These beautifully ornate Dutch street organs, or "Draaiogels" populate Holland streets. Some beefy thick-neck turns a crank and the mechanical organ churns out a tune.
I once conversed with a Holland native on Soulseek about these organs:
"I hate them. They're operated by drunkards, usually with their retarded brother, always smoking a cigar. Then they get very belligerent when you don't give them money. I hate them"
I would rather have these beauties on the street than your average busker bleating out bland renditions of Billy Joel songs!
Dutch Street Organ - De Vijf Beelden (mp3)
Dutch Street Organ - De Arabier (mp3)
Dutch Street Organ - De Vijf Beelden (mp3)
Draaiorgel website - complete with info on collections, events and CDs.
Ha, haaa! Yes! Some Dutch folklore! I can tell you as a dutchman that they aren't that bad; it's just that they're always in busy shopping areas and it is also that the owners are begging furiously for money that bothers people.
Nowadays the organs are powered by electric motors, but until few years ago the high pitched whining 4-stroke engine pouring out blue clouds of exhaust was the preferred choise to power them. One could barely hear any music and it made passing them like a trip through hell! I once heared a rendition of 'House of the Rising Sun' under these conditions; i'd stopped me dead in my track. Something so surreal should be experienced fully, i think!)
Posted by: Bas van Dam | May 20, 2005 at 08:10 AM
haa ha ha very good
Posted by: jovencitas | November 23, 2005 at 01:20 PM
I LOVE the sound of these things! Especially the first tune, the Amsterdam one. It's got this gorgeous second theme, sad and beautiful. Love it, wish I had a whole CD of it.
Once, about 20 years ago, I lived up the street from and antiques store (here in Frederick, Maryland). As a promotion, they acquired one of these organs for a few weeks and had it playing outside their shop. I heard the same tunes many times over, and one of them really haunted me. I've been wishing that I had recorded it, but I don't think I did. The first songposted here reminds me of it. I used to sit on the windowsill of my second-floor apartment and listen. Lovely.
Posted by: folksnake | December 22, 2005 at 06:24 PM
do you know there are huge ones for Ballroomdancing along the Coast , they even think one of them was on board of the Titanic , so the organ kept playing, not the orchestra as in the movie...
Posted by: Hemaworstje | December 22, 2005 at 06:51 PM
I love fair organs. I am forunate to own a 1920s Voigt, which we play often for the pleasure (or distress) of others and ourselves. There does not seem to be a lot of history known of the Voigt. If anyone can enlighten me, I would be very pleased.
Posted by: Charlie | December 14, 2006 at 02:29 PM
Where can I get a CD Of that beautiful organ "De Arabier" or "The Five Beelden" such unique instruments
Jim van der Mei living in Aus
Posted by: Imke van der Mei | June 29, 2007 at 07:15 AM