Mellotronists

I've had so many questions from people--non-mellotron people, that is--about our favourite topic that I've put up a page on my site designed to give enough information in one short burst to satisfy their questions. Also, at the bottom of the page is something a bit new, as well, since I put up shots of the various artists who played on the new voices we recorded here in Toronto almost two years back now. (It would be wonderful to have a shot of the three Lawrence Welk violinists recording in Harry Chamberlin's bedroom, wouldn't it?)

Anyway, check out http://rickblechta.com and look for the link to "mellotron" if you have the inclination, and let me know what you think.

Cheers!

Rick (SFX 10030--Hey, bozo! You didn't tell them there are some shots of me on your damned page!)


Hey! You!
Check out my website. rickblechta.com
It\ufffds really great. Trust me\ufffd

Well, Jon, it's like this. The mellotron's most famous sound, 3 violins,
is actually a recording Harry Chamberlin made back in '52, I believe,
for his new instrument. The recordings found their way to the UK via
Bill Fransen who was a salesman for Harry and this voice was also used
for the new mellotron (unbeknownst to everyone involved, the tapes did
not belong to Mr Fransen.) Anyway, you know the Prog Fame that mellotron
violins went on to, the splendour, the majesty, the dramatic weight of
the music which was created using this sound! What no one knew was that
Harry had hired 3 middle-aged women from the Lawrence Welk Champagne
Music Makers to record the notes.

Life is full of small ironies, isn't it?

Cheers!

Rick

JS wrote:

> "Lawrence Welk violinists?????????"  This is an apparently new
> detail.  Any more information about that, and the provenance of the
> information?
>
>      (It would be wonderful to have a shot of the three Lawrence
>      Welk violinists recording in Harry Chamberlin's bedroom,
>      wouldn't it?)
>
>
>      Jon E Salley
>      MiloJohnson@...
>      M400 #886
>

Hi again
Lovers of Lawrence Welk may find some interest here:
http://www.oeta.onenet.net/welkrelease.html

and after some delay I have more to come on the Birotron saga,
I've found 2 and a half, and a rebuild project is underway........piccys,
replys to earlier postings and general chit chat will follow over the
next week end, sorry it's been so long!)

Nic

At 19:22 26/02/02 -0500, Rick Blechta wrote:

>Well, Jon, it's like this. The mellotron's most famous sound, 3 violins, 
>is actually a recording Harry Chamberlin made back in '52, I believe, for 
>his new instrument. The recordings found their way to the UK via Bill 
>Fransen who was a salesman for Harry and this voice was also used for the 
>new mellotron (unbeknownst to everyone involved, the tapes did not belong 
>to Mr Fransen.) Anyway, you know the Prog Fame that mellotron violins went 
>on to, the splendour, the majesty, the dramatic weight of the music which 
>was created using this sound! What no one knew was that Harry had hired 3 
>middle-aged women from the Lawrence Welk Champagne Music Makers to record 
>the notes.
>
>Life is full of small ironies, isn't it?
>
>Cheers!
>
>Rick
>
>JS wrote:
>>"Lawrence Welk violinists?????????"  This is an apparently new 
>>detail.  Any more information about that, and the provenance of the 
>>information?
>>>
>>>(It would be wonderful to have a shot of the three Lawrence Welk 
>>>violinists recording in Harry Chamberlin's bedroom, wouldn't it?)

The part of the story I get a kick out of is the noise of the women 
shifting around in their chairs as they played the notes.  I think someone 
else pointed that out on the list, wasn't that you Martin?  I was just 
playing some serious sounding chords, using MKII strings/brass, and 
occasionally I'd hear the odd click or two.  Can't help but chuckle at that 
point, thinking about the Lawrence Welk ladies and their clacking chairs.  
Probably voicing their disapproval at what I'm doing with their recordings    
;-).

Ken M.


In a message dated 02/26/2002 7:25:09 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
rblechta@... writes:

> 
> Well, Jon, it's like this. The mellotron's most famous sound, 3 violins, is 
> actually a recording Harry Chamberlin made back in '52, I believe, for his 
> new instrument. The recordings found their way to the UK via Bill Fransen 
> who was a salesman for Harry and this voice was also used for the new 
> mellotron (unbeknownst to everyone involved, the tapes did not belong to Mr 
> Fransen.) Anyway, you know the Prog Fame that mellotron violins went on to, 
> the splendour, the majesty, the dramatic weight of the music which was 
> created using this sound! What no one knew was that Harry had hired 3 
> middle-aged women from the Lawrence Welk Champagne Music Makers to record 
> the notes. Life is full of small ironies, isn't it? Cheers! Rick JS wrote: 
> >> "Lawrence Welk violinists?????????"  This is an apparently new detail.  
>> Any more information about that, and the provenance of the information? 
>> >>> (It would be wonderful to have a shot of the three Lawrence Welk 
>>> violinists recording in Harry Chamberlin's bedroom, wouldn't it?)
>>>  
>>>   
>>> Jon E Salley 
>>> <A HREF="mailto:MiloJohnson@...">MiloJohnson@...</A> 
>>> M400 #886
>>> 
>> 
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>

On the Chamberlin Flute recordings, I hear
the sound of trucks rumbling by outside.
... and I am sure there is a cat meow on
one of the tapes.

Clay
--- In Mellotronists@y..., kenmerb@a... wrote:
> 
>      The part of the story I get a kick out of is the noise of the 
women 
> shifting around in their chairs as they played the notes.  I think 
someone 
> else pointed that out on the list, wasn't that you Martin?  I was 
just 
> playing some serious sounding chords, using MKII strings/brass, and 
> occasionally I'd hear the odd click or two.  Can't help but chuckle 
at that 
> point, thinking about the Lawrence Welk ladies and their clacking 
chairs.  
> Probably voicing their disapproval at what I'm doing with their 
recordings    
> ;-).
> 
> Ken M.
> 
> 
> In a message dated 02/26/2002 7:25:09 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
> rblechta@s... writes:
> 
> > 
> > Well, Jon, it's like this. The mellotron's most famous sound, 3 
violins, is 
> > actually a recording Harry Chamberlin made back in '52, I 
believe, for his 
> > new instrument. The recordings found their way to the UK via Bill 
Fransen 
> > who was a salesman for Harry and this voice was also used for the 
new 
> > mellotron (unbeknownst to everyone involved, the tapes did not 
belong to Mr 
> > Fransen.) Anyway, you know the Prog Fame that mellotron violins 
went on to, 
> > the splendour, the majesty, the dramatic weight of the music 
which was 
> > created using this sound! What no one knew was that Harry had 
hired 3 
> > middle-aged women from the Lawrence Welk Champagne Music Makers 
to record 
> > the notes. Life is full of small ironies, isn't it? Cheers! Rick 
JS wrote: 
> > >> "Lawrence Welk violinists?????????"  This is an apparently new 
detail.  
> >> Any more information about that, and the provenance of the 
information? 
> >> >>> (It would be wonderful to have a shot of the three Lawrence 
Welk 
> >>> violinists recording in Harry Chamberlin's bedroom, wouldn't 
it?)
> >>>  
> >>>   
> >>> Jon E Salley 
> >>> <A HREF="mailto:MiloJohnson@p...">MiloJohnson@p...</A> 
> >>> M400 #886
> >>> 
> >> 
> > Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> > ADVERTISEMENT
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > Mellotronists-unsubscribe@y...
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the <A 
HREF="http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/">Yahoo! Terms of Service</A>. 
> >