Dance organ
Encyclopedia
A dance organ is a mechanical organ
designed to be used in a dance hall or ballroom
. Being intended for use indoors, dance organs tend to be quieter than the similar fairground organ
. Dance organs were principally used in Belgium and the southern Netherlands.
The dance organ came into its own during the 1920s, with large instruments built by Mortier
and Gebroeders Decap Antwerpen (Dutch for Decap Brothers Antwerp). While the earlier instruments had classically carved wooden fronts, in the 1930s fashion dictated elaborate art deco
appearances. Later still, during the 1950s, organs were built with a noticeably simpler appearance, often making use of formica
and imitation wood coverings.
More compact versions of the mechanical dance hall organ were also used in cafes and similar public venues as a form of early Jukebox, the folding perforated cardboard books would be connected together and held in a loop frame, a coin operated mechanism would bring the organ into play, supplying the latest music of the day.
Both firms Decap Herentals and Decap Antwerp had ingenious developments in dance organs which included use of the latest technology and instruments. Most popularly the use of a Hammond organ and other synthesis for creating sounds as well as the conventional pipework and other acoustic instruments.
Subsequently both firms of the Decap family still make organs to this day, many new instruments have been built, including full traditional book operated pipe organs and smaller pipe / electric combinations, which make use of the popular range of Sound Modules by Roland and are operated by traditional 'book' music or MIDI technology.
A super compact range of organs in the style of the Cafe organs were produced and are still built to order today, they are extremely popular and based on the Roland Sound Canvas, which gives an endless variety of sounds, but are programmed to recreate dance organ sounds as well as the sounds of a dance band. The accordions and percussions are operated pneumatically.
With rhythm being an important part of dance
, dance organs usually have many more percussion instruments than other mechanical organs. The instruments will often have piano accordion
s mounted on the front, and these are connected to and played by the organ. The saxophones and trumpets that can be found on the front of dance organs are not actually played, but the keys will be operated to give the appearance that they are, when the rank of saxophone or trumpet pipes (or synthesizer) come into play.
Using advanced computer technology, Decap dance organs are still the ultimate music machine, some of the latest innovations include giving volume control to accordions, pipework and percussion by controlling air pressure and movement velocity. Recordings of vocal parts can also be synchronized to the music that is set to play for singing accompaniment.
Apart from Mortier, the principal builders of Dance Organs were Gebr. Decap and Arthur Bursens in Belgium, Gaudin and Marenghi in France. Other high quality Belgian instruments were built by Hooghuys in Geraardsbergen
(Dutch for Grammont) and Brugge, after a long family history of building church-organs, reflected in the timbre and naming of the pipework. Arthur Bursens continued making pipe dance organs right into the 1970s. Bursens organs made under the Arburo name differed in being operated by paper rolls. This made for a much more compact arrangement. Most rolls played four tunes with a cut-off between each such that the patrons could operate the organ by a remote coin box in a similar way to the Decap cafe organs.
Mechanical organ
A mechanical organ is an organ that is self playing, rather than played by a musician.Usually, mechanical organs are pipe organs although some instruments were built using reeds similar to those found in a harmonium. Since the 1950s, some instruments have been built using electronics to generate...
designed to be used in a dance hall or ballroom
Ballroom
A ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated purpose of which is holding formal dances called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions contain one or more ballrooms...
. Being intended for use indoors, dance organs tend to be quieter than the similar fairground organ
Fairground organ
A fairground organ is a pipe organ designed for use in a commercial public fairground setting to provide loud music to accompany fairground rides and attractions...
. Dance organs were principally used in Belgium and the southern Netherlands.
