The documentary tells the story of Leon Perlee and Milades Sosa. Leon builds and restores antique street organs in Holland's oldest surviving street organ business.The instruments, and Leon himself, are often featured on Dutch postcards.
You play these organs by cranking a handle. It works an air bellows to play melodies which are punched on card-board music scores. Mechanical bells, drums and moving puppets are mounted on the front.
this Dutch street organ
"De Drie Pruiken" in RealAudio
recorded live on the Prinzengracht Canal Bridge, Amsterdam, April 1999
You play these organs by cranking a handle. It works an air bellows to play melodies which are punched on card-board music scores. Mechanical bells, drums and moving puppets are mounted on the front.
this Dutch street organ
"De Drie Pruiken" in RealAudio
recorded live on the Prinzengracht Canal Bridge, Amsterdam, April 1999
These quaint European organs with their waltzes and polkas made their way across the Atlantic a century ago, and they took root in the musical culture of southern Cuba.
Cubans changed the music to rhumba, son and bolero and play the organs today with a live rhythm section.
Cubans changed the music to rhumba, son and bolero and play the organs today with a live rhythm section.
this Cuban street organ
"Sonido Cubano" in RealAudio
recorded live at the Fabrica de Organos in
Holguin, Cuba, March 1998
At the Cuban organ factory he met Milades.
Leon and Milades fell in love.
That was when their troubles began. Dutch immigration rules have no category for love.
That was when their troubles began. Dutch immigration rules have no category for love.
An original coproduction with Radio Netherlands and Homelands Productions USA
First broadcast by Radio Netherlands 1998 - in the USA by This American Life 1999
Recorded,written and produced by Michele Ernsting and Chris Brookes.
U.S. version editor: Sandy Tolan.
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