Title: Florida Tech Solar-Powered Band Organ Concept
1Florida TechSolar-PoweredBand Organ Concept
The Mighty Stinson 2000M-2 MIDI Concert Band
Organ Example Sold for 135,000 for export
- by Frank R. Leslie,
- Adjunct Professor, DMES
- Florida Tech904/2008
2Background/History
- While a calliope is identified with circuses,
Indiana University has one that is used at sports
events and parades - Florida Tech students might construct a band
organ as a Capstone Project to show the
integration of science, engineering, and fine arts
Circus calliope, lithograph by Gibson Co.,
1872.
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3Introduction
- Florida Tech has been introducing courses that
express our motto of High Tech with a Human
Touch - The Music Department can bridge the engineering
disciplines with some development of an automated
band organ to play at various events - An keyboardist can play it manually
- Other MIDI-output instruments could play it
- A computer can play it automatically
- An auxiliary power source of solar modules can
provide air pressure and power for actuation
outside
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4Performance Venues
- Florida Tech has occasional events where students
playing this organ or the computer automatically
playing it would be interesting and unique - Building dedications
- Parades for the university, high schools, or city
events - Performance concerts
- Presidents Picnic
- Outdoor city events
- Retirement home shows
- And many more
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5Band Organ vs. Calliope
- Band organs date from
- Basically pipe organs, but often expanded to
include piano, bells, drums, violins, horns,
chimes, etc., primarily in theater organs - Also called festival or fair organs
- Calliopes are high-pressure steam-powered
patented 1855 by Joshua Stoddard in New York and
demonstrated on a train - Early steamboats had calliopes to alert a town of
their arrival - Newer versions use compressed air and have less
range (usually under 1 mile) - These are one rank organs one set of whistles
Calliope on the Minnie-Ha-Ha, a stern-wheeler on
Lake George, NY
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6Indiana Universitys 1924 Calliope
- Indiana University plays this steam calliope at
various events! - Shouldnt Florida Tech have one, too?
- This is direct from steam whistles to sound
- The range is typically about three miles on a
quiet day - The original Boom Car
- Too loud for within Melbourne!
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7Modern Calliope Example
- Kitch Greenhouse Steam Calliope at the Ohio
Historical Society - July, 2006
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8Band Organ Example
http//www.freewebs.com/mechanicalorgangallery/gds
f2004.htm
- Mobile fairground organ and a small horn organ
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9Music Playing and Control
- Keyboards (some 25 to 44 notes) control solenoids
that open a valve to sound a note, strike a drum,
triangle, or chime, etc. - Early units were derived from Jacquard
fabric-weaving loom control and used pin drive,
perforated cards , and later, paper piano rolls - Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) is
now used in new and upgraded bandorgans - Conversion from other formats exist and
MIDI-to-discrete translators can drive solenoid
actuators with direct current to blow pipes or
beat drums, etc.
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10Music Composition
- The solenoid valve operation can move quickly,
and fast music can be performed at normal tempi - Music composition software can read MIDI inputs
from a keyboard or other instrument for
modification and adaptation for driving the
instrument - A MIDI-output guitar could drive the bandorgan!
- When the final MIDI file is sent to the band
organ, it plays automatically as directed by the
composition orchestration
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11Psychological Planning
- The instrument can impress the audience with
music not normally associated with circus
compositions - Classical, rock, jazz, popular, bluegrass, etc.
- The visual design of the pipes for stereo (not
symmetry) and exterior façade embellishments - Two-sided vs. one-sided display (parade trailer
or fixed full width for against a wall) design
possible for show flexibility - An emotional appeal comes from hearing the unique
sounds and seeing moving parts as it plays
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12Design and Construction Skills, Etc.
