It makes me smile to see and hear what my great-great grandfather Mathias Peter Möller’s pipe organ company and all of the hard workers in the company created being played so well. Excellent job.
I took a trek to Hagerstown on a business trip to Baltimore a few years back. I just wanted to see the factory building - of course it had gone out a business many years before but just going to see the building where these great organs were built was an emotional experience - sad that a great organ building no longer existed and grateful that these grand instruments were built at all and many still stand. I also went to visit your GGGrandfathers grave nearby and thanked him for his work..
The 16' Tuba Sonora does very well - not quite as prominent against the upperwork out in the Nave. The upperwork is speaking directly from the balconies, whereas the Tuba is speaking from one of the chancel triforia bays.
Thank you for a charming and very informative introduction to your beautiful Chapel. Truly a wonderful sight to behold. I am particularly interested as a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and hope one day to cross the pond, and attend, if not a service, then most certainly a musical performance. Having met a number of US Army Officers during my service, I can now fully understand their fondness for the Chapel, and its importance during their time at West Point and in their hearts.
Thank you for your kind comments! The Sandhurst Chapel Choir visited us and sang with us perhaps 12 years ago. I think the friendly rivalry and great bond between West Point
Thank you for your kind words. The Sandhurst Chapel Choir sang with us perhaps 12 years ago. The friendly rivalry and great bond between West Point and Sandhurst is quite special! Hopefully, you will have the chance to visit here some day.
@@kupferdulzian16 I very much hope so Craig. One of the most rewarding aspects of a military career is the opportunity it affords for meeting some incredibly interesting people. And yes you are quite right, there does exist a friendly rivalry between our respective academies, but more especially a tremendous kindred spirit. I have found this whenever we meet, either socially or in more trying circumstances. As the global pandemic continues to unfold, travel plans are difficult to organize and impossible to guarantee, but until my visit, please know that there is a hand of friendship extended across the sea.
You provided lots of details of the chapel and the organ. It brought me lots of memories and was wonderful to see the organ curators as well! Thank you for the great video! 👍
Thank you, Craig, for your tour of this magnificent organ and chapel. I recently discovered your RUclips channel and really enjoyed listening to your performances at the organ. Keep uploading organ videos as you get opportunities to do so. They are truly enjoyed by me and others. Thanks again!
Thank You Maestro, I had the privilege to meet and speak with you at the Chelsea Chen concert at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark NJ. I hope to here you play again at Sacred Heart or Ocean Grove in the future. Thank You.
Sehr interessantes Video. Aber wie andere Kommentatoren schon bemerkt haben - insbesondere bei dem Trumpet Tune. In der letzten Variation hört sich die Orgel sehr verstimmt an. Und das Video rauscht sehr stark. Schade!O
I played on this organ about 6 years ago when my organ teacher was performing here. I only got to perform with half of the instrument because the other half was shut off for sandblasting, but it was still a nice organ to play.
My very great pleasure Craig.... by the way we met some years ago at the church as Frédéric Swan was preparing for an organ recital... my wife and I frequented the sacred place for many recitals over the years... you have done a magnificent job of keeping it alive... keep up the great work!
The Florence Price piece brought something to mind....a young man in the Kansas City AGO National Rising Stars competition transcribed her Andante from the Piano Sonata in E Minor. It was stunning on the Aeolian Skinner in The Auditorium. Was also on pipe dreams
@@mjfreeman I was there but do not recall. I will need to listen to it again. Currently I am working on her "Suite," which I find more interesting and original than her Sonata for Organ - and I recently posted her "A Pleasant Thought" on this channel as well.
I think you probably need a full time tuner . . . it sure needs it! Hats off to one of our very own northern New Yorkers . . . former organist Jack Davis of Pulaski NY
Since this past summer, our associate curator has finished some projects allowing more time for tuning. Also, a problem with the West blower static bellows not working properly was isolated and repaired recently. The current sound and situation is presently much better! Our two full-time curators are continuing to do excellent work in maintaining an extraordinarily complicated instrument within the confines of a very limited budget. I appreciate your nod to Jack Davis, who was on the committee which hired me in 2000 and remained a good friend until he passed - truly one of the finest musicians I have had the pleasure to know!
