The Senator's Masterpiece (Excerpt) - Atlantic City Convention Hall

[321pocoyo]

Thumb up if you think the organ must be restored

[greenspacesforever]

Sad. 1.53 looks almost exactly as St. Peter in Reserve did the morning after Betsy. The beautiful rose window was destroyed, half showing, and the roof rafters lay across the montre of the Hinner pipe organ and crushed swell box.

[WakemanFan90]

I wonder, if this is fully restored isnt it something that should have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List?

I am very glad that there is people here in this world that care for it, and i hope to see and of course hear it someday!!

Cheers from Norway!

[3dwurli]

@WakemanFan90 It should be on UNESCO as it is at the moment. It needs one hell of alot of TLC.

[Thedoctorsbiggestfan]

why didnt they do any of that for the chicago stadium barton organ ???? now it is gone :(

[3dwurli]

@Thedoctorsbiggestfan Chicago stadium organ wasnt the largest, most powerful, most unique and versitile instrument ever built. BUT, thats not to say it wasnt worth saving! It just hit an unfortunate series of circumstances, in that the organist didnt want it moved to the new building, or the management, then most of it being burned in the warehouse fire. Luckily the console survives!

The midmer losh was left for years without a proper budget, and the damage done to it in recent restorations of

[andyt1424]

@3dwurli I don't understand why Chicago stadium had such a large console controlling only 51 ranks? When this 7 manual console controls 400+ ranks.

[3dwurli]

@andyt1424 Chicago stadium was heavily unified. You could have an organ with 10 ranks, and get 60 stops from it,

The 5 manual console on the midmer losh controls all the ranks on the midmer losh too, but it has half the stops, because not all ranks are available at the pitches they are available on the 7 manual console.

[3dwurli]

@Thedoctorsbiggestfan the hall left it unplayable. Thankfully, within the past 12 years, after ALOT of hard work, things are making progress, slowly, but steadily, the organ is being restored. The ACCHOS and the team are acheiving something VERY special here.

[manga12]

You guys out there should know that its big things that captivate young boys, sometimes size and power matter, it would be a start to get the younger kids started in facination with such a large grand insterment. there is such a shortage of trained organists as it is, even with the recession it is all the more reason to go into overdrive and fight to keep the funding to keep this project alive if you belive in it.

signed Jeremy manga12

[Larsky1010]

The 1889 3/26 tracker on which I began my career at age 11 was ripped out in the late '50s with some of the large pipes turned into hog feeding troughs! I weep at the thought even now. Three cheers for the OHS!

[Paolorgano]

are soundtracks played with the Midmer-Losh organ?

[edolch]

Anybody who doubts this instrument to be the king of ALL instruments....go take a look at it for yourself. It'll change your life.

[JonasClark]

This may not be as old as, say, the Acropolis, but look at historical buildings such as the Colisseum in Rome, which serve no modern purpose save as a piece of history to be preserved. If we preserve this grand instrument for another, one, two, three hundred years, however long, it will eventually become a great old wonder. And restoring an organ of this scale today will cost far, far less than building a new organ of this scale.

[JonasClark]

Let us take for a moment as truth the idea that this organ is a "curiosity" because it has never been used to its full potential - does this not allow for the notion that, were it restored and played as such, it could be considered more than that? And if we also take as truth that, with the poor economy, restoring it now may not be a wise choice, should its status as a "curiosity" mean that we should be free to either let it fall into disrepair for good or, further, destroy it?

[advisorC101]

So how do we defeat the apathy?

[dieselheart001]

The AC organ is of exceptional utility and great historical value. As far as hearing it, I WILL HAPPILY PAY FOR THE RARE PRIVELEGE TO

HEAR IT, RECESSION OR NOT. All other minor, inconsequential issues remain just that- MINOR AND INCONSEQUENTIAL. The Wanamaker organ is a great instrument as well, but it can NEVER be compared to this particular instrument. You-19lfm12- are a MOOT CURIOSITY OF NO TANGIBLE VALUE TO GOD OR MAN WHATSOEVER. Die at my feet and I will forgive you.

[19lfm12]

The reality of the business climate in AC & the rest of the US....the frighteningly increasing global Depression & utter shipwreck of US/Global economies, with attended growth of the newly poor....is not 'inconsequential'. Cultural niceties are.

Sadly, you are blind to reality & clueless of the "tornado" which will shortly affect all.

Ppl care nothing for organs now; still less when there is no food........

[dieselheart001]

Sadly, you are blind to the munificence of God toward those loyal to Him. To Him "all souls, indeed! everything, belongs". There is a Purpose being worked out in each day, a seperating of the sheep and the goats . Which are you?

You sound like a goat. No more can you see the future than could the soothsayers of old or present. Instead of gratitude there is bitterness and misery you set your table with, and so shall you eat thereof, until you die.

