The Wanamaker Organ - Pt.1
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- Опубликовано: 17 фев 2016
- In Part One, Scott Kip takes me inside the Wanamaker Organ to see the amazing mechanical wonders within. The Wanamaker Organ is the largest functioning musical instrument in the World (In 2016), containing over 28,000 individual pipes in 444 ranks. Originally created for the 1904 St. Louis Exposition by the Los Angeles Art Organ Company, it was exhibited in the Kansas City Convention Hall until 1906 when it was dismantled and put into storage. The organ was purchased by John Wanamaker in 1909, and it was transported in pieces and installed in the current location in Philadelphia in 1910 in its first incarnation. The organ has since undergone several major renovations, restorations, and upgrades over the last century - much of which will be the subject of part two - where I will get into the rich history and technical complexity of the organ and how it functions.
For more info check out the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ website: www.wanamakerorgan.com
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Macy's is to be commended for maintaining and restoring this marvelous instrument!
Wooow!! I grew up in Philadelphia, going to Wanamaker's with my mother, and hearing this magnificent instrument all the time. My fondest memories as a child were the spectacular Christmas displays, and most of all, the Christmas music on the organ! Seeing the bowels of this incredible instrument, and seeing how the heavenly music was made is fantastic!! I had no idea how vast, intricate and complicated it was! Thank you for this once in a lifetime opportunity to see inside the world's largest instrument!
Remember the train that went around the top of the toy department ?
Absolutely AMAZING, I had no idea of the vast complexity and massive amount pipes inside of the Wanamaker Organ.Many yrs. ago I took a guided tour inside of chamber/lofts to see the working of this mammoth musical instrument , WOW, what an operation , time, cost, & a real labor of love is what it takes to preserve this priceless treasure in Philadelphia. The Wanamaker is truly like no other functioning pipe organ in any country on the planet. Philadelphians are very fortunate to have such musical instrument like this *****
16:23 you know it's a good organ when it has an entire room dedicated to vox humanas!
Ok, sorry I'm late to the show.
First let me say thanks to Fran for this excellent tour of this beautiful instrument.
I had the honor of having a chance in the early 70s of being shown this organ by an organist friend that was very familiar with it.
Familiar enough to know that we could go through the ladies shoe dept to the door opening to the console.
Shortly after the organist showed up to do the 5 oclock show, a bit perturbed that we were there till my friend mentioned he used to play at a boys school which turned out to be the same one the organist was currently playing at. We were invited to sit in one of the folding chairs and I had my first introduction to this instrument up close and personal.
One of the most memorable moments in my life! Thanks again Fran, very well done.
Just excellent! Worlds largest working musical instrument. Walking, climbing, squeezing around in it while it's being played.
One of the most impressive human feats... conceiving of and implementing this organ! This video is truly an "OMG!" experience.
Fran, I am in awe! Thank you so much for this exposition! You are a great artist in this explanatory medium: you show the joy of musical electronics (and much else) with an unfiltered yet sweet delivery. You are a treasure!
Thank You to both you miss Fran & Scott for the time and dedication to showing us around inside this massive instrument and the preservation to keeping it in top shape for years to come so our kids kids can see not everything has to be brand new to be AWESOME!! Cow}:-o)
I've heard this instrument for years but never really saw it in this kind of detail. Thank you for your persistence Fran!
I just have to say that you are an inspiration to me! A female engineer who is creative and fun and original, it's such a breath of fresh air. You are who I want to imagine myself being when I go out into the world. My hs graduation is this June and I'm pursuing mechanical engineering with a minor in civil. I'm also going to continue my flight training. People like you inspire me to follow my dreams and be myself! Thank you for being awesome.
Parents used to take me there every Christmas when growing up. Many fond memories.)))
Midmer Losh restoration coming along great with 16,000 playable pipes of the 35,000. New relays, restored wiring harness, and fast to restoring nearly all of the 35,000 pipes. 100" of water pressure would blow out all of the windows at Wanamaker at about 80 percent power. 100 percent power of Midmer Losh's 3 large blower motors would knock over all of the display cases at Macy's. Then again, Midmer Losh is designed to entertain about 25,000 people. In another 3 years it could be that all 35,000 pipes can play. But as it sits now with half of it not playing, its still the largest musical instrument to ever be built on planet Earth.
The ML is impressive... But nothing can beat the expressiveness and nuance of the Wanamaker IMO. I don't think excess per se is a virtue.