This was produced by my son Stewart and me for a virtual Organ Camp workshop, but there is the added benefit of being available for viewing after the event.
A very interesting video. Thank you. love seeing the insides of organs and seeing the pipes & blowers. I saw some flashes while you were in the pipe chamber. was that lightning, or someone taking pictures?
Thank you very much for viewing! When I saw those flashes (which we didn't notice while recording), I assumed those must have been visitors taking pictures. We once had a tour guide who liked to use a laser pointer! He was sternly admonished by our organ technicians, who are in the organ chambers regularly.
Not just yet. There are major parts of the organ still under reconstruction and refurbishment. Hopefully, in a couple of years, we will have the ability to show some of the areas of the East organ - and record the full instrument.
I am not sure of the current status of the disposition of the First Congregational Church in Los Angeles. At one time, they had many digital voices to overcome issues with pipe voicing. I believe the pipework has been improved, and reliance on digital voices has been reduced. At present, the FCCLA organ contains over 22,000 pipes, and West Point has over 23,500 - so the West Point numbers still retain a slight edge. Though, what it really comes down to is two fabulous monumental organs the legacy of which complement one another more than compete against each other.
@@chadbeverly4926 The most current information is that First Congregational is claiming all digital voices have now been deactivated, and only pipes are creating sound. Their stats, however, add up to about 18,000 pipes - still far short of West Point which currently has 21,000 in active use with 2,500 others in divisions currently under repair.
The Guastavino tile in the chapel ceiling does cut the reverberation, unfortunately, though in the past the chapel building was worse. There used to be a cork floor in the center aisle, and the original flags were heavy fabric. So there are 1-2 seconds of reverberation on a good day. I am not sure where you received information about digital voices - I can assure you there are absolutely no digital voices in the West Point Cadet Chapel organ, nor are there any in the other four pipe organs on post!
@@kupferdulzian16 Thank You for correcting me on this, too bad the tiles are there. I remember when they removed those tiles at the Riverside Church in Manhattan, and what a huge difference it made to the acoustic of the room (so much better!).
@@OrganNLou If you ever have the opportunity to visit, I think you will find the acoustics are a bit better than we were able to represent with the limitations of this recording (which was challenged by a lack of wi-fi in a granite building, an issue we continue to try improving). I agree about Riverside - night and day after they did the work! Just to reiterate, I declared all of West Point a "digital-free zone" when I arrived 20 years ago, and so far we have been able to stick to that.
@@kupferdulzian16 Yes, you are probably right, as recordings can often mis- characterize the sound of a given room one example being Westminster Abbey, which has fine acoustics, but too closely miked.
Please read my reply to Kemped Kemp above. Meanwhile, if your argument is that everything being absolutely in tune is the only measure of quality, then that would lead to the conclusion that most Allen digital organs are tonally superior to most Dom Bedos pipe organs. I will respectfully disagree there.
I’m afraid I simply don’t understand the need constantly to repeat again and again that it’s the largest church organ in the world. I don’t think it’s at all relevant to anything. What is more important is the ministry is serves - which is really not even mentioned in the video. There are far superior organs (that are kept in tune) that are much smaller than this.
Sadly it's the US disease of more for the sake of more and placing that as the best object of appreciatiom. It doesn't fit the dead acoustic for a start. Give me a decent, smaller European organ.
This was among one of our earlier efforts in releasing material for some workshops during the pandemic. We are looking forward to working with the Band in producing some higher quality videos - hopefully within the next couple of months.
The project with the Band sound engineers - ostensibly for a video coordinated with the Admissions Office - has not materialized yet. But it is on the "to do" list. Those results will definitely be more professional.
