Our Street Organ

John with his Prinsen book organ.

This organ was made by Arthur Prinsen of Belgium. It plays what is called book music which is music punched on a special folded cardboard.

As a modern day organ grinder you may find him strolling though festivals and playing “The Happiest Music on Earth”.  The music being produced on one of the nicest sounding European organs available today.  The organ is only a few years old however it was made in the same tradition as they were made a hundred years ago.  The music for this organ was arranged by one of the foremost arrangers of organ music anywhere in the world, Arthur Prinsen, the builder.

At the turn of the century organ grinders were found in many communities of our growing country.  Often of Italian, Dutch or German heritage.  They cheerfully plied their unique trade through the streets of cities and towns as well as at fairs and festivals.

Prior to radio and TV, few homes had the recently invented phonograph and even fewer had a parlor piano.  The organ grinder found his niche by offering a few minutes of bouncy tunes as he strolled the local neighborhoods.  One could often find children following him like a pied piper, dancing to his toe-tapping melodies.

Recapturing the color and romance of that golden age, John plays melodies that evoke warm memories in many people.  His bouncy selection of happy tunes will be hard to miss.  Watch and listen as John offers an engaging succession of old-time popular music played on his authentic European street organ.  Polkas, marches, childrens favorites, waltzes, tangos, and much, much more.

If this sounds like the kind of special entertainment you might like for your festival or special event, please contact John at johnl@vandornsclockshop.com for “The Happiest Music on Earth”.