1999 Patrick J. Murphy organ - St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral Road, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Brent Johnson talks with Wesley Parrot, organist of St. Mary's Episcopal Church Cathedral Road in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The specification of the organ can be found at www.pjmorgans.c...
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[@virginiaorganbuilder]

I have watched quite a few of these videos, and Mr. Parrot's improvisations are the very best I have heard. He makes each stop and combination of stops have its own voice, with music that is compelling and beautiful.

[@richardlowe4751]

Great to see an organist who really knows how to make the most of an instrument!

[@thadjaszek]

My neighbor was a parishioner here, and used to assist Wesley with this organ in various ways. After he passed, his memorial service was at this church. Wesley was kind enough to give me a tour of the instrument. That's the most narrow spiral stair I've ever been in! A fun surprise to see it featured here.

[@Pfeifender]

After some google research, you can find out fast, that Wesley Parrot is an assistant organist at Wanamaker, so definately a renowned organist.

[@OrganMediaFoundation]

And has since been appointed Organist of the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral.

[@gewells8098]

What a magnificent instrument! Very well played and definitely a talented organist!

[@fnersch3367]

That magnificent church needs a Gabler class organ. The wonderful sound that this small organ generates in the huge space is stunning; the epitome of ergonomics! The voicing & tonal finishing is excellent. Kudos to those involved.

[@bryangl1]

I have just discovered this series exploring various instruments in (as I've seen so far) more southern states in the US. This instrument is smaller than some (and i can't but pause to think on the very large sums invested by some churches), yet it is among the most beautifully sounding instruments i have heard so far. The organist makes very clever (and musically inspired) use of the voices available. Possibly due in part to the varied pedigrees of the ranks, the organ has a very orchestral sound with its wide tonal range. An instrument to be treasured in the hands of a musician also to be treasured. Apart from that, I enjoy the way this series explores the 'workings' of the instruments - an area of interest to me as I've worked on organ installations.

[@jamespkuzman]

So often borrowing and unification result in compromised organ that aims to be versatile and economical but results in mediocrity, as does the practice of re-using pipe work from the previous instrument. Not so here. Patrick Murphy obviously put a great deal of thought into this, and Wesley is not only a talented player but seems to have an intimate and comprehensive understanding of this organ. A very impressive combination and perhaps one of your best videos.

[@zenasm.savage1999]

Moeller pipe work is normally worth keeping. As is haskell. There are a lot of good old organ in this area and Murphy knows how to handle that.

[@HobbyOrganist]

I like that reed I heard! I dont care for borrowing pipes to create fake stops, like Moller et al getting a 4' and a 2' out of the same rank of pipes and making buyers think there's 3 ranks of pipes when it's only really ONE, LOL it's like the old reed organs that had only 2 sets of reeds but like 20 pull knobs with every imaginable name on them and people thought they were getting 20 different ranks and sounds when in reality all most of the knobs did was open some little doors progressively wider which are akin to pipe organ swell shades LOL. People thought more knobs is more organ and better, and it's very similar on pipe organs. My Moller had a 4' Flute D'amore, 4' Flute Traverso and a 4' Octave and none of those 3 had independent pipes- the stops just borrowed off the Stopped Diapason and so on. I added a separate rank of pipes for a 4' Octave, and a 4' flute triangulare I bought was extended to 8' with an octave of stopped pipes, and I'll be adding a wood 4' and a rank of slightly smaller Open Diapasons.

[@HobbyOrganist]

I like that reed I heard! I dont care for borrowing pipes to create fake stops, like Moller et al getting a 4' and a 2' out of the same rank of pipes and making buyers think there's 3 ranks of pipes when it's only really ONE, LOL it's like the old reed organs that had only 2 sets of reeds but like 20 pull knobs with every imaginable name on them and people thought they were getting 20 different ranks and sounds when in reality all most of the knobs did was open some little doors progressively wider which are akin to pipe organ swell shades LOL. People thought more knobs is more organ and better, and it's very similar on pipe organs. My Moller had a 4' Flute D'amore, 4' Flute Traverso and a 4' Octave and none of those 3 had independent pipes- the stops just borrowed off the Stopped Diapason and so on. I added a separate rank of pipes for a 4' Octave, and a 4' flute triangulare I bought was extended to 8' with an octave of stopped pipes, and I'll be adding a wood 4' and a rank of slightly smaller Open Diapasons.