In Memory of Jack Davis--thank you, Craig. John Swensson USMA '65. CIC, Cadet Chapel Choir and OIC 1972-74
Jack Davis was a great friend and mentor! His great love for the Cadet Chapel and the organ were an inspiration which will last for generations.
It makes me smile to see and hear what my great-great grandfather Mathias Peter Möller’s pipe organ company and all of the hard workers in the company created being played so well. Excellent job.
Thank you for your encouraging words, Emily. This is a great legacy indeed!
I took a trek to Hagerstown on a business trip to Baltimore a few years back. I just wanted to see the factory building - of course it had gone out a business many years before but just going to see the building where these great organs were built was an emotional experience - sad that a great organ building no longer existed and grateful that these grand instruments were built at all and many still stand. I also went to visit your GGGrandfathers grave nearby and thanked him for his work..
Thank you so much. I've admired this organ for years. Grateful to be able to see it up close. 🎼🎵🎶🎹🎹🎹🎹
Thank you for your interest. I appreciate your kind words!
Thanks Craig! It's always a joy to meet a new organ ( and it's organist) 🙂
Thank you for listening!
Thank you for playing the organ and showing the blowers and some pipes
It is a fascinating instrument which occupies so much of the chapel building. Thank you for watching!
2:36 Was the first organist in that chapel really Frederick C. Minor?! What a musical name! (Forgive me if his surname was Miner.)
Frederick C. Mayer (which is pronounced like Meyer). He was Organist/Choirmaster from 1911-1954.
@@kupferdulzian16 my apology!
None necessary. Thank you for listening.
BWV 615 is onw of my favourite Chorale preludes. Hearing the reeds in the Pedal soar above everything else is just glorious. Thanks for the tour!
The 16' Tuba Sonora does very well - not quite as prominent against the upperwork out in the Nave. The upperwork is speaking directly from the balconies, whereas the Tuba is speaking from one of the chancel triforia bays.
Very comprehensive historically fascinating tour of this famous place and organ!❤ Just Magnificent!
Thank you for watching, Vidas. We are having the refurbished West blower reinstalled this week!
Fantastic! Thanks, Craig.
Thank you for watching, Diana.
Thank you for a charming and very informative introduction to your beautiful Chapel. Truly a wonderful sight to behold. I am particularly interested as a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and hope one day to cross the pond, and attend, if not a service, then most certainly a musical performance. Having met a number of US Army Officers during my service, I can now fully understand their fondness for the Chapel, and its importance during their time at West Point and in their hearts.
Thank you for your kind comments! The Sandhurst Chapel Choir visited us and sang with us perhaps 12 years ago. I think the friendly rivalry and great bond between West Point
Thank you for your kind words. The Sandhurst Chapel Choir sang with us perhaps 12 years ago. The friendly rivalry and great bond between West Point and Sandhurst is quite special! Hopefully, you will have the chance to visit here some day.
@@kupferdulzian16 I very much hope so Craig. One of the most rewarding aspects of a military career is the opportunity it affords for meeting some incredibly interesting people. And yes you are quite right, there does exist a friendly rivalry between our respective academies, but more especially a tremendous kindred spirit. I have found this whenever we meet, either socially or in more trying circumstances. As the global pandemic continues to unfold, travel plans are difficult to organize and impossible to guarantee, but until my visit, please know that there is a hand of friendship extended across the sea.
You provided lots of details of the chapel and the organ. It brought me lots of memories and was wonderful to see the organ curators as well! Thank you for the great video! 👍
Thank you very much, Jung-A.
Thank you, Craig, for your tour of this magnificent organ and chapel. I recently discovered your RUclips channel and really enjoyed listening to your performances at the organ. Keep uploading organ videos as you get opportunities to do so. They are truly enjoyed by me and others. Thanks again!
Thank you very much for your support! I am glad you are finding some enjoyment from these.
