As if by Magic

M. Welte & Söhne first displayed its Philharmonie organ before a public audience in November 1911 at the World Exhibition in Turin, Italy. The Seewen Museum of Music Automatons is marking the 100th anniversary of this event by mounting a special exhibition celebrating the organ and the company that made it. The museum not only has one such organ - the instrument known as the Britannic Organ, which had been destined for the ocean-going SS Britannic, sister-ship of the Titanic - but also possesses a number of other instruments from Welte, a company held in high regard at the turn of the 19th century. Other highlights of the exhibition include an extensive collection of music rolls for organ as well as piano (some 1500 rolls for the Philharmonie organ and around 2200 rolls for Welte's Mignon piano), plus what is thought to be the only performance recording device made by the Welte Company still in existence.