The Hess Collection - Atlantic City Convention Hall Pipe Organ

[poopingeneral]

When I hear this organ, I am utterly speechless. BRAVO!

[MegaDani141]

It would take days, to see the whole organ

VERRY WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!

[MegaDani141]

9:53 NOW that's a PIPE ^^

[ferretboy1187]

so is that 5 manual a movable console? that confused me a bit at first.

[3dwurli]

@ferretboy1187 Yes, the 5 manual console is a portable console. Its specification is rather different from the specification of the 7 manual console, and is also "straighter" than the spec on the 7 manual console.

[MrAlex413x]

i love the picture at 18:53 hope he had no change in his pockets ! " drop clank clang" DAM !!

[notredameswarrior1]

my dads boss got to hear this organ just the right side....and he says that with just that playing theres nothing like it even out of tune.....when this whole organ is in it will be magnificent

[Strav9]

I want one of those for christmas =)

[blacksmithe1]

We should, the U.S. should build another one.

[3dwurli]

@blacksmithe1 Why when you already have one waiting to be restored?

[blacksmithe1]

@3dwurli for the fun of it :)

[phqinhipp]

nice to see the inner workings of such a complex oregon, thanx for sharing

[chrissand1]

Does anyone know the music that starts at 6:01 ???

[dw154515]

@chrissand1 "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme," BWV 645 aka 'Sleepers, Awake' by Bach.

[3dwurli]

@dw154515 with the grand ophicliede on 100" wind used for the pedal solo

[1020OceanAve]

Thank you so much for posting this video. The Midmer Losh is a triumph in organ design and building. Many thanks to those involved witth it's resoration. I look forward to the day that it will be totally playable again.

[brb21592]

ok so i have updated information on the organ and will put it in a few seperated posts due to its alot of information:

[manga12]

So are all the recordings from the boardwalk organ or is it just random music, I have to say the flutes on stars and strips has an almost ethereal quality to it and it's echo which denotes a huge space, that its being played into and the sizable power to it.

signed Jeremy

and if anyone wants some good church organ music message me I sell it on the side for nicholas maria publishers of huntington indiana.

[VicFerrer]

@manga12 All music on this video is from the Midmer-Losh organ and possibly a track or two from the Ballroom Kimball organ located in at Boardwalk Hall. Some of this music is previously unreleased material, other pieces are from recordings available from ACCHOS.

[manga12]

I see, though it will be some time before it is fully restored and let alone used all out.

[3dwurli]

@manga12 Once the swell is restored and put back in, 1/3 of the organ will be working!

[immadodgeguy]

what stop is that holding the lower note at 9:47? sounds like a saxophone or something

[etbuk]

@immadodgeguy It's the mighty Grand Ophicleide...

[Orguedu22]

what is the music at 3:14 ???

Thanks :)

[MichaelEGordon]

@Orguedu22

Its Clarke's Trumpet Tune Voluntary

[Offshoreorganbuilder]

Best of luck with the restoration.

[scoobydoorocks100]

if anyone tries to tear down that organ, ill personally take a stick and shove it right up the ass of the dummy who wants to tear it down for like a concession stand or something.

[Miraphone186Player]

man... I love this video:D thanks for sharing like that guy said. it even had an appropriate finale for me lol. I love this Organ... my son is 10 months and I read it would take 6 years to completely repair the whole thing so I'll hopefully be taking him to see it one day:) he already likes Organ music played by Michael Murray! thanks again for the video!!!!

[iamrepete]

How many hours of labor do you think went into building this masterpiece? Will future generations value it as in the past? Can a "virtual" organ ever come close to the feeling one gets experiencing this collection of 33,000 pipes and approximately 600 horsepower (450 kW) of blowers? I know my answer. Thanks to Vic for posting this. Consider sending your donations to ACCHOS.

[manga12]

I heard its 500 horse in the blowers, still this is the origional synthasizer the combiner of many sounds and insterments at the touch of a button and played with keys. only its the size of a stadium literaly as its parts are parsed throughout the hall.

it must have been a nightmare to build and looks like it took a long time to put together.

let it stand to a testament of the biggest organ in the world, and the glory of american workmenship.

signed Jeremy manga12

[falaqdad15]

Could anyone give me the list of songs in the video? I know the first three..

