Christmas Organ Medley played by Dick Leibert

[@markgrochowski3199]

I saw Dick perform before the Radio City Easter show in 1970. The spotlight was on the left console at which he was seated and he had the undivided attention of the audience. They used to show movies before the stage show commenced and that day it was "Airport". The Rockettes did a dance routine where they were all dressed like blooming Easter Lilies.

[@Taoseno2007]

Loved Dick Liebert!! Thanks Dick! You made this organ, the largest WurliTzer EVER built SING!! God Bless You!

[@johnhenryholiday4964]

I remember hearing that magnificent organ when I was 14.... the year was 1972.... I was in total awe, I had never heard ANYTHING so beautiful as that organ, the round flutes, the reeds that growled, the strings that undulated and yet were in tune with the rest of the organ.... I will never forget that magical moment in time....

[@smokesignal416]

I first heard this recording back in the later 1950's I believe. My mother had acquired it. I had never heard a theatre organ before but listening to the grandeur of the organ and the fabulous arrangement of The First Noel at the end was something I never forgot. I've been playing theatre organ now for almost sixty years and this still moves me to the core. The greatest compliment I've received was when people have said, "You play like Dick Liebert with those big grand sounds and full-handed chords."

[@davidjohnson5408]

This wonderful Christmas medley by Dick Leibert at the Radio City Music Hall Grand Organ was recorded in March, 1958. We’ve seen the Christmas show several times, and the real treasure of that is the twin console recital of the Grand Organ. Magnificent!

[@billbane5606]

There is just nothing like the sound of the shimmering "strings" on the Wurlitzer theater pipe organ. It just sounds like heaven.

[@christopherandrews2594]

Having been many times to the Christmas Spectacular this brings back happy memories of the sound of this extraordinary Wurlitzer. Long may it continue to be played. Excellent recording.

[@unclelouie3828]

Love Dick Leibert. Used to go to the Music Hall just to hear him. He was never 'featured'. He played before the 'show' and during intermissions (while people were talking). I used to walk up to the console to watch him. "This' is a beautiful film/video. Organ sounds wonderful. Thanks a lot for this.

[@tubamaxima187]

What a find !!!! Sixty years ago I heard a recording of Dick Liebert playing a piece incorretly named "The Radio City March" on the radio WPAT Paterson, New Jersey. I was able to record this piece on a reel to reel tape recorder and always wondered what the original source LP was. Half way through this Christmas Medley, Liebert plays the Radio City March. The crazy thing is that I had this theme in my head for sixty years and never thought I would hear it again

[@davidjohnson5408]

Dick Leibert wrote the Radio City Music Hall March. He also wrote Under the Christmas Mistletoe which is heard in this Christmas medley. It is a fast piece with chimes. Leibert knew his way around this magnificent Wurlitzer organ!

[@bebomarin]

I lived in New Jersey during high school and early college (late 50’s and 1960’s). This recording of Liebert was one band on a souvenir LP sold in the lobby during the Christmas show. I still have half a dozen of those Christmas LPs in storage, and each is a treasure. One of my favorite pieces Dick plays on this recording is “Under the Christmas Mistletoe” - a piece he wrote for the hall back in the 1930’s. Roxy told him to compose original music for the Hall, and he continued to do so even after Roxy left. Liebert was a master improvisaltionalist, and it was he that worked to include the organ in orchestral pieces. He also had this uncanny ability to begin playing the movie theme and merge his playing perfectly with the sound track.

[@carllambie9243]

@@bebomarin, I'm from the flyover zone and was at RCMH in the seventies when the Rockettes were on strike and Mr. Liebert pulled this stunt. It was like he left the organ bench and the music continued. Just that smooth.

[@DanMurphyOpost]

I looked a long time for that recording. Eventually, a friend found a source for it in Europe.

[@jackraves7363]

🎼a rare (to me) and historic recording perfectly timed and shared on first day of Christmas 2021 🎹 🙏 🙏 🙏

[@raoulmongilardi6152]

A very pristine post of this great recording, thanks the instrument really comes through.

[@johnpetty212]

Thanks so much for uploading this... I've been searching for it for a long time...

[@HenryAldridge-z5q]

Another Leibert recording well worth hearing is "The Happy Hits of Christmas." Ron Bishop told me that the RCA engineer asked Leibert for a recording level, and Dick played a bit of an original composition called "Bedknobs and Broomsticks." When the engineer asked Leibert the name of the piece, Dick quickly replied "Under the Christmas Mistletoe." Thus, an Irish jig became a Christmas piece. It has nothing to do with The Radio City March. That's a different piece. I heard him many times at Radio City. Thank goodness, they still use the organ before, during, and after the current Christmas show.

[@lewwilliams9617]

"Under the Christmas Mistletoe" was originally entitled "Brickbats and Shillelaghs." Dick gave it the new title for the Christmas LP.

[@LarcR]

The Radio City Wurlitzer doesn't sound like any other Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ I've ever heard. Although it was definitely built by Wurlitzer, it was not designed by them. When Radio City Music Hall was being built, developer Samuel "Roxy" Rothafel arranged for the organ to be supplied by the Kimball Organ Company. He had a Kimball organ in his NYC Roxy Theatre, was pleased with it and wanted to stick with that company. But board members of RCA were of the opinion that Wurlitzer had a superior reputation for quality and wanted the very best for the Music Hall. So organ construction was switched to Wurlitzer. To placate Kimball - and perhaps to avoid being sued by them - it was agreed that Kimball's design would be used. Ever since the Music Hall opened in late 1932, there has been some thought that the organ may have been even more spectacular if it had also been designed by Wurlitzer.

[@williamklimas7515]

It's the Kimball speced Diapason chorus that makes this organ special.

[@tubamaxima187]

I wish I could get the music for Liebert’s Radio City March