as a 14 year old pianist with 2 years of experience under my belt how herd would it be to pick the organ in like 5 or 6 years or more likely after college
@hhoelper Organ is a different world than piano. I play both as a hobby, just for fun etc. My advice would be to go find a church that would let you try one, explain to them you are a student etc... and would like to try. Find a nice one, many organists are very rude and protective of "their" instruments.
@Tom1980nj i would like to try that the organist at my church is very nice but is it easier to learn organ if you can play piano or is it more difficult?
@hhoelper Keyboard skills will definitely help. Many people make the transition. Some people even say you should start with piano 1st. Others will dismiss that, but once you join the organ world you will find no one can agree on anything. Of course, you don't just sit at an organ and play, you will learn about registration and don't forget you have 32 pedals to deal with as well ;-) Do what YOU want, enjoy it. That's what I say.
@hhoelper Not really. there is a delay built into the actual pipe organ while the home electronic organ is more instantaneous. I was a pianist who played a Hammond sometimes at church. I was asked to play 2 weddings on pipe organs, and I say :never again" It was very hard for me to get used to, since I am a "hear it as you go" sort of player. This man is extraordinarily good.
@eoghdes18 When you try to show off you should really check your facts. It's Finlandia. I assume you think you're a musician? I'm guessing the reality is that you're just a boring wanker who wants people to think you're clever.
The Wanamaker organ in Philadelphia is the largest fully playable organ in the world,brought to Philly from the St. Louis World's Fair in the early 1900's and has mushroomed in size ever since. It now has six keyboards, pedalboard, six(or seven) volume pedals around 600 stops and around 32,000 pipes. The store was originally Wanamaker's but became part of the Macy's chain a few years ago. Peter Conte is the resident organist. I studisd with Fred Swann at Manhattan School of Music.
Wanamaker is the largest FULLY OPERATIONAL organ in the world. Atlantic City organ has about 5,000 more pipes than the Wanamaker, but a good chunk of it does not play, a big enough chunk that the total amount of the Atlantic City organ that IS operational makes it smaller than the Wanamaker.
Dr. Swann is a gifted organist, but every time I hear him play...now at the University of Redlands...his music selections are underwhelming, to say the least. Beautiful melodies do not seem to be in his repetoir.
Those claiming it is 'absurd' people are shopping here while he's playing clearly haven't been in the store. The instrument is hearable throughout and the shopping experience divine. FAR better than the pop drivel they pipe into stores these days.
@John27346 It's only been there since 1911, and has served well for 100 years. There are church and theatre organs that aren't as well cared for as the Wanamaker Organ. Sorry that you don't like it. :<(
would like to see Fred perform his arrangement of "St Anne" (O God our help in ages past) some day on the Wannamaker organ, the one where he changes manuals on all beats within measures on one stanza
Ah one of the best organists in the world playing one of the worlds best organs. It is pretty hard to beat that! Thanks Fred for playing! Thanks Tom for sharing!!!
Sorry friend for this misunderstanding BUT you are really lucky to be related to those great people. Rodman Wannamaker commissioned the building of the instrument but died before it was completed with the Stentor Division (all the reeds). His body laid in state in the Grand Court for days and Mary Vogt his organist played continuously on the organ. His WILL allowed her right to play until she wanted to retire. She did,in her late 80's.! I was blessed to have known her. Hope I remember it right.
Its hard to imagine a console so large it is possible to seat 2 people at a table inside. Its great to see this great instrument with the advantage now of a combination action. Well done Dr. Swann,,bravo
To explain a little that discussion in Finnish. Sibelius composed Finlandia during the years of Russian oppression late nineteenth century. This part of Finlandia you are able to hear describes those years. The hymn part you can't hear because the video stops reflects a future optimism Finnish people experienced those times, still. Later happenings led Finland to an independence.
To understand Finlandia better you have to listen to it while performed by a symphony orchestra.
I believe that early in his career Mr. Swann served as an assistant organist at the Riverside Church during Virgil Fox's Tenure. He finished his sixty-something year career at Crystal Cathedral. Truly a performing legend of our time.
Sixty-something year career? Not quite. That would have him at the CC in his teens. He was at the CC for less than 20 years. After the CC he was at First Congregational in Los Angeles.
According to a 9/15/03 airing of the Pipedreams broadcast #0337 he was retiring after 60 years as a church musician. I believe he was a teenager when he started are Riverside.