- Engineering Systems
- Dr. ? and 1 student
- System design
- School of Business
- Dr. ? and 1 student
- Cost management and schedule
- Computer Engineering
- Dr. ? and 2 students
- MIDI interfaces
- Electrical Engineering
- Dr. ? and 2 students
- Controls and power
- Façade Art
- Dr. ?, (C. F?) and 2 students
- Mechanical Engrg
- Dr. ? and 2 students
- Case and mountings trailer tuning
- Musical Dept
- Dr. Younkin and 2 students
- MIDI compositions/organist
- Physics Dept
- Dr. ? and 2 students
- Pipe/percussion design pneumatics
- Psychology
- Dr. B? and 1 student
- Visual/auditory impact design
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13System Architecture
- Keyboard permits manually played recitals
- MIDI interpreter converts .mid files into
discrete pipe/percussion actuator signals at 12
volts d.c. - Pipes and percussion provide wide sonic variety
- Power supply provides sufficient drive for all
instruments at once - Case supports all other components and allows
moving to a trailer, room, or storage - Exterior façade decoration provides visual
interest and nostalgia - Florida Tech and space themed
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14Band Organ System Diagram
2 Pipe Rank(s)(24/rank?)
45?
Solar Modules
Air Manifold 12Vdc Valves
Low PressureBlower
12Vdc
Percussion
ChargeController
6
MIDI Files
MIDIDecoder
NotebookPC Computer
13.8 V _at_ 2A
DisplayLighting
12 V Deep-CycleBattery
Piano RollPlayer/Reader
120V Inverter
MIDISoftwareComposer
LinePower Supply
120Vacindoors
Two-SectionCase
1 or 2Keyboard(s)
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15Budgetary Estimate for Initial Build
Budget Bogey Number 6,000 Bogey plus 30 Margin 7,800
Totals Comments Notes
Case, Main 298.00 Two-piece 76"H OA x 120"W total x 24" D 1
Cases, Wings 130.00 Two-piece 48"H x 30"W x 18" D 1
Façade 324.00 Six pieces 1/2" plywood textiles 1
MIDI Devices 1,389.00 includes notebook computer 1
Electrical/Air Supply 681.30 low pressure 1
Software 100.00 MIDI S/W, etc. 1
Pipes 216.00 two ranks flutes 1, 2
Percussion 141.00 bass and snare drums plus xylophone 1
Misc 42.00 hardware 1
Labor 900.00 Extent is TBD volunteers? 1
Trailer, Parade/Moving 725.00 utility trailer, basic low-side 3
Lighting 24.00 LED highlighting 3
Solar Power 670.00 optional for parades and other outdoors events 3
Trips 190.00 purchase trips to Sanford FL at RMR 1, 8
Presentation/Publicity 170.00 optional, (?) 3
Main Budget Total 6,000.30 with 30 margin 7,800.39
Main Budget Margin -0.30 is under budget -0.39
With Donated Labor 5,100.30 volunteer or student project work reduces cost
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16Conclusion
- Creation of this instrument provides a lasting
tribute to interdisciplinary teamwork across the
multiple colleges displayed at university events - Periodically, the band organ would be presented
in local parades and for demonstration at schools
to stimulate students in pursuing careers in
arts, sciences, and engineering - The system provides an example of how fine art,
science, and engineering can be blended in a
unique, entertaining display for public
entertainment --- High Tech with a Human
Touch!
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17 18Band Organ Demonstrations, Etc.
- Solar powered carousel http//www.youtube.com/watc
h?v5XSshVv5VGk - Band organ http//www.youtube.com/watch?vD6bFo5MR
GQk - Hand built Band organ http//www.youtube.com/watch
?v4vPg9QjyC-c - Band Organ Flutes http//www.youtube.com/watch?vm
9CgKMrVZCofeaturerelated - Bandorgan Ghost Riders http//www.youtube.com/watc
h?vvEnQ4FsThosNR1 - Card-reader band organ http//www.youtube.com/watc
h?vCTwDQCUdp08featurerelated - http//mama.indstate.edu/users/nizrael/midis/bigto
p.mid - Organ http//www.youtube.com/watch?vhKDJ6Z_stvgf
eaturerelated - http//www.youtube.com/watch?v9ITZkuqDiBc
- Organ playing basics http//www.youtube.com/watch?
