Who and What is the AR Group?What you will find on this siteThe AR Group is a group of organ enthusiasts who play the Yamaha AR Electone Organ ... specifically either the AR 80 or AR 100. This forum has sections such as
General Discussion, Members' Section, AR Member Performances, Things you may not know about the AR, AR Series Technical and so on. A full list of sections and who can see them is given under the next heading.
Members can post topics, give hints on playing, and send in their performances to be enjoyed by other members. Our aim is to give encouragement to all those who play these instruments.
Boards everyone can see / Boards only Members can seeWhen you visit the AR Group FORUM the 'headings' in each section are called BOARDS. Not everyone can see all the boards and topics under discussion. Those that haven't Registered (and they can only Register by following the instructions in the Board “Registering in the AR Group FORUM”) are not Members and are identified as Guests. When you put up a posting just be aware of who is able to view your posting, and don't include your personal details such as email addresses, telephone numbers, home addresses into your posting unless you are prepared for the people viewing to have this information. The Administrators, Peter Anderson and myself (Hugh Wallington) will from time to time put our contact details into a posting. After all, we do want people to be able to contact us and we even have a Board, which everyone can see, entitled “Contact Details for AR Group” at the bottom of the list, so we can be contacted.
Below is a breakdown of who can see what:
Members can see
all the Boards apart from a couple of 'Archives' that only the Administrators have access to eg. the Profiles of people who were once members but no longer are.
Non-Members (ie.
Guests) can see the following. Click on the LINKS to view them.
What you will find on this site -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=20.0Message for Members of AR Group -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?topic=483.0Registering in the AR Group FORUM -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=22.0About this FORUM -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=39.0General Interest - This and That -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=14.0Other Organs, Keyboards, Modules, Synths etc. -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=43.0How do I ... ?? -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=67.0Starting from Scratch with the Yamaha AR Organ -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=36.0What I like about my AR / would change on my AR -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=53.0AR played with extra sounds from other 'added' modules (MP3);
Peter's Pearls -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=38.0Hugh's Views on anything to do with the AR or music! -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=73.0Vintage Organs -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=70.0AR 100 or AR 80 Performances on YouTube (or elsewhere) -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=57.0You Tube (or any Music/Videos you can play from the web) -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=23.0Members' Performances on other music related websites -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=37.0Useful LINKS to other Websites -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=13.0Tierce-de-Picardie Forum -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=56.0Crossword Puzzles -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=64.0Name That Tune -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=60.0Jokes -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=3.0Organ Concerts -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=11.0For Sale -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=5.0Contact Details for AR Group -
http://www.ar-group.org/smforum/index.php?board=17.0So please note: If you put a posting in
General Interest it will be seen by everyone; if you put it in
General Discussion it will only be seen by Members. So, if you ever wondered why there are two similar Boards, this is why. A posting in
For Sale will be seen by everyone and anyone, but you need to put an email address/telephone number in your posting if you want them to contact you; they cannot get hold of any of your contact details any other way. Note that the
Wanted board is only viewable by Members, so if you want something your 'audience' is a bit restricted.
It goes without saying that Administrators have access to everything, including email addresses (but not Members' Passwords).
What does a Yamaha Electone AR 80/100 sound like?If you do not own an AR, but would like to hear what this organ sounds like, then click on some of the MP3 Tracks below. In order to get a real feel of the organ you would ideally have a 'sub woofer' attached to your sound system (to get those really rich bass notes coming through), or you can simply listen using headphones.
Listen to some of these tracks to get a feel of what the AR is capable of producing. You may have to click on 'Open' or 'Run' to play them .. or you can 'Save' the tracks to your hard disk to listen to later. If this option doesn't appear then do a 'right-click' over the LINK and choose Save Target As...
First, some 'church organ' pieces
No, these were not recorded in Westminster Abbey ... they were played by Mark Burbridge on an AR 80.
