History of the Wanamaker Organ at Macy's Philadelphia

[@brickman409]

When they broadcast it live on the first Sunday of every month, they should also stream it live to KZbin. I'd watch it!

[@greyjanna]

I toured the Organ with my Daughter. It is truly a masterpiece Thank you for preserving this beautiful instrument

[@ronhoffstein8142]

It's so good to see an enterprise that is large enough and stable enough to keep and maintain such a treasure. So sad to see other treasures similar to this one put in crates and forgotten because of earthquake damage, by short sighted individuals.

[@aquaatem1]

Best documentary ever! Best narrating voice, love the voice!

[@rwssinor]

Awesome. Used to love stopping in here when it was Wannamakers .. happy Macys has kept it up.

[@Plutosbuddy]

Fabulous. As a page turner when a youth, I really appreciate this organ & u tube! I would like to see & hear my grandson, a budding organist, play this fabulous instrument!

[@allanegleston4931]

i play a trumpet, what do u play? i play a building.

[@The77trip]

This narrator unfortunately didn’t bother to state that Mr Wanamaker was a devout Episcopalian and as such made damn sure this masterpiece of an organ could more than hold its own in any large Episcopal church.

[@jimneidig1919]

Magnificent Treasure For USA to Preserve For ever !

[@tedphillips2501]

I was privileged to meet Keith Chapman for a noontime program in 1973. He asked me what I would like to hear. As it was during store hours, it couldn't be full organ so I asked him if he would play the tunes from 'The Sound of Music'. He did - marvelously. At the time, there were only a few of the combination pistons working. Making all the combination action functional was considered a potential fire hazard due to the current draw through the original wiring made of copper wire wrapped in cotton then dipped in wax. Thanks to the development of solid state electronics and plastic insulated wires used in the instrument's restoration, now everything works. Peter Richard Conte is a marvelous performer as well. If Macy's every has to close the store (it is not in the best section of Philadelphia and internet sales have changed the way we shop) I hope the instrument ends up in the Smithsonian. There is also a CD available of Virgil Fox playing it in 1964 made from the original 35mm film recording used to make the original vinyl 33rpm records. As it was recorded to RIAA standard at the time, you will have to boost the bass and shade the treble to hear it correctly. One last note - The manuals are all playable from a sitting position as the keys were all made shorter from front to back. Hearing it live is worth the trip.

[@medievalmusiclover]

Wonderful Organ. I am never been in Philadelphia, but this is a good excuse to travel right there. I love Organs/

[@RezaChity-G]

Cool! We also have a lovely cathedral too

[@HeidiKohne]

When the pandemic is over, also attend a Philadelphia Orchestra concert in Verizon Hall. They have a large Dobson organ there, and they sometimes do concerts with both the orchestra and organ.

[@BizarreSuzanne]

I still need to get up there to Philly and hear that beast played...I have saved so many pieces which various organists have played on it...and seen a "behind the scenes" tour of the "innards"...But I've never been there to hear it for myself. Oh yeah...I've been to Philly, but had other things going at the time. Yeah...would love to see that thing streamed live here on the 'net!

[@georgemurphy2579]

Suzanne...hope you have had a chance to get up there. On Saturday, October 08, 2022, there will be a free concert at 7PM to honor the 200th birth year of Cesar Franck.

[@Zechariah_12.10]

I remember my late father playing the Wanamaker organ on a number of occasions. I also remember that the resident organist used to give several recitals throughout the day, and the music could be heard all over the store. It’s a pity that there is only one recital a week now.

[@FokkerAce1917]

The friends website says there are 2 concerts a day currently

[@HeidiKohne]

Yeah, the video is a little misleading. I think the monthly ones are the only ones being broadcast. Typically they do a brief concert at noon and 5pm at least 6 days a week, maybe all 7.

[@steamgent4592]

A true treasure of Philly. Now if only they had kept Toyland with the ceiling train and the Crystal tea room restaurant. What great memories.

[@Nyck461]

Fantastic instrument.

[@rmsflorida]

Back around 1963 my Mother worked at a Italian restaurant off of Cherry St.,a couple blocks away from City Hall......Rizzo was mayor. My Father would escort her to work. He was a excellent musician. My Mother was friends the manager at Wanamaker's She somehow got my Father the opportunity to play that wonderful instrument. He said it took him a few minutes to familiarize himself with it since took a moment for the organ to sound after the key was depressed. He played it very well .! He was asked if he could come again and play. I have to say that he talked about that experience often. I'm proud that Macy's has done the right thing and protect this part of Philadelphia's history. It's just a shame that Philly has lost so much since then.

[@yvonneplant9434]

Frank Rizzo was NOT the mayor in 1963. 😂

[@yvonneplant9434]

Since you were wrong about who was PHL in 1963 you are also WRONG about Philadelphia as it is right now.

