Wanamaker Organ Day 2010 - Widor - Allegro, Symphony VI

[@MrClaudeholmes]

My favorite part of this work . To hear this performed Live in the store is Truly Amazing , Especially when you hear & feel rumble of the building of the lower pedals .

[@Highinsight7]

one word... SPECTACULAR!

[@jonathankoster547]

Love this version a lot!! The version I usually listen to of this piece is a lot faster and the ending is a lot shorter. I like it when the final note is held longer.

[@yusufbaker6602]

A trick: you can watch series at Flixzone. Me and my gf have been using them for watching loads of movies lately.

[@conradnehemiah7978]

@Yusuf Baker yup, I have been using Flixzone} for months myself :)

[@maxtonasher7080]

@Yusuf Baker yup, have been watching on Flixzone} for months myself =)

[@organum74]

I agree, very good performance, with a bit of rubato, a lot of energy, good tempo, not too fast, respectful of the spirit of this masterpiece.

[@Lexyvil]

This is what I wish I could play someday. It's true bliss to the ears.

[@desertorganist]

You have no idea how much fun, how exhilarating, it is to play! I think it's one of Widor's best pieces.

[@sophelet]

INCREDIBLE. Beautiful playing! And what an enormous organ! (I know, an understatement.) Your video showing a lot of the organ is breathtaking.

[@julorg]

Sure, Wanamaker was really a Grand Man ! Ken is playing beautifully, as usual. The assistant is Josh Stafford.

[@Ken_Weber_organist]

And I would love to be able to play it some day.....

[@gromitbilly]

@steelersfanhawaii: That's true. It will always be the Wanamaker Organ (at Macy's Center City). Thanks to John and Rodman Wanamaker it was installed in their store.

[@Darthymerej]

Nice to see some familiar names of Organists commenting here.

[@mlodyorganista]

I like this performance.

[@Ken_Weber_organist]

thanks for the reply, I bet this largest pipe organ in the world (next to the Atlantic City organ) will always be know as 'The Wanamaker Organ' even though the store is Macy's - I can't fathom the idea of "The Macy's Organ"

[@Peronter77]

great job the organ is know for its great color. Did you know it is a symphonic organ that mean it made for orchestral peices. its the best in ther world. Great job

[@WaltzingAustralia]

Wow.

[@EccentricRichard]

@mountainsong100 - I think that most of the mush is down to an inadequate microphone (I'm guessing an in-camera mic). I dare say it would have been a lot clearer in the building on the day.

[@jgh548]

Holy SHIT!!!!!!!!!!

[@desertorganist]

It's a glorious piece, so much fun to play.

[@HiringAPtAdvocate]

From what I have read less than half was 'installed' in 1904. ~10K pipes formed the St. Louis Fair. Over the next several decades it grew to over 28K pipes being built in the pipe shops in the building. SO one could say it is the Wannamaer Organ bc it was mostly built BY Wannamaker. In addition to that a stability of name may be achieved by aligning the organ with the building's original owner. isn't Macy the third 'owner'? Isn't the organ some sort of landmark now?

[@notredameswarrior1]

@MrAlex413x there is no 64 stop on this organ. your thinking of atlantic city. and i was there and im shure if it was on its full. its still sounded great though

[@MDLRX8]

@notredameswarrior1 Actually, there is a 64' resultant - the "Gravissima." It isn't all that powerful though. You can read the full specification at the website for the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ.

[@wurlitzer3]

I wish Ken Cowan could make a CD of Widor Symphonies on this organ. It should not be just any recording either but totally uncompromising audiophile. And wouldn't a tour of stops like Thomas Murray did on the Newberry Hall instrument be great?

[@Ken_Weber_organist]

Question, anybody out there know if Wanamaker's today is Macy's? Pls pardon my ignorance....

[@andre26071955]

@ds1868: take a look at the interpretation by Karen Electra Christiansson of the same work at the same instrument and decide for yourself which is the best....

[@organbuilder272]

What will happen to this organ - finally restored and playing, now that Macys is going bankrupt. Who will care for the building and the organ?

[@gromitbilly]

A very scary question. I wondered about that when I was there and don't know the answer.

[@ds1868]

Is this true? If so very worrying indeed!

[@mountainsong100]

Mush Mush and More Mush but is it loud.! As Virgil used to say: "pick up your hands off the keyboard and let the sun shine in" With the acoustics in that environment, the organist should have played to the room and not glued everything together. I'm sure Widor didn't.

[@organbuilder272]

I am a little surprised that Ken Cowan should nee music to perform this, or any other piece in concert. The previous generation of organist would never think of using music outside of practice. Sad to think that the quality of organists has degenerated into learning how to push the right keys at the right time and little else. By the way - the camera was not that unsteady. Panning was nicely paced. Zoom conservatively used. No problem. Why would they use a resultant in that organ - ?

[@gromitbilly]

Thank you, Robert. I have seen Ken Cowan perform many times now and if I recollect correctly he usually plays from memory. It occurred to me after the fact when I noticed the music score on the stand that it was unusual.

[@evelynwekke9912]

With or without music, Ken Cowan is the greatest. Have heard him play both ways! One can't memorize everything you are asked to play.