Both Mr. Wattam and Mr. Finch discussed chromatic band organs in
their recent posts.  Mr. Wattam specifically pointed out the large
instruments made by Gavioli and Ruth.

Both the 110/112-key Gavioli and 39 Ruths were late developments in
the evolution of both companies.  The market for such grand instruments
merged with the ability to produce them.  Only two style 39 Ruth organs
were built and both survive.  According to my research, one of the
reasons for the style 39 was to play Richard Wagner opera overtures
effectively.  By the way, a march arranged by Gustav Bruder on a Ruth
39 is spectacular!

I have had the pleasure and thrill of listening to, in person, all the
surviving large chromatic European band organs.  I also own the large
chromatic 110-key Euclid Beach Park Gavioli which is pictured in the
MMD picture gallery.

The music from such instruments takes the enjoyment of band organ music
to its highest level especially when it comes to marches, concert
waltzes, and opera overtures!  In fact, Chiappa of London referred to
the 110-key organs as Mr. Gavioli's masterpiece.  Incidentally, the
musical intent and results from such instruments are quite a bit
different from that of a theater organ, to the point where one could
say there is no comparison.  It is far more accurate to compare large
chromatic band organs to a concert band.

The scale of the 110-key Gavioli is not only chromatic, but the musical
ranges of each section -- bass, melody, countermelody, piccolo, etc. --
are very broad.  The bass section of the organ is vastly expanded over
that of the next smaller diatonic bass Gavioli.  For instance on my
110-key Gavioli, there are no musical range gaps between the trumpet
range and the trombone notes.  In fact the trombone notes extend down
into the tuba/contrabass range.

The organ has a 42-note trumpet/trombone/tuba-contrabass range.  All
of these pipes are brass except for the lowest 5 which are wood.  One
could say that the organ has a 21-note bass section, which is quite
broader in range than the 8 basses found on an 89-key organ.

From the lowest trombone to the highest piccolo on the organ, the
musical range of a concert band is effectively covered the 110-key
Gavioli scale.  Consequently an arranger does not have to compromise
the score.  For example, he does not have to move the trombone parts
into the trumpet section when a chromatic solo is called for.  The
various musical parts can be played in their correct musical section
and range.  Although the music will sound very listenable on a
non-chromatic instrument, it will sound best, if not superb, on a
chromatic band organ with broad musical ranges!

The value of such a scale becomes most evident in opera overtures,
marches, and concert waltzes.  Listen to a recording of a concert
band playing a march and then compare it to the recording of a diatonic
scaled band organ playing the same selection, and you will immediately
detect that something is missing.  This "missing music" is most evident
during the final choruses of most marches, where each section is
heavily orchestrated for a "full band" effect.  This final musical
expansion or climax is the most thrilling part of a march!  Only the
largest chromatic band organs can capture this thrill effectively.

The same thing is true for the climax of an overture.  Anyone who
has heard the recording of the finale climax of the Oberon overture on
my 110-key Gavioli will know what I am talking about.  A march on my
Gavioli that epitomizes the thrill of the climax of a march is the
"March of the Siamese" by Linke.  Is such a sound from a chromatic band
organ a luxury?  No, not if you are used to the original concert band
arrangement -- it is a necessity!

In their heyday, such chromatic band organs were large and expensive.
They were also heavy and weighed tons.  The average price of $15,000.00
in those early years was a fortune!  The same was also true of the
largest orchestrions which also had expanded chromatic scales with
broad bass sections.  Fortunately the market developed to such an
extent where the showmen, particularly in England, could afford such
large band organs for their bioscope shows.

The smaller diatonic band organs are very enjoyable.  I have a number
of them, right down to the Wurlitzer 105 (3 of them!), and I enjoy them
all!  But let's not forget that there was a valid musical rationale for
the largest chromatic band organs, and that the electric thrill and
excitement from listening to one is comparable to that of a mountain
climber who reaches the top of Mount Everest!

Tim Trager