The BIG Picture-Click Here (171K)
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Where to begin.... the Spirit of Independence (or SOFI) is huge!!! 10'W X 8'H X 7'D. The facade has three basic sections with a hand-painted stained glass mural* (about a foot to a 1-1/2 tall) that runs the full length of the front. It's a band box (gazebo) with a band playing and the surrounding area/w lots of people. Very life-like. Well lit, with lighting effects including an aurora light behind the xylophone which can be turned on and off at will, and cool black-lite effects throughout and behind the bass drum head.! The process for creating the stained glass/painting was explained to me but frankly, it was over my head (a pun?? :-)) ). The artist, Brian Lewis (originally from New York, now living in Missouri), his wife and a close friend, were on hand to hear the First 'Private Showing'. The look on his friend's face was unforgettable. He had no conception of what SOFI was or what it was capable of doing. A look that can only be described as 'looking like a little boy'... fascinated! (Ok, I admit I felt-and probably looked-like that when I heard it for the first time.)
The entire system is configured to operate from one of two independent 'O' roll frames that automatically shift back and forth between 2 orchestrion rolls (20-30) songs. But it is also configured to be operated from specially formatted MIDI files.... that's where the magic begins! Every instrument can be turned on or off at any time, giving the MIDI arranger absolute control. There is a 3 level cascading louver engine and 2 vacuum levels plus soft pedal. This gives SOFI 6 louver positions in addition to the dynamic effects. The mandolin rail also adds to it's dynamic capability. Point is, the Spirit of Independence (SOFI)can play quiet as a mouse or as loud as an orchestra. Notice I didn't say 'brass band'. That's one of the things that is truly remarkable about the SOFI. It's not a blaring instrument that chases you out of the room or makes you want to plug your ears. The tuning and balance, tonal character and expression levels range from sublime to massively powerful without sounding harsh or overly loud, unless you program it that way. And you have a complete selection of all the combinations of pipe ranks to try for any particular preset, of which there are presently 4. So SOFI can change personalities. The quality of music is better than the finest German orchestrions I've ever heard. And the note and percussive responsiveness is fast-as-lightning. Every instrument blends with every other instrument in a collage of musical color that excites the soul and stimulates the mind. A visual and musical masterpiece limited only by the musical arranger's imagination. I'll go way out on a limb and say that one day, SOFI will be recognized as the ultimate in orchestrions. It is impeccably engineered, circle-winded, modularly prefabbed, with videotaped setup instructions. The control circuits are relays, and only the MIDI interface and power supplies use solid state devices. So it's lightning-proof. Easy to tune and service (can't say that about very many nickelodeons or orchestrions) with convenient LED's (light emitting diodes) that monitor the relays operating the O-roll logic circuits, various vacuum levels, operating states and 'active' instruments. It also comes with a control box that can also test everything in the instrument. Watching this marvelous machine operate is a marvel all by itself. So many innovative devices (each created to perform a special function and yet physically basic in overall design and construction) are contained within SOFI that it looks extremely complicated. Nothing could be further from the truth. Taken separately, each device is almost self-explanatorily, ingenious; yes, complex; no. From the view point of this technician, I found it was thoughtfully designed to be easy to maintain. To the technicians in the group, the schematics Craig has created are more complete than ANY I've ever seen for ANY instrument. You can actually sense what the machine can do simply by 'reading' the diagrams. Here again, ingenious; yes, complex; no. For those up on 'MIDI-or-roll' operation (how many machines can do that?!), the interface is flawless in design... ingenious (tripped my trigger... bigtime!). Since the MIDI format (master.ins) had to be created first (major kudos to George Bogatko), we got to listen to a few (ha!) 'O' roll tunes before the first MIDI files were played. SOFI played all the 'O' tunes perfectly!...... but its true nature was yet to be experienced. After After diagnostic testing, instrument testing and one final tuning (with help from Charles Wilson -pipe tuner), SOFI sang out with sparkling new arrangements by George Bogatko. We knew it was going to be good, but not one of us really knew at that point just how good! It rang out in a 'magical fashion' that I can only explain as the best 'Disney' you ever heard. Little did I realize then that SOFI had so much more to give. After George finished re-arranging his masterful version of 'Jingle Bells'**, and it began to play, I caught myself moving around like a little kid. Although some may 'boo-hoo' me, SOFI cannot only play George's MIDI file but adds multiple dimensions and color that I have never been in the presence of before (save those who have experienced the awe and majesty of this magnificent instrument). No recording can do it justice. It is live music that comes alive. Below is the list of instruments and effects. Click on the underlined words to see that picture. Crash cymbal, Chinese cymbal, snare tap and snare roll, Bird whistle, Train whistle, Fire gong, horses' hoofs, wood block, triangle, castenettes. Pipes: wooden open flutes, celestia. pipes: 2' Reed Sax, 2' Flute sax, 2' Diapasons, 1' Diapasons, 1' Flute sax. Wooden Bar xylophone and Orchestra Bells. Viols, Bass drum, Tympani (left and right), Nest of
bells, Tambourine, ride cymbal, temple block, cow bell Accompaniment chest (30 notes): 8 ft. Diapasons, 8 ft. Gedeckts***, separately available. Full-size Upright Piano/w mandolin attachment. *The art glass, designed and created by Brian Lewis, a young up-and-coming first-rate artist in true art glass (not just stained glass), created for this orchestrion a dazzling panorama of The 1890's "Concert in the Park," taking his ideas largely from the French impressionists. Those concerts used to be an exciting, strongly anticipated event and a universal American pasttime on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Thus we have the bandstand, the band in fine detail, and many people and children in every conceivable pose, sitting, standing, and playing while the band performs. Brian is a fully accredited art glass artist partly as a result of this panorama, who is not acknowledged as a master artist (easily). Personally, it is some of the finest work I have ever seen, done with some of the most beautiful shades of antique glass, finely detailed, highlighted, back-painted, and each piece fired in a kiln before assembly. It is truly a picture you never get tired of looking at. ( Back to top ) ** 'Jingle Bells' (MIDI version), arranged (heck... rewritten) by George Bogatko. Visit: http://www.player-care.com/midi/jingpno.mid or my stereo version: http://www.player-care.com/midi/george/jingpno1.mid. ( Back to Middle )
The 'Spirit of Independence' Orchestrion is now For Sale!. |
