Virgil Fox Legacy | Interview | Wanamaker | Heavy Organ

The Virgil Fox Legacy
www.virgilfoxlegacy.org

[@nisserot]

I love this quote: "The first time that I was ever left alone with a pipe organ, I went into a trance and I didn't come to for 4 hours, and the dinner was over and the dishes was done". It's very inspirational. Thank you, Virgil.

[@Sokx41]

I was fortunate to watch Virgil Fox innaugerate a new church organ in San Francisco in the late 1950s or early 1960s. I was above the organ console and was able to observe Fox's face (and fingers) as he played. He mentioned early in this video how he entered in a four-hour trance the first time he sat at an organ. I was like that when he played this pipe organ. I saw his eyes rolling back into this head as if he was truly in a trance. I was also fortunate enough to grow up in a house in Atherton with a two-rank Moller pipe organ. I have also heard this Wanamaker giant of an organ

[@simonsteam]

Virgil was a wonderful ambassador for the organ. he made it fun. showed us that it was far from the dull instrument that many people thought. he was so enthusiastic. love him or hate him he did nothing but good for the organ movement.

[@dleimkuehler]

Virgil, was one in this world. What as gem!

[@terrystrahl6006]

I saw Virgil Fox when I was around 12 years old and I must say, there will never ever be another person that could play like Virgil fox. I have a record I purchased there with his personal autograph on the cover he signed for me ......❤

[@dking70]

The Wanamaker organ is 100% operational now a days thanks to the friends of the Wanamaker. this is the largest playing organ in the world!!!!

[@OrganNLou]

And the acoustics are MUCH BETTER!!!

[@brandywineblogger1411]

I heard Virgil Fox in the mid 1960s when I was a teen, when he played an inaugural recital on the first Fratelli Ruffati organ at St. Mary's church in Wayne, PA. I met him at the reception afterwards. It was one of those moments you never forget. Later I heard his Heavy Organ show at the former Temple U. campus in Ambler, PA. When he played "Come Sweet Death" with the light show, I was in tears.

[@jtsoundtech]

Thanks for sharing this. I absolutely love Virgil Fox since he dared to push the envelope and pour out his heart and soul, and be a little showy, and get people to pay attention to the King of Instruments. I understand that he polarized a lot of people, but I'll line up on his side any day of the week. I don't like it when people speak badly of him. He was a true artist.

[@mattbod]

Eccentric but brilliant man: I wish I could have been around when he was alive.

[@philhand5830]

About 50 years ago, I attended one of his concerts in Portland, OR. Fantastic! I'm priveleged to have an LP album of about the same age of him playing the Wanamaker Organ. It's reported and recorded that he had 200 organ pieces committed to memory! A true virtuoso!

[@gleitma1]

May his creative dynamic spirit live for ever in the hearts of all who were blessed to hear and watch Virgil Fox play the King of Instruments!

[@philhand5830]

Amen!!!! A thousand amens!!!

[@Darbkin]

For me, his signature piece is "Come, Sweet Death" as he performed it on the Wanamaker organ in 1939. I've heard him perform live in several concerts in Vancouver with his huge Rodgers touring organ, but it can't compare to the 30,000 pipes of Wanamaker.

[@cowboypainthorse]

I had the distinct pleasure to witness Virgil Fox in 4 Heavy Organ Concerts, and 2 "Dedications" on newly installed/renovated pipe organs. Unless you were there, you just don't know the electrifying intensity that this man put into each show. Truly amazing. Wish he were still alive.

[@hlamart1]

We experienced him at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta on a Heavy Organ tour, light show and lecture. I am thankful for Virgil Fox in every cell of my body and every spark of life in my astral soul. He will change you, right? Those concerts were more of life than any other.

[@professorjmp]

Virgil was the most incredible organ talent that the 20th century was to see. I heard Virgil live 5 times in my younger years & got to meet him. He brought Bach and organ music to the masses. The "Dean" of American Choral music, Hugh Ross, stated once commented in an interview, that there is a distinct connection between the arts and leading nations of the world throughout all of history. Virgil knew this. Anyone who cannot understand this (as Virgil would say) is sitting in the wrong pew!

[@Diaphon]

The writer was actually standing in the Grand Court listening when Fox was filming this program. In hindsight, playing the Gigue Fugue at that tempo on that instrument was remarkable. (Keith Chapman, head organist at Wanamakers at that time the video was made, may have been one of the few organists who could have taken on Fox's challenge in this video at that time.)