Three years ago, we diverted to Atlantic city to see and hear the midmer losh. Huge, powerful. To my dismay, we missed this beauty. The magnificent sound of this instrument is amazing. My loss for sure. The U.S. is blessed to have the two biggest so close together.
Originally designed to entertain over 40,000 people. The Midmer-Losh at Boardwalk Hall is the largest instrument, by number of pipes and sheer size. The Wanamaker by number of stops.
Burt Ward, The midmer losh organ only has 33,114 pipes not 35,000 pipes.
Simply beautiful. Great vid
“Can you feel the love tonight?”
“Yeah, in my skull!”
Or you can also feel the air coming out your bass end ☺️
Can you feel bye Elton John
Fran you just amaze me with what you find out there. Thank you. Now go and get your hearing checked.
oh man, this so needs to be recorded as a 360 environment. Just x-disolving between cool spots. So cool.
Fran! Oh my gosh! Thank you so much for showing us this amazing instrument! I’ve seen news clips of this, but not a full tour! Thank you thank you thank you!
Fran, thanks a lot for the super interesting episode!
Thanks for posting Fran! This musical marvel must be experienced in-person to fully appreciate its amazing tonal qualities. I love hearing the first notes after walking into the store - they have such a brilliant, three-dimensional quality to them. A trip to Philadelphia isn't complete without at least attending a daily (except Sun) noon or early evening concert, or one of the special concerts presented throughout the year.
The best concerts are in the evening after the store closes, because then not only are the sounds of commerce absent, but the organ is allowed to play without restriction like those imposed during business hours. A big thanks to Macy's and the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ for continuing to restore and improve this majestic instrument for current and future generations!
Thank you for showing the Pipe Organ 🙏 👏!!!!
Awesome tour, thanks for taking the time :)
Hello Fran,
Never knew that you where also interested in theater organs like I am, so many many thanks for this great tour. I am looking forward to part 2 and I will send your video also to all my other organ fans.
Many greetings from Roel !
Just now seeing this video! That last bit explaining the organ pipe grid was gold. As someone who spent some of their formative years in Church, that demystified a lot about how these massive wind instruments work. Going to watch the other two parts now!! 👍️
Thanks again Fran! You have the most interesting/odd videos!
I'm going to shop at Macy's for something JUST to do my miniscule part in helping to maintain this incredible instrument. It's unbelievable how much space they've dedicated to this instrument.
Thanks Fran & Scott for the incredible tour!! 💜
This is a wonderful documentary about the John Wanamaker Organ. Not to be a smartass, but I would bring us some earplugs 😁 I enjoy watching this video every year during the Christmas Season Christmas ⛄🎄 🎅🤶🧑🎄 I love the John Wanamaker Christmas Tree Light Show. I miss the water fountains that used to be on both sides of the tree. Great times! Every year I would take the day off from school and enjoy Philadelphia during Christmastime with my Aunt Debbie and my Great Aunt Pauline 💖
Thank you very much for bringing this marvelous organ to the public.
I would have loved to play it.
Thank you Fran for sharing - love organs!
Beautiful! I've seen a documentary on this organ before, always wanted to visit this piece of history! Thank you for the video! :D
I am soooo jealous! Ive wanted to see the wanamaker organ for a couple years now. Ive been in awe of previous tour vids... cant wait to watch pt2
Absolutely incredible series of videos. Thank you. I was sitting on the edge of my chair similar to a three year old on Saturday morning. I'm not certain how much time has past since I've felt as interested, amazed, captive by your content. Thanks again.
My grandfather, Richard H. Peters, was invited to play that organ at the St Louis fair. He was dean of music at Converse College in Spartanburg SC. He also played the organ at Wanamaker’s store in Philadelphia. It would be appreciated if someone knowledgeable could confirm this “family story”
Amazing! it's an incredible and immense piece of art and engineering, thanks for sharing
Just wonderful. I'm speechless ! Thank you Fran !!!!
Fran, Thank you for that! One of the coolest videos you have done - well, you've done quite a few really. Amazing ! I could almost feel the power of the notes looking at the pipes. The cam was like - get me outa here !! trying it's best to clamp the gain...
Very cool fran, thank You.
This is the most awe-inspiring thing I've ever seen. If it were some complicated, finely-crafted mechanism, you'd never get the full effect. But because it's so brutalist and inelegant in design, you can fit it all in your head, and it's mind-boggling.
Miles of corridors and stairways, every one clumsily stuffed with hundreds and hundreds of pipes, powered by nothing but electricity and wooden levers. It's massive, it's loud, it's dangerous, and it belongs in a fantasy novel. But here it is, in a shopping mall.
