Wanamaker organ, Daniel Roth plays Franck Symphony II (24 April 2010)

Live performance of the Allegretto from César Franck Symphony (transcription Daniel Roth), by Daniel Roth. Wanamaker organ, 24 April 2010.
Many thanks to The Friends of the Wanamaker Organ.
Sound recording: Jim Stempke (DSP Recordings)
Video editing: Ben Epstein
complete program of the concert: WIDOR, final and choral from 7th symphony; SAINT-SAENS, scherzo (from 6 duos for piano & harmonium), tr. DR; VIERNE, romance and final from 4th symphony; improvisation upon submitted themes; FRANCK, symphony in d minor for orchestra, tr. DR.
D. Roth also recorded the Franck Allegretto at the Cathedral of Saint-John-the-Divine, NYC, which can be viewed on the DVD set "FROM HASHES TO GLORY” (PRO ORGANO), available here:
proorgano.com/...

[@mrmaniac3]

Good lord, this instrument has a gorgeous vox humana.

[@ErikN1]

They are absolutely wonderful! I guess that's what you get when you have a beautifully voiced big Vox Humana division. There's one Vox Humana in the Swell, one in the Echo, 8 in the Vox Humana floating division, and two in the pedals for a total of 12 Vox Humana stops of which 9 are 8' and 3 are 16'. It's kinda ridiculous and absolutely wonderful at the same time. I'd love to hear them live some day.

[@georgemurphy2579]

Not only is Daniel Roth one of the most gifted players on earth, but he is also a wonderful human being - very generous with his time and with use of the St. Sulpice organ in Paris.

[@joanseeley2548]

I just love him to bits - marvelous person.

[@georgemurphy2579]

Daniel Roth is THE giant figure in international organists these days.He not only knocks the world off its axis with his interpretations, but he is very kind, gracious and generous when one visits the console at Ste. Sulpice!This great Symphonie was the cornerstone composition for French Romanticism and set the stage for the plethora of music that followed.

[@WINCHANDLE]

Thanks to Ray Biswanger who's kept the Wannamaker organ up and running. Amazing work Ray!

[@s.p.3587]

I really like this organ because it is the largest one in the world that is fully playable.

[@kahuna514]

Daniel........perfect as always. No matter what you play, it is always perfect.

[@frahou6360]

Autre pièce qui sort de l'ordinaire ... Superbe transcription et du plus bel effet grâce au jeu de Daniel Roth et de la registration ! Merci et tous mes compliments, François Houtart

[@gerdi911]

Wie schön Daniel Roth:) Mit soviel Liebe gespielt

[@danielmkubacki]

I was at that concert with my mom. A great concert.

[@Taoseno2007]

Yes, George, you are correct. We experienced Dr. Roth here in DC in the 1970s as he was 'Artist in Residence' at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and I believe also taught at American Univ. Such a gracious, kind and funny man. May he live long. Thanks for this.

[@Polythenepiper11]

A wonderful performance on one of my favorite organs. Thank you, Daniel Roth!

[@gerhardmumme8652]

Wundervoll gespielt und die Schönheit der Orgel perfekt gespielt

[@dwightferyance4948]

I especially love a video where they show the organist working his skills with feet and hands. Beautiful

[@ramjetrabbit]

This instrument is glorious anyway, but the strings are TO ABSOLUTELY DIE for. They leave me breathless and covered in chills. Daniel Roth at the console is majestic. Thanks for posting!

[@msiscoe1958]

+ramjetrabbit The flutes are no slouches either....

[@tom7601]

ramjetrabbit An overused but apt term would be "Scintillating."

[@eb.1]

The vox humana chorus is beyond compare as well

[@ClergetMusic]

There is the famous recording of Virgil Fox playing Bach's Komm Susser Tod, using those gorgeous strings.

[@mrmaniac3]

vox1868 it's a gorgeous vox

[@giandomenicogalluzzi7015]

Questo strumento non può definirsi un organo, è solo qualcosa di mostruosamente colossale!

[@paulnoerenberg3267]

Always a top notch performance by Daniel Roth. Merci beaucoup!