Reality is God. Nations stand and fall by Him.

[19lfm12]

1. You neither comprehend theology, nor the business pages of the New York Times.

2. The only rational response I can make you the illogic you have belched forth is:

Can I buy some weed from you?

Because nobody sober could have written what you wrote as a cogent response to my post!

O.o

[advisorC101]

He is indeed nothing more than a cretin. I also spoke to a member of the ACCHOS and he said they would like to keep the instrument available for everyone so we can do more than just go and listen to it.

[449GO]

Your speaking to one now! lol.

The midmer losh will be used as much as possible.

The kimball organ should be up and running by late summer this year. A true gem of an organ!

[advisorC101]

That it will be.

[19lfm12]

The Wanamaker organ was & is of practical utility: one may go there any business day, walk in & hear it FOR FREE.

The AC organ was rarely used, never readily accessible to the public on a daily basis, nor was it used to perform serious works of music. Due to union, scheduling & related practical issues. Thus it is a moot curiousity of no tangible value.

Nor will it be as we slide into a Depression....

[dieselheart001]

Is there a reason you rave on about this? You offer no argument of merit or value against this subject.

All you do is piss and moan over trifles, and offer your meaningless opinions and bleatings. Do all here, and even God Almighty a kindness... fall dead. You are a perfect shining example of the useless, feckless little fraction of disagreeable little sophistic cunts that couldn't be pleased with what diversity YouTube offers. Go back home- to putting your head up your ass, and stay there.

[19lfm12]

The very real -and exponentially increasing - plight of the swelling ranks of the poor in the US & globally is no "trifle"....certainly not for those who believe in God.

But since most organists either are functional agnostics - or at best give lip service to him while pretending to praise Him with music - I am not surprised at your attitude.

Think well on this - and on what you have said - when there is no food to be bought.

[bombarde1701]

I have this DVD and I recently went on a tour of this great instrument...truly a masterpiece worth saving. I've heard Wanamaker's on the same trip and both organs are fantastic. I really hope this instrument gets the restoration it deserves...as I toured the chambers and took pictures I was shocked at all the work that needs to be done. Rotten leather, split windchests, bent pipework, dust and everything else. They didnt even turn on the blowers for us when I was there.

[advisorC101]

Listen carefully at 3:06, listen to the way he says it. And even if repairs are underway with the changing economical condition of our world they are going to need all the help they can get. Truth be told despite what some say, no one except those who already have heard it knows what the organ really sounds like when its fully functional.

[19lfm12]

Truth be told, I do not think there is anybody alive & lucid who REALLY knows what this organs sounds like, full functional. The last time it was even close to that status is c. 50 years ago!

[advisorC101]

That's where your mistaken friend, there are plenty of people who have heard it at full power and I happen to know one of those fortunate individuals. But soon the day will come where we too will hear it.

[19lfm12]

Plenty? I seriously date the veracity of that claim.....and for such a person to be alive today (assuming they were in their 20s when they heard it) they would be (at least) in their late 70s now.

With the exception of Sen. RIchard's private concerts & the WWII era recitals (60+ years ago!), it was almost never used at full power. It played mood music for conventions, etc......

[advisorC101]

It matters not, in any case none this changes the simple fact that I know people who have had that privilege and YES in that age group. Just so that you know some of the people in this video have heard its true power.

I'm not going to argue with you over this, all I'm concerned with is seeing this Emperor being restored.

[19lfm12]

It's amazing what a 17yo can know.....*cough*

The only serious record made of it was in 1956. Sen. Richards died in 1963 - and had long ceased his private concerts. As the organ was rarely used - and even rarer for serious music (much less at 'full power') - it is highly unlikely that living persons would know or remember what it sounded like.

This is based upon known fact & something called..."logic".

[advisorC101]

Your way in over your head and like I said it matters not and if you dare think for one moment my age is of any relevance to any of this you are gravely mistaken for you yourself obviously are trapped inside the box of normal human perception, I've wasted enough time speaking with such arrogance so let this be the end of it.

[449GO]

John goodman, who was assistant hall organist to louis miller in the 50s knows how this organ sounded at full capacity. In his 70s now.

He remembers coupling everything to the great after an ice capades practice game. The ice on the main floor of the auditorium cracked. There was even reports of people out on the beach hearding and feeling the vibration from the organ.

[advisorC101]

Thank you, and you prove how this cretins ''logic and facts'' are misplaced.

[advisorC101]

EXACTLY MY POINT!!! But of course a certain someone can't help himself from being so apathetic towards something so worth saving.

[codeman2008]

It's extremely important that this instrument is restored and played publicly. If this instrument were fixed, it would give organs a boost, help to get rid of the stereotypes, help end the decline in the popularity and the number of people who can play this king of instruments. People might start to care for their organs too, and it would spark new interest in the youth. As beautiful as the Wanamaker is, it doesn't have the big grand sound that really captivates the younger listeners.