[falaqdad15]

The Grand Ophicleide has the funniest looking Treble pipes. I have never encountered such a design in literature. Yet the sound is equal throughout.

[bmhall100]

@falaqdad15 The treble pipes are calliope pipes (as far as i understand).

[falaqdad15]

@bmhall100

Incredible.

So they are very very powerfully voiced double-languid stopped Stentorphones?

Stentorphone pipes are rare and they are unique since the mouth of the pipe literally covers half the circumference of the pipe. This is found elsewhere only in Calliopes.

By close examination of the pictures that is what I can see.

[bmhall100]

@falaqdad15 I think the languid goes all the way around the pipes on the top few notes.

[falaqdad15]

@bmhall100 Yup. thanks for pointing that out. WOW.

I've been to a website of a guy who patented a train whistle with an unobstructed full-circumference languid with a conical bore.

I would like to hear some samples of the Trumpet Mirabilis, Egyptian horn, the Clarinets, Jubal flute, Stentorphone, the Gamba Tuba, the Brass chorus (tierce tromba!?, reed mixture??), Eleventh!?, the manual Diaphones, the pedal Tibia Clausa (i would imagine the effect of the Tibia's extreme fundamentals on the 32')

[Ntalikeris666]

@falaqdad15

Just a small correction , the tierce tromba is a mutation reed not a mixture.

[falaqdad15]

@bmhall100 I will probably be able to head to Atlantic City in early June to make the June 15 Tour.

[bmhall100]

@falaqdad15 be sure to take lots of video recordings and photos! Get them online, let people see it, its all about spreading the word!

[Mitchosaure]

Very instructive document, thanks for sharing it!..But I believed that 10 minutes was the limit for a post here?!..How did you do?!

[VicFerrer]

Hello Mitchosaure, I setup a "Director's Account" before March of 2006. All accounts setup after March 2006 have a 10 minute limit (unless you are a YouTube Partner).

[y11971alex]

@VicFerrer

What a pity!

My account was set up November 2006!

[chieftp]

it was done by white men. there was a time in this country when white people could get things done. before we had "diversity" foisted upon us, and our technology and skilled careers stolen from us and sent to the non white world.

[MrAlex413x]

at 18:50 are those pipes 32' ??

[helloitsmelol097]

as in the stop number I don't know but the largest i think are 64 feet which as far as I know is the largest pipe ever made.

[bmhall100]

@helloitsmelol097 the atlantic city convention hall organ has 852 speaking stops.

[falaqdad15]

The hall recently underwent a $90 million restoration effort. I hear none went to the organ.

RESTORE THE ORGAN

DON'T LET ALL THAT HARD WORK IT TOOK TO BUILD THE ORGAN GO TO WASTE!

We cannot let that happen.

[quinn244]

this is I believe the largest organ in the world!!!!!

[helloitsmelol097]

there is one that is larger but it doesn't have as many pipes as this organ.

[Jacobre156]

What is the tune that starts at 12:44? I have heard it somewhere, but can't place a name to it...

[bachluvr]

I had the opportunity to tour this instrument and play it in 1987. It was under "renovation" at that time and there was extensive damage and numerous pipes taken as souveniers. I remember taking the service elevator up several floors to see the top of the 64' Diaphone. Had I fallen, The organ blowers were as noisy as a jet! While much didn't work,I pulled as many stops as would work and payed, "God Bless Our Native Land."

The 64' Diaphone made no audible sound but caused the room to rumble.

[bmhall100]

No pipes have been taken from the organ. All have been accounted for.

[MrJoerg1979]

How, in the world are humans able to think about, plan and build this instrument? Who has the knowledge how this works, how the concept is and....I just can´t believe what I see. Who knows how all the many pipes must be sized, which material...? I got no words for this organ. I´m wondering what humans are able to do and I don´t understand why we don´t use our knowledge for more positive things like this instrument. (I´m sorry for my bad english)

[Egestus18]

does anyone know how far they are with the restoring now?

i hope, one day when they have finished i will be there and listen to this wonderful instrument with it's unique sound!

