A band organ is a loudly voiced pipe organ, fitted with percussion instruments and mechanically operated by a preprogrammed music system. The characteristic sound of the band organ is produced by the pipework. Pipes are constructed and voiced to provide different tonal qualities, such as basic pipe organ sounds and various orchestral instruments. Small organs can have as few as fifty-five pipes and the largest over a thousand. Mechanically operated organs have provided musical atmosphere for many American traveling shows. Beginning in the 1870s, most large circuses featured wagon-mounted mechanical organs in their daily street parades. Afterwards, they were parked on the circus showgrounds to contribute to the lively atmosphere. The Gavioli band organ featured by the Royal American Shows exemplifies the grandest style of band organ used by railroad carnivals during the 1895 to World War I heyday of the instruments. This organ is also quite rare in that it is one of the few large traveling organs relatively complete and original condition. The music titles played on the RAS Gavioli during the 1910s are not known and an entirely new program of carefully selected tunes were arranged and manufactured for playing on the restored organ. Special talents and materials from three nations were utilized. The compositions are typical of those heard on American circus and carnival showgrounds. Excerpted from the essay by Fred Dahlinger, Jr., in the Circus World Museum booklet for the CD The Royal American Shows Grand Gavioli Band Organ.