The dance organ came into its own during the 1920s, with large instruments built by Mortier
Mortier
Mortier is an organ manufacturer from Antwerp, Belgium that made orchestrions, fairground organs, and mostly dance organs from 1898 until 1950. The company was founded by Theophile Mortier .- History :...
and Gebroeders Decap Antwerpen (Dutch for Decap Brothers Antwerp). While the earlier instruments had classically carved wooden fronts, in the 1930s fashion dictated elaborate art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
appearances. Later still, during the 1950s, organs were built with a noticeably simpler appearance, often making use of formica
Formica (plastic)
Formica is a brand of composite materials manufactured by the Formica Corporation now based in Newcastle, Tyne & Wear, a division of the New Zealand company Fletcher Building. In common use, the term refers to the company's classic product, a heat-resistant, wipe-clean, plastic laminate of paper or...
and imitation wood coverings.
More compact versions of the mechanical dance hall organ were also used in cafes and similar public venues as a form of early Jukebox, the folding perforated cardboard books would be connected together and held in a loop frame, a coin operated mechanism would bring the organ into play, supplying the latest music of the day.
Both firms Decap Herentals and Decap Antwerp had ingenious developments in dance organs which included use of the latest technology and instruments. Most popularly the use of a Hammond organ and other synthesis for creating sounds as well as the conventional pipework and other acoustic instruments.
Subsequently both firms of the Decap family still make organs to this day, many new instruments have been built, including full traditional book operated pipe organs and smaller pipe / electric combinations, which make use of the popular range of Sound Modules by Roland and are operated by traditional 'book' music or MIDI technology.
A super compact range of organs in the style of the Cafe organs were produced and are still built to order today, they are extremely popular and based on the Roland Sound Canvas, which gives an endless variety of sounds, but are programmed to recreate dance organ sounds as well as the sounds of a dance band. The accordions and percussions are operated pneumatically.
With rhythm being an important part of dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
, dance organs usually have many more percussion instruments than other mechanical organs. The instruments will often have piano accordion
Piano accordion
A piano accordion is an accordion equipped with a right-hand keyboard similar to a piano or organ. Its acoustic mechanism is more similar to that of an organ than a piano, as they are both wind instruments, but the term "piano accordion"—coined by Guido Deiro in 1910—has remained the popular...
s mounted on the front, and these are connected to and played by the organ. The saxophones and trumpets that can be found on the front of dance organs are not actually played, but the keys will be operated to give the appearance that they are, when the rank of saxophone or trumpet pipes (or synthesizer) come into play.
Using advanced computer technology, Decap dance organs are still the ultimate music machine, some of the latest innovations include giving volume control to accordions, pipework and percussion by controlling air pressure and movement velocity. Recordings of vocal parts can also be synchronized to the music that is set to play for singing accompaniment.
Apart from Mortier, the principal builders of Dance Organs were Gebr. Decap and Arthur Bursens in Belgium, Gaudin and Marenghi in France. Other high quality Belgian instruments were built by Hooghuys in Geraardsbergen
Geraardsbergen
Geraardsbergen is a city and municipality located in the Denderstreek and in the Flemish Ardennes, the hilly southern part of the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Geraardsbergen proper and the following towns:...
(Dutch for Grammont) and Brugge, after a long family history of building church-organs, reflected in the timbre and naming of the pipework. Arthur Bursens continued making pipe dance organs right into the 1970s. Bursens organs made under the Arburo name differed in being operated by paper rolls. This made for a much more compact arrangement. Most rolls played four tunes with a cut-off between each such that the patrons could operate the organ by a remote coin box in a similar way to the Decap cafe organs.
See also
- Barrel organBarrel organA barrel organ is a mechanical musical instrument consisting of bellows and one or more ranks of pipes housed in a case, usually of wood, and often highly decorated...
- Fairground organFairground organA fairground organ is a pipe organ designed for use in a commercial public fairground setting to provide loud music to accompany fairground rides and attractions...
- Street organStreet organA street organ is a mechanical organ designed to play in the street. The operator of a street organ is called an organ grinder. The two main types are the smaller German street organ and the larger Dutch street organ....
- Organ grinder