60 years total, probably. It sounded like you said he was at the CC for 60 years. What I find says he started officially at Riverside when he was 26 (subbing occasionally beginning at 21). He's 78 now. No big deal.
Indeed. So true, and now well earned time for himself and perhaps yet, something once in awhile for all of us. Musicians never really fully retire,,do they?? Blessings.
Kyllä Janne olisi ansainnut paremman esityksen sävellyksestään. Vaikka kuvauksen laadusta ei juuri voikaan puhua, olisi julkaistu edes kappale kokonaisuudessaan. Toisaalta tuossa tilassa ilman erillisiä mikkejä tehdyt äänitykset kuulostavat puuromaisilta, jolloin esim. soittajan tulkinnoista ei saa juuri mitään selvää.
Ihan vielä Finlandiasta. Täällä Suomessahan on aika ajoin keskusteltu sen ottamisesta kansallishymniksemme Maamme-laulun sijaan juuri tuon historiallisen yhteyden takia. Johtivathan myöhemmät tapahtumat myös maamme itsenäistymiseen.
Oh, well I believe the "PC" term for it is, "The Largest PLAYING Organ in the world. The Atlantic City organ is "bigger" but there has always been debate on how many pipes it actually has.....
Wanamakers had (according to Mary Vogt) 32,841 pipes and an uninstalled Stentor Division. Virgil never played Atlantic City in all my years working with him only because it was never all working at the same time,,but bigger it was indeed
@Tom1980nj If I remember right, it's 28,000+ pipes for the Wanamaker organ and 33,000+ pipes for the Atlantic City organ. plus, the Atlantic City organ is undergoing *extensive* renovation, so it's only partially playable.
@HappyDiscoDeath From what i have heard, or read, the Atlantic City Convention Hall Organ never really was fully playable. It was always some little things, that interfered.
@Tom1980nj : It's not really a debate on how many pipes it has - it is the largest. But it has been no more than partially operable since shortly after it's inauguration. It still isn't. This Wanamaker is the largest *fully playable* one.
That is depending on how the organ is asset. By number of ranks the Wannamaker is the largest organ. However by shear number of pipes the Atlantic City Convention Hall Organ takes the title with its approx. 32,000 pipes. Regardless, being that the ACHO organ is mostly inoperative, the Wannamaker takes the title of being the largest playable organ in the world.
My kids have been rowing in the Stotebury Regatta for the past few years, & I keep trying to hear this monster when I'm in town. But something always keeps me from getting to the store. Maybe this year...& a cheese steak from Ray's, too!!!
as a 14 year old pianist with 2 years of experience under my belt how herd would it be to pick the organ in like 5 or 6 years or more likely after college
hhoelper 2 weeks ago
@hhoelper Organ is a different world than piano. I play both as a hobby, just for fun etc. My advice would be to go find a church that would let you try one, explain to them you are a student etc... and would like to try. Find a nice one, many organists are very rude and protective of "their" instruments.
Tom1980nj 2 weeks ago
@Tom1980nj i would like to try that the organist at my church is very nice but is it easier to learn organ if you can play piano or is it more difficult?
hhoelper 1 week ago
@hhoelper Keyboard skills will definitely help. Many people make the transition. Some people even say you should start with piano 1st. Others will dismiss that, but once you join the organ world you will find no one can agree on anything. Of course, you don't just sit at an organ and play, you will learn about registration and don't forget you have 32 pedals to deal with as well ;-) Do what YOU want, enjoy it. That's what I say.
Tom1980nj 1 week ago
@Tom1980nj do you practice at home on an electric organ? and do the skills transfer from the electric organs found in most churches to pipe organs?
hhoelper 1 week ago
@hhoelper check your youtube IN box.
Tom1980nj 1 week ago
@hhoelper Not really. there is a delay built into the actual pipe organ while the home electronic organ is more instantaneous. I was a pianist who played a Hammond sometimes at church. I was asked to play 2 weddings on pipe organs, and I say :never again" It was very hard for me to get used to, since I am a "hear it as you go" sort of player. This man is extraordinarily good.
