Ok, Noob question..

[Admin]

That's a signature. Click on Settings at the top of the page then Edit Signature in the list in the left sidebar.

The Wanamaker Organ was installed in the Wanamaker Department store (now Macy's) 101 years ago. It's a pipe organ with approximately 30,000 pipes and is played twice every day by staff organists.

[jdoc]

Is that bigger than the Atlantic City Convention Hall organ?

That's a signature. Click on Settings at the top of the page then Edit Signature in the list in the left sidebar.

The Wanamaker Organ was installed in the Wanamaker Department store (now Macy's) 101 years ago. It's a pipe organ with approximately 30,000 pipes and is played twice every day by staff organists.

[Admin]

Is that bigger than the Atlantic City Convention Hall organ?

No it is not. I said largest playable musical instrument. The Wanamaker Organ is over 90% playable whereas the ACCH organ is nowhere near in playable condition for a variety of reasons. See
http://theatreorgans.com/atlcity/

[FusionKid]

Thanks for your help Admin, i should now have a signature!

About these huge organs, why do they have so many manuals? Surely 4 should do it - 2 for each hand so you can switch between settings/ sounds easily ? I looked up the wanamaker on youtube sounds good, do wanamaker still make organs?
And all the controls on the console, are they electrical - controlling air valves?
Was wanamaker a department store as well as an organ manufacturer? Do Macys' sell organs now?
Thanks All
F

[arie v]

Hi,

I will answer your questions as precisely as possible.

About so many manuals - well there was the day in America when they had lots of money, that bigger was better. And not only that, but vying for the title "the biggest" gave bragging rights. So it was important in the case of the Wanamaker store organ, that they were the biggest organ at one time - then later it become the largest playable organ. I have heard it a number of times, and what a sound it produces. Fills the grand court in the store very nicely.

To be honest, with modern stop controls and capture actions, there is very little need for organs to have any more than 3 keyboards. One only has two hands, so can at best comfortably only play on two at a time, unless one is Cameron Carpenter who quite often plays two keyboards with one hand. I used to watch Diane Bish play the 5 manual Ruffatti organ in Coral Ridge Presbyterian, and about 98% of her playing was on the lowest 3 keyboards. She never played for an extended period of time on the top 2 keyboards. It is just too hard on one's back.

Wanamaker was a retailer, who had an emporium in Philadelphia. The store covers a city block, and is roughly 7 floors high. The Grand Court is in the middle of the store. The organ console is on the 2nd floor of the store in the women's clothing section. The pipe organ for the most part is at the narrow end of the Grand Court, starting on the 2nd floor. Even so, the facade looks to be at least 75' wide.

The organ is run via an electronic relay. Appears to work well.

Wanamaker is now the name of the building. Originally Wanamaker was the retailer. Now Macy's operates a flagship store out of there. When Wanamaker was there, he bought the organ from an exposition, and had it installed in the store. Even though is was the largest organ in it's day, it simply was not large enough to fill the space. So he set up a pipe shop in the store, and expanded the organ, numerous times. I don't think Wanamaker did other commercial organ building.

Today Macy's being in the building, has made a commitment to keeping the organ and having it played twice a day. It is great to see this tradition continue. There is a resident organist, as well as a roster of fill-in organists who fill this duty. Since it is in the store and played during store hours, the cost of admission if FREE.

So, if you are interested in pipe organs, go and see this one. Meet the organist, have an up close look at the console, and above all, have a listen to the world's biggest playable organ.

AV

[robmcginn]

OK OK But...... Who owns the stuffed toy penguin on the portside stop jam????? Rob

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I have told my better half that she can shop in Macy's Phily all she wants especially at Christmas when the organ is played even more. Organist Richard Peter Conte has a bright young (?11-12?) student playing both the pipes (The Wanamaker) and an Allen on You Tube...Future concert organist!!

[FusionKid]

Thanks for the info guys most interesting, as i know very little about organs other than Hammonds which is my area of interest.
Regards
FusionKid