Street organ

Description

A Street organ is a mechanical organ designed to play in the street. The operator of a street organ is called an organ grinder. The two main types are the smaller German style and the larger Dutch street organ. In the UK, street organ is often used to refer to a mechanically played piano like instrument. This is incorrect, and such instruments are called a Barrel piano.

German style street organ

German style street organs are usually operated by a music roll or pinned barrel.

A street organ player in Vienna, Austria.

A street organ player in Warnemünde, Germany.

Dutch street organ

The Dutch street organ Australia Fair. Viewed from the front on a street corner in Sydney, Australia.

Rear of Australia Fair. Note fanfold book playing through reader in center and spinning belt drive.

Dutch street organs (unlike the simple street organ) are large belt-driven organs that play book music. They may be equipped with pipes, horns and even percussion instruments. Slightly smaller than the semi-trailer-sized fairground organ the Dutch street organ is nevertheless able to produce enough volume to be heard easily on a busy street corner. Modern Dutch street organs are frequently trailer mounted, and sized for towing behind a pickup or other light truck.

External links

• Dutch street organs, a brief summary

See also

• Fairground organ : an organ that plays on a fairground
• Dance organ : an organ that plays in a dance hall, ball room or cafe
• Barrel organ : a mechanical organ operated by a pinned barrel rather than a Music Roll or Book music