Photo: Organ Grinder Man Stephansdom

A man enjoys playing his organ grinder for people who pass by near the Stephansdom in downtown Vienna in Austria, Europe.

Many various types of performers are found around the Stephansdom in Vienna, Austria but none are quite as unique as this man playing an old fashioned organ grinder. As this man plays for audiences in the downtown core of Vienna, with his stuffed monkey on the side of the organ grinder, people drop him money for his efforts.This type of hand cranked organ was used in the eighteenth century only it was a table organ that was used to teach birds how to sing. As years went on, the pipes and bellows become larger and they were known as barrel organs but were very popular with the organ grinders.Soon the hand cranked organ that this man uses in the streets near Stephandsom, Vienna started using rolls of perforated paper with different musical notes punched into each card to create beautiful music.There is more than one modern day organ grinder around the Stephansdom area of downtown Vienna with each one playing a different tune. ... continue below the picture...

This picture is part of the photo album "Austria Pictures" - there are more beautiful images waiting for you.

... The ones you see are dressed in period costume suits, such as this man, as to look and act the part of an organ grinder of earlier years.Sometimes these entertainers are asked to perform at special events if people are looking for a softer type of music over the loud bands or deejays. When touring downtown Vienna, Austria, spare a bit of change for an organ grinder man as his music is very peaceful and calming.A man with an old music box, Leierkasten Mann, near the Stephansdom in downtown Vienna, Austria, Europe