vy4-GSlqyYzsfeaturerelated - Childs piano http//www.youtube.com/watch?vy81Zu
9AJlGk - http//www.theatreorgans.com/walnuthill/eugenehaye
k.htm - http//www.popsci.com/video/2007-11/breakdown-sing
ing-tesla-coils - MIDIs http//mama.indstate.edu/users/nizrael/midi
s/
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19References
- www.robertsmusicalrestorations.com
http//www.bandorganmusic.com/music/sound/Rescueof
MadamLaura.mpg - http//www.doyleintl.com/
- http//www.stinsonbandorgans.com/
- http//www.doyleintl.com/band_organ_music_midi_lib
rary.htm - http//www.doyleintl.com/band_organ_pot_10mmd.htm
- http//www.doyleintl.com/links.htm
- http//www.doyleintl.com/band_organ_pot_11powerofm
md.htm - http//www.doyleintl.com/band_organ_pot_hme_bopp.h
tm - http//www.theotherpages.org/poems/amv13_3.html
by Kaliyope Yell Vachel Lindsey - http//www.steamboats.org/forum/showthread.php?t9
16 David Morecroft, calliope builder, Peru,
Indiana - http//www.youtube.com/v/34OXeV_ZrqQhlen Band
organ Kit Carson Fairground, CO - http//www.youtube.com/results?search_queryorgan
pipesearch_type - Tuning http//www.mmdigest.com/Archives/KWIC/T/tu
ning.html - PVC Pipes http//rpartos.org/
- http//rpartos.org/calliope.html
- Building http//www.carousels.com/wyman/wympt1.ht
m - http//www.carousels.com/
- Calliola Project http//www.carousels.com/caliola
/
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20Misc. Websites
- Organists Guild http//www.spokaneago.org/Februar
y.pdf - Australian Mechanical Organs http//homepage.mac.
com/ozorgans/ - http//www.freewebs.com/mechanicalorgangallery/
- http//www.freewebs.com/mechanicalorgangallery/org
anfestivaldingles.htm - http//www.freewebs.com/mechanicalorgangallery/gds
f2007.htm - http//ago-spacecoast.tripod.com/id6.html
- http//www.blitzbasic.com/Community/posts.php?topi
c55076 - http//www.fops.org/
- http//www.staugustine.com/directory/visit/239038.
shtml Lightner Museum
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21Band Organ Construction
- Busker Organ http//www.ringsurf.com/ring_browser
.php?id225038 - Busker Organ http//www.ringsurf.com/ring_browser
.php?id225043 - http//www.google.com/search?sourceidnavclientie
UTF-8rlsGGLD,GGLD2004-07,GGLDenqPVCpipeor
gan - https//mailman.rice.edu/pipermail/childmus/2003-J
uly/000366.html - http//www.geocities.com/hilobayatos/PalaceOrgan3.
html - http//www.oldcrows.net/patchell/OddMusic/OddMusi
calInstruments.html - http//www.rwgiangiulio.com/construction/bcabinet2
/ - http//www.youtube.com/watch?v1Ish78C0fek
- http//www.logosfoundation.org/instrum_gwr/puff/pu
ff_pvcpipes.html - http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairground_organ
- http//nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu/bodinew/Pages/Overview
.html - http//nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu/bodinew/Pages/SoundPro
duction.html - http//nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu/bodinew/Pages/Pipes.ht
ml - http//nersp.nerdc.ufl.edu/bodinew/Pages/MorePipe
Info.html - http//www.apoba.com/PlanningSpaceForPipeOrgans_Wo
rd95.doc - http//diyapason.com/sitemap.aspx
- http//www.sentex.net/mwandel/organ/organ.html
- http//home.earthlink.net/anelsen/organ.htm
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22Band Organ Pipeworks, Etc.