[bmhall100]

The midmer losh right stage chamber is up and running, the kimball organ has been restored. To keep up with the latest news on both instruments, join the ACCHOS (Atlantic City Convention Hall Organ Society) They produce a quarterly magazine with updates on both instruments =]

[hootinouts]

Better yet, give them the Gtrand Ophecleide on 100" of wind pressure.

[KE5RHD]

Sorry, got in hurry, its the American Organ Institute. They brought in several organists for the inaugural event and they included Peter Richard Conte, Jelani Eddington, and Donald Dumler to name a few.

[KE5RHD]

I'm so proud it just blows me away. My alma mater, The University of Oklahoma, Norman has created a new music degree in organ construction. It is also the home of the new American Organ Society. They have already restored some historic public organs such as the Philadelphia Civic Center organ and installed it at O.U. Their pipe shop is located off I-35 and Tecumseh road. They are training the next generation of pipe organ builders. The craft is alive and well and now its a degree plan.

[victorfreelander]

¡Eso si es un organo!

[jeabo0adhd]

That little kid at the start is ME!!!

[nexgenhippy]

Its working!!

Quote from acchos site:

"Work continues on the Midmer-Losh organ. Currently, all but about six ranks are functional in the Right Stage chamber. Final approval for new magnets is pending, at which time installation will eliminate dead notes throughout the chamber."

That was in september.

Also they switch the organ on during most tours now.

Time to take a trip?

[bull912000]

Do they usually just play snippets during the tour, or do they ever crank it up a few notches?

[449GO]

You would probably get to play it for yourself!

[LeftiusMaximus]

wait til they restore the Left Stage Chamber; with is unenclosed choir Division

[Karlfalcon]

@violinolapiano115

THIS.

I too would like to know where to find recordings of this instrument.

[VicFerrer]

Please visit the Atlantic City Convention Hall Organ Society or Organ Historical Society websites for available recordings.

acchos (dot) org or ohscatalog (dot) org

[sirenbleu]

These excellent pics are a lucky find - thanks for posting.

How many people are currently working on this wonderful organ?

Hope it is restored soon

[Streetcar1743]

Oh, if they restore the organ, I would have a ball playing it.

[strong1235]

And to think they put this monster together without a single electric screwdriver!!? Or soldering gun! Of course they weren't interrupted by cell phone calls either!

[MichaelEGordon]

What is the tune that starts at 12:44?

[carlsjoseph13]

This is one huge treasure that was destroyed overtime. Its music is so heavenly and i hope that this organ would be restored so that i could listen and play it if i had the chance.

[Larsky1010]

If you really, REALLY wish to go into the history of this unique treasure, get Stephen D. Smith's book "Atlantic City's Musical Masterpiece"! It's absolutely fascinating how—entirely without computer assistance—the design of the organ and the monumental convention hall were co-ordinated. Highly recommended.

[octavebasse8]

I'll hold their legs down. Who will hold the arms?

[scotto40]

Ha! Ha! You are very funny. This is a great comment.

[PublicYahoo]

Unbelievable, that must be a national treasure.

[Brandotuomikoski]

WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would give up all I own and live poverty to help support this organs restoration.

[Karlfalcon]

If I don't get a recording of Boellman's Tocatta on this organ once it's restored, I fear I may do something rash as well.

[Karlfalcon]

HEAR HEAR

[TrompenCham167]

youd need a huge crane lol!

[cswisher123]

The 'rumors' about tearing down Boardwalk Hall are old, outdated and not true. Boardwalk Hall is now considered one of the finest performing arts facilities of its type in America. Both organs will be running again sometime next year.

[acoustics101]

This is great news! I'm glad they were only rumors. I recently ordered the DVD on this organ and it is awesome! The loss of this hall and organ would have been immeasureable!

[acoustics101]

There are rumors on the internet that they are planning on tearing down this hall in place of another casino!!! There are plenty of casinos but only one Boardwalk Hall and Midmer-Losh organ!!

