84 key Mortier organ - Saffron Walden Crank-Up 2024

Clarke's famous mustard-coloured 84 key Grymortierioli filmed in full swing at the Saffron Walden Crank-Up on Sunday the 28th of April 2024. The only reason I took so much footage of the organ, more than the Whitehead even is because it was the only organ that was not directly in the path of the freezing wind! Showcased here are a number of different arrangements, ranging from the decent to the downright abysmal! Say what you like about this organ, I've got a bit of a soft spot for it, maybe I'm a bit biased because it's a Mortier...
~Tracklist~
0:00 Anything Goes
2:57 Never Never Land (Naar de Speeltuin)
5:37 High Noon
8:32 The King's Horses
11:11 Don't Dilly-Dally on the Way
14:39 Ça C'est Paris (Paree)
17:10 Belphegor March
21:09 Granada
23:31 I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover///Second-Hand Rose
26:27 Aces High

[@jimmymiller77]

What a Fantastic Instrument. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. Jim

[@MechanicalMusicTravels]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@paulomattozo6682]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@Wheels-Wheels-Wheels]

Good to hear this one again, the first organ I had the pleasure of operating.

[@MechanicalMusicTravels]

Thanks, must bring back memories!

[@Wheels-Wheels-Wheels]

@@MechanicalMusicTravels Indeed it does. The first season I started pursuing fairground organs it seemed as though Arthur and this organ went everywhere.

[@MechanicalMusicTravels]

@@Wheels-Wheels-Wheels Yes, the organ did seem to get about a lot back then! It still does, but only to a few rallies each year now in East Anglia.

[@musicmachinesuk]

Great video Lucas, I've heard The Standard of St. George on Wonderland.

[@MechanicalMusicTravels]

Thanks Ben, glad you liked the video.

[@HarryYT22]

I always like to call this organ Gaviortier! I'm surprised at many videos of this instrument there is on CZcams.

[@ClassicCabFrance]

Why not compare it to a Mortioli ? Just the front smells like some altered Mortier layout, so far away from any Gavioli "art nouveau" creation ....

[@MechanicalMusicTravels]

There does seem to be quite a few! Most videos from a few years ago feature the very characteristic out-of-tune saxophone rank, now turned off thankfully! ;D

[@HarryYT22]

@@MechanicalMusicTravels I like the arrangment of Aces High at the end that's quite a good march for a fairground organ I noticed the book was struggling a little tho.

[@MechanicalMusicTravels]

@@HarryYT22 Aces High is a decent march but sadly that arrangement is far from the best I've heard! The books were occasionally getting stuck - probably just worn rubber rollers that needed replacing.

[@fairgroundorganman9188]

17.10 Belphagor March, had to change it, got confused for a sec.

[@MechanicalMusicTravels]

Thank you!

[@fairgroundorganman9188]

@@MechanicalMusicTravels That's alright, anytime.

[@PeterMackett]

The second tune, "Never Never Land" is a Steve Clarke arrangement, they rarely play the old books as the scale is different, you have to switch a lever over to change it, 17:10 is "Belphegor March", all the books except the first and last are Steve Clarke arrangements, the first tune is Kevin Meayers and the last one i have no idea but it's awful!
,

[@MechanicalMusicTravels]

Thanks Peter - I had assumed it was something older! I've heard the tune on an old 78 of a Mortier and it was titled "Naar De Speeltuin". I think "High Noon" is also an older arrangement, I've heard the exact book on another Mortier with a much older label. The last arrangement is truly abysmal, I have no clue who arranged it!

[@johanvanloon3727]

What about High Noon, the 3 melody, it was playing the first time about one this organ about 26 years ago on the Hellevoetsluis rally in the Netherlands
Arr by Maarten van der Vlucht .There are several books arranged by this organ

[@MechanicalMusicTravels]

@@johanvanloon3727 I never knew this organ had ventured over to the Netherlands!