From Sound to Screen at the Music House

Dec. 7, 2014

If you’ve ever driven by the white, modernized barn on U.S. 31 in Williamsburg and wondered about The Music House, you’re not alone. If you’re a fan of music, history, antiques or all three, you’ll find that this visually-understated stop is actually a must-see.

The Music House opened its doors in 1983 in the renovated barn and granary of the Stiffler family farm. Founder and architect Dave Stiffler was fascinated with restoring mechanical instruments and had been filling his barn with them for years, including music boxes, pipe organs and a nickelodeon. Eventually, he built parlors, a general store and a saloon for a complete turn-ofthe-century experience to house his instruments, even though few had ever seen them.

"Friends finally convinced him that he should share his collection with the public," explained Kelly Roberts Curtis, The Music House’s director of marketing and development.

Stiffler’s acquisitions showcase automated instruments from the late 1700s to the 1930s, including two particular standouts that Curtis says visitors especially love.

"I think the two that people walk away talking about are our 1925 Weber Duo-Art Reproducing Grand Piano and our 1922 Mortier Dance Hall Organ," she said.

The reproducing piano is a special recording piano that captures the nuances, such as key pressure and pedal work, of the pianist as she plays. After, when the rolls are played on the player portion of the piano, it’s like experiencing a live performance.

"We play George Gershwin playing a duet with himself of "˜Rhapsody in Blue’ that is simply amazing to experience," Curtis enthused. The Mortier is impressive in its own right.

The largest piece in The Music House’s collection, the ornate white and gold organ is 32 feet wide, 18 feet tall and weighs nearly 5,000 pounds.

"Dance Hall organs were very popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and were the predecessor of the jukebox," Curtis explained. "Only a few hundred still exist and ours is known for the amazing condition of its façade. It’s also one of the only ones in the world that is played for every visitor."

In addition to the unique and impressive instruments available for viewing, The Music House holds many special events to further share the history of music. They’ll be bringing one of these events back, by popular demand, in 2015.

"Each year we have a Silent Film Series where we bring in a world-renowned theater organist to accompany a classic silent film on our 1924 Wurlitzer Theater Organ," Curtis said.

The Wurlitzer was restored after it was acquired from the Cinderella Theater in Detroit and The Music House decided that the perfect way to celebrate the new instrument was to show a silent film–"The Phantom of the Opera."

"This was so popular that we decided to make it a regular part of our entertainment schedule," Curtis said. "Guests are taken back in time and get to experience these films as they were originally meant to be seen, with live accompaniment."

The organists don’t play to a predetermined score, but instead, watch along with the audience and play as the film is shown, so each performance is completely original. It’s the perfect live complement to a museum that pays tribute to soundcraft and innovation.

"There was a real artistry to many of the silent films and when you add the accompaniment of a master organist, it is really amazing," Curtis said. "They perform on four rows of keys, on more than a dozen foot pedals, a sound effects panel and hundreds of different key stops that control which instruments are played by the organ, from the dozens of organ pipes to a grand piano to drums to sleigh bells. Just watching them play the Wurlitzer is pretty astounding."

The Music House is located at 7377 US 31 in Williamsburg. They are open Saturdays from 10am to 4pm and Sundays from noon to 4pm until the year’s end, with special hours Dec. 26- 30. The gift shop is also open for holiday shopping. The museum is closed in January. For more information, visit www.musichouse.org or call 231-938-9300.