The Municipal Organ

This is a chapter entitled "The Municipal Organ" from the documentary film "The Senator's Masterpiece" about the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Organ. For more information about The Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall Organ, please visit: www.boardwalkorgans.org/
For more information on the preservation of America's historic pipe organs please visit: www.organsociet...
For more information about the filmmaker please visit: www.VicFerrerPr...
© 2006 Vic Ferrer Productions
htpp://www.boardwalkorgans.org/
www.ExpositionO...

[@buzzbrayable]

Pure seminal joy! The sound comes at you from all directions. It is absolutely a joy! Imagine how she'll sound when she's fully restored!

[@818Dimples]

Thank you Vic Ferrer for this posting.

[@rogergroot2950]

Wow what a wonderful experience watching this how these magnificent organs were made! As a young boy in the 1940`s I used to go with my dad and brothers who serviced and tuned the many pipe organs in the larger churches in western Michigan and being inside the organ chambers and watching them tune the pipes was so fascinating for me also.Most of the organs were SCHANTZ ORGAN Co. from Orville,Ohio as they were the servicemen for SCHANTZ.

[@mountainsong100]

Did you know that John Shantz

[@mairzydoatz1]

How I would like to travel there and hear that organ played by a master organist !

[@miksutus989]

MY GOD WHAT ORGANS, I NEVER KNEW ABOUT THESE ORGANS, AND THIS SIZE....THE PIPES. AMAZING.

[@twillertorganprojects]

Great documentary. Thanks for posting.

[@jhonwask]

This is such an interesting piece of Americana combined with centuries of organ building. I remember tuning a small pipe organ, but I would have needed a team of 50 to tune this baby.

[@MANTLEBERG]

Thanks for this posting, it made me feel good on a rainy day.

[@medpub]

The amazing things man can do when he is not fighting one another. Time to stop all wars and make this the greatest planet in the Universe.

[@BizarreSuzanne]

That is one fantastic set of keyboards and stops! One has to be a master musician to understand that and play it for the best effects! Play it like a "theatre organ" (grins) along with the silent movies of the day...

[@hankjonkman1893]

Amazing talent. Simply effortless, and perfect.

[@boobird341471]

Magnificent! Thank you for posting this; I would love to visit this hall and experience this piece of history firsthand!

[@MrClaudeholmes]

Magnificent I'm glad that musical treasures like this is now on KZbin. And I thought that the Wannamaker was the king of mammoth sized pipe organs. Very educational as well as entertaining .

[@007TruthSeeker]

Thanks for posting this video. I play organ for church, so would love to tickle those keyboards some day. This documentary had the kind of respect for the instrument and the people who made it happen which I love to see. It is not just huge beyond belief, but made to provide everything from the softest to the loudest music. Now I've got something else I've got to do before I kick the bucket. :o)

[@fourstar7]

this needs to be restored.

[@medievalmusiclover]

Great Video Vic. Thank You for posting!

[@ronnie5129]

This Is TOTALLY AWESOME, thank you for this video..............

[@bachkirche]

A great irony about this organ is that it contained a small baroque section of a few ranks that helped to spur renewed interest in old organs. Through the efforts of many important people such as Flentrop, Schweitzer and Biggs, the Orgelbewegung movement was born which has brought these wonderful "old" instruments from the past back to life throughout the world. It has also led to an improved quality of other instruments as well. Everybody wins.

[@foveauxbear]

Fascinating documentary - I must point out the Grand Organ of Sydney Town Hall is the other monster with a 64' stop - it is called the Contratrombone64. It, is a reed stop, not a flute stop, like at Atlantic City.

[@BCSchmerker]

This seven-manual and pedal organ will be quite a project to get all up, especially with the ranks of the three lower-manual divisions being of extended compass. The console looks well designed for handling 200+ ranks (some probably unified to save volume) from its 1,000+ stops.

[@beedoe51]

Simply amazing! Truly remarkable on every level. I can't imagine hearing and feeling music played by a single musician encompassing every frequency possible to the human ear and beyond...I hope one day to experience that low 64' stop. Technology way, way ahead of it's time!!! Thanks for posting this!!!! Steve

[@acoustics101]

I have the DVD of this well made video. It is awesome! This instrument needs to be publicly promoted as the national treasure it is, so that more people become aware of it. Atlantic City has a lot more going for it than its casinos.