Thank You Maestro, I had the privilege to meet and speak with you at the Chelsea Chen concert at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark NJ. I hope to here you play again at Sacred Heart or Ocean Grove in the future. Thank You.
Thank you very much. Chelsea was phenomenal! Maybe I might get a chance to play in Newark if asked.
Sehr interessantes Video. Aber wie andere Kommentatoren schon bemerkt haben - insbesondere bei dem Trumpet Tune. In der letzten Variation hört sich die Orgel sehr verstimmt an. Und das Video rauscht sehr stark. Schade!O
I played on this organ about 6 years ago when my organ teacher was performing here. I only got to perform with half of the instrument because the other half was shut off for sandblasting, but it was still a nice organ to play.
Glad you had the opportunity to play. We are having the West Blower reinstalled now and hope to have full organ operational this summer (2023).
beautifully done Craig! Keep up the inspiring work!
Thank you very much for your continued listening and support, Ernest. Deeply appreciated!
My very great pleasure Craig.... by the way we met some years ago at the church as Frédéric Swan was preparing for an organ recital... my wife and I frequented the sacred place for many recitals over the years... you have done a magnificent job of keeping it alive... keep up the great work!
A great video and great pieces of music to show the organ’s many colors. I have a brochure from Aeolian Skinner with the 32’ Ophicleide in it.
Thank you very much!
The Florence Price piece brought something to mind....a young man in the Kansas City AGO National Rising Stars competition transcribed her Andante from the Piano Sonata in E Minor. It was stunning on the Aeolian Skinner in The Auditorium. Was also on pipe dreams
@@mjfreeman I was there but do not recall. I will need to listen to it again. Currently I am working on her "Suite," which I find more interesting and original than her Sonata for Organ - and I recently posted her "A Pleasant Thought" on this channel as well.
Thank you for this video!
Thank you for watching!
Wonderful video, Craig. Thanks for posting this!
Thank you, Felix! Love your posts!
I think you probably need a full time tuner . . . it sure needs it!
Hats off to one of our very own northern New Yorkers . . . former organist Jack Davis of Pulaski NY
Since this past summer, our associate curator has finished some projects allowing more time for tuning. Also, a problem with the West blower static bellows not working properly was isolated and repaired recently. The current sound and situation is presently much better! Our two full-time curators are continuing to do excellent work in maintaining an extraordinarily complicated instrument within the confines of a very limited budget. I appreciate your nod to Jack Davis, who was on the committee which hired me in 2000 and remained a good friend until he passed - truly one of the finest musicians I have had the pleasure to know!
Love this Craig! It's great you decided to do a video like this for this behemoth :)
This was produced by my son Stewart and me for a virtual Organ Camp workshop, but there is the added benefit of being available for viewing after the event.
My grandpa was a Westpoint graduate! late 1930's I believe.
A wonderful and proud tradition! We are still the beneficiaries of the Class of 1936, who endowed a recital series for the Cadet Chapel organ.
I would love to come play this one time
Great video. Thanks for sharing this magnificent instrument! Though, it could certainly use some tuning!
We recorded in the summer but yes! Tuning is constant, and we will never be mistaken for a Hauptwerk! 😁
A very interesting video. Thank you. love seeing the insides of organs and seeing the pipes & blowers. I saw some flashes while you were in the pipe chamber. was that lightning, or someone taking pictures?
Thank you very much for viewing! When I saw those flashes (which we didn't notice while recording), I assumed those must have been visitors taking pictures. We once had a tour guide who liked to use a laser pointer! He was sternly admonished by our organ technicians, who are in the organ chambers regularly.
Can you tell me about the two 64' stops on this organ?
They are 32' pipes...the stops start at tenor C. They add some depth to higher passagework but do not play in the bass octave.
could you make a Video demo of full organ???
Not just yet. There are major parts of the organ still under reconstruction and refurbishment. Hopefully, in a couple of years, we will have the ability to show some of the areas of the East organ - and record the full instrument.
It's too bad about the sound quality in this video.
