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Christian Wittmann with the author’s 33/56 Konzert Drehorgel in Wolfsgraben prior to shipping to the U.S., circa 2017.

By Gordie Davidson

Set in Wolfsgraben, Austria, a suburb about 35 minutes west of Vienna, is the home and organ workshop of 42-year-old Christian Wittmann. Visitors passing by this suburban, two-story dwelling might not notice it as different from any of the others lining the same street, but once invited behind the door, it becomes clear why this is such a special place in the world. The aroma of rough-sawn, kiln-dried cherry or walnut waiting to be formed by Christian’s expert hands makes you feel instantly welcome. The workshop covers the entire bottom floor of the home, serving as both his research and design studio and production facility.

Christian, who successfully passed the rigor-ous Austrian Master Organ Builder Exam in the fall of 2009, and subsequently opened his own workshop, is a gracious and engaging host. He offers tours of his workshop by appointment. I spent two days with him several years ago watching him build a busker organ for fellow MBSI member David Mahr. It was clear to me that he is truly a gifted, master wood worker.

The Christian Wittmann Orgelbau The Christian Wittmann Orgelbau Buskers and moreBuskers and more

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A second-generation 20er constructed of stained cherry with inlaid purfling and custom wheel crank mechanism mounted at the back. The leather strap makes this model easily porta-ble and playable for hours on the street.

A young Christian Wittmann and author shown with a pair of first generation 20er buskers, circa 2007. Behind is a replica Wurlitzer Style 105 built from Bob Stanoszek plans. It features a roll frame and MIDI controller.

On the left is an organ with both 20er and 31er roll frames and a Watterott MIDI controller. It has a 36-note scale, three stops and rotating figurines. On the right is a 31/36 organ with a 31er roll frame and Watterott MIDI controller.

plays the standard 110mm, 20-note roll.  Its compact dimensions do not limit its bellows or air capacity. It has a full, stable sound that comes into its own when used as a street instrument.  The housing is made of

solid cherry or walnut wood and can be decorated with inlaid mosaic strips or purfling.  A leather shoulder strap is also included, and the crank can be mounted on the back or on the right. It features  20 Bourdon pipes, including

seven in the lower case. Thirteen pipes are visible from the front of the organ. Figurines can be added to the organ by request. The organ can be ordered in three configurations, paper-roll only, MIDI-only, and a combination paper

During his apprenticeship with Robert Niemeczek, owner of Der Orgelbau Im Wienerwald, an Austrian firm specializing in church organs, Chris-tian designed and produced a first generation, lightweight bauchorgel, or busker organ. It was marketed as a Wittmann and Niemeczek crank organ; several of these buskers are still active in the USA today.

Designing and building a second-generation of his lightweight busker organ under his own name was Christian’s first task after starting his own business. The notable axiom, good things come in small packages, best describes the Wittmann 20-note busker organ. Characterized by preci-sion design, impeccable construction and world-class performance, Witt-mann buskers deliver more sound per pound than any other production busker, in my humble opinion. Chris-tian has built dozens of 20er busker organs for customers worldwide. The 20er busker organ remains his

benchmark instrument with several wood case and scale variations available to clients. He also builds a superb 31er busker weighing in at about 26 pounds. It is portable, but better suited to a small cart over time.

Christian also builds custom carts for his larger street organs.

The 20er weighs in at about 15 pounds. Known as a “belly organ,” it is one of the smallest crank  organs  currently available that

A selection of 20er and 31er buskers by Christian Wittmann shown with cherry and walnut cases. Several have inlayed wood purfling. Some come with roll frames, some with MIDI controllers, and some with both MIDI controllers and roll frames.

A look at attention to detail throughout production. Need a key frame controller for book music? No problem, just ask.

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three Raffin organs and a 45-note Baci-galupo replica custom built for me by Alan Pell in the U.K. I’m on my fourth organ purchased from Christian and, in my opinion, the instruments he constructs, repairs and refurbishes in his facility represent the best in quality design, harmonious sound and European craftsmanship.