[@mr.booker9263]

This is a remarkably effective instrument, and Mr. Parrot demonstrates it masterfully. It's quite astonishing how the builder pulled together so many reused pipes and made something that sounds "all of a piece." Very well done...everyone!

[@thomasdastillung4097]

Thank you for the behind the scene extensive show of the instrument.

[@nickmyers1085]

I love, love this organ.

[@Mr05241948]

Love these tours through the colours of these organs. At least once after exploring all the ranks, it would be nice to hear full organ. Thanks if you can.

[@petermacander5039]

True. Playing individual ranks does not tell the whole story about an organ. The key is how well all the ranks blend, complement, and enhance each other tonally and fit together in the whole tonal scheme without competing with one another, that reflects the skill of the tonal designer and voicer in organ building.

[@hautboisdamour2199]

Another wonderful organ tour. Thank you!

[@19shea85]

1:38 That's one of the most beautiful Diapasons I've ever heard. I listened to that little excerpt about a dozen times. What a great little organ.

[@HobbyOrganist]

I think it's Brent's video on the St John of nepomuck organ that has a really good sound to the diapasons etc kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoHVf6SYibSfrMk There's also this one, I love this part- Brent was hand pumping but ran out of steam just before the end of the piece, but what you can hear of it is just sweet! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZymgmdnl5eXnKM This 1890 Pfeffer, Horst has 16,8,4 principal on, lots of warm sound kzbin.info/www/bejne/moOZYnmanZZpjbc

[@HobbyOrganist]

I think it's Brent's video on the St John of nepomuck organ that has a really good sound to the diapasons etc kzbin.info/www/bejne/hoHVf6SYibSfrMk There's also this one, I love this part- Brent was hand pumping but ran out of steam just before the end of the piece, but what you can hear of it is just sweet! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZymgmdnl5eXnKM This 1890 Pfeffer, Horst has 16,8,4 principal on, lots of warm sound kzbin.info/www/bejne/moOZYnmanZZpjbc

[@lordjesuschristhavemercyon3251]

Just to think had the episcopalians finished building this, how amazing the organ would be.

[@lordjesuschristhavemercyon3251]

It would be massive! Ringing out through the multiple arches!

[@chrisdoeller7332]

Great use of older material, and with the good environment, it all seems to be a very useful service organ. I have always preferred these mixed pedigree instruments. like an EM Skinner renovated by AS. Its when older material is severely altered or out matched that it looses its good qualities. I have serviced many organs, these past 40 yrs, and am mostly let down when I get close and personal with a pedigree organ where the builder has claimed to controlled every bit of the tonal architecture or design. Most times he seems to have forgotten all about the building's flaws and strengths, and focused on some ephemeral notion once heard on a scratchy LP from his youth.

[@richardharrold9736]

On paper, this organ doesn't look like much, but despite its mixed origins, it manages to be a highly versatile and eminently musical instrument. Nice acoustic for such a small building (in terms of floor space) too - such a shame the ambitious cathedral project was abandoned, seemingly forever... imagine what the main cathedral organ would have been like! BTW, a DE-humidifier in the organ?!

[@OrganMediaFoundation]

In retrospect, that device was actually most likely a heater to warm the chamber. There were various electric heating devices around the church.

[@user-yt8du6py5e]

Interesting instrument, but pedal seems weak. Just curious why they didn’t do a three manual. The room looks huge.

[@stepheneggert7388]

Im woundering if u can visit st.jonhs in detrot mi as well its an older church..its of i 75...

[@Richard-vq7ud]

Why cant every church have acoustics like that. Even a cheap electric organ can sound beautiful with live reverb. Any organ is dead without acoustics.

[@PeterWarner-yz7tb]

Reduce, rescale, repurpose , reuse, recycle ♻️

[@Wanamaker1946]

The church is the Lady Chapel of what would’ve been a great Cathedral.

[@georgemurphy2579]

Good player, but he can be a little snappy

[@enchamade8]

George Murphy, I have, unfortunately, found that to be true with many organists whom I've met through the AGO. I'll never understand it.

[@georgemurphy2579]

@@enchamade8 you are so right! I have experienced this behavior for years now. Not all, of course, but if I were to list the common negatives of the "organist," you would surely concur. However, I wil digress...

[@denovadiddeldorf8324]

Sounds Fabby-Poo