What's going on here? It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

[TrompenCham167]

It is of course a magnificent organ. But I wonder why they had to build such a large instrument. Surely they would have known that it was going to be too expensive to run and maintain and that it would one day be unplayable. I sometimes wish people would actually use their brains.

[449GO]

Same could be said for the wanamaker organ! Theres only (only:P) 5000 pipes or so between them

[codeman2008]

Originally, the organ was supposed to be over 500 ranks. Imagine the debacle we'd be in had they not reconsidered before building it!!!

[y11971alex]

The sound of the organ had to fill a very large space

[advisorC101]

Why not build something so grand? Aren't you happy such an organ exists? You know how humankind loves to set the bar high. Besides the whole reason that it is in its current condition is not because of its size.

If only that imbecile who cut the cable found another way to do what he wanted to do then at lest today the organ wouldn't be so severely damaged. We can only blame those careless workers with the diseased brain.

[TrompenCham167]

Your right, i am very glad that such an instrument exists. Perhaps i was being a bit hypocritical about this instrument and I take back everything that I said. Of course it is a magnificent instrument and I hope that the restoration project continues and I wait to see the instrument in full glory some day. It must sound awfully good in there when its its all going. The person who cut the cable was a real idiot. This video is an excellent document and the backing music is great too. Thank you :)

[advisorC101]

Even in its current state, this organ can still work wonders! Take a look at the video I uploaded and you'll see. :D

[hootinouts]

The asshole who cut that cable should have beed fined with the cost to repair it. That dirty rat bastard. Probably some shit head union ape.

[advisorC101]

Now as for whether or not it was a good idea to build it, I say those visionaries did use their brains.

They gave us something unimaginable and now its time for us to take responsibility for our generations failures.

If you can't appreciate that then its probably best you say nothing. No offence intended.

[hootinouts]

We can thank Senator Emerson Richards for his vast knowledge and love for organs.

[Organsk8er]

One must consider the time in which this organ was built. It was the late 1920's. People simply didn't think that way in those days. The goal was to build bigger and bigger. Push all of the limits. To say they pushed the limits of organ building here would be a vast understatement. It is a monumental achievement, and I don't think anyone would ever deny that. But, it was built in a time when ideas like that seemed more reachable or possible. We're slightly more practical nowadays...lol

[vegunited06]

9:49 !!!!!! that!! is just scary! you wouldn't catch me standing there with that going off!! haha, would it be dangerous to stand there with that going off? is that the 64foot pipe?

[y11971alex]

All pipes over 32 foot are mitred. the include the 64' diaphone and dulzian, and 42 2/3 foot dulzquint.

[etbuk]

Fantastic document! A little question: in the "Wachet auf" piece the solo part is the Ophicleide or some stop with 100'' wind pression?

[compton357]

its the Grand Ophicliede on 100" wind pressure!

[etbuk]

Thanks! This stop is a masterpiece! It's FANTASTIC!

[topper2142]

If I was wealthy,I would give what I could to help the restoration along,it is my dream to stand within the hallowed walls of the Atlantic city convention hall and hear this masterpiece come to life in all its wonderous glory!

[accousticdecay]

I am mid-50's and I hope to be alive to hear the thunder of the restored organ. Might those mitred wooden reeds be a 64' diaphone?

[nexgenhippy]

Yep they sure are.Last i heard the right stage chamber was fully functional, but not playing, due to magnets getting replaced and a few other repairs in the relays i think.But work progresses....

[acchos]

Nice to hear the sound of the midmer losh playing along to these images too. The pictures them self are a very important historical document, and will come in very usefull in the intruments resoration!

[SuperElBorba]

Wow - Are these available anywhere as jpg's or other?

[michaelsmusicservice]

I have seen prints from the original negatives, and Vic is the master on this! Always the consummate editor, you are never aware of the Ken Burns effect, unlike some recent Ken Burns productions. :) Vic Rules!

[rosaspon2007]

This is the best of the best...wow...

[tuttiorgan]

These photos are an amazing historical document. Thanks.