

WOW! Brilliant!

[@glennstarner-tate7400]

WOW! Amazing instrument. Wonderful sound. Great playing, too! Love it.

[@jamesolson4761]

Magnificent. Another successful rescue!

[@Tom70s]

Wow!

[@markusundsteffihennebohl4240]

The sound is to die for🤗

[@monikawojdak3037]

Hallo Lieber Rotney warst lange nicht zu sehen Biste wieder aktiv am Harmonium des ist ja ein riesen Teil Finde ich auch toll des Instrument darauf habe ich noch nie gespielt .Bin sehr vielseitig mit Instrumente zu spielen es macht echt Spaß Musik zu machen.Bin auch Musikern durch und durch.Mache weiter so Du spielst genial und super am Hamonium.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍⛪💒⛪💒⛪💒⛪💒⛪👱‍♀️👱‍♀️👱‍♀️👱‍♀️👱‍♀️👱‍♀️👱‍♀️👱‍♀️👱‍♀️😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘

[@lotsabirds]

Well played, Rodney! What a fabulous sound!

[@jonofarc443]

Thanks for the video! That's a nice organ.

[@FloridaClay]

Beautiful instrument.

[@tlogan2563]

THANKS for sharing! Amazing, beautiful!

[@theov5590]

Great job. Well done Rodney.

[@kevinwayne2057]

Beautiful. great job Rodney.

[@rttipton]

Great job Rodney!!

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Outstanding!

[@nakorganist]

Beautiful!

[@jerrymartin79]

Magnificent!!!

[@gerdhornig9624]

Wow, was für ein voller Klang!

[@thomashobsonwilliams]

Where did you find this anonymous "March"? Is the score available somewhere?

[@ianmasonstclairtownship7382]

Magnificent, Rodney! I can't determine -- how do you operate the volume shade?

[@ReedOrgans]

Thanks Ian! At the 1:02 mark, it is a little more visible that I moved my right knee to close them. The other times it is quite discreet and hard to see the connection. However, it is rather heavy, I need to figure out some sort of counter balance without affecting the operation too much :)

[@ianmasonstclairtownship7382]

@@ReedOrgans Thank you very much, Rodney. You're correct! That action of closing the volume shade is too discreet for me to detect!

[@jonathanbuchan]

Who is the March written by??

[@theov5590]

Where can I get the sheetmusic?

[@BCSchmerker]

+rodneyjantzi *For what years were swell harmonia consistent with this W. Bell hot sellers?* A particularly versatile reed organ might have had two manuals keying independent harmonia in one case, the upper reeds outputting to an expression box.

[@Mr-Prasguerman]

Ragtime please