I first caught the street organ bug while serving in the U.S. Army, Berlin Brigade. I attended the biannual street organ festivals in what as then West Berlin in 1982 and 1984. The sound of the music echoing down the Kurfürs-tendamm was wonderful to listen to and spurred memories of my time as a non-music major at Michigan State University. My college roommate was an organ major, so I’m sure that contributed something to my pursuit of this hobby. I waited until I returned to the United States to buy my first organ, but ever since I’ve enjoyed the hobby immensely. I once spent

a memorable summer playing every Saturday at the historic Union Train Station in Kansas City, MO, letting the sound of my Raffin 20/78 crank organ echo throughout that huge hall. It just immediately attracted attention from all kinds of people. I performed for

15 years on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City and once during the annual Plaza Art Fair. In one memo-rable moment, I found myself playing for a well-dressed man who remained for several tunes and asked many curi-osity based questions. Afterward, the

Another example of the fine detail work Christian is capable of in his workshop.

This is a chromatic 49er organ with double melody Bourdons. The case is made of stone pine (German “Zirbe”), which is a typical Austrian wood grown in the alps. It is highly aromatic, but not the best choice for an organ used outdoors.

roll and MIDI. Personally, now in my 70s, I prefer

the MIDI version as it offers the opportunity to stroll and play dozens of tunes without hauling multiple suitcases of paper rolls to and from one’s car along with perhaps a cart, monkey and other gear. Plus, with MIDI control, you can turn the crank in either direction without having to maintain a consistent tempo to hear a great tune. My Wittmann 33/56 concert crank organ features a quad bellows powered by dual cam arms that outputs 110mm/4.3 inches of air pressure, so even kids as young as three can crank and sound great. Many small production crank organs have undersized bellows and consequently fall short on air; Christian’s organs just punch through.

As a mechanical music buff for nearly 40 years cranking organs in rallies and all over the greater Kansas City, MO, area, I’ve owned my fair share of organs. Metaphorically, I tend to think of these organs as boats in that you often like the one you have, but you get out on the water and you see another one you want. That’s what an organ rally is like for me. I’ve owned

An interesting and multifunctional Konzert Drehorgel. This organ features both 20er and 31er roll frames as well as a Watterott MIDI controller. Truly, the best of all media worlds. The figurine rotates on the pedestal. Notice the matching custom cart con-structed with the same cherry wood as the organ case.

The author entertaining crowds with his 33/56 Konzert Drehorgel.

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gentleman came up and introduced himself as Lee Iacocca, the famous automobile executive. He handed me his business card and thanked me for adding some fun to his afternoon. You just never know who is standing in front of you.

These days, my playing is limited to a few gigs each summer in and around Western Michigan. Hopefully after the pandemic, the time will come when we can get together in groups again. I encourage anyone who might be interested to get out there and join in the fun of an organ rally.

If you are in the market for an instrument, I highly recommend

Christian Wittmann, as he will enthu-siastically entertain any organ design criteria from clients anywhere in the world. The photos accompanying this article are just a small set of examples of his unequaled, one-of-kind, marvels of mechanical music, most of them built in the last five years. Christian handles all aspects of building in his workshop, from designing, cutting, planing, routing, turning, drilling, sanding, assembling, gluing, voicing, tuning, arranging, punching and more. He is also an accomplished musician and arranger. He can provide roll punching services to clients along with his arrangements.

For further interest, readers are welcome to visit my website at www.grindergordie.com to view and listen to several Wittmann instruments. The Christian Wittmann Orgelbau website is at www.drehorgelmusik.net. Christian is a native German speaker who writes and speaks impeccable English. He promptly responds to email requests. Finally, as a one-man workshop, the answer is yes, he has a waiting list.

Gordie Davidson is a retired Army Foreign Area Officer who developed his interest in mechanical music during his tour with the U.S. Army Berlin Brigade.

A spectacular 42er book Konzert Drehorgel that features bourdons, wood-flutes, pan flutes, a wooden xylophone, Helikon reed basses, manual cymbal, bells and train whistle. Notice the beautiful mix of woods in the pipe configuration.