Dallam's Travels with an Organ to the Grand Signieur, 1599-1600
Queen Elizabeth the First of England, the Grand Turk at Constantinople, and an organ builder named Thomas Dallam—quite a trio. In 1599, Elizabeth commanded master organ builder Dallam to construct and deliver to the Grand Signieur , as a present intended to garner trade and political advantages for England, a fantastic mechanical organ. Dallam’s wonder stood 16 feet high and was topped by a silver holly bush filled with blackbirds and thrushes that sung and shook their wings. Dallam kept a diary during his visit to Turkey, which included a sneak look through a grate at the Grand Turk’s concubines in the harem. “I stood so long looking upon them that (the guide) stamped with his foot to make me give over looking; the which I was very loath to do, for that sight did please me wondrous well.” Dallam’s ingenuous style and numerous adventures make for a highly enjoyable listen. - Summary by Sue Anderson
Genre(s): Memoirs
Language: English
| Section | Chapter | Reader | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play 01 | Departure - Meeting with Dunkirkers | Sue Anderson |
00:11:08 |
| Play 02 | The Dunkirkers | Sue Anderson |
00:10:55 |
| Play 03 | At Algiers | Sue Anderson |
00:13:13 |
| Play 04 | Visit to a Monastery on the Island of Zante | Sue Anderson |
00:23:34 |
| Play 05 | At Scanderoon | Sue Anderson |
00:17:04 |
| Play 06 | Master Maye Taken Prisoner | Sue Anderson |
00:16:13 |
| Play 07 | At Chios - A Bag of Garlic | Sue Anderson |
00:16:30 |
| Play 08 | Entering the Dardanelles | Sue Anderson |
00:15:39 |
| Play 09 | Arrival at Constantinople | Sue Anderson |
00:13:41 |
| Play 10 | Taking the Organ to the Seraglio | Sue Anderson |
00:17:46 |
| Play 11 | Dallam Plays the Organ for the Grand Signieur | Sue Anderson |
00:16:06 |
| Play 12 | Dallam Has a Narrow Escape | Sue Anderson |
00:18:40 |
| Play 13 | Journey Home Across Greece | Sue Anderson |
00:19:51 |
| Play 14 | Trumpets Sounding, Home to London | Sue Anderson |
00:20:55 |