[@georgieleejrs8299]

This is the #2 biggest instrument in the world and anyone who plays it has a blast with everything it has to offer; heard Daniel himself play in Nashville Tennessee years ago and he is of many talented people I've ever heard and does it so well!!

[@joshv7931]

Franck must be proud!

[@louis111g]

Simply fantastik, Thank you Daniel

[@arturolopezportillocontrer4902]

Cesar Franck is great, his Symphony in D Minor is the best ever!

[@Gottenhimfella]

Great sound quality, and WHAT a performance (and superb transcription). Bravo, maestro, and kudos to all who made this possible.

[@oaktadopbok665]

Franck was a genius and wrote some of the best organ music (after Bach that is).

[@organbuilder272]

How true - yet people still think the tinkle tinkle of Baroque music is superior to this. SOme people.....

[@gerardbedecarter]

A beautiful arrangement and performance.

[@PamelaJean2013]

I always like to imagine how a composer long dead would react to a performance captured on KZbin. Although I don't know whether anyone in Franck's time would have played a transcription of this sort on the organ, I think Franck would have been delighted, charmed and blown away by this event, this brilliant organist and the truly astounding instrument.

[@willemvantwillertorganist]

Great performance again; my massive respect to Daniel Roth

[@robertmbruno]

What a wonderful view and sound . I can almost imagine Franck playing his work from his position at the organ . This performance was so enjoyable , thank you .

[@billginnj6595]

Totally awesome performance!

[@SoCalCath]

Only he could so perfectly transcribe a pairing of Franck with the Wanamaker.

[@rbaltimo]

THE OPENING CHORDS ALONE...MON DIEU!

[@IIIJFRIII]

That's no joke skill. Pure skill.

[@MiniFilmLego3945]

magnifique merci

[@hughcreighton9384]

Very beautiful sounds !!!!

[@BostonHarborLight]

Thanks so much for posting this video as well of the master at the console of this national treasure. It is wonderful to hear him playing Franck on the Wanamaker Organ.

[@mikegross6107]

Boy do I wish I could hear this in person, live and in living color of sound! This transcription for organ is WONDERFUL and just right for this organ, in my humble opinion. The sound that has been recorded is superb and captures all the nuances of this mighty work of man.

[@user2C47]

There are various microphones placed throughout the building

[@eb.1]

9:12 is breathtaking

[@mrmaniac3]

vox1868 it really is.

[@willemvantwillertorganist]

Great performance and playing with a fine registration.

[@JohnsOrganWorks]

What a lovely surprise to find a brand new Franck arrangement, and so beautifully played by the arranger. Definitely a favourite.

[@davidreifsnider4609]

Massive Instrument and Beautiful Music❣❣❣❣

[@robertmkline]

Merci, Daniel!

[@edheffron]

Please share more of this program. D. Roth is a brilliant organist. Thank you for posting.

[@jacqueslahondere4649]

très belle transcription

[@GiancarloColleoni]

Wow! Questa è una bomba ! Viene bene su quest'organo! Complimenti per la trscrizione!

[@carlanotarianni5126]

found this by accident - covid year ...thank goodness

[@davidt7995]

I simply HATE all the ads of KZbin now ... seriously fucking annoying. Thanks Pierre, very much for putting up this beautiful video.

[@georgemurphy2579]

Agreed, but leave out the expletive. It's a no-win because they are the ones who pay the bills, unfortunately.

[@Reverse2057]

I find it amazing that he can not only multi-task his hands on multiple rows, but also knows exactly where to put his feet for the foot pedals without being able to see them while wearing shoes!

[@organbuilder272]

+Crem2057 Hi Crem - that is years of training. Like anything else, practice makes perfect. Those are not ROWS but MANUALS, each one having a group of stops providing tonal colors for that manual. They can be coupled together. so one manual can control most or all of the pipes in the organ - except the pedal. Manuals couple to the pedals but with rare exceptions, pedals stops do not couple to the manuals.

[@estellegerthoffert572]

+Crem2057 he is really an extraterrestre!

[@aaronjohnson4604]

and now you know! :-)

[@barriobajaj]

Organists actually wear shoes made specifically for playing the foot peddles.