[@janiscortese]

The Gigue Fugue -- one of Bach's most cheerful, happiest things. Can't listen to it without your blood moving faster. It was one of Fox's signature pieces.

[@DavidSnyderLumierist]

@eameece Virgil never went away. He lives in the love and kindness of all of you who shared in his solo performances and our Heavy Organ productiuons with my Revelation Lights. God bess you all for your kind comments.

[@autophyte]

Wonderful! He plays like a mad scientist!

[@otaku1524]

Gosh!. . . I remembered he used to give organ concerts at the Filmore back in the 60's. he singlehandedly rescued it from being just a 'church' instrument. a real 'showman'!

[@rogersteigleman4785]

Virgil. Fox. Is. One. The. Best Master Organist. Of. All. Time. I. Have. Most. Of. All. Of. His. Records.

[@harpsichordgal]

Oh, Uncle Virgil, I miss you! I am so glad these vids are around so that you are as lively today as you were back then.

[@advisorC101]

I'm sorry Mr Fox is dead but thanks to these recordings of I can feel all the life and colour from his playing.

[@maddogmcrae]

If Virgil Fox were alive today, he would now be playing that organ in its fully restored condition.

[@ikonix360]

He'd also be playing the Midmer Losh

[@maddogmcrae]

@@ikonix360 Is that one 100% restored now?

[@ikonix360]

@@maddogmcrae think it's at least 50% restored

[@8891randy]

Virgil was the most exciting organist I ever heard. You could always invite a non-organist to one of his concerts and they would be screaming and cheering along with me. Paul Jacobs is the only organist today that reminds me of Virgil.

[@kempedkemp]

I heard him dedicate an organ when I was 10. That was the night I decided that I was going to play the organ. Still working at it.

[@britandveg]

Organists here still watching Virgil play in 2022 God bless him

[@818Dimples]

Thank you Virgil Fox!

[@dc10driver1]

I was fortunate to be able to attend one of Virgil's concerts back in the mid 70's and he is/was magnificent! He really did bring a lot of the great classic organ music to the world that would never have otherwise realized the grandeur of this magnificent music. I have many of his recordings and he still brings a wonderful flavor to all he plays. I have loved the great classic Bach Organ Works for longer than I can remember.Thank you Virgil, for sharing your wonderful talents. You are missed.

[@zanzell]

Thank you kindly for the response. I enjoy listening to it very much now! And I agree, it is a cheerful, happy work of Mr. Bach.

[@Herr_strauss91]

Also the Midmer-Losh Organ compared to the Wanamaker Organ has 4,000 more pipes. The Midmer-Losh Organ holds the record (according to the Guinness Book of World Records) as being the "loudest" organ and musical instrument ever created (essentially described as a wall of sound).

[@itswagon]

Up until the Midmer Losh in Atlantic City is completely rebuilt and this is underway, the Wanamaker is the largest operating organ. When the Atlantic City monster is complete it will again hold the Guiness record for the largest and loudest musical instrument in the world. The Grand Ophecleid stop remains the loudest pipe organ stop in the world and that is in Atlantic City Convention Hall.

[@antoniboleslawowicz8095]

One thing that you miss about Fox when seeing a video or listening to a record (most of the time) is the extreme lucidity of his playing of contrapuntal music -- particularly Bach. When I first heard him play in the late fall of 1973 (he was then using the Rodgers electronic shown in the brief clip of the ending of the “Wedge” fugue), I was struck by this. This was something he consistently worked for -- the clarity of line, the sharpness of detail. Only Fox could get away with occasionally over-driven tempi in such as the JSB sixth trio sonata or the a-minor fugue (BWV 543), and not much was lacking in the way of clarity -- of voice-leading, of structure, of accent, of rhythm. Nothing, really! I really don’t know of any other organist who had that capability. You could learn a great deal from heating Fox in person. VF was really at his best when he wasn’t trying to put on a show or prove something. This was manifested in an LP he made around 1971 -- on a custom Rodgers electronic in Fanwood, NJ. It was an all-Bach program, stupendously played and well recorded. It is of course colorful -- as one would expect from him; flamboyant -- same thing; and the instrument was exploited to the fullest. Yet I got the sense that he was unselfconsciously enjoying the music. When Fox had that atmosphere within him, what can I say? Genius? Greatness? Bigger than himself? All, and more.

[@Towncarguy52]

Brilliant, fascinating interview!