Fascinating. I started watching on my desktop, but switched to watching on my 32" HD TV. The bit at the end where Scott explains how the mechanism works was really interesting. Can't wait to see Part 2.
Look forward to part 2. A great video of a grand pipe organ.
What an amazing thing! Thanks for making and sharing!
thanks for showing us an incredible organ, an awesome tour indeed :)
That was fabulous Fran. Cheers very much me dears!
I'm an engineer, can't play a note, but love music. That was one of the most surprising and interestingly different things I've seen in a while.
Just awesome. You lacky lacky goyl you. Thank's so much for doing an excellent 2 part job for us. Can hardly wait for part 2.
You almost expect the hunchback to come out, very cool.
Thanks for the interesting tour of that marvel. It's hard to think of that organ without also thinking of the late John Facenda narrating Wanamaker's original Christmas light show (he also possessed an impressive set of pipes). Looking forward to part two.
Awesome tour! Can't wait for part 2! Had to get Mannequin out and watch it again. What a great movie! Seems to get better each time I watch it. Hope you do many more video tours like this. Thank you!
OMW i am so jealous! i love organs and i would love to see one this big from the inside
You are lucky to have had that experience! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for a look behind the façade of this magnificent creation,
18:00 kinda sums this up: 'yeah people have their offices inside this organ'
14:35 sounds AMAZING how it starts to distort more and more!
Its even louder at 16:20 xD
This is the best of a Classic Pipe Organ Video I have Ever Seen..
Thank you so much for this video! I will have to visit that organ when I move to Reading.
Thank you for finding this for me. Astonishing. Your guide got a little ahead of you, I was worried that you might be lost in the worlds largest musical instrument. On the fifth level I thought your ears were going to start bleeding. Incredible
I first visted Wanamakers in Christmas 1982, the last year for the monorail in the toy section. I found the Christmas display amazing. I still have an LP of Virgil Fox playing that organ back inthe 60s.
I've always wanted to see behind the scenes of the mighty Wanamaker. This is AMAZING!!
It looks like a magical place honestly
Wow! Impressive stuff ☺🎶🎹🎶☺
Because what puts everyone in the mood for shopping better than... wait for it... organ music? Kidding aside, that is a beast of a machine. Don't try this at home, kids. I wonder what they feed that thing. Human souls, perhaps?
I was lucky enough to go to John Wanamakers department store in the late "70's when it was still going strong.
A magical place.
The pipes you remarked on that have a pattern on them in the metal are made of "spotted metal" an alloy of tin and lead that is used for many types of organ pipes.
I just typed that, then saw your comment from 5 months ago :)
It is called Antimony.
Antimony. Is that like the opposite of alimony? And if the two of them meet do they mutually annihilate?
I thought 50/50 blend was a 'bad blend' because the crystal structure is chaotic in that ratio, leading to spotting. Would be interesting to learn why it is used in spite of that in pipe organs. Even a 40/60 blend would no longer be spotted.
Wow did not expect that..amazing 👍
Just watched this for the second time and there is still so much to take in!
:) Too bad you didn't bring a decibel meter with you on your tour! Ahah! Thank you for bringing everyone along with you.
I LOVE pipe organs!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Some top-tier content right here!
this is an amazing bit of kit.
Hello Fran, you have the coolest videos.
I underestimated by at least one, maybe two, orders of magnitude how big this thing was going to be before looking at your vid. !
Just unbelievable - I don't think I've ever seen so many pipes of any kind in one place - what a fantastic building-sized piece of art frankly. I haven't even seen parts 2 and 3 yet either :o) I wonder how many shoppers down below have a clue as to what's up there making the noise ? (Or care even). Thankyou for filming your tour Fran - I'm very envious - though ear defenders are required I think.
Sorry I'm only seeing this nearly 3 years late :o)
Great, I love your videos, Fran Blanche ...
Great video!
Organ technology is mind-boggling!
great channel cheers for posting
I wish you could show us more of those historic staircases :). Those are works of art. I am glad they were preserved and not taken out. Maybe in the future; another tenant could use them. That building is a National Historic Landmark for a reason.
Ancient knowledge. More than an instrument.
THIS IS BRILLIANT.
The Wanamaker organ is the largest playing organ (everything works as of 2019) as it has the most ranks (voices) even though the Atlantic city convention hall organ has more pipes due to non-standard extended keyboards. Heard Keith Chapman play a noontime program back in 1973 (score from "The Sound of Music") - only had 5 pistons working ! The current organist (Conte) is a genius in his own right.