[@organbuilder272]

Why should this be amazing. Keys are keys and in nearly all organs they are in the same place. Blind people play piano. In fact Jean Langlas was a blind organist. Horowitch could not see well during his last piano recitals - He put it nicely - They keys are all in the same place. I know right were they are.

[@albertpeckham9515]

Wow! Mr. Roth must have had a "come to Jesus" moment with this fabulous instrument. I was so fortunate to have heard the late and wonderful Keith Chapman play this outstanding instrument. It has no peers....with the possible exception of the Cavaillle-Coll instrument at St. Ouen in Rouen, France.

[@JoshuaSobel]

also, Liverpool cathedral

[@richardharrold9736]

I'd also argue for St Paul's... and, returning to Philadelphia, there are those who argue that Wanamakers isn't even the best organ in the city, with that honour going to the Girard College Skinner.

[@mrmaniac3]

I'd say Midmer Losh and the Chicago Stadium Barton are two tremendous instruments as well. Even though the Barton was destroyed in a fire.

[@ClergetMusic]

The Wurlitzer at the Sanfilippo estate is pretty good, too.

[@mrmaniac3]

Woah, I was here a year ago? The more you know... :)

[@OrganNLou]

This is surely one of the great organs of the earth!

[@charlespita6615]

Very impressive.New souds

[@federicozimerman8167]

It sounds like a majestic structure that took eons to build.

[@LeendertCordemans]

That's a nice music part on a great beautiful instrument. Great!

[@organo3112]

Normally I'd run away from the idea of going to a department store (and sadly they are getting increasingly an endangered species due to the prevalence of Internet shopping) but this is one place I'd love to visit and of course hear this magnificent instrument in full flow.

[@vegancodingnovice9468]

so airy and haunting

[@Sathrandur]

While the video quality is showing its age, but the sound is still excellent, and that is what matters the most!

[@kraftpr]

I wish the entire symphony could be played and posted on YT. The only time I was privileged to hear a performance of the Franck d minor for organ was at the 1996 AGO convention in NYC. Thomas Murray played his arrangement on the magnificent organ at St. Bartholomew's on Park Ave. This symphony seems to work so well for organ. I'm surprised there aren't more recordings of it. I hope Thomas Murray will record his arrangement.

[@AnOpera4u]

Psst, it’s the second movement from the Symphony in d - minor. :)

[@jorgmarxen4978]

Adorable playing by Maitre Roth!! Wonderful job, PF!! Did you enjoy? ;-))

[@rbaltimo]

9:14 AND I HAVE DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN

[@jamesbarclay7361]

Yep, Chris. Some of those swell pedals do indeed look like feet (or shoe soles). Others look like WahWah pedals or foot volume pedals. I used top be church organist and the instrument was a beautiful old Walker. As you said, that one did have pedals that looked like shoe soles. I like the new ones better. And the Wannamaker has nine pedals in all, not all for swell. They're actually divided up among the different cabinet vanes and I don't know which ones. (I was lucky to have three pedals). Isn't cool being a pipe organ fan?

[@praestant8]

Actually there are 11 balanced pedals, 10 expression and 1 crescendo.

[@organbuilder272]

+Prestant8 - The are not balanced. That was when swell shades were directly linked to the pedlas. These shoes operate rollers that make contacts - One for each swell shade. These is nothing heavy att ached so no need for "balancing".

[@linnaeusshecut3959]

I used to think that the only reason for large organs was the sonic power. Now I realize that these large organs offer the gifted organists a greater palette of registration. Registration is a talent that can only be expressed on the proper instrument. It is still amazing how a concert organist can perform on a organ with which he has only become familiar with after six hours. I guess a krumhorn is a crumhorn no matter how you spell it, but just where is that stop when you need it? Not to mention all those swell pedals, toe stubs, and pistons. Obviously, there is often assistance from stop-pullers and page-turners, but often the organists have to perform without such.

[@chupahombrrre]

Could this be any more sublime?!

[@davidt7995]

+chupahombrrre I know, isn't it a beautiful instrument - I own several CDs of it, love it, so massive and in such an extraordinary setting.