[@medievalmusiclover]

What a wonderful organist was Virgil Fox!

[@KuznVinny]

I was employed by Wanamakers in Philadelphia. The Organ and the Eagle are phenomenal. And Virgil Fox? Well... What can you say?

[@AndreIsoirFansClub]

complimenti al grandissimo Virgil Fox!!! Tecnica eccellente e padronanza perfetta dell'organo, un grandissimo Maestro e una personalità unica! Bellissimo il gigantesco organo Wanemaker! Grazie per il filmato

[@dyeu]

For Anytubee, this music around 4:00 minutes is Toccata And Fugue in D Minor composed by Bach.

[@agnosturaelwsr]

Virgil Fox was a fantastic organist, and this instrument is the mother of all other instruments - fantastic.

[@KE5RHD]

They have raised about 2 million dollars to restore the Midmer-Losh organ in the Atlantic City Convention Center. As a result of that, it has been established as a national treasure and actually places the hall in a status of being eligible for grants. Guinness lists the Midmer-Losh as the largest organ in the world but Wanamaker is currently the biggest playable one at this time.

[@andrewbarrett1537]

Lots of info about and updates on (and concerts on) this organ are available here: kzbin.info

[@andrewbarrett1537]

...and also here: kzbin.infovideos here: kzbin.infovideos and here: kzbin.info/door/FlybsJ6XzdL_DfqMOOazcAvideos

[@walkingkodi]

Love his showmanship. And a big hi to Carol Wisner a friend who majored in organ In Ohio in the 60s. She has passed on but I thank her for all of the music she brought into my life and to her students.

[@danielmkubacki]

I LOVE THE WANAMAKER ORGAN PARTS OF THIS VIDEO!

[@marciethomas5766]

I 1971 or 1972 I help install a Rogers Organ that was at the time larger than Heavy Organ in a small town in NE Ohio. When Virgil Fox stopped by, there were issues with it that night, the peddles and one manual did not work. I was not told he would be there. At the time I was working for the Rogers/Hammond in NE Ohio.

[@ryangiraldi5722]

“I think, and I REALLY mean this, that I have had an encounter with an organ in a former life” Alright Johann, show us what you got.😏

[@robertgift]

What a magnificent joyful, rhythmic piece with which to start. - the Gigue Fugue BWV577 (I play it for people who hate organ music. I once hated organ music.) Thank you, tneorg, for posting this.

[@PointyTailofSatan]

Along with Bernstein, Fox was one of the greatest evangelists of classical music in the last 100 years. I became an organist thanks to Fox. When I was a teenager, I bought his Live at the Fillmore East album. I think I played that record for almost 8 hours straight. It was like being born again in the music of Bach.

[@phonofaninfl]

I had the good fortune to hear VIrgil fox as a young man shortly before has death. I love to hear him play !!

[@paulbinko]

randy - I agree! I recently saw & heard Paul Jacobs live and he reminds me of Virgil's performances.

[@maxcohen13]

Actually his appearance was completely influenced by his gig in Vegas; the need to be a "showman" was one of the major draws the crowd came to see. In reality, he was extremely saddened that he wasn't taken more seriously as a classical musician like Horowitz or Arrau.

[@steamrocks]

The video is sure right, no one could put 'guts' into Bach like Virgil. The guts were in the music, and Virgil brought it out! Some play the D minor, and it sound like just scary movie music, Virgil plays it, and totally spirited. He was a man totally moved by the music, and it shows.

[@andrewbarrett1537]

Yes I like the way he plays it here. He doesn't just play it like a 'warhorse' like some organists, but he plays it like he likes it and gives a damn. I'm really not an organist (yet, if I'll ever be), but for example, as a ragtime pianist I try to play Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" the same way, although it gets requested about as often as organists are asked to play this one! I try to play it with respect as the great piece of music it is, even as I also play many other much rarer rags that very few others play. After all, there are many people who have still never heard it before, just as there are amazingly people who haven't heard (well, the entire) Bach D Minor before.

[@JoachimEssig]

It's a version of continuous change of sound. Every short theme gets a new option of organ stops. It's naturally necessary to do so, the pur version should be prepared for a small baroque-organ with two manuals and twenty-one stops. The demand on a six-manual-organ is obviously higher level. What would happen, if Bach had played an organ like this???

[@janiscortese]

This guy rocks. I hate the way that virtuosity and showmanship has been polarized in the classical world. Like he said, if you're not out to get people's blood and tears moving and hands clapping, what are you on stage for? Heaven forbid a musician should actually get people to love the music!