This was really cool. I would love to just sit inside of it and eat my lunch. Oh how awesome would it be to have a music studio inside of that thing!? A studio inside a giant organ! ha!
Macy’s weren’t responsible for that restoration. It was the benevolence of the “Friends of the Wanamaker Organ”. Also several large gifts from private benefactors.
This building is one of the few on this planet that I will care about if it gets demolished/burns down. Not only a massive feat in the music world, not only a piece of art, but an archetectural marval. And retail!!
amazing this is like one the seven wonders of the world in my book !
This is my favourite video of yours!
what an amazing piece of Art.
Awesome video !
In the belly of the beast! Fantastic!
What an absolutely amazing feat of engineering.
I have enjoyed all of your posts, thank you for the great vid, you are always so cute and informative :)
3:47 I got chills when I realized that Schubert's Ave Maria was playing there.
Why would someone give this a thumbs down? lol people amaze me. Awesome tour, Fran.
awe inspiring O_O
thank you for making this!! :)
Thanks for whom are design, and built it!
I thought the organ at Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa Arizona was pretty big (and it is), but this is definitely a lot bigger. Thanks for posting! :)
That organ in Mesa was in Portland 40years ago, and was even bigger then.
@@bytheseaaspirinshop801 Dennis Hedberg got it to 50 ranks at the Organ Grinder, and supposedly had a 51st rank (I have yet to hear what it was) nearly ready. Organ Stop didn't get the entire instrument, only parts of it, and adding it to what they already had, got the resulting hybrid up to 78 ranks. In the past few years, it's come up to 82 ranks, surpassing even the 80-rank Sanfilippo organ, though Sanfilippo has more concert-style ranks.
Fun fact: Charles Henry Galloway of St. Louis (instructor in Music at Wash U.), teacher of James T. Quarles (Head of Music at Cornell and Missouri), was the intended debut organist for this monster of an instrument at the St. Louis Exposition. A different celebrity organist was slated to play more recitals on the instrument however. Galloway, a frequent contributor to The Etude, died in the Wash U field-house several years later stepping off the podium having just directed a rousing choral and symphonic rehearsal. He had a heart condition which struck just then.
Holy guacamole! Geek porn at its most extreme! Coolest tour yet!
Would be incredibly cool to hear Camille Saint-Saens' "Le Danse Macabre" on this instrument. The thought alone brings tears to my eyes.
You rock, Fran!
14:47 That is some serious eardrum death music. Elton would be proud. XD
Elton John might be watching thes organ video on RUclips
A friend and the person whom I work with, sat at this console many times with Virgil Fox. I remember he said the first time he played this instrument he was age 12.
Amazing..!!!!
This is fricken awesome! I've seen organs being built, but never had the experience of being inside one whilst it's being played (well, apart from a fairground organ - which gave me a headache after about an hour)
Thanks so Much Fran! It would be of interest to me to know which of the present day organ manufacturers is contracted to service this great organ. My mother, in the last years of the great depression was taken in by the Austin family of Hartford CT. as live-in child care assistant while she went to high school in Bloomfield. My love of organ music stems from this relationship. The other great organ in the Philadelphia area is the Curtiss which is an Austin design. I noted in your video that the blowers were from a company in Windsor CT. probably because Austin has so much business helping keep up other extinct company's instruments these days. These concert organs from around a hundred years ago have their own style of sound, and many new installations eschew that sound either to hark back to the J.S. Bach Baroque style or to up date to the crisper sounds some present day builders provide.
I wonder if you saw any peg boards with wire-wrapped connections on your tour. That technology was used both by the telephone companies back then and organ makers employing the electro-magnetic relays and solenoids that made such large organs even possible. Before such techniques, they were all mechanical linkages known as trackers, and the maximum length from keyboard to pipe row with its joint stretching determined the size of organ possible.
I also note that the original organ was from a Los Angeles company. Strange but true that many movie theater theater pipe organs came from companies located where the(then silent) movies themselves tended to be made. Most organ companies live or die from major instrument to major instrument, as happened to the one that went bankrupt building the Wanamaker. Austin was able to survive the depression by building smaller unit organs in quantity, designed to a size that could be shipped in a truck.
We are living in another era like that of the "Robber Barons" where such excesses seem to flourish..
Macy's has many full-time employees dedicated to servicing the organ
Two.
@@howlingwolven Plus three others full time funded by Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, plus part timers. Seems like a lot to me.
Great video.