@@Ken_Weber_organist It is one of the best because of other grand organs such as St John Divine and Washington National Cathedral. But I would say the THEE BEST Unaltered EM Skinner Organs.
@Richard Harrold if by "mud" you refer to a balanced chorus with a sturdy fundamental and an appropriate amount of mutations and properly composed mixtures, then yes its muddy....in your opinion. The great diapason chorus St John the divine could be balanced, but you don't achieve that with 23 ranks of mixtures.....high pitched mixtures at that along with mutations in a chorus with one 16' and 2 8' diapasons. It's way, way too top heavy.
What's not to love? The organ is warm and enveloping without being dark or muddy. Great clarity and stunning balances. The Great Principal chorus blows me away. Truly one of EMSs mastrpieces if not the best. Up there with St. Luke's Evanston as my favorites
Thank you Brent and Dylan. I was hoping you were going to feature this magnificent E.M. Skinner organ when you mentioned you were in Philadelphia. Great work!
@@tobysherring1369 Mr. Girard only stated in his will that "I enjoin and require that no ecclesiastic, missionary, or minister of any sect whatever shall ever hold or exercise any station or duty whatever in the said college; nor shall any such person ever be admitted for any purpose, or as a visitor, within the premises appropriated to the purpose of the said college. In making this restriction, I do not mean to cast any reflection upon any sect or person whatsoever ; but, as there is such a multitude of sects, and such a diversity of opinion amongst them, I desire to keep the tender minds of the orphans, who are to derive advan- tage from this bequest, free from the excitement which clashing doctrines and sectarian controversy are so apt to produce ; my desire is, that all the instructors and teachers in the college shall take pains to instil into the minds of the scholars, the purest principles of morality, so that, on their entrance into active life, they may from inclination and habit, evince benevolence towards their fellow creatures, and a love of truth, sobriety and industry, adopting at the same time such religious tenets as their matured reason may enable them to prefer." That prohibition has been relaxed in recent years, as with the many other changes to the Will. He didn't prohibit the teaching of religious principles and in fact encouraged it, and it was drilled into us by laymen nearly every day; believe me, I know. As a student from 1963 to 1973, we attended chapel Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and the Bible was always read. It was a pleasure to hear the Skinner throughout my years there, and Chuck Girson was my classmate.
John Compton built his choir manuals around Dulcianas 16, 8, 4, 2 2/3, 2, and Mixture. As has been said on here the dulcianas can be too quiet especially when the building is full of people.
When I experienced it in person I sat in the back of the chapel. I could barely hear it... later found out you need to be under the chambers to get the same sound as on most recordings of this awesome E.M. Skinner.
Absolutely brilliant! Such a great and important instrument has deserved a chamber tour for a long time. And is there a Pedal division like that anywhere else? Maybe Liverpool Anglican could give it a run for it's money, but I'm not at all sure! 😁
@Richard Harrold I was referring to the EFFECT of the Pedal Div. in the room, not the number of stops. And I'm very familiar with the Willis instruments in Liverpool; I "adopted " two of the largest pedal pipes in the Anglican Cathedral organ.
Very nicely dome! But why no mention of Bruce Shultz, the former Girard Chapel Organist and Wanamaker organist who did much for this instrument? Why no mention of the late great Dr. Harry Wilkinson who performed on this instrument on numerous occasions and created two awesome CDs titled "Girard Organ: The Definitive Recordings."
Wonderful Skinner organ... Just curious, G.Donald Harrison modified so many Skinners, did he manage to get his hands on this one? Really interesting demo and tour. Can someone please tell me what that wonderful composition playing in the background is that starts with the tour and played so wonderfully by Dylan David Shaw - Please ! Thanks for posting this very great video on such a wonderful organ!
I've heard both the Yale/Woolsey Hall Skinner and St. Mary the Virgin and the St John the Divine NYC instruments and they are quite excellent. Church of the Advent I am not familiar with but will look for some RUclips videos. Thanks for the recommendations Richard.