Bunnies4wool 2 days ago
Ah yes that's it! Finlandia. Impressive.
grahamwebb2000 3 weeks ago
It's Sibelius's Finlandia!
leonVnoel 3 weeks ago
That sounds like a Bruckner symphony!
grahamwebb2000 3 weeks ago
@grahamwebb2000 It's not, it's a Sibelius Tone Poem.
eoghdes18 3 weeks ago
@eoghdes18 When you try to show off you should really check your facts. It's Finlandia. I assume you think you're a musician? I'm guessing the reality is that you're just a boring wanker who wants people to think you're clever.
swirls999 12 hours ago
The Wanamaker organ in Philadelphia is the largest fully playable organ in the world,brought to Philly from the St. Louis World's Fair in the early 1900's and has mushroomed in size ever since. It now has six keyboards, pedalboard, six(or seven) volume pedals around 600 stops and around 32,000 pipes. The store was originally Wanamaker's but became part of the Macy's chain a few years ago. Peter Conte is the resident organist. I studisd with Fred Swann at Manhattan School of Music.
muzluv33 4 weeks ago
That sound...
jklsd 1 month ago
What's the music we hear at the beginning?
Lumpyone 1 month ago
80-O Wow! not long enough amazing. I've not heard of the Wanamaker organ much, the Wurlitzer, yes but not this. Can anyone tell me a bit more?
Musicgutbucket 1 month ago
@Musicgutbucket They have a web site, just google Friends of the Wanamaker Organ.
Tom1980nj 1 month ago
Wanamaker is the largest FULLY OPERATIONAL organ in the world. Atlantic City organ has about 5,000 more pipes than the Wanamaker, but a good chunk of it does not play, a big enough chunk that the total amount of the Atlantic City organ that IS operational makes it smaller than the Wanamaker.
steelersfanhawaii 2 months ago
This is the finest playing I've heard at Wanamaker EVER!
mrstevecbournias 3 months ago
@mrstevecbournias Search on Youtube on Silent Night-Wanamaker Organ . I think that's the best recording of this organ on youtube.
Engineer9736 2 months ago
sounds like a song from some horror movie in an old deserted mansion
wausauman 3 months ago
Dr. Swann is a gifted organist, but every time I hear him play...now at the University of Redlands...his music selections are underwhelming, to say the least. Beautiful melodies do not seem to be in his repetoir.
ZeekWolfe1 3 months ago
Those claiming it is 'absurd' people are shopping here while he's playing clearly haven't been in the store. The instrument is hearable throughout and the shopping experience divine. FAR better than the pop drivel they pipe into stores these days.
Sfrussell1963 3 months ago 2
What a magnificent piece of musical engineering. It's breathtaking. Strange though that it's situated in a dept store.
marcel911 3 months ago
Why didn´t he play a great composition?
anonymusum 4 months ago
omfg this is soo amazing!!! i adore finlandia. were doing in in youth orchestra and im reshearching it and doing a 1000 word essay on in in music
kontrafaggot 4 months ago
@kontrafaggot Glad you like / found it!
Tom1980nj 4 months ago
What a ridiculous place to put an organ!
John27346 5 months ago
@John27346 It's only been there since 1911, and has served well for 100 years. There are church and theatre organs that aren't as well cared for as the Wanamaker Organ. Sorry that you don't like it. :<(
barton1931 4 months ago
@barton1931 It's absurd that people are browsing the clothes aisles right in front of the organ.
John27346 4 months ago
@John27346 It doesn't seem to bother the shoppers, otherwise they wouldn't shop there. There again, they have been doing it since 1911.
barton1931 4 months ago
@barton1931 They're oblivious to the organ. This is why it's absurd.
John27346 4 months ago
@John27346 In your own opinion, which you are entitled to. Again, we're sorry that you don't like it or agree with it.
barton1931 4 months ago
@barton1931 Hmm. Who is we? I assumed you were an individual.
John27346 4 months ago
@John27346 "We" are the people that enjoy the sound and concept of the organ. Let's just agree to disagree.
barton1931 4 months ago
@barton1931 No. I think we should disagree to agree for a little bit longer.
John27346 4 months ago
@John27346 Ha Ha! You made my day! Very amusing my friend!! Have you any nice pipe organ where you are at?
barton1931 4 months ago
*Crying*
I'm a finnish man
tuulipommi 5 months ago
@tuulipommi i always start to cry when i hear this song
tuulipommi 5 months ago
Sounds like Sibelius Finlandia..great sounds to hear from organs
PerttiReponen 7 months ago
would like to see Fred perform his arrangement of "St Anne" (O God our help in ages past) some day on the Wannamaker organ, the one where he changes manuals on all beats within measures on one stanza
steelersfanhawaii 7 months ago
Ah, Finlandia. Great piece! I have a recording of this on the great Yale University, Woolsey Hall Skinner organ. Thomas Murray playing.