[@florianchurch]

Amazing, Exciting, Interesting - Wonderful Instrument !

[@organmastr]

i love the little cartoon in the beginning!

[@notredameswarrior1]

@Jm4steam its being restored right now....my dads organ company is helping with it so i get to work on it to....in about 9 years it will be playing again...i know its a long time but it will be worth the wait

[@BruceNitroxpro]

My chest swells with pride having been born in and residing in the state of New Jersey where this behemoth can be found!

[@Paraprax]

Finally a satisfying display of this organ.... even finding photographs of the whole thing(as opposed to just the keyboard womb) is inexplicably difficult.

[@KingdaToro]

It's really because any picture of the whole organ is really just a picture of the auditorium. With eight pipe chambers spread throughout the room and no exposed pipes, you can't even really tell there's an organ there at all unless the work lights in the stage chambers are on or you notice the console. Normally they turn off the chamber lights for events, even if the organ will be played, but leave them on during the usual recitals.

[@DSM1G90]

The ACCHOS, in 1998, did release a CD of various pieces - from classical to popular along with stops samples (as with the Ophiclede stop that uses 100 inches of wind). It was an excellent release. Need to check this out.

[@cornwall59]

Wow! "King of Instruments" this would be my worlds ambition to see, hear, & play this!

[@bradencutright-head6629]

Great video!

[@silver760]

I hope they get to complete their dream of fully reinstating this amazing organ,though as to how much is missing and what needs repair/renovation is difficult to discover as this information doesn't seem to be online.

[@tnasburypl]

Awesome to say the least.

[@basspig]

00:37 I recognize the organ's big entry in Camille Saint-saens' final movement of the Organ Symphony Nr 3. Nice animation too, very expressive.

[@user-hp5fp2jb9g]

I don't know how I got here but I'm glad I learned that

[@GEMUS1]

I had dreams of being a professional organist when I was young, but my fingers stopped growing too soon. I love to listen to organs, all types (pipe to modern electronic ones). This organ is the biggest I've ever seen, it is gorgeous!

[@wilmarijnissen7398]

Luis founsi despasito nu Starship five

[@sharonstromley9350]

I have short fingers but it does not stop me...played the Worcester MA organ riding up from the basement..what fun..played organs all over this country, England, South Africa..practice and begin the adventure with those short fingers.🎶

[@mountainsong100]

Your comment regarding 64' Ophaclide, believe West Point Chapel has one which is placed under the bleachers in the side upper balcony. And as you mentioned Wanamaker's in Philly.

[@cycodragon2412]

I'm amazed it's still around for how under used it is now.

[@mountainsong100]

Including hurricanes which practically destroyed that organ..including Sandy a few years back.

[@JackSassyPants]

That is too many goddamn keyboards. The magnitude of this thing is absolutely mind-blowing.

[@mountainsong100]

Just think about it as the cockpit of a 747..lol

[@MultiBlue75]

It is being restored. Progress is just really slow. The left stage chamber has a huge part of it removed and is being restored. The right stage chamber is still the only side that plays, portions of it still have issues. They are trying to replace the internal portions with more modern parts so that it will require less maintenance and be more reliable. I know the Curator through a good friend of mine and he says that it will be awhile before it is completely done.

[@untensil]

I would love to pull out all the stops!

[@VicFerrer]

Some would like to know what tracks were used on the full documentary. For a list of all music, please see Chapter 6 of the Senator's Masterpiece. The Senator's Masterpiece - Chapter 06 - Atlantic City Convention Hall Pipe Organ

[@Shred_The_Weapon]

Historically, the 1920s was also the era of the Wurlitzer theater organ. Was there ever the impetus for a “duke-out” between the Municipal and the Wurlitzer? I haven’t made it to Convention Hall, but I have been to Wanamaker’s. The guy who escorted me there, Mr. Stephen L. Andersen (1943-2009), would explode with excitement to know that the Convention Hall Municipal Organ was being renovated.

