Hi Mike, Welcome to the iMOD forum. Ben :)

Introduction
What’s Your Name? Harald M. Müller Where do you come from? Coming from Austria, living near Munich/Germany. Do you Own an Organ? What do you own? A Jäger and Brommer 26-note organ build in 2002 playing both paper and MIDI. Why do you like mechanical music? Well - what can I say? I'm an engineer by heart; I have played piano and church organ for quite some time; I view music as a "structural human invention" - so taking music and putting it into new structures = arranging is something I could do all day (my first job as software architect; and a family of 5 - me included - currently takes most of my time - which is also not too bad). And (shameless advertising:) see my website at www.haraldmmueller.de ... maybe it also transports some reasons why I like arranging and playing and hearing this sort of music!

Let me introduce myself briefly
My name is Peter Hollands. I live in Dorking, Surrey. I teach French at a local Prep school, and have done so for a number of years. I have been interested in mechanical organs ever since I was taken as a young teenager to steam rallies, including Horsham Historics, in the early 70s. I particularly enjoy street organs and have 'turned' a few. I have been to Holland a couple of times. I visited Perlee in the Westerstraat about 20 years ago. I would like to visit more often but family comes first; dad's hobby is ok in moderation and his 'Centenary' and 'Victory' Verbeeck organ CDs are even quite good!! Two of my favourite 'draaiorgels' are 'de Arabier' and 'de Jupiter', the latter I first heard on my parents' LP 'Afternoon in Amsterdam'. I have an extensive collection of 500+ organ recordings (LPs, cassettes and CDs). Well, that had better be my 'brief' for now!

Would any other new members of the Forum since me like to introduce themselves. Is there anyone else in Surrey?

What’s Your Name? Jake Preston Where do you come From? North Yorkshire Do you Own an Organ? What do you own? Currently building a John Smith Busker :> Why do you like mechanical music? I've been born with mechanical music, its just always been there. AND I lav it :>

What is my name? Justin Senneff Where do you come from? Los Angeles .California, U.S.A Do you own and organ and what? A Roller street organ and a Mr.Chirstmas music box(clearly not an organ) Why do you like mechanical music? Well frankly I just do. -Justin Senneff

What’s Your Name? Luc Bal Age : 52 Where do you come From? Geraardsbergen Belgium Do you Own an Organ? What do you own? No, I do not own an organ Why do you like mechanical music? I'm the organiser of the International Hooghuysfestival fort Barrel Organ Players in Geraardsbergen, each year the second sunday of september. Also i'm organising the Torhout Batjes Barrel Organ Happening each year the third sunday of juin in Torhout Belgium Contact info : Bal Luc, Kampstraat 16, 9500 Geraardsbergen Belgium Back2B Events , Kampstraat 16, 9500 Geraardsbergen Belgium Mail : info@back2b.be or info@hooghuysfestival.be Mobile : +32 475 718530 Fax +32 54416879 Web : www.back2b.be or www.hooghuysfestival.be

Hello I'm Peter Franklin I live in Surrey I have been interested in mechanical musical instruments for a long time. Player pianos , disc polyphons, band organs organettes etc I am currently in the process of building a small midi operated dance style organ. I came up to the Twinwoods 2008 event and thoroughly enjoyed the day. I do hope that if not at Twinwoods this event will be able to continue in the future. Pete

Presentation
hi folks, My name is Patrice Freydiere and i live in Lyon, France. I felt in Mechanical Music scope thank's to my father who own several instruments. I do own an automatic piano, but no band / carrousel organ yet. as i studied music i started to do some small arrangements for thoses instruments, then i discovered that writing or adapting music for those instruments is really difficult. i started working in this area several years ago on softwares to help discover and make revive those beautiful instruments, i would be very please if i can contribute to make people know theses instruments, their capabilities, sounds, and perhaps reveal vocations. you can have a look at my web page to view the projects i'm work'in on http://pfreydiere.free.fr Patrice

Bonjour Patrice, Welcome to iMOD, I hope you will find things of interest here! Robert Washington

Hello Patrice. Hope you enjoy iMod I was thinking about the French and Mechanical Music, and I was wondering what the French people think about their Achievements with Mechanical Music, the Germans seem to be quite organ proud, and host many events in celebration of German Organs, where as I dont think Ive ever heard of a French Organ Rally. Jake

hi from wales
What’s Your Name? Martin neeves Where do you come From? Betws y coed North Wales U.K. Do you own an Organ? What do you own? No I don’t own one but I am hoping to build one soon Why do you like mechanical music? I have always loved mechanical organs since a child

I'm glad to have you with us, Patrice. The English speaking mechanical music fans have had much better connections with the German, Dutch, and Belgian fans than with the French, but you have a great historical importance as far as the large instruments are concerned. You also have strong groups of current enthusiasts. I think you can make an important contribution by reporting and translating what is going on in France. I read enough French to appreciate the French websites I have visited, and enjoy occasional visits to your country. On a recent trip we visited the wonderful MUSEE DE L'AUTOMATE http://www.souillac.fr/musee.htm but have not yet heard an orgue in live performance.