For Immediate Release

127-Year-Old Marino Persechini Barrel Piano Returns to New York City for the First Time Since 1899

Historic hand-cranked instrument comes home to New York for a special presentation exploring organ grinding, immigration, and Italian-American heritage

After 127 years away, a remarkable piece of Italian-American history is returning to New York City.

On Friday, October 23, 2026, at 6:00 PM, Tony Gangi, proprietor of Great American Street Organ and the current owner and caretaker of the historic Marino Persechini Barrel Piano, will present the extraordinary instrument at the Italian-American Museum, 151 Mulberry Street, New York City.

The 127-year-old hand-cranked barrel piano will be returning to New York City for the first time since it was built and purchased there in 1899, making its appearance at the Italian-American Museum a particularly meaningful homecoming.

A Musical Journey Through Italian-American History

Marino Persechini immigrated to the United States and purchased the instrument in New York City in 1899 before settling in the Boston area the following year. Beginning in 1900, Persechini made his living performing on the streets of Boston, entertaining generations of families with his music. He continued performing for nearly three-quarters of a century, retiring in 1974 at the age of 94.

For Persechini, the barrel piano was much more than a musical instrument. It was his livelihood and a means of building a life in his adopted country. His story reflects the determination, hard work, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial spirit shared by so many Italian immigrants who came to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Following an extensive restoration of its mechanical components, the Marino Persechini Barrel Piano is once again filling the air with music, just as it did more than a century ago.

During the presentation, audiences will have the opportunity not only to hear the historic instrument being played, but also to see its intricate mechanical workings up close and even turn the crank themselves.

The History of Organ Grinding and the Italian-American Experience

Gangi’s presentation will also explore the long history of organ grinding, tracing the development of hand-cranked musical instruments and the emergence of the street organ as a form of popular entertainment.

Particular attention will be given to the way organ grinding intersected with the heritage and immigrant experience of Italian Americans. For many Italian immigrants, the street organ offered a practical means of earning a living at a time when newly arrived immigrants often faced significant economic and social challenges.

For generations of Americans, the organ grinder became one of the most recognizable images associated with Italian immigrant life. Long before radio and television transformed popular entertainment, these musicians brought music directly to neighborhoods, parks, and city streets. They entertained families, created a familiar presence in urban communities, and earned an honest living through their performances.

The presentation will examine how this seemingly simple occupation became part of the larger story of Italian-American immigration and how organ grinders and their instruments became woven into the cultural fabric of American cities.

The image of the organ grinder would eventually become immortalized in photographs, films, literature, and popular culture, helping preserve the memory of a tradition that has largely disappeared from America’s streets.

“These instruments tell a story that goes far beyond music,” said Gangi. “The Marino Persechini Barrel Piano gives us a tangible connection to a generation of Italian immigrants who came to America looking for opportunity and built their lives through hard work and ingenuity. Having this particular instrument return to New York City—the place where Persechini purchased it in 1899—is incredibly meaningful.”

Although the era of the street organ has largely passed, its story remains one of perseverance, family, craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, music, and cultural pride.

The Marino Persechini Barrel Piano offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience that history firsthand—not simply by hearing about it, but by hearing the music and seeing the instrument that helped make the story possible.

About Great American Street Organ

Great American Street Organ, operated by Tony Gangi, is dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of hand-cranked street organs and their important place in American cultural and immigrant history. Through live musical performances, educational presentations, and historical programs, Great American Street Organ introduces audiences to the remarkable instruments, musicians, and traditions that once filled America’s streets with music.

Ticket price includes admission to the Museum’s current exhibitions, “Nuvolari – Comeback New York: An immersive exhibition celebrating the life of Tazio Nuvolari on the 90th Anniversary of his victory in the Vanderbilt Cup on Columbus Day, October 12, 1936”, “Sicilian Theater in Little Italy: The Return of the Manteo Puppets” and “Goodnight, Maria: A Tribute to all the women who worked tirelessly in the garment industry to live the American dream”.