John Wolff's Web Museum

14-note Organette Music

This page presents a small collection of 14-note Organette music from the 1880s, preserved in computer format as freely downloadable MIDI files.

These original rolls and "tune sheets" from my own collection have been transcribed by hand or scanned electronically into computer MIDI format. They have then been edited to remove the effects of age and wear, and to correct any timing or punching errors in the original sheets. Details of the transcription process are provided on the Preserving the original music page.

The resulting MIDI files are electronic "master rolls" which conform to the original punching and timing specifications. They can be played directly on a computer or synthesiser, or used with suitable machinery to produce new paper copies.

Timing data for producing new paper rolls is included in the MIDI file headers. Physical data for the original tune sheets is provided on the 14-Note American Organette page.

If your devices have trouble playing MIDI files, please see the suggestions on the MIDI Playback page.

Popular Music

Bonnie Louise
Original 14-note tune sheet, maker unknown.
Scanned 8 July 2001, edited 11 June 2005.
Duration 52 sec at tempo 110, length 1.51m.

College Hornpipe
Original 14-note tune sheet, maker unknown.
Transcribed & checked 14 February 2019.
Duration 47 sec at tempo 160, length 1.62m

Emily Polka.
Original 14-note tune sheet, maker unknown.
Transcribed & edited March 2019.
Duration 47 sec at tempo 120, length 1.51m.

Selection from Stradella.
Could be from "Stradella" by Louis Niedermeyer 1837
or "Alessandro Stradella" by Friedrich von Flotow (1844).
Pirate copy of 14-note tune sheet, maker unknown.
Transcribed & checked 9 April 2019.
Duration 71 sec at tempo 150, length 2.22m.

Sweet Belle Mahone
Song by J.H.McNaughton, 1867.
Original 14-note tune sheet by Automatic M.P. Co.
Scanned & edited 13 June 2005.
Duration 52 sec at tempo 110, length 1.82m.

Tommy make room for your uncle
Music hall song by T.S.Lonsdale, c.1876.
Original 14-note tune sheet, maker unknown.
Transcribed & edited 26 February 2019.
Duration 41 sec at tempo 140, length 1.82m.

Religious Music

Dare To Be A Daniel.
Hymn by P.P.Bliss, 1873.
Original 14-note tune sheet by Automatic M.P. Co.
Scanned & edited 10 June 2005.
Duration 27 sec at tempo 140, length 1.0m.

Draw Me Nearer.
Hymn "I am thine, O Lord" by Fanny Crosby, 1875, generally known
as "Draw me nearer" (from the first line of the chorus).
Original 14-note tune sheet, maker unknown.
Transcribed & edited 25 February 2019.
Duration 38 sec at tempo 100, length 1.2m.

Glory Glory Hallelujah.
American civil war song "Battle Hymn of the Republic",
traditional tune, words by Julia Ward Howe, 1862.
Original 14-note tune sheet by Automatic M.P. Co.
Copyright stamp: Brainard's Sons, Cleveland and Chicago.
Transcribed & checked 22 February 2019.
Duration 34 sec at tempo 110, length 1.20m.

Hold The Fort.
Hymn by P.P. Bliss, Copyright 1870 by Root & Cady.
Original 14-note tune sheet by Automatic M.P. Co.
Scanned & edited 10 June 2005.
Duration 29 sec at tempo 130, length 1.00m.

I Want To Be An Angel.
Children's hymn by Miss Sidney P. Gill, c.1854.
Original 14-note tune sheet, maker unknown.
Scanned & edited 11 June 2005.
Duration 36 sec at tempo 130, length 1.25m

Ring The Bells Of Heaven
Hymn by Cushing/Root, 1866.
Original 14-note tune sheet, maker unknown.
Scanned & edited 10 June 2005.
Duration 34 sec at tempo 110, length 1.20m.

Spanish Hymn
Traditional Spanish tune, also known as hymn tune "Madrid".
Original 14-note tune sheet by Mechanical Orguinette Co., N.Y.
Scanned & edited 10 June 2005.
Duration 31 sec at tempo 120, length 1.21m.

Sun Of My Soul
Hymn by John Keble, 1820, to tune "Hursley".
Original 14-note tune sheet in poor condition, maker unknown.
Transcribed & checked 6 February 2019.
Duration 23 sec at tempo 120, length 1.20m.

Sweet Hour Of Prayer
Hymn by W.W.Walford, 1845.
Original 14-note tune sheet by Automatic M.P. Co.
Scanned & edited 10 June 2005.
Duration 42 sec at tempo 70, length 1.25m.

The Rifted Rock
Hymn tune by Rev. Robert Lowry, c.1870.
Original 14-note tune sheet by Mechanical Orguinette Co., N.Y.
Scanned & edited 13 June 2005, checked 10 April 2019.
Duration 43 sec at tempo 100, length 1.59m.

Whiter Than Snow
Hymn by Nicholson/Fischer, 1872.
Original 14-note tune sheet by Automatic M.P. Co.
Transcribed & checked 6 February 2019.
Duration 36 sec at tempo 120, length 1.38m.