[codeman2008]

Don't get me wrong, the Wanamaker is an incredibly beautiful instrument, one of the best in the world. But that orchestral, romantic sound wouldn't have gotten me into the organ. I doubt that it would make much an impression on most other young children either. And I know that it can make the enormous, grand, captivating sound, but they never play like that during store hours, which is the only time that a young child who doesn't know about secular organ music is going to be able to hear it.

[19lfm12]

True enough! But the Wanamaker organ is in a much better venue for the general public to hear it...free, 2x every day since 1910! The AC organ is hindered by the fact that it is in a unionized hall which is used for conventions, sporting events, etc., etc. It is ultimately LESS accessible to the general public. The sheer cost of stopping everything so a few ppl can hear it play is a BIG problem! BUT your points about the AC organ are quite important & valid!

[codeman2008]

Indeed, the Wanamaker is at a better venue for this purpose, and yes it is most definitely more accessible to the public. What I meant was, a little kid could listen to their mini concerts all day and it probably wouldn't make much of impression. And the only kids at the After hour concerts are ones that are already into organ music. I just wish that kids who weren't familiar with organ music, could hear an after hours concert. We need to get young people into organ music.

[codeman2008]

Once again don't get me wrong, the Wanamaker is an incredibly beautiful instrument, one of the very best examples of romantic, symphonic organs out there. And believe me, I'm *not* a fan of baroque organs, or the baroque organ style. I preffer the Wanamaker to this instrument, but, from my own experience, I think the accho would make a much bigger impression on young children. That's the point afterall, getting new interest in the youth.

Best,

- - - Cody.

[19lfm12]

Excellant points! Sadly I have not heard Wanamaker's live, so I will take ur word on the extent of the mini concerts. I'm not a fan or Baroque organs either:) I agree - letting kids hear & play them is important; it would make quite an impression on the youth!

Both organs are essentially symphonic organs - BUT much different! You cannot really compare them. Have you read the stoplists of each - they are a revelation! I should add that both were very experimental in design & voicing.

[codeman2008]

Indeed I've read both their stoplists. I've heard 2 miniconcerts, but the *after hours* concert I heard was just amazing!

[19lfm12]

I'm sure it was! They cant really use all the resources of the Wanamaker organ during normal business hours - or it would seriously interfere with the store! So I am sure that to hear it "after hours" would be a revelation!

[codeman2008]

It definitely was a revelation!

[AllenJBlodgettJrmota]

That sounds terrible, a pipe organ in a sports arena? (Oh well)

[19lfm12]

Yes - this organ was (in plain truth) a very silly idea to begin with. As it is of very little practical useage. Unlike the Wanamaker, it cannot literally be heard by the general public every day - much less on a regular basis. And never was....

Though you forget: the Chicago Stadium had a 6 manual Barton pipe organ, prior to its recent demolition......the difference is that it WAS used all the time!

[AllenJBlodgettJrmota]

I think after this organs long awaited renovation that the hall should be used for all organ (maybe orchestra or choir) concerts!

[449GO]

The Midmer losh was used quite often up till the 1990s. Yes, it may not be heard by the public all the time.

The idea behind the instrument isnt silly at all. They were doing what every other hall in the country was doing at the time by putting in a pipe organ. The technology to fill the space with music wasnt available at the time, and a pipe organ on this scale was there only option really. It makes perfect sense.

[19lfm12]

The whole conception of both organ & hall were an ego statement of Richards. While the hall itself was of some practical use to the city, the organ never was.

The point is that this organ was almost never used for the performance of serious music - and the general public did not get to hear such, much less anything approaching full organ.

[449GO]

Does it matter when the organ is used at all!

At least people can still see it, and hear it.

It is planned that the AC organ will be used at most events held in the hall, as well as for recordings and concerts, tours as well.

Now we could say the same about alot of church organs because they are only used for 2 hymns on a sunday morning, but, we still vaulue them because they are there, they should be looked after, no matter how often they are used!

[nexgenhippy]

@AllenJBlodgettJrmota Its more like a sports arena inside an organ concert hall.

[kinura26]

This is a very neat video and I would love to help with the restoration some day it gives me goos bumps :)

[Streetcar1743]

I have that organ in my thoughts and prayers! That instrument has already grown from 5 to 7 manuals.

[acchos]

it was intended that the instrument would have 7 manuals from the start. They started off with a 3 manual console, and as more sections of the instrument were completed, they used the 5 manual console, then the 7 manual console. The 5 manual console is the "portable" one.

[sykobeachparty]

More power to you. I can't wait to hear it in all its glory :-D

[topper2142]

Awesome!I sure hope one day this instrument will be heard in all its wonder!!

[acchos]

this dvd, its BRILL.