[@oofahman]

just AMAZING!!! :)

[@Herr_strauss91]

I'll be the first to comment. What an amazing documentary on my favorite Pipe Organ, highly educational and informative. Tho I would hate to be a critic here, I wish they would've shown more of the actual organ itself, i.e. such as its current state of condition, all of the heavy bass stops, the infamous grand ophicleide and it's thunderous roar, etc. Tho I look forward to another video, take this comment into consideration. Many thanks! -Levi S.

[@allenporterfield7578]

The 2nd largest organ with 64' pipes must be the one in Salt Lake City at the Mormon Tabernacle. It's might

[@shadivaburden4822]

I like the first part lol I will be excited the same way COOL😍😍

[@TheMechanicalChannel]

i have got to have a go at that

[@silver760]

"Back then" it wasn't that long ago,it was constructed in 1929.There a many pipe organs built in the 15th century that are fully operational some with nearly all their original pipes.

[@charliebirkner8729]

So this is larger than the Wannamaker at Macy's? Fascinating!

[@rgnechuta]

love the trumpets , reminds me of st andrews cathedral grand rapids michigian chancel 8 trumpets.

[@PeteKowalsky]

Wow! 'Nuff said.

[@WilliamMitchell-sc3fe]

My dream pipe organ to play someday 😊☺️♥️

[@rareform6747]

This Organ is great BUT ... The University of Texas has a big tracker Organ in a hall that was built for it " Bates Recital Hall " The best of the best in sound ! Visser Rowland .

[@mountainsong100]

Never knew there were ,2 organs on the Broadwalk...the one of some 33 thousand pipes and now the Kimble..once there was a Kimble at Carnegie Hall, disappeared years ago.

[@RafaelBorgesRDB]

That's not just an organ... That's a whole BODY!

[@dudewhosaysarrh]

A very complex ORGANISM even ;-)

[@manga12]

The 64 is a hybred pipe stop, the lowest ones are diaphone, the others are reed, and from what an organist tells me origionaly the stop was supposed to be both and could be switched to eaither or but they could not make it work so some were made diaphone and some reed they are on 30 inches of wind I was told by someone that took video of the organ or was it 50 inches of wind, the grand is 100 inches which i think they said is about 3 psi

[@tempetiger]

Is that 64' pipe they are showing at 9:10 and afterwards a Diaphone? It is made of wood, square, and tapers out towards the top. They state that it is more felt than heard. Reminds me of the 32'' diaphone at the Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, AZ. This is a really great video. Thanks for posting!

[@anachreon01]

dear Mr Goddman, what you say is fascinating - spoilt by the malapropism of the word "enormity" which doesn't mean "big" - it means "an horrific crime". What was accomplished was an engineering marvel. Regards

[@robthesamplist]

i didnt know organs were that complex back then.

[@thingsdemystified]

I wish they focused more on the mechanics of the organ. I'd like to know about the pressures and such.

[@jinggo78]

i can't help but notice the innuendo. "large organ" "large instrument " "fill this place with a large organ" ... or was it just me? lol

[@joha750]

me too that is my goal in this mammoth to see,hear,and also to played

[@Loyal2none]

you must be a mad man to play that!!!

[@JonasClark]

To Melos Antropon (nice username, by the way - a very obscure pipe organ reference) -- the Atlantic City organ was not "briefly" the largest organ in the world. It is, or is not, depending on how one counts, to this day. The Atlantic City Organ vs. the Wanamaker Organ has been a great debate, with the latter having more ranks due to being mostly 'straight,' and the former having more stops due to its fair number of 'extended' ranks. Atlantic City, either way, has more pipes-- and if that is the true measure of size, it IS the largest. Wanamaker has the distinction, however, of being fully restored and playable right now.

[@Gottenhimfella]

This controversy is a prime example of the inability of many in the US to grasp that, contrary to Liberace's famous dictum, it IS possible to have too much of a good thing.

[@MarceloBruno2706]

Some could say that is the quintenssence, but for me such "grandiosity" is not necessary: once upon a time I dreamed of a very smaller instrument on that one could play all the literature. Now I tell that I found an even smaller that pleased me enough: the Paul Fritts & Co. instrument at the Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA. I have recording of some J. S. Bach's organ works (BWV 572, 541, 544, 546, 548 and 769) played by Joan Lippincott (Gothic CD G 49202).

[@Jm4steam]

What's is the status of the instrument? Completely restored, starting?