[@richardwilliamjohnson8566]

@@davidt7995 any cds in particular you could recommend?

[@SaveKilgenOKC]

Would have loved to hear his comparison of European to western organs especially manual assignments plus central tuning. And the way I understand it, back in the day with churches such as Riverside of NYC, the European immigrants wanted to make a statement in their buildings and organs. They wanted to out-do St. Sulpice and Notre Dame. And some of that competition bled over into the Wanamaker in the 1904 St.Louis World's Fair.

[@epincion]

Sadly it ended up as a classic case of more is not better.

[@davidreece6193]

beautiful transcript of a forgotten or maligned symphony. just read that the original orchestra refused to rehearse the piece because of the anti geman feelings due to franco germano war. it was just the French trying to find a French voice but the English too. most composers looked to Wagner lets say no more on that one....

[@WINCHANDLE]

nice vox's around 9:30

[@iSNARK]

Never mind the six manuals. Hot damn! Enough expression shoes? BMP

[@kempedkemp]

I can't help wondering how much time he spent getting to know the instrument before he played his concert.

[@HeidiKohne]

Generally, not a lot. The store has very limited times on when any organist can practice there. Maybe it's changed in recent years.

[@colinminton9190]

Whew!!!

[@audinos4827]

It takes great skill to make a 1920's theatre organ sound like a Cavaille-Coll. Well done!

[@JoshuaSobel]

the wanamaker organ was built in 1904 and is the largest playable organ in the world. hardly a "theater organ" ;)

[@Engineer9736]

+Joshua Sobel Indeed no theater organ at all. Those sound totally different.

[@JoshuaSobel]

Richard van Pukkem the Wanamaker instrument can pretty much sound like anything it wants to, in a smaller way to a theater organ. However, it is so much more then just that. I agree.

[@Engineer9736]

Joshua Sobel It's about the total composition of the pipes. It may be possible to imitate a theater organ, but it's definitely not a theater organ.

[@JoshuaSobel]

Richard van Pukkem Yes, i have never seen a theater organ with so many foundation and string pipes.

[@matthiaswynants4857]

These vox humanas tho 🥰

[@patmeaden]

Is there anywhere that I can get a copy of his transcription?

[@TurtleFL]

Fast action that organ has. I wonder if the relays have been replaced by MIDI.

[@organbuilder272]

+Ozzman Osgood This organ most certainly has nothing to do with Midi. They do use a Peterson ICS-4000 to control the combinations. However, in the end the chests are electro-pneumatic. This organ is a clear demonstration of just how fast Electro-pneumatic action. MIDI is certainly not necessary. Why would anyone put that equipment into this organ. The keys directly control the chest magnets. It does have playback, however.

[@JoshuaSobel]

+robert shaw having played this organ, I can tell you that the action is fast. however, the console is so far from the pipe chambers that the sound takes about a quarter second to travel to you, if I remember correctly.

[@HiringAPtAdvocate]

The organ has been technologically updated and is now fully functional! 28K + pipes. I just heard it again at the Organ Historical Society convention.

[@JoshuaSobel]

Robert Vogel fantastic!

[@OrganMusicYT]

Any well kept Electro-Pneumatic action should work like lightning.

[@Orgeljonas]

6:53 :D

[@BachFlip]

How many swell pedals??!!!

[@jamesbarclay7361]

I've counted ten.

[@BachFlip]

+James Barclay The swell pedals even look like feet. What an incredible instrument! And massive respect to Daniel Roth for handling it like the consummate master that he is.

[@noctesatticae180]

Not all of them are swell pedals. Some are for the crescendo.

[@johnrobinson1132]

We used to call the swell pedals "swell shoes" for that reason. I played an early 20th organ that had one swell shoe made to fit a tiny woman, I think, because they had to cut the opening around it so my big foot would fit in there. The show itself was very loose, would move sideways, and if left unattended, the swell box would eventually close on its own. So much work!

[@praestant8]

Only one is for crescendo, the rest are expressions. And most of the organ is under expression.

[@hudiscool4186]

I find it sooo boring! I must have plebeian tastes I guess!