Album Notes

"Madam Laura" is the world's loveliest Orchestra Organ. It resembles a dazzling valentine in color and appearance. From the top facade to the bottom there are superb carvings that delight the eye. Lovely cherubs with gossamer drapings, stylelized dragons, golden tassels, etc., are all a product of the wood carver's art. Each time you glance at the machine, you can see something new because of the many intricate carvings. The three artistic figures are each carved from a single piece of wood.
Restored with loving care, this organ has been given the name "Madam Laura" from the lady director who stands in the center and directs the music with her baton. The two exquisite bell-ringers also wear short attire with much gold-leaf lavishly used on them. Their facial features are delicate and enchanting. "Madam Laura" is a haughty brunette, one bell-ringer is titian haired, and the other is a black-haired beauty.
The organ contains the following pipes: Saxophones, clarinets, piccolos, flutes, cello, violin, octave violin, and stopped bass; snare drum, bass drum, cymbal, and double castanets. The organ is a 94-key machine playing from 87-key cardboard music. The full 94 keys were used when the organ played from a pinned cylinder years ago. It is equal to a 15-piece orchestra. It was made in the late 1800's in France by Gavioli and Co.
Forty-two months were spent by Paul Eakins in restoring "Madam Laura" along with her two sister organs, "Big Bertha" and "Sadie Mae". All three were used years ago on a huge Looff carousel in Grand Rapids, Michigan. "Madam Laura" is the most mellow sounding of the three and the most elegant.