http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIv4NtUpPhs
Not much music in this Youtube clip, but it is definitely nice to see Wanamaker's organ getting some media attention from a major US TV channel. (Organist Peter Conte calls the instrument an international treasure: spot on!)
Cool! I look forward to viewing that later.
Yep, It surely is such a treasure, along with St. Sulpice.Originally Posted by acc
True, there is little music, except for chin-music.
It's interesting how certain organs have gained such reputations and are regarded as such 'jewels". One might well raise the question does it REALLY make much difference? Since it is commonly understood that the acoustics in a building do as much for the sound of the organ (or music in general) as the pipes do, a lot of the result may be pure luck.
At one time the Tabernacle organ was regarded as something of an icon, but in those days you could count the five-manual organs on a few fingers. These days, they are pretty much the showpiece (besides the resident loudmouth) of just about every church seen on TV.
Which reminds me, I always get sort of a chuckle when somebody wants to know why an organ has "so many keyboards".
I must indeed confess that so far, I've only listened to the Wanamaker organ on recordings. I quite like it (in particular, those gamba “forests” are a treat!).
Have you had the opportunity to listen to it in situ? Is the acoustic really that bad?
That has got to be the awesome looking instrument I have ever seen. Next time I'm in Philly I'm goin for more than a cheese steak.
I have heard it live once. It is well worth the experience. The accoustic is OK, it is a large open space without a lot of reverb.
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