[@jamesmshemwell]

Fun fact: Charles Henry Galloway of St. Louis (instructor in Music at Wash U.), teacher of James T. Quarles (Head of Music at Cornell and Missouri), was the intended debut organist for this monster of an instrument at the St. Louis Exposition. A different celebrity organist was slated to play more recitals on the instrument however. Galloway, a frequent contributor to The Etude, died in the Wash U field-house several years later stepping off the podium having just directed a rousing choral and symphonic rehearsal. He had a heart condition which struck just then.

[@Zeyev]

Beautiful history. Thanks. Two quibbles: 1. In the underbar you provide "it's" current pipe count. You meant "its." 2. In the narrative you mention "downtown" Philadelphia. It's "Center CIty." Aside from that, what a wonderful presentation.

[@plumbingstuffinoregon2471]

This video was perfect! I loved it!!!

[@philosopher1a]

28,750 PIPES!!!!!! ONLY in AMERICA what a rich and wonderful culture we have

[@Lex-Rex]

Check out the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ. It is the largest organ in the World. Currently, it is being renovated, and only a few sections work, but more and more is getting restored. It has 33,114 pipes.

[@philosopher1a]

@@Lex-Rex wow Amazing ..

[@cwctlh]

@@Lex-Rex I'm so glad to hear that it's being restored. I remember it from visits as a kid in the 1960s. It's an amazing instrument.

[@FromHolbergsTime]

A National Treasure!

[@markferwerda7968]

I'd love to hear Steven Tharp do some improvisation on that organ!

[@highthai7]

how do i get this vst plugin?

[@colonelpotter]

it's only the worlds largest working pipe organ and the largest in the world is in Atlantic City

[@willausterman3104]

It is between 35-50% functional at the the moment and it's restoration has been fully funded. About 6-10 years and it will be 100%.

[@WarrenPostma]

I hope to hear both of these live and in person before i kick it.

[@lifeontheledgerlines8394]

@@WarrenPostma Don't we all?

[@HeidiKohne]

They both are the largest in the world depending on the metrics used. One has more ranks, the other more pipes. They're both loud and thrilling to hear in person (especially Wanamaker for an evening concert, as that's when they can utilize the whole instrument).

[@juanxolo9968]

Antiqu-tech

[@jackfahey4610]

Thanks to Macy’s and Friends of the organ for preserving this

[@lejeffbarker6346]

Quand je pense que nous ne sommes même pas capables du bon entretien de St Sulpice, de Rouen, sans parler de ce qui a été fait de Notre-Dame. Quand j'entends la justesse et la musicalité de ces choeurs, de ce orchestres... Désolant...

[@hughvane]

Perhaps I missed it, but no mention made or image shown of the machinery that supplies air for the organ.

[@JasperJanssen]

hughvane it's a bunch of big squirrel cage fans distributed throughout the building, routed through a bellows regulator.

[@bend1119]

9 Massive blowers, Shown in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/b2muioCmd91spckm57s

[@goose300183]

Have a look at Fran Blanche's channel on here. It has several very long and detailed videos all about this. Fascinating stuff!

[@kimmylou1965]

The Wanamaker’s Organ Broadcast can be heard most Wednesday evenings at 7pm est. on www.yesterdayusa.com

[@chrishoonbag8844]

Nothing today is built like this. Pay attention to things.

[@willuk2]

Hreat video. What is the music behind the narrative? I can't place it. Thanks in advance. I have heard the organ a couple of times. Amazing.

[@willemceuleers3789]

2nd symphony for organ and orchestra opus 91 by Alexandre Guilmant, his own transcription of organ sonata no. 8. Cheers, Willem (Belgium, EU)

[@princeedmirovillar215]

Wanamaker Organ is so great just like her big brother Midmer-Losh but ever since the latter got severely damaged since 1944, Wanamaker is currently the biggest fully functioning organ in the world

[@clydesight]

Love this!

[@bs11100010]

$105,000.00 in 1911 is over 2.5 billion dollars with inflation... and its only worth 71 million today :|

[@XY_Dude]

your decimal is off! try $2.5mil.

[@HeidiKohne]

@@XY_Dude Which would put the original instrument as being a bargain for that size. A brand new one for that amount of money would get you probably half that big.

[@gregoryagogo]

JUST AWESOME!

[@bobsloan8349]

My Grandfather was supposed to have played this organ. Is there any list of people who have played it???

[@jakedarmstadter6943]

What was your grandfathers name? There is a list of some of the organists (not all) on the organs Wikipedia page

[@bobsloan8349]

@@jakedarmstadter6943 Thank you for your comment. My Grandfather's name was, Harry Sloan. I've seen lists of people who played the organ. Never saw his.

[@oldschool8432]

That was the scariest Shetland pony I ever did see

[@TruckTaxiMoveIt]

The very definition of grandiose

[@fluteharmonique8]

ironic the background music comes from Liverpool Cathedral.

[@HeidiKohne]

@@BrodyWBrown Yeah, the opening movement of Guilmant's Symphony #2 for organ and orchestra. Alexandre Guilmant himself later transcribed it for organ solo as Sonata #8. It's a great piece. I'd also check out his Symphony #1/Sonata #1 as well as Charles-Marie Widor's Symphony #3 for orchestra (not the organ solo symphonies).

