Street Hurdy Gurdy
Wake Forest, NC

“I am fortunate to have lived for short periods in Germany, the UK, and Ireland.  During those times, I would often see mechanical street organ grinders in the old city squares.  I found these instruments and their history fascinating.  Back in the US, I missed this aspect of European street performance.  After researching a bit, I found an organ builder in Austria and commissioned a small 20 note busker organ so that I might share this tradition with folks back in the USA.  I hope you find it as interesting as I do!

“My instrument is hand built by Christian Wittmann Orgelbau: Christian Wittmann Orgelbau, founded in 2009 and specializing in the manufacture and restoration of mechanical organs.  The particular organ I commissioned is dual format, thus, it plays both traditional paper roll music, as well as having a MIDI controller which can hold many more songs.  The wood is African Padauk. You can check out pictures of my instrument's construction at https://organgrindertom.com/about/.”