Bursens Centenary events in Belgium 2008
I'd like to give a plug on iMOD to Johnny Claes and the newly founded Belgian mechanical music society MecaMusica who are planning to do some really imaginative things this year in honour of the Bursens factory centenary. I know that several English owners of Bursens organs are planning on taking their organs to the main event in October and the exhibition promises to be well worth while visiting. No doubt Johnny will keep us informed of any further details nearer the time. I'm sure we all wish the festival and the new society great success! For the website of the Belgian society go to: www.mechamusica.be Here is their press release all about the Bursens Festival which I had difficulty finding the other night: "Bursens instruments have found their way to several continents, into private collections as well as into museums, but even today, there are still organ grinders earning their livelihood with a Bursens organ. Thanks to a close cooperation with and serious financial input from the Hoboken District Council and its cultural council, we are able to organise some special activities in autumn. During the Hoboken annual fair on Monday 22 September, the 68-key Bursens organ De Zwaantjes will draw the visitors' attention to the Bursens activiteits in Hoboken. We're still looking for someone who wants to demonstrate book punching on Saturday 20 September, when all sorts of old crafts are demonstrated. From Saturday 4 October until Sunday 19 October, there will be a special Bursens-exhibition in the recentely renovated District House. Visitors will be able to see and hear a restored Arburo roll-operated orchestrion. The highlight of the celebration will be on Sunday 5 October, when Bursens organs from Belgium and abroad will gather for a special organ rally. In the morning, a special commemorative plaquette will be unveiled at the building where Arthur Bursens used to live and work. Many organ enthusiasts have already spontaneously offered material to be displayed at the exhibition, but extra information, photos, objects, instruments ... are still welcome! Those who want to cooperate and give a helping hand, can contact the president of our society, Johnny Claes (johnny-claes@skynet.be.geentroep (remove .geentroep!) or +32 477 252683). The object is then to form a working group as soon as possible.
I'd like to give a plug on iMOD to Johnny Claes and the newly founded Belgian mechanical music society MecaMusica who are planning to do some really imaginative things this year in honour of the Bursens factory centenary. I know that several English owners of Bursens organs are planning on taking their organs to the main event in October and the exhibition promises to be well worth while visiting. No doubt Johnny will keep us informed of any further details nearer the time. I'm sure we all wish the festival and the new society great success! For the website of the Belgian society go to: www.mechamusica.be Here is their press release all about the Bursens Festival which I had difficulty finding the other night: "Bursens instruments have found their way to several continents, into private collections as well as into museums, but even today, there are still organ grinders earning their livelihood with a Bursens organ. Thanks to a close cooperation with and serious financial input from the Hoboken District Council and its cultural council, we are able to organise some special activities in autumn. During the Hoboken annual fair on Monday 22 September, the 68-key Bursens organ De Zwaantjes will draw the visitors' attention to the Bursens activiteits in Hoboken. We're still looking for someone who wants to demonstrate book punching on Saturday 20 September, when all sorts of old crafts are demonstrated. From Saturday 4 October until Sunday 19 October, there will be a special Bursens-exhibition in the recentely renovated District House. Visitors will be able to see and hear a restored Arburo roll-operated orchestrion. The highlight of the celebration will be on Sunday 5 October, when Bursens organs from Belgium and abroad will gather for a special organ rally. In the morning, a special commemorative plaquette will be unveiled at the building where Arthur Bursens used to live and work. Many organ enthusiasts have already spontaneously offered material to be displayed at the exhibition, but extra information, photos, objects, instruments ... are still welcome! Those who want to cooperate and give a helping hand, can contact the president of our society, Johnny Claes (johnny-claes@skynet.be.geentroep (remove .geentroep!) or +32 477 252683). The object is then to form a working group as soon as possible.