My grandpa was a graduate of West Point
That is great! What a wonderful history!
More pleas from the organ
"One of the greatest organists"? Bach? IN the year 3000, Bach will still be King.
wait so does that cathedral in california that had the largest church organ in the world have digital voices ?
I am not sure of the current status of the disposition of the First Congregational Church in Los Angeles. At one time, they had many digital voices to overcome issues with pipe voicing. I believe the pipework has been improved, and reliance on digital voices has been reduced. At present, the FCCLA organ contains over 22,000 pipes, and West Point has over 23,500 - so the West Point numbers still retain a slight edge. Though, what it really comes down to is two fabulous monumental organs the legacy of which complement one another more than compete against each other.
@@kupferdulzian16 ahhhhhh, thank you for this information it was something I've wondered for a while
@@chadbeverly4926 The most current information is that First Congregational is claiming all digital voices have now been deactivated, and only pipes are creating sound. Their stats, however, add up to about 18,000 pipes - still far short of West Point which currently has 21,000 in active use with 2,500 others in divisions currently under repair.
@@kupferdulzian16 man if I had the money and if West Point had the space I’d give them a 64’ stop. At least the bottom 12
@@chadbeverly4926West Point already has two 64' stops. I don't know if they extend fully to low C though.
Interesting organ (many digital voices) also the room is rather flat (too bad there isnt more reverb)
The Guastavino tile in the chapel ceiling does cut the reverberation, unfortunately, though in the past the chapel building was worse. There used to be a cork floor in the center aisle, and the original flags were heavy fabric. So there are 1-2 seconds of reverberation on a good day. I am not sure where you received information about digital voices - I can assure you there are absolutely no digital voices in the West Point Cadet Chapel organ, nor are there any in the other four pipe organs on post!
@@kupferdulzian16 Thank You for correcting me on this, too bad the tiles are there. I remember when they removed those tiles at the Riverside Church in Manhattan, and what a huge difference it made to the acoustic of the room (so much better!).
@@OrganNLou If you ever have the opportunity to visit, I think you will find the acoustics are a bit better than we were able to represent with the limitations of this recording (which was challenged by a lack of wi-fi in a granite building, an issue we continue to try improving). I agree about Riverside - night and day after they did the work! Just to reiterate, I declared all of West Point a "digital-free zone" when I arrived 20 years ago, and so far we have been able to stick to that.
@@kupferdulzian16 Yes, you are probably right, as recordings can often mis- characterize the sound of a given room one example being Westminster Abbey, which has fine acoustics, but too closely miked.
Holy crap there less buttons and switches in an Aircraft cocpit.
Flight deck.
Lol. Less pipes but more stops (just more compactly placed) than Wanamaker's - but not nearly as big as Boardwalk Hall, by any definition.
The organ sounds out of tune at the moment. Ok it huge but if you can’t keep up on tuning. Why have the pipes.
Please read my reply to Kemped Kemp above. Meanwhile, if your argument is that everything being absolutely in tune is the only measure of quality, then that would lead to the conclusion that most Allen digital organs are tonally superior to most Dom Bedos pipe organs. I will respectfully disagree there.
I’m afraid I simply don’t understand the need constantly to repeat again and again that it’s the largest church organ in the world. I don’t think it’s at all relevant to anything. What is more important is the ministry is serves - which is really not even mentioned in the video. There are far superior organs (that are kept in tune) that are much smaller than this.
Sadly it's the US disease of more for the sake of more and placing that as the best object of appreciatiom. It doesn't fit the dead acoustic for a start. Give me a decent, smaller European organ.
It's too bad the audio quality is so poor.
This was among one of our earlier efforts in releasing material for some workshops during the pandemic. We are looking forward to working with the Band in producing some higher quality videos - hopefully within the next couple of months.
The project with the Band sound engineers - ostensibly for a video coordinated with the Admissions Office - has not materialized yet. But it is on the "to do" list. Those results will definitely be more professional.