TheBaritoneCrooner 10 months ago
@violindave2 He was certainly the organist that took over for Virgil Fox at the Riverside Church.
EdwinRywalt 11 months ago
Wish I could get a job there.
me45404 11 months ago
@violindave2 Also at Riverside Church in New York.
JohnnyNW 1 year ago
Ah one of the best organists in the world playing one of the worlds best organs. It is pretty hard to beat that! Thanks Fred for playing! Thanks Tom for sharing!!!
morrisonmj 1 year ago
Excuse me,do you have this dress in pink?(!!!!)
Mystep 1 year ago
Ehh... What song is this?
DeltaPhi79 1 year ago
Comment removed
fooschnickens 1 year ago
@DeltaPhi79 Finlandia, Op. 26
fooschnickens 1 year ago
@fooschnickens Ty :)
DeltaPhi79 1 year ago
Gotta love the dislikes and the "Big J" among ignorant people....
Great video and performance! :D
ms103127 1 year ago
Sorry friend for this misunderstanding BUT you are really lucky to be related to those great people. Rodman Wannamaker commissioned the building of the instrument but died before it was completed with the Stentor Division (all the reeds). His body laid in state in the Grand Court for days and Mary Vogt his organist played continuously on the organ. His WILL allowed her right to play until she wanted to retire. She did,in her late 80's.! I was blessed to have known her. Hope I remember it right.
DavidSnyderLumierist 2 years ago
@cjSensation Is it possible Mr Wannamaker (Rodman Wannamaker) founder of Wannamakers would call someone "Dude"?,,but then likely!
DavidSnyderLumierist 2 years ago
Its hard to imagine a console so large it is possible to seat 2 people at a table inside. Its great to see this great instrument with the advantage now of a combination action. Well done Dr. Swann,,bravo
DavidSnyderLumierist 2 years ago
nice - Finlandia. I have it on an organ record and have played it in the New Texas Symphony Orchestra.
steamboat75043 2 years ago 2
Fred swann is so amazing!
TrinityUMCOrganist 2 years ago
riiiiiiiiight
joeyboi87 2 years ago
Thanks for posting! This is such a kick-ass transcription.
dpr980 2 years ago
Glad you like it!
Tom1980nj 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
To explain a little that discussion in Finnish. Sibelius composed Finlandia during the years of Russian oppression late nineteenth century. This part of Finlandia you are able to hear describes those years. The hymn part you can't hear because the video stops reflects a future optimism Finnish people experienced those times, still. Later happenings led Finland to an independence.
To understand Finlandia better you have to listen to it while performed by a symphony orchestra.
raikaljok 2 years ago
Comment removed
raikaljok 2 years ago
I believe that early in his career Mr. Swann served as an assistant organist at the Riverside Church during Virgil Fox's Tenure. He finished his sixty-something year career at Crystal Cathedral. Truly a performing legend of our time.
pipedreamin 2 years ago
Sixty-something year career? Not quite. That would have him at the CC in his teens. He was at the CC for less than 20 years. After the CC he was at First Congregational in Los Angeles.
bradtaylor32 2 years ago
According to a 9/15/03 airing of the Pipedreams broadcast #0337 he was retiring after 60 years as a church musician. I believe he was a teenager when he started are Riverside.
pipedreamin 2 years ago
60 years total, probably. It sounded like you said he was at the CC for 60 years. What I find says he started officially at Riverside when he was 26 (subbing occasionally beginning at 21). He's 78 now. No big deal.
bradtaylor32 2 years ago
He served as the director if the AGO, don't forget, during his tenure at FCCLA. He only just retired from that post.
speaks3703 2 years ago
Indeed. So true, and now well earned time for himself and perhaps yet, something once in awhile for all of us. Musicians never really fully retire,,do they?? Blessings.
DavidSnyderLumierist 2 years ago
Kyllä Janne olisi ansainnut paremman esityksen sävellyksestään. Vaikka kuvauksen laadusta ei juuri voikaan puhua, olisi julkaistu edes kappale kokonaisuudessaan. Toisaalta tuossa tilassa ilman erillisiä mikkejä tehdyt äänitykset kuulostavat puuromaisilta, jolloin esim. soittajan tulkinnoista ei saa juuri mitään selvää.
raikaljok 2 years ago
Alä puhu roskaa.