A glorious Symphonic "Palette". However it serves no purpose save the exaltation of a "Temple d' raison". Napoleon would be proud, and President Trump would revel in its "Secular" conation.. However the purpose of the organ and its compositions for Centuries has been to serve Holy Mass.. I believe that this Chapel honours no Christian sect ? Therefore it serves no divine master. The one element missing is its divine purpose, it may elevate the musical spirit, but cannot serve the human soul, & this is sad for it may as well be at Nurnberg at a "rally" ? How very "American" in its conception. Chris Australia.
Compared to practically every other organ I’ve even been it, Girard’s organ chamber is the least cramped. Plenty of room to reach everything comfortably without being a contortionist.
One of the worlds great organs! SIMPLY SUBLIME!!!
dude, this may not be 'one of the best', rather it could simply be THEE best
@@Ken_Weber_organist It is one of the best because of other grand organs such as St John Divine and Washington National Cathedral. But I would say the THEE BEST Unaltered EM Skinner Organs.
It's a fantastic organ in a stunning installation, so unique. An American Treasure!
This is a really gorgeous and sumptuous instrument.
E.M. SKINNER ! HOORAH ! 👍👏💕
Many thanks for this very interesting tour.
What an instrument! Marvelous!
Vary interesting layout ..and history told..a wonderful e.m. skinner..
The great Diapason chorus is among the most balanced I've heard. Rich, full, and brilliant.....but not overly so.
@Richard Harrold if by "mud" you refer to a balanced chorus with a sturdy fundamental and an appropriate amount of mutations and properly composed mixtures, then yes its muddy....in your opinion. The great diapason chorus St John the divine could be balanced, but you don't achieve that with 23 ranks of mixtures.....high pitched mixtures at that along with mutations in a chorus with one 16' and 2 8' diapasons. It's way, way too top heavy.
@Richard Harrold Opinions sir!!!!
Wonderful!
What's not to love? The organ is warm and enveloping without being dark or muddy. Great clarity and stunning balances. The Great Principal chorus blows me away.
Truly one of EMSs mastrpieces if not the best. Up there with St. Luke's Evanston as my favorites
One of the best videos done yet. I always wanted to see the organ chambers up close. Such an exquisite tonal palette!
Beautiful instrument! Thank you for providing this demonstration and tour.
Thank you for sharing this video, yet another reason to visit Philadelphia, with the Wanamaker!! Loved the Tubas and soft orchestral reeds.
Thank you Brent and Dylan. I was hoping you were going to feature this magnificent E.M. Skinner organ when you mentioned you were in Philadelphia. Great work!
What a wonderful organ with many enjoyable sounds! I am really impressed with the Great Principal chorus and how perfect the balance is!
Really love this organ. Beautiful tone in a great acoustic! Caught the Mark Husey fanfare on the Tuba lol. Sounds great!!
I have a cd of Carlo Curley playing this organ, and it's just phenomenal!
He was just that!
@BVale interesting that a Bible quotation is on the 'Chapel' wall. Did he allow this?
@@tobysherring1369 Mr. Girard only stated in his will that "I enjoin and require that no ecclesiastic, missionary, or minister of any sect whatever shall ever hold or exercise any station or duty whatever in the said college; nor shall any such person ever be admitted for any purpose, or as a visitor, within the premises appropriated to the purpose of the said college. In making this restriction, I do not mean to cast any reflection upon any sect or person whatsoever ; but, as there is such a multitude of sects, and such a diversity of opinion amongst them, I desire to keep the tender minds of the orphans, who are to derive advan- tage from this bequest, free from the excitement which clashing doctrines and sectarian controversy are so apt to produce ; my desire is, that all the instructors and teachers in the college shall take pains to instil into the minds of the scholars, the purest principles of morality, so that, on their entrance into active life, they may from inclination and habit, evince benevolence towards their fellow creatures, and a love of truth, sobriety and industry, adopting at the same time such religious tenets as their matured reason may enable them to prefer."
That prohibition has been relaxed in recent years, as with the many other changes to the Will.
He didn't prohibit the teaching of religious principles and in fact encouraged it, and it was drilled into us by laymen nearly every day; believe me, I know. As a student from 1963 to 1973, we attended chapel Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and the Bible was always read.