- 2x bourdon celeste, 2x violin celeste on melody
with tremulant, stopped cello accompaniment,
4', 8', extra 16' stopped on bass also a
glockenspiel bass drum, cymbal snare drum. - Stopped Diapason 8, Flute 4, Principal 2,
- Stopped Diapason 8, Principal 4, Chimney
Flute 4, Fifteenth2, SesquialteraII - Manual I 1 Open Diapason8 2 Clarabella8 3 Princi
pal 4 4 Nazard2 2/3 5 Fifteenth2 6 Tierce1 3/5 i
Manual II to Manual I Manual II
7 Stopped Diapason 8 8 Salicional8 9 Chimney
Flute 4 10 Flageolet2 11 Oboe8 Tremulant to
manuals Pedal12 Sub Bass16 ii Manual I to
Pedal iii Manual II to Pedal - Manual Stopped Diapason 8 Principal4 Chimney
Flute 4 Twelfth2 2/3 Fifteenth2 - Sydney Town Hall 64' stop http//www.ohta.org.au/c
onfs/Sydney/SYDNEYTOWNHALL.html - http//www.arts.ufl.edu/organ/organ_specifications
.shtml
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23Calliope Poem by Vachel Lindsey
- The correct pronunciation of the word 'calliope'
has always been disputed some proponents claim
it should be pronounced 'cal-eye-oh-pee', after
the Greek muse, while others claim that
'cal-ly-ope' is correct. A nineteenth century
magazine, Reedys Mirror, attempted to settle the
dispute by publishing this rhyme1 - Proud folk stare after me,
- Call me Calliope
- Tooting joy, tooting hope,
- I am the calliope.
- After The Kalliope Yell, by Vachel Lindsey, 1913
http//www.jmww.150m.com/Lindsay.html
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24The Kallyope Yell by Vachel Lindsey
- The Kallyope Yell
- Loudly and rapidly with a leader, College yell
fashion - I
- Proud men
- Eternally
- Go about,
- Slander me,
- Call me the "Calliope."
- Sizz . . . . .
- Fizz . . . . .
- II
- I am the Gutter Dream,
- Tune-maker, born of steam,
- Tooting joy, tooting hope.
- I am the Kallyope,
- Car called the Kallyope.
- Willy willy willy wah hoo!
- See the flags snow-white tent,
- See the bear and elephant,
- III
- Born of mobs, born of steam,
- Listen to my golden dream,
- Listen to my golden dream,
- Listen to my G-O-L-D-E-N D-R-E-A-M!
- Whoop whoop whoop whoop gtb?whoop!
- I will blow the proud folk low,
- Humanize the dour and slow,
- I will shake the proud folk down,
- (Listen to the lion roar!)
- Popcorn crowds shall rule the town --
- Willy willy willy wah hoo!
- Steam shall work melodiously,
- Brotherhood increase.
- You'll see the world and all it holds
- For fifty cents apiece.
- Willy willy willy wah hoo!
- Every day a circus day.
- What?
25The Kallyope Yell by Vachel Lindsey, 2
- IV
- Every soul
- Resident
- In the earth's one circus tent!
- Every man a trapeze king
- Then a pleased spectator there.
- On the benches! In the ring!
- While the neighbours gawk and stare
- And the cheering rolls along.
- Almost every day a race
- When the merry starting gong
- Rings, each chariot on the line,
- Every driver fit and fine
- With the steel-spring Roman grace.
- Almost every day a dream,
- Almost every day a dream.
- Every girl,
- Maid or wife,
- Wild with music,
- V
- I am the Kallyope, Kallyope, Kallyope,
- Tooting hope, tooting hope, tooting hope, tooting
hope - Shaking window-pane and door
- With a crashing cosmic tune,
- With the war-cry of the spheres,
- Rhythm of the roar of noon,
- Rhythm of Niagara's roar,
- Voicing planet, star and moon,
- Shrieking of the better years.
- Prophet-singers will arise,
- Prophets coming after me,
- Sing my song in softer guise
- With more delicate surprise
- I am but the pioneer
- Voice of the Democracy
- I am the gutter-dream,
- I am the golden dream,
- Singing science, singing steam.