Topiety 2 years ago
Enpä odottanut noin jyrkkää kommenttia!
Sibelius sävelsi Finlandian sortovuosien aikana ottaen niistä vaikutteita. Siksi monet suomalaiset suhtautuvat siihen vahvalla tunteella.
Sen hymniosan puuttuminen on harmillista, kun se sävellyksessä heijastaa tulevaisuuden toivoa.
raikaljok 2 years ago
No, siinä sanoit totuuden.
Topiety 2 years ago
Ihan vielä Finlandiasta. Täällä Suomessahan on aika ajoin keskusteltu sen ottamisesta kansallishymniksemme Maamme-laulun sijaan juuri tuon historiallisen yhteyden takia. Johtivathan myöhemmät tapahtumat myös maamme itsenäistymiseen.
raikaljok 2 years ago
Yes.
Tom1980nj 2 years ago
He used to be the president of AGO.
drewmwhite 8 months ago
He used to be the president of AGO.
drewmwhite 8 months ago
Oh, well I believe the "PC" term for it is, "The Largest PLAYING Organ in the world. The Atlantic City organ is "bigger" but there has always been debate on how many pipes it actually has.....
Tom1980nj 3 years ago
Wanamakers had (according to Mary Vogt) 32,841 pipes and an uninstalled Stentor Division. Virgil never played Atlantic City in all my years working with him only because it was never all working at the same time,,but bigger it was indeed
DavidSnyderLumierist 2 years ago
@Tom1980nj Supposed to be 33,114 on that one.
DeltaPhi79 1 year ago
@Tom1980nj If I remember right, it's 28,000+ pipes for the Wanamaker organ and 33,000+ pipes for the Atlantic City organ. plus, the Atlantic City organ is undergoing *extensive* renovation, so it's only partially playable.
HappyDiscoDeath 1 year ago
@HappyDiscoDeath From what i have heard, or read, the Atlantic City Convention Hall Organ never really was fully playable. It was always some little things, that interfered.
pordzio 11 months ago
@Tom1980nj : It's not really a debate on how many pipes it has - it is the largest. But it has been no more than partially operable since shortly after it's inauguration. It still isn't. This Wanamaker is the largest *fully playable* one.
MelosAntropon 2 months ago
boy thats a big organ, isn't that the worlds largest organ
jdselfpropelled 3 years ago
That is depending on how the organ is asset. By number of ranks the Wannamaker is the largest organ. However by shear number of pipes the Atlantic City Convention Hall Organ takes the title with its approx. 32,000 pipes. Regardless, being that the ACHO organ is mostly inoperative, the Wannamaker takes the title of being the largest playable organ in the world.
theblackhand2 2 years ago
I don't understand your question....
Tom1980nj 3 years ago
I just spoke to Fred yesterday! Great performance.
bombarde1701 3 years ago
Sorry mate...I envy you being there where the late, great Virgil Fox performed.
I have put an Audio version of his famous piece...Come sweet death...on my site.
silverstartrucker 3 years ago
5 stars for the music...1 star for the camera man.
silverstartrucker 3 years ago
Thanks, you stand leaning over a balcony and try it without a tripod.
Tom1980nj 3 years ago
What is the name of the song he is playing?
Mojeans04 3 years ago
I don't know but I'll get back to you on that. I have to look at the old program if I can find it!
Tom1980nj 3 years ago
Thanks
Mojeans04 3 years ago
Finlandia - Jean Sibelius
infernalfog 3 years ago
This is a transcription of Finnish composer Jean Sibelius' 'Finlandia'.
livzdave 3 years ago
My kids have been rowing in the Stotebury Regatta for the past few years, & I keep trying to hear this monster when I'm in town. But something always keeps me from getting to the store. Maybe this year...& a cheese steak from Ray's, too!!!
a55b47 3 years ago
I've never seen him without glasses on. Here, he looks like he's not wearing them.
He's always gravitated to huge instruments and knows how to tame them. Saw him at West Point once.
stormkingfan 3 years ago
Gotta love Frederick Swann!
jpwsml 3 years ago
Breathtaking music!
accousticdecay 3 years ago
Sibelius, Finlandia
fluteceleste 3 years ago