It was a pleasure to hear the Skinner throughout my years there, and Chuck Girson was my classmate.
Now that’s an organ.
That’s a really big sound!
The choir has an entire chorus built on the Dulciana. Impressive - how common is something like that?
John Compton built his choir manuals around Dulcianas 16, 8, 4, 2 2/3, 2, and Mixture. As has been said on here the dulcianas can be too quiet especially when the building is full of people.
That's some amazing building design to house that incredible instrument way up high. Must be quite elevating to experience in person. Magical even.
When I experienced it in person I sat in the back of the chapel. I could barely hear it... later found out you need to be under the chambers to get the same sound as on most recordings of this awesome E.M. Skinner.
Yes 💪
That pedal mixture has a septieme in it.
Absolutely brilliant! Such a great and important instrument has deserved a chamber tour for a long time.
And is there a Pedal division like that anywhere else? Maybe Liverpool Anglican could give it a run for it's money, but I'm not at all sure! 😁
@Richard Harrold I was referring to the EFFECT of the Pedal Div. in the room, not the number of stops. And I'm very familiar with the Willis instruments in Liverpool; I "adopted " two of the largest pedal pipes in the Anglican Cathedral organ.
Very nicely dome! But why no mention of Bruce Shultz, the former Girard Chapel Organist and Wanamaker organist who did much for this instrument? Why no mention of the late great Dr. Harry Wilkinson who performed on this instrument on numerous occasions and created two awesome CDs titled "Girard Organ: The Definitive Recordings."
Wonderful Skinner organ... Just curious, G.Donald Harrison modified so many Skinners, did he manage to get his hands on this one? Really interesting demo and tour. Can someone please tell me what that wonderful composition playing in the background is that starts with the tour and played so wonderfully by Dylan David Shaw - Please ! Thanks for posting this very great video on such a wonderful organ!
Thank you Dylan for your reply, much appreciated!
Thanks for the info!
I've heard both the Yale/Woolsey Hall Skinner and St. Mary the Virgin and the St John the Divine NYC instruments and they are quite excellent. Church of the Advent I am not familiar with but will look for some RUclips videos. Thanks for the recommendations Richard.
Interesting. What became of your persuasion?
Interesting 32" bombarde. Are they mitered? If they are, it's not often you see mitered wooden resonators.
Is their a map on paper of this organ
Don't forget the chorus mutations. They are important when building the plenum as well.
Warm and masculine, the acoustic environment is doing huge favors here as well
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
32' Faggoto, 16' Faggoto and the 16' Trombone, 32' Bombarde in the pedal, I'd love to hear those played at the same time 😁☺️
it's quite a sound in person!
My brother was sent to Girard after our dad was killed when a Corsair from the Wasp collided with our dad's Catalina.
What was the piece at the beginning of the chamber tour?
"To A Wild Rose" -- Edward MacDowell
I hear on the Last part from the great the beginning from the german tune hoch tut euch auf ihr Tore der Welt!
Pleas more Big organs
Good lord, why are the bottom few notes of the 16’ trombone so much louder than the rest of the rank? Voicing issues?
A wonderful organ, but I detest the tremolo.
You should hear what it thinks of YOU.
The pedal ranks are being played too softly to be audible
A glorious Symphonic "Palette". However it serves no purpose save the exaltation of a "Temple d' raison". Napoleon would be proud, and President Trump would revel in its "Secular" conation..
However the purpose of the organ and its compositions for Centuries has been to serve Holy Mass..
I believe that this Chapel honours no Christian sect ?
Therefore it serves no divine master.
The one element missing is its divine purpose, it may elevate the musical spirit, but cannot serve the human soul, & this is sad for it may as well be at Nurnberg at a "rally" ?
How very "American" in its conception.
Chris Australia.
What a gorgeous organ and the placement is really different! Looks pretty tight in those chambers…working/tuning wouldn’t be fun.
Compared to practically every other organ I’ve even been it, Girard’s organ chamber is the least cramped. Plenty of room to reach everything comfortably without being a contortionist.