Mechanical Organ Owners Society
in conjunction with Melody Tours
Double Dutch 2011
Join our legendary annual 'MOOS Tour' to the continent
Visit collections & museums in a wonderful social backdrop
Visit collections & museums in a wonderful social backdrop
Saturday 12th November
After our ferry arrived, we took a leisurely drive to the Dancing de Kaasboerin, a location not previously visited by the MOOS. We enjoyed an evening meal to the accompaniment of the 105 key Decap Antwerp organ that is installed there.
After our ferry arrived, we took a leisurely drive to the Dancing de Kaasboerin, a location not previously visited by the MOOS. We enjoyed an evening meal to the accompaniment of the 105 key Decap Antwerp organ that is installed there.
Sunday 13th November
We started the day with something very special! Over the past few years a new major collection of mechanical music and automata has been very quietly assembled and we have long awaited the chance to see it.
The collection has a significant number of cylinder and disc musical boxes, American and European coin pianos, two full-sized carousels, gaming machines and several large mechanical organs. Pride of place was given to the newly-restored 72 key Koenigsberg street organ De Harmonium, returning to the Netherlands after a 32-year sojourn in England, and we enjoyed the first public concert of the 3 manual 9 rank 1934 Compton theatre organ ex- Astoria Cinema, Hull, by Blackpool Tower organist Kevin Grunill.
We started the day with something very special! Over the past few years a new major collection of mechanical music and automata has been very quietly assembled and we have long awaited the chance to see it.
The collection has a significant number of cylinder and disc musical boxes, American and European coin pianos, two full-sized carousels, gaming machines and several large mechanical organs. Pride of place was given to the newly-restored 72 key Koenigsberg street organ De Harmonium, returning to the Netherlands after a 32-year sojourn in England, and we enjoyed the first public concert of the 3 manual 9 rank 1934 Compton theatre organ ex- Astoria Cinema, Hull, by Blackpool Tower organist Kevin Grunill.
A buffet lunch was provided at a local restaurant, after which it was just a short journey to the Open Day of the De Voer family at Ulvenhout. This event, which has become increasingly popular in recent years, is dedicated to fairground organs of German origin with instruments by Bruder, Ruth and Wellershaus present.
In the evening we continued to Zaal Koch at Kruisland. This is another one of the few remaining commercial establishments that retains a dance organ and we will enjoy a buffet dinner to the accompaniment of the 105 key Decap Antwerp organ that is installed there.
In the evening we continued to Zaal Koch at Kruisland. This is another one of the few remaining commercial establishments that retains a dance organ and we will enjoy a buffet dinner to the accompaniment of the 105 key Decap Antwerp organ that is installed there.
Monday 14th November
We headed north for a full day visit to the magnificent Museum van Speelklok tot Pierement in Utrecht. This collection encompasses all types of mechanical music including music boxes, automata, orchestrions and of course organs! As the museum was closed to the public on a Monday, had free reign to hear whatever we wished! The highlight was undoubtedly the recently acquired Weber Maesto. Often considered the ultimate in orchestrion design, the chance to hear such an instrument is unprecedented on a MOOS tour!
We headed north for a full day visit to the magnificent Museum van Speelklok tot Pierement in Utrecht. This collection encompasses all types of mechanical music including music boxes, automata, orchestrions and of course organs! As the museum was closed to the public on a Monday, had free reign to hear whatever we wished! The highlight was undoubtedly the recently acquired Weber Maesto. Often considered the ultimate in orchestrion design, the chance to hear such an instrument is unprecedented on a MOOS tour!
After dinner our coach took us the short distance to the Kunkels Collection in Haarlem. There was much to celebrate this year as the building which houses the collection has just been acquired on a freehold basis, safeguarding the future of this very fine collection of instruments. As ever, we had plenty of time to hear the organs by Marenghi, Mortier, Gavioli, Bursens and others and meet up with our many friends.
Tuesday 15th November
After breakfast we retraced our steps through Holland and Belgium to make our first ever visit to the premises of Norbert Vroman near Kortrijk. Here we will see Norbert’s Hooghuys organ, a very little known but superb instrument which was much acclaimed when it made a very rare appearance at the KDV Open Day at Arnhem earlier in the year.
After breakfast we retraced our steps through Holland and Belgium to make our first ever visit to the premises of Norbert Vroman near Kortrijk. Here we will see Norbert’s Hooghuys organ, a very little known but superb instrument which was much acclaimed when it made a very rare appearance at the KDV Open Day at Arnhem earlier in the year.