[@mudgebauer]

The guy is mistaken about this organ being the largest in the world. The Largest is in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Wanamaker's store was sold to Macy's. So now it is Called Macy's. The name of the organ is still Wanamaker.

[@aaronbrigham4743]

He's definitely got talent he is probably the best organist in the world wow I wonder if he was an organist teacher.👏✝️🏆🙏⚜️♥️

[@ke2xx]

I had the pleasure of working the lights in Sarasota at their performing arts hall in the 70's for the Virgil Fox show. He had his great Hammond and the sound it produced was fabulous, he literally shook the hall with the music, he did a tribute to the great Franz Liszt that evening.

[@josephgraif2588]

it was not a hammond...

[@Marix321]

Great Man !

[@9999Foxy]

Wonderful!!!

[@PureSquall]

Let's all see you draw the crowds of people to the organ like he did...Virgil Fox brought the organ out of the church, where many think it belongs, but really it has many other uses. Look at the Theatre Organs for one. My high school has a Grande Barton in our performing arts center. We have used it in plays and choir concerts to my knowledge. Ergo, looking back on everything, Fox was better than you could ever pray to be...and he is better than me too.

[@sqcomp1]

Whether people like him or not...they MUST have respect for this man's passion, talent, and verve. Spangled shoes or not...this man put bang into the pipe organ. Respect.

[@JeremyPople]

I WISH this sound quality was better.

[@JNich]

@darthlukowitz It's actually 463 ranks with 28,815 pipes

[@ProfMoose]

I was just thinking of writing something like this! How very true. Before slagging Virgil people should think for a moment - If Bach were alive today how would he perform his own works?

[@philhand5830]

GOOD POST!!!

[@ProfMoose]

@@philhand5830 Thank you.

[@bobbymak880]

Thanks! Virgil rules!

[@muzicmanj]

@mfortee thankyou very much both of you :)

[@ericoschmitt]

he was the greatest organist ever existed. ------------- some day in my life i want to play a full chord in that organ... just a single chord to feel its power and i would be very happy

[@Principal16]

Wonderful! All organists should play Gigue Fugue like this!

[@Scy]

Recommended listening: search for come sweet death, where virgil plays the wanamaker. and turn your sound and subwoofers up. When he opens up the organ on the second run you'll get chills far beyond your bone marrow...

[@Starcastle2009]

Incomparable.

[@phantom4087]

It's the largest OPERATIONAL organ in the world.

[@hoover1060]

Somtime before 1980, because Virgil passed away that year. He was from my mother's home town, Princeton Illinois

[@robertgift]

@FirstMrTornado This and the Wedge fugue, BWV 548, are so magnificent. Oh, botheard here! Some claim Bach did not write 577. But no onelse was good enough to have written it. So rhythmic, complex, joyful, fulfilling, upon first hearing I loved the Gigue. Learned it in 1974 to play for my beloved Cathy who did not like organ music. Do you continue the mordents, grace notes and trills throughout this wonderful work?

[@Nateness01]

@grandpoobah0913 I hear ya. He was right and one of the most amazing I've ever heard. My friend Andy also toured with him and was good friends with him for many years when he was playing the portable Rodgers organ, I've listened to many stories about happenings between all of them, Fred Swann, Virgil Fox, Richard Torrance, and Ted Worth amongs others. It's fascinating.

[@ve2so]

A Master musician the greatest in the world.

[@sovereign254]

If you're referring to when he plays the organ with all the lights and such, he's playing Fugue from BWV 548 "Prelude and Fugue in E Minor."

[@itswagon]

Take a look at the space that must be filled with sound with the Wanamaker organ then take a look at the cavernous Atlantic City Convention Hall, then ask yourself, which must be bigger? I don't believe there is any choice but the ACCHOS monster. How many Wanamaker Grand Courts will fit comfortably within the Convention Hall?

[@eameece]

I wondering if Virgil is back yet. Where are you? Who are you? We need you! Amen!

[@Modeltnick]

Not the largest organ in world. The Midmer-Losh in Atlantic City is and is being fully restored as we speak.

[@robertgift]

Exactly! Well said, Q Leaves you cold? Sometimes leaves me angry. Then I have to go to church and play it to erase his performance. But I also like Virgil very much, too. I'm a purist who also has fun.

[@rogersteigleman4785]

Virgil Fox. Is. The Best. Organist. Of All. Time. Roger. Steigleman

[@maxcohen13]

He was the Liberace of the organ.