[@mjgextremegaming2942]

My destiny (as decided many years ago) since i heard this organ

[@morenopicollo8263]

Cavolo !!! 64 piedi !? 7 manuali ?! Accidenti, è un organo immenso !!!

[@Organgrinder1010]

Wanamaker's is the largest fully functioning pipe organ, I believe. If/when this municipal organ is restored, it will return to world's largest status. It remains world's largest, though much is unplayable.

[@allenporterfield7578]

The Mormon Tabernacle continuing to fill its specially designed auditorium in Salt Lake City, Utah with heavenly music from it's massive 64' pipes.

[@dvora072096]

Excellent documentary, Vic Ferrer. Do we know the identity of the woman in the group photo at the end of the trailer?

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

I want to hear Tocotta and Fugue played on it!

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

and is there a video anywhere? (I want to see it! :D)

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

***** what about this one?

[@JonasClark]

***** As did Felix Hell. I have a recording of that, but it uses only the Right Stage stops, with no 64' or 100".

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

Jonas Clark i thought it was a 128 pipe (or something like that)

[@JonasClark]

***** What about "128 pipe"? The exact number of pipes in this organ is not known, due to some odd arrangements with many of the ranks. However, the exact number is somewhere between 29,092 and 33,893. Even at the lowest possible number, it is the largest organ in the world by number of pipes. There has been reference made to a 128-foot organ stop. It can be done as a resultant pitch by putting two conflicting pitches of adjacent ranks together, the way a 16-foot stop and a 10 2/3-foot stop can create a resultant 32-foot, and a 32-foot and 21 1/3-foot can create a resultant 64' (the latter commonly labeled Gravissima). No actual 128' stop exists in any organ, nor is there a stopped (half-length) 128' stop.

[@RobertKarlBerta]

Among the instruments i play are theater pipe organs. What is the status of the restoration of this instrument? Sounds like it is up to around 50%. Problem with big programs like this is getting funding and keeping it funded for ongoing maintenance. The Wanamaker was in a similar state of decay but now 100% restored. That being said....just because an organ is huge doesn't mean it is wonderful or has a great sound. Waiting for final completion and a competent performer to see if it lives up to it's promises.

[@dudewhosaysarrh]

The main problem with an actual demo of that organ is the fact, that it had to be restored at the time the documentary was made.. A few years back during renovation of the building, a workman cut the consoles main cable rendering the organ largely inoperative. The documentary was partly intended to raise funds for the organ's restauration.

[@JonasClark]

I don't think the cable to the main console has ever been cut, has it? One of the relay rooms was cut out and disassembled, and the cable to the portable five-manual console was cut decades ago. As far as I know, the main seven-manual console has never been disconnected, and the Right Stage Chamber, restored in the 90s and damaged during the building restoration, has been restored again.

[@KingdaToro]

The left stage chamber's relay (which also runs the left forward) was removed as part of the 1998-2001 renovation of the hall, as it was located under the old balcony seating and its entire room was being removed in the renovation. The left stage chamber has since received a modern solid-state electronic relay, this will eventually be installed throughout the organ but the old relays will be kept connected for historical purposes. The secondary console's cable was cut a while ago, but the main console has always been operational. The plan is to restore the secondary console to play the organ wirelessly through only the new relay.

[@music784151]

Wonderfully informative documentary excerpt. How grand it would be if they could have a statewide yearly telethon to raise the funds to totally restore this magnificent instrument. Perhaps the casinos could donate much needed monies. Surely there are musical non-profit organizations that could help as well.

[@technocrash09]

I always thought the Wannamaker was considered the world's Largest (?). I guess organs are like rollercoasters! Anyways, I would sooooooooo love to hear this organ in person (with an accomplished organist, of course!). Since I live in Indianapolis, I suppose my chances of this are few. Thanks for the post..........interesting stuff, for sure! peace

[@lechanavarro]

¡Impresionante! este monumental Órgano de Iglesia. Me gustaría saber su precio. Un saludo desde Barcelona (España). V. Lecha.

[@mississippiredneck123]

Is that like a B3 and a Leslie 122?

[@briansmith5895]

more adjectives . please, more

[@WoodymC]

...and the second thing you should do is to add the appropriate 42 2/3' stop, which would emulate an acoustic 128' (!) one... :-)

[@organmastr]

being a child of course, the fist thing i wanna do is pull that 64' stop and play the lowest note, the LOUDEST as possible.....o.0 lol

[@KingdaToro]

The 64' stop isn't even close to the loudest note. Here's exactly what you do if you want to play the loudest notes: 1. Open the panel on the wall to the left of the console. Press the green buttons under "Generator", "Low Great", and "Compressor" in that order. 2. To the right of the keyboards, locate a group of stop tabs called "Grand Great". Press "Grand Great on" and "Ophicleide". 3. Play whatever you want on the second keyboard from the bottom.

[@jakemorris6953]

It would be a dream to climb in this I have built many large organs but nothing like this!

[@sebastiangrunewald9094]

What is the background music

[@Alexandre.Moonwell]

does it have all the elements a theater organ haven like tremulants ???

[@keymaster013]

I know the reasons why we can't restore this amazing beast right now, but...C'MON!!! Anybody got a few million bucks to spend?

[@benjaminmarks8765]

Festive trumpet!

[@Organgrinder1010]

Name a pipe organ - ANY pipe organ - that isn't hated by some, loved by others. There have simply not been sufficient funds to keep this very temperamental monster in operation, what with roof leaks, floods, and natural deterioration. It takes a vast and ongoing source of money!

[@Ken2234]

so freaking cool.

[@austrorus]

what a masterpiece. and lets just hope no penny-pinching chair pusher gets the idea to silent that. and replace it with a, cheaper to maintain, electronic tin can.

[@kevinklingner3098]

Audioi ⁷

[@AriannaCunningham]

I wonder what happens if this organ has a 128' Stop? Someone else told me that there is an organ that has a 216' Stop, It goes down two octaves lower from the 64' and 128'.

[@trijigon]

Arianna Cunningham those exist but are pointless cause they’re too low to hear and they literally break shit. They use the, to shake the place so you feel it. But they ended up breaking everything

[@camtheorganman]

Dose it have festival trumpets?

[@Zylstra555]

What recent progress have they made with the instrument? I'd love to visit it someday.

[@joha750]

me too that is my amdition to see,hear and also to played this Mammoth

[@something2424]

When someone says largest pipe organ in the world, they are saying it is the largest instrument in the world.

[@Doely66]

Anyone know what song is playing when the guy talks about how many pipe cheers there are with the animated auditorium?

[@rancias]

is still working???

[@camtheorganman]

It would probably collapse the building, and everything else in a two block radius. In other terms, everyone would die within a two block radius.

[@jamesdodd2211]

Hmmm... The Atlantic City Convention Hall Organ Society should probably renew their domain with Network Solutions. It's currently displaying "acchos.org expired on 01/21/2014 and is pending renewal or deletion". You might want to ping them on that Vic. (Really enjoyed the video btw)

[@VicFerrer]

ACCHOS is no longer. The non-profit organization has shut down for several years now. The group taking over the reigns is the Historic Organ Restoration Committee (HORC). Don't know if they have a dedicated website, but you can always go to: (www) boardwalkpipes (dot) com for the most update information.

[@lohphat]

+Vic Ferrer ...which is now expired and just goes to ad sites. www.boardwalkhall.com is now the current site.

[@milesbennetdyson5]

What organ piece is playing in the beginning?

[@thoreengelstad6716]

milesbennetdyson Fylum hit and miss

[@MelosAntropon]

The organ was briefly the largest pipe organ in the world, but it has not been near fully operable in many years. No question it is impressive. But there is a reason the great concert organists do not record it - it isn't especially good. It was built from the early 20thcentury design concept of "Can You Top THIS??" Impressive - no question. High quality (tonally)? Not really.

[@jimamia77]

I was told that the helicopter was used to fly Miss America around shortly after she was crowned. The 64' diaphone sounds like a helicopter.

[@jasmineskydancer]

Definitely - but with the news regarding the Sandy devastation and all the human tragedy respectively, did this historic organ even survive :(??

[@crabtrap]

that 64 footer probably had some folk crappin' their pants

[@KingdaToro]

Nah, but sit in section 225 and the Grand Ophicleide will scare the shit out of you.