Sunday, June 2, 2019

BIG ORGAN


If you’ve been to Macy’s in the Wanamaker Building on Market Street, you know the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, the largest operating musical instrument in the world. But you may not know that it recently got a face-lift — one that debuted yesterday. The restoration targeted the grand organ case, the 117 gold pipes visible above the marble balcony on the second story of the store’s Grand Court all in 22 karat gold. The pipes were repaired, smoothed, cleaned, and painted to match their original color, a warm shade of white. As traditon, the Capital Street Duo came down for the day with our friend Kalen to take in the reveal. And it was done and looked stunning.

Not only does the organ sound amazing, but we were treated to not only the talents of Peter Richard Conti, but the extremely handsome Ken Cowan also tickling the ivories. We also learned these interesting facts.

The organ as we know it today differs quite a bit from what organ architect George Ashdown Audsley designed in 1904 for the St. Louis World’s Fair. Back then, it was a mere 10,000 or so pipes. Nonetheless, when the instrument was played at the fair, it knocked plaster from the ceiling and panicked the crowd, according to Ray Biswanger, executive director of the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ.
To build the organ for the World’s Fair, it cost $105,000 — or $2,927,944 in today’s money. Unsurprisingly, it bankrupted the Los Angeles Art Organ Company, the builder tasked with its construction. It went into a warehouse after 1904 and sat there until John Wanamaker bought it in 1909, reportedly for “next to nothing.” The organ shipped to Philly on 13 train cars and took almost two years to install.
The organ was first played for the public in the Wanamaker Building on June 22, 1911, at the exact moment when King George V was crowned at the Westminster Abbey across the Atlantic Ocean.
Rodman Wanamaker, John Wanamaker’s younger son, was a bit of a spendthrift, according to Biswanger. He also loved the arts and significantly enlarged the organ — by more than 18,000 pipes, made with only the finest materials. Under his watch, the organ expanded to include a special console with six keyboards and a full strings stops section, resembling that of an orchestra’s strings section.
In 1919, the Wanamaker's invited the Philadelphia Orchestra and its illustrious conductor, Leopold Stokowski, to perform in the department store, with the organ backing them. Four such performances were given between then and 1926, and Stokowski was reportedly inspired to arrange organ works for the orchestra as a result of the collaboration. That included his transcription of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, which was eventually set to animation in 1940 in Walt Disney’s Fantasia (in which Stokowski and the orchestra were featured heavily).
The circumference of the organ’s largest pipe is so wide that a Shetland pony once posed for pictures inside it. That same pipe measures a respectable 32 feet long. The smallest pipe, in comparison, is a quarter-inch long.

Another friend of mine joined us down there for the concert, and later decided to become a living mannequin.
And it wouldn't be a mistress post if I didn't include one hottie I came across man watching. A cutie filming the event.
Some people think the organ is too big, but I always say go big or go home. 
Afterwards we spent the rest of the day in New Hope.

34 comments:

  1. I love your organ escapades, dear. So many enormous pipes, so little time... Jx

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    1. and seems the mistress has quite a repertoire in playing them too.

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    2. I agree with you both, your such dears.

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  2. wonderful restoration of a city treasure!

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  3. Wow! Really interesting history. You have so
    much more than us out here in the infant West!

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  4. I've always been a sucker for big organs (absolutely no pun intended) but few of them were ever musical.
    The Wanamaker is magnificent...and you're fortunate to have had an up-close-in-person encounter with it.
    Great photos, as always!

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  5. Wow. Simply amazing. I have been inside a pipe organ on a tour once, but this is on a whole other level. Actually many, many levels. Most everybody has heard of this organ, but few have seen it! Thank you for this. I miss being able to just go down the street and see it.

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  6. Never knew this, even after we saw it once - enjoyed.

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  7. Cap Chasen6/02/2019

    Absolutely AMAZING post. I bet it was wonderful to see the unveil in person for this historic moment. 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.

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    1. Certainty is a treasured piece of Philadelphian history.

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  8. Simply beautiful!!!!! I remember in the late 50's early 60's my grandmother taking me there to shop before we moved away. Being here now, it's great to see it is still magnificent.

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  9. Beautiful pictures, and yes that camera man is very photogenic himself! Rawrrrr! :D

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  10. To date, I have never seen a department store so stunning looking with that architecture.Amazing! it's an incredible and immense piece of art and engineering, thanks for sharing

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    1. Your new icon looks like a incredible piece of art and engineering!!!!!!!!

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  11. Mistress you just amaze me with what you find out there, and the things you go see. Thank you. You may have to go back to work to just relax, Now go and get your hearing checked after earing that organ..

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  12. You have the most interesting things to see and do there. What an amazing place. The architecture is incredible.

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  13. OMg I am so jealous! I love organs and i would love to see one this big up close and personal.

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  14. Living in town I have seen the organ too many times too mention.Awe inspiring O_O still, it and the whole building. Thank you for posting this.

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  15. I went threw today to see the organ...it looked spectacular. I had another engagement yesterday, but I would have loved to have seen the unveiling.

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    1. I can't believe how much brighter it looks.

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  16. You post such interesting things, mistress.
    The organ is amazing but oh my stars, the cost!
    Still, it's wonderful that's is been saved and is appreciated. So many treasures are lost.

    I had to smile when I saw the title of the blog. I never know what to expect and I love that!

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    1. I like to keep everybody on there toes!!!! I'm sure youd love the organ music there.

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  17. What a magnificent organ! And an informative and fascinating history lesson to go with it. It's no surprise that playing an organ of that size would bring the house down.
    Thank you, Maddie!

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  18. Wow! Great post. I’ve always been told an organ can never be too big, but I dont know if that’s actually true.

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  19. My what a big organ. I have no doubt youd play it beautifully.

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  20. Carlos does love a big organ that he can play.
    And music,too.

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  21. Unfortunately we too couldn't make it, but the organ looks downright stunning, so much brighter. I did however hear part of it with the chorus singing while in the car to our destination. I also see they have lit the columns in the pride colors.

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  22. I love, love love these excursions!

    XoXo

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  23. I used to play the organ; it was a treat to play a lavish one like this one.

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  24. That building and that organ blow my mind. I would love to see it on another visit.

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!