[@Herr_strauss91]

someone correct me on this, at 2:23 the news reporter asks; "what's it like playing this largest organ in the world" excuse me, but isn't the Midmer-Losh Organ of the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium bigger? Boardwalk Hall has 1 of only 2 legitimate 64' stops (Diaphone Dulzian Low C), 9 32' stops, and the only real 42' 2/3 Diaphone Dulzian Quint. Boardwalk Hall even has the loudest organ stop, (grand ophicleide) which is 6x louder than a locomotive train horn, it's described as ear splitting (135 db)

[@skinnyblinddude]

2 CDs I recommend highly: The Wanamaker Legacy Organist Peter Conte on the Gothic label and Glorious Pipes Organ Music Throughout The Ages on the Deutsche Grammophon label. These are full digital recordings. Upon hearing these, I was hooked! On the Wanamaker Legacy Peter Conte performs the Virgil Fox arrangements of Bachs Come, Sweet Death, which when I heard for the first time, made me cry.

[@ve2so]

Oh! the first tune is the Gigue, Fugue by Jean Sebastian Bach.

[@trevjr]

yes one can compare all the musicians in the world and decide who is better or whatever. Fox brought music to the masses, music that has been locked in rooms for too long. Each one great in his own right, Dupre, Widor all those great musicians. Not everyone likes everything, we dont all agree, but Fox on this organ was a master.

[@LiteratureTodayUK]

What a character! Bach spelled BACH!

[@notredameswarrior1]

@harpsichordgal yea....but the atlantic city organ is getting restored and will probaly be fully working in the next decade

[@wingnutofcoolness]

@Wulfenstien231 It is not a Mall, it was Wanamakers department store, now Macy's.

[@advisorC101]

First piece. Yes it is.

[@robertgift]

I can't believe it's not Bach. I would love to have been the composer of this most joyful, rhythmic, compelling, complex, fulfilling, fugue in the world. Who else could be the composer? No one else is good enough.

[@VD54K]

fox had talent. Liberace had fancy clothes

[@harpsichordgal]

@notredameswarrior1 The Atlantic City Organ (and the organ at West Point, for that matter) may have more pipes, but neither organ has had more WORKING pipes than the Wanamaker Organ.

[@advisorC101]

True

[@CECS1]

actually i have. Its currently being studied here at the University of Cincinnati College conservatory of music for autheticity and to the best of MY KNOWLEDGE from Dr. Edward Nowacki and the rest of the MH Faculty it is.

[@NoName-ys5im]

Go Virgil

[@8000Christopher]

"a whole orchestra at the feet of one man" Diane Bish wouldn't be pleased with that comment!

[@baritonebynight]

Nor would the late Marie Claire Alain, probably the best organist of her time.

[@josephgraif2588]

at the fingertips and feet of one man, to be exact. notice virgil refers to lilian russel and uses the term "human being". diane was both a friend and admirer of virgil. she plays bach with the same "fire" as he did. marie claire alain came from a family of organists who believed in the power of the evolved, modern instrument, as did virgil.

[@9Oerich7]

It's huge, but still not the largest on earth. The Midmer-Losh organ in Atlantic City is the largest one. It even has a real 64ft rank. (Sadly it's not fully operational yet)

[@jakedarmstadter6943]

I agree that it technically is the largest pipe organ in the world but I don’t think it can hold that title until it’s fully functional

[@eameece]

The first piece he is playing is the "gigue" fugue in g minor by Bach, S.577.

[@7777777mike]

MAN I MUST MUST MUST GO TO THAT EFFING DEPARTMENT STORE!!! I WANT A PIPEORGAN IN EACH & EVERY DEPARTMENT STORE ALL OVER THE WORLD!!!!!!! I guess I would be shopping 24/7 haha

[@notredameswarrior1]

@1955mlynch its getting restored though....so in about 10 years it should all be playing.....then it will be officialy the largest organ

[@dale731]

It's one of Bach's Preludes. I can't recall which one at this moment.

[@intoprogrock]

The Wanamaker organ is a "Symphonic" style of organ. The string divison alone is 110 ranks!!

[@ccoraxfan]

The comparison of the Atlantic City organ with the Wanamaker isn't fair, because the ACCH organ has not been properly maintained and fully functional in many decades. Also the acoustics at the ACCH have changed since renovations, and the only way to properly compare them is to hear the ACCH organ when they get it all fixed up again.