Keith Chapman plays the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ

[DavidSnyderLumierist]

Keith,why did you have to leave us? We will never forget you!

David Snyder, Lumierist

Heavy Organ Touring Production

[Ronbo765]

Thanks for posting!

[TheOnlyRiktor]

what piece is this?

[TheOnlyRiktor]

@TheOnlyRiktor Nevermind, I located it. :)

[danielmkubacki]

I wish Keith was alive to hear the organ in the condistion it is in today. I think Keith smiles from heaven every time the organ is played.

[notredameswarrior1]

my dad has the original tape of pictures at an exhibition on this organ with kieth chapman playing...its outstanding. kieth was the only one who knew how to play this organ besides virgil fox

[MrFixit150]

Keith Chapman will always be THE Wanamaker Organist. In the mid 70's/early 80's I spent every Saturday with him from 10am till 12:30 Sometimes turned pages. Sometimes had breakfast. Sometimes had a ride in his plane. Always was amazed at his genius. He could play the instrument blindfolded. The lack of a combination action did not hinder his performance. I hope there's a great Wanamaker Organ in heaven for him to play. (maby larger lol)

[MrClaudeholmes]

Two of the world's greastest played this MAMMOTH SIZED instrument Keith Chapman & Virgil Fox . I am one of the fortunate persons to have been in Wanamaker store many times during these live performances.

[dimitlamoukat]

Décollage imminent!

[Organsