Midi Band Organ Files
Frank Leslie's Florida Tech Website Concept of a Florida Tech Band Organ Florida Tech can create a band organ to compete with Indiana University's calliope (see below). This exciting instrument would be displayed at Florida Tech events, special parents' days, in local parades, at schools, nursing homes, etc. Local requests for its display at schools or in parades would be accommodated by securing it on a trailer for slow-speed transport and it could operate in motion. The system would ideally be powered outside by solar electric modules as a novel power source, but could also operate on utility power (120Vac, 3 (TBR) amperes). The solar modules would charge batteries so that cloud passages would not stop the music. The system is proposed as primarily a multidisciplined student project that draws upon the skills of many colleges here at Florida Tech. Let's think of a few: Music Dep't, music files and skills; Physics Dep't, pipe design and construction; Electrical Engineering, power supply, solenoid valves and lighting; Mechanical Engineering, Case design for stability; Computer Engineering, computer, data links, graphic monitor; Fine Arts, backings, artwork, computer visualizations.
- My Arrangements for Small Carousel Organs At this point my website probably contains as many free download MIDI files in. I used a score for concert band as.
- Band Organ An automated organ and other instruments, chiefly percussion. Associated with fairs, dance halls, circuses, and carousels. MIDI Musical Instrument Digital Interface. A control designed for driving electronic instruments. MIDI Translator Converts MIDI to 12V d.c. To drive solenoid valves for actuating pipe valves, drum beaters, visual effects, etc.
Adding MIDI to Old Home Organs. Project Files. //github.com/quarterturn/organ-midi-project There you will find a more detailed explanation of the project.
There are others, perhaps Engineering Systems to coordinate the project and the Business School to provide funding searches and procurement. Overview The band organ would be constructed in two large instrument sections with two adjoining percussion sections. When assembled together, the height would fit through standard doors on its castors and would be approximately 6 ft, 6 inches tall. The width would be approximately 14 feet. The depth would be approximately 2.5 to 3 ft. For parade trailering, the two center sections would be placed back to back so that viewers on each side of the street could see the source of the music. The percussion sections would then be placed at the forward and aft ends.
When towed by a pickup truck, a musician could ride in the back of the truck and play the keyboard. Details of Potential Instruments Initially, a set (TBD) of PVC organ pipes would be built for driving at pressures of approximately 3 to 6 inches of water pressure. This set of pipes (rank) would be tuned and tested individually.
(A very large theater organ might use 100' of water pressure for pedal notes. See Atlantic City Boardwalk organ.) Initially, a set of 4 ft pipes would be designed and implemented on a plywood prototype board. A small automotive blower might provide sufficient pressure.
The 50th Anniversary Parade is October 18th, and a playable mockup or prototype for the parade would be useful in showing the capabilities and for funding solicitation for the Capstone Project full implementation. A small drum, chimes, and a xylophone would serve to indicate the added value of percussion. A simple keyboard might be used for a prototype test by a musician to evaluate keying speed, tuning and loudness at various air pressures or for live performances. This test would allow assessment of the possibilities of construction of the instrument. The combination of pipes, drum, and keyboard (plus air blower and pressure regulator) shows the basic effect of the minimum manual configuration.
Potential Specification One to three ranks (similar tone sets) of pipes, three percussion instruments, single or dual keyboards. The keyboard should have a minimum of 36 keys. 12 volt dc battery power. Solar modules for a renewable energy demonstration. Computer control with MIDI protocol. Visual computer-display at top of the band organ.
Facade (facing) includes a fabric backing with pipes mounted over this backing. Student artwork augments the appearance. Guidance and References to Other Instruments Mr. Robert Loeffler of Roberts Musical Restorations in Deland, Florida has provided helpful information and can provide many electronic and pneumatic parts at reasonable prices. Bill Regal, manager of Fletcher Music Centers and an experienced organist, Melbourne Square Mall, FL is willing to advise students.
Links Roberts Musical Restorations, 407-234-4747, Deland, Florida. Restoration of diverse mechanical instruments such as orchestrions, player pianos, accordions, band organs, etc. See the website for more information and videos of playing instruments. Further Examples of MIDI Band Organ Music, Etc.
MI, OH, PA, TN Glossary Blowing Pressure The air or steam pressure that makes a pipe sound or a percussion instrument play. Calliope A musical organ operated by steam or air pressure at 90 pounds per square inch. Associated with steamboats and circuses.
Band Organ An automated organ and other instruments, chiefly percussion. Associated with fairs, dance halls, circuses, and carousels. MIDI Musical Instrument Digital Interface.
A control designed for driving electronic instruments. MIDI Translator Converts MIDI to 12V d.c.
To drive solenoid valves for actuating pipe valves, drum beaters, visual effects, etc. Rank A group of similar pipes producing sounds. Solenoid Valves Electromagnetic actuators of valves. Allows electrical control of air flow. Calliope Temporary Calliope information: A calliope is a really loud musical instrument invented by Joshua Stoddard in 1855, and now associated with circuses. Steam whistles controlled by valves sounded a melody from pins in a wooden drum, and later, keyboards were used. A more recent version uses compressed air to avoid the problems with a steam boiler, although steam power is usually good for a three-mile range.
Stoddard’s first use was in 1856 on a flatbed rail car pulled through Massachusetts. Indiana University has a steam version acquired from a steamboat that is used at their outdoor events. It didn’t work at first, but was restored by their mechanical engineering students. Indiana University 'The IU Alumni Association (IUAA) has been the instrument’s guardian since 1976, when it debuted the calliope in the Indianapolis 500 bicentennial parade. The circus wagon was designed by an IU Herron School of Art professor who happened to be a circus buff, and the IUPUI School of Engineering and Technology returned the boiler system to good musical voice.'
Big Band Midi Files
Louisiana Tech University may still one:. A Florida Tech student senior project of a steam calliope for university events might be a little challenging, but an easier to build, compressed air version similar to a Tangley Calliaphone would be a logical variation and good for a quarter mile range.
That's still loud, thus my focus on a band organ instead. There's no point in building an instrument that couldn't meet the Melbourne sound ordinance. The compressor motor might be powered with solar energy. For the computer engineers, a Musical Instrument Digital Interface could allow automated playing of the extensive MIDI music available on the World Wide Web. Musicians could play directly from the keyboard. See examples on MIDI valve use are.
Major components: keyboard, MIDI interface, air compressor, pipes, solenoid valves, software, frame. Has various parts. Each valve, $14; MIDI unit, $550. Estimated cost: $2400 with volunteer labor. Students would be from EE, ME, Computer Eng., Physics, etc.
Here’s a sample from “MIDI receiver so that MIDI disk files of calliope tunes can be played. The instrument has 43 whistles, beginning at F below middle C, the same as a CA43 Tangley. The tracker bar is tubed to Wurlitzer unit valves, which operate individual pneumatics, which in turn pull down the keys, which opens a poppet valve to the pipes.
Has good info for a Tangley Calliaphone restoration that is helpful in designing a new unit. A steam system design is at Sample MIDI files. I now believe that a portable band organ is a better choice. This would have additional percussion instruments added: drums, chimes, xylophone, clack blocks, cymbals, etc.
It may well be possible to drive the air blower and electronics using solar power at the 300 watt level as an alternate to utility power. I plan to further develop this as a PowerPoint presentation as time permits. Miscellaneous/BandOrgan.htm updated 100629.