87 key Gavioli organ - Mike Dreelan

A selection of music played on Mike Dreelan's 87 key Gavioli filmed playing at Bon Accord steam rally at Castle Fraser near Kemnay, Aberdeenshire, Scotland on 15 June 2024.
Built in 1898 as an 87 key instrument, the organ was imported to America in the early 20th century and was rebuilt in the 1920s by the B.A.B Organ Company of Brooklyn, New York. For many years the organ was operated at Almonesson Lake amusement park, New Jersey until it closed. It passed through the hands of a couple of enthusiasts before being imported to Britain and was subsequently purchased by Mike Dreelan.
The organ underwent a major restoration by A.C Pilmer Automatic Music Ltd, which included converting the organ back to its original 87 key Gavioli scale. Despite this one change made during its life, the organ itself is completely original and still operates by bellows. The original carved facade was repainted by Rosa Painton (USA).
The organ is housed in an impressive trailer and is heard at occasional events in Scotland. I hope you enjoy the selection of music. My thanks to Lucas Allen of Mechanical Music Travels for editing my films into this one selection.
00:00 Amour et Printemps (Emile Waldteufel) arrangement by Carl Frei
04:00 Krasno Selo march arranged by Louis Blache for Chiappa Ltd.
07:14 March composed and arranged by Gustave Requier
10:49 Mon Revé (Emile Waldteufel) arrangement by Carl Frei
21:04 Lambeth Walk (Noel Gay) arrangement by John Cocchi
24:30 Coeur de France arrangement by August Schollaert
27:49 Song of the Thrush arrangement by Marenghi et Cie
31:52 Overture to Orpheus in the Underworld (Jacques Offenbach) arrangement by Gustav Bruder
40:13 La Touterelle (Eugene Damaré) arrangement by Louis Blache

[@musicmachinesuk]

Great video, It's an great sounding Gavioli. I can remember seeing a photo in the FOPS Keyframe magazine.

[@PeterMackett]

The only 87 i have seen that still retains the separate keys for the figures, the bell ringers work separately from the bass drum, most were changed to play with the drum, the keys were then used for registers.

[@AltAccount-yv9io]

But I thought 87 key organs don't have registers?

[@jonnypritchard6609]

It's strainge that the bell ringers don't ring in time with the music mmmmm

[@larryjohnson6385]

These machines are the most awesome of anything in their times
Thanks for sharing this beautiful one🙏👍👍👍

[@HarryYT22]

What a stunning instrument! A very clever idea that it has seperate keys for the bell ringers.

[@perleeman]

It’s an original feature as Gavioli intended and a charming one at that. It gives the music a little bit of delicacy😊

[@PeterMackett]

Lambeth Walk is a John Cocchi arrangement.

[@perleeman]

Thanks - corrected.

[@DavidBurgessMechanicalMusic]

Is this an untouched 87 Key Gavioli that is still 87 Key? Either way, nice sounding organ!

[@perleeman]

It’s certainly overall a very original 87 key Gavioli instrument. The only change made it to during its life was when it was converted to play on another scale when it was in America. However that has been reversed and is back on its original scale. Most fortunately the rest of the organ’s mechanism was left untouched.

[@DavidBurgessMechanicalMusic]

@@perleeman Woohoo! So when in the US, the book player was changed to something like Wurlitzer rolls, but was thankfully converted back to books, right?

[@perleeman]

@@DavidBurgessMechanicalMusic it was converted to a system by B.A.B organ company in New York although I’m not sure which one. And yes it was converted back to its original 87 key Gavioli scale during restoration.

[@glennadams3395]

Fantastic organ. Very quick action. I’ve seldom heard la Touterelle played so well. Thank you for posting.