Waldkirch - part 1

So where are Reuben and Laura going?  It looks like they are using the bag that Lorraine of Sewing for Sasha made for them:

Reuben and Laura in their special bag

This photo was taken on a ferry in the early hours of Friday as we crossed the channel to France.  During the remainder of the night and the early morning we drove across France and into Germany, arriving at Waldkirch in the Black Forest just before midday.  After a 2 hour afternoon sleep in our hotel in the Kandel pass we went down to the town to take in some of the International Orgelfest which is held every 3 years, then returned to the hotel for dinner.  Last time we went to the festival we took the two Australian Girl dolls and two of the Gotz dolls - see Meet Matroshka for their adventures.  This time it was Laura and Reuben's turn. 

Laura and Reuben enjoy the view down the
Altersbach valley from our dining table

On Saturday morning Laura and Reuben climbed into their bag again and came with us to the organ festival for the day.  In the park by the river we discovered this automata organ, with four figures 'playing' the music. The clarinet player's fingers really moved, the cellist bowed his double bass and the accordion players moved too, all the figures had eyes that blinked and moved.

The Swiss folk band organ

accordion player 

double bass player

this accordion player had a daisy flower in his mouth

The clarinet player with moving fingers

In Germany the small street organs are often used to tell elaborate stories with music.  The story pictures are on large banners with the story teller pointing to the pictures and singing with the organ grinder.  This group included three children as well.  We never understand the stories as they're all in German, however they're fun to watch as they're usually very dramatic and a bit sensationalist.

DollMum's daughter with Laura and Reuben on her lap (not visible)
watching the German organ story tellers

The Gruesome Murder Act! story in full flow

This street organ had an unusual figure in front of it (usually organs have automated figures mounted on the façade in front of the pipes - conducting the music or playing bells).  This figure wasn't automated.

Street organ with beggar figure

The carved wooden beggar

We visited one of the four organ building workshops in the town (Paul Fleck) where they had some music boxes on sale.  Laura really liked the miniature disc player.

Laura with the disc player music box

In the Markt Platz a very special Fair organ was playing and we sat down on the cobbles for a rest to listen.

Laura and Reuben rest in their bag while listening to the organ

Laura was tired and needed a cuddle

After a while Laura and Reuben became curious about this goddess and her attendants who presided over the music with such dignity and they loved the music.  The organ is one of only 2 Ruth organs ever made to this particular music scale (it is a Model 46 Ruth organ which belongs to a Swiss organ collector).  21 years ago this very same organ played on this spot at the festival for DollMum and her husband, it has not appeared at the festival since so it was a delight to see and hear it again.

Laura and Reuben approach the Model 46 Ruth fair organ

Laura and Reuben stand in front of the Model 46 Ruth fair organ

Back in their bag again (they swapped places)

Back at the park on the stage a Swiss yodelling choir was singing.  This year the festival had a real Swiss theme to it.

Swiss yodellers

One group who have attended the last 3 festivals are the street musicians from Chile.  They have 2 small street organs and 5 one man band musicians who spin and twirl to the music while banging their drums and clashing their cymbals - on this stage the sound was magnified even more than in the street!

Street organs and one man band musicians from Chile

We sat on the park bench for a rest while listening to the organs nearby.

Laura and Reuben rest in the park while DollMum's daughter draws

Near the stage was a large pile of saw dust surrounded by hay bales.  This was for the demonstration of Swiss haymakers - which turned out to be a special kind of wrestling.

Reuben and Laura watch the Swiss haymakers

We had a lovely meal with some Dutch friends in Markt Platz before the rain and thunder storms began, so returned to the hotel for the evening and more chatting.