[@MilePost106]

Beautiful!!!

[@elspethnocturnallament5836]

watching this to try and get over my fear of organs lol

[@georgemurphy2579]

Here is a good enough reason to patronize Macy's (not to mention the parades, and fireworks displays), which they are so generous in doing for people from around the world.

[@elpablosky6300]

On 1987 and 1991 was filmed the comedy romance movie "Mannequin "( 1987) and " Mannequin on the move (1991) .

[@yvonneplant9434]

There is some news that the store may close. Who knows what will happen to the organ???? 😢

[@WAX6428]

What is the name of the back ground music?

[@HeidiKohne]

Opening movement of Alexandre Guilmant's Symphony #2 for organ and orchestra, later transcribed by Guilmant himself as Organ Sonata #8.

[@OrganNLou]

The building was sold (organ staff fired) and the Wannamaker organ in 2 months maybe no more

[@kekistanikekfrog7051]

I bet the Chinese would LOVE to have a replica of that to play their music in one of their big city shopping Malls. As America comes to a screeching halt economically there seems to be more interest in the past than in building the future.

[@uriahroseii1026]

I've never had a chance to see and hear it in the flesh. I'd like to before they shut it down at some point.

[@patmeaden]

uriah rose ii I’ve seen it twice, you should go, so gooooooood

[@itzz_jrdn1290]

**In Macy’s**

[@evosolutionsllc.910]

Sad they are getting rid of it

[@trharrington22]

So the keyboards are still from 109 years ago

[@truckinprepper8743]

280 tons ,,,, equivalent to 7 fully loaded Semi trucks .

[@tylerslovesblu-raydiscplay7209]

1905

[@Tulody]

GNTC music class anyone?

[@kekistanikekfrog7051]

Did I drop down the Rabbit's hole? I thought that Macy's shut down that store YEARS ago. In fact didn't Macy's go out of business in the 1990's?

[@kekistanikekfrog7051]

or esrly 2000's?

[@alexxccccxbbb9952]

Kekistani Kekfrog Mandela affect

[@alexxccccxbbb9952]

Effect

[@danielmkubacki]

You need learn more about the organ. www.wanamakerorgan.com/

[@sherryk30]

its changed hands at least twice since Wanamaker went out of business in the late 70's/early 80's and I recall Lord and Taylor and finally Macys. there is still a Macy's in my town, 20 mins below Philly, that is alive and well. I was there last week! I'm Mandela Effected but I think I'm correct here and it's not a multiple timeline - it's Macys😊

[@ajn465]

Maynard ferguson newport

[@nicholasd7731]

Yeah, but... what about the holiday tradition and COVID?????????????

[@charlesrowan4632]

It’s an organ presentation not an English lesson!!

[@abandawon]

Will ALWAYS be 'Wannies' to me........ Sorry Macy's . . .

[@kekistanikekfrog7051]

I say "out with the old and in with the new!"

[@SynchroScore]

I say you're an idiot.

[@DuaLeaD]

I swear, if I hear the phrase "The Wanamaker Organ" again, I will throw my speakers out the window.... Has this man not heard of pronouns? It sounds like a 3rd rate used car lot commercial constantly repeating their phone number to fry into your memory....

[@kekistanikekfrog7051]

That thing is going to be a nightmare to maintain, I predict that Macy's is going to lose their shirt in maintaining it. Scrap it or sell it to a multi-billionare collector.

[@HeidiKohne]

Much of the money spent on repairing and keeping it up to snuff isn't paid by Macy's, but rather the Friends organization. I believe the people are officially Macy's employees.

[@kekistanikekfrog7051]

While it is impressive it is also obsolete and church music is not a good fit in a shopping store in modern America. They should only play baseball music and other secular melodies.

[@saltcitytutoring8976]

Kekistani Kekfrog capitalism is from the pits of satan. Begon you demon

[@HeidiKohne]

Umm, church music isn't played in the store. I don't know if it ever has been. There is a ton of existing repertoire for organists that isn't sacred. Peter Conte plays for a local church as well, and he (and any of us organists in the same position) would be keeping those two worlds apart. The same is true for the non-church instruments at Boardwalk Hall in New Jersey, Municipal Auditorium in Portland, Maine, and Spreckles in San Diego, California, and many other places around the country.

[@OldsVistaCruiser]

In early 2018, "Fly, Eagles, Fly" was actually played on the Wanamaker in anticipation of Super Bowl LII, which the Eagles won.

[@elnoetic]

Pray Tell, what is your definition of "Church Music"? Imprecise definition leads to twisted and warped conclusions, from an obsessed agenda-pursuing mind. Should Handel's "Messiah" be ignored or abandoned because he dedicated it to the Glory of God, whatever that definition of "God" may be? To my mind, God might be defined as the incredible and wonderful Earth and Universe we find ourselves in. And what about the Pipe Organ at Symphony Hall in Lincoln Center? Should that instrument be limited in regard to the music is played on it? Gimme a break. The aphorism "Get A Life" is somehow relevant here!