Trumpet Voluntary (MP3) .. played by Mark BurbridgeWidor - Toccata (MP3) .. played by Mark BurbridgeBach - Toccata (MP3) .. played by Mark BurbridgeSome pieces entitled 'Vaguely Classical' .. again, played on an AR 80.
Ave Maria (MP3) .. played by Hugh WallingtonAway In A Manger (MP3) .. played by Hugh WallingtonHandel's Largo (MP3) .. played by Hugh WallingtonThe next group of tracks are played by Paul Dolman on his AR100 who also composed them for the AR Group. I say 'composed' loosely, as Paul just sat at his organ and played whatever came into his head. He wouldn't have been able to repeat what he had just played!
01. Going Nowhere (MP3) .. played by Paul DolmanThis first track is basically 'Theatre Organ' and lasts about 20 mins, so settle yourself down and enjoy the sound of this magnificent organ.02. R U Key Bored (MP3) .. played by Paul DolmanThe second track is Grand Piano and 'organ' sounding together. What could be more relaxing to listen to than this?03. Beach Lazer (MP3) .. played by Paul DolmanThis track, as the name implies, features 'Hawaiian' glides on the guitar, with waves breaking on the shore.04. Piano Strings (MP3) .. played by Paul DolmanPiano and Strings together this time. This is such a beautiful piece .. Paul was so talented!05. Bowed Strings (MP3) .. played by Paul DolmanA rich, deep piano for this one; with 'bowed strings' probably best described as a cello. Another beautiful piece composed by Paul as he just sat at the organ.06. Tone Bars (MP3) .. played by Paul DolmanXylophone based, with organ accompaniment in the background.07. Just Breathing (MP3) .. played by Paul DolmanAs the title implies, the 'breathy tenor sax' for this one.Hope you have enjoyed Paul's 'relaxing style'. Paul certainly knew how to make some superb sounds with his AR 100.
Now another selection of 'voices' from the AR. A 'solo' orchestral violin with a 'string quartet', plus a harp accompaniment in the background. Surely the AR can't get better than this? Played on the AR 80.
Meditation from Thaïs (MP3) .. played by Charles HughesIf you are 'into' using backings, then here are some recordings I have done using STYLES .. ie. 'Backings' with an 'Automatic Bass'. These are not '
existing' in the AR that you select by just pressing a button, but
USER Styles that I have done myself by creating/adjusting the 'Parts' you hear. And what is so exciting about the AR is that any STYLES or REGISTRATIONS that have been set up by someone else are first loaded into the organ before the piece starts playing; then when it has finished playing
you can play that piece yourself using that unique Registration/Style .. or another piece you think would sound good using it. You will gather from this that the number of STYLES you can use is unlimited, and you are not just restricted to those choices that are available in the organ by 'pressing a button'.
I have put these on YouTube:
Rock 'n Roll is KingSheI Only Have Eyes For YouWhen we say Yamaha AR Electone Organ I think we tend to forget that an 'organ', as well as being able to play eg. Church Organ, Theatre Organ, Jazz Organ, etc. can also be made to sound like a Pop Group, a Dance Band, or an Orchestra.
Here is a piece beautifully played in 'Classical Style'.
Cavalleria Rusticana (MP3) played by Charles HughesListen to that
Harp Charles is playing in the background towards the end. This piece is all ‘hands on’, no backing tracks!
Charles Hughes again .. this time with the AR set up as a 'Piano' (with some strings in the background).
Trees (MP3) played by Charles HughesIt seems to me that the AR, although getting on in years now, can hold its own when played by someone who knows how to set it up properly, and more importantly knows how to play a 'keyboard instrument' as it should be played. The AR really is a fantastic organ to listen to in the hands of someone who knows how to get the best out of it.
If you want to hear more and learn more, how about becoming a Member of AR Group. How can you do this? Look at the Board:
How to Register with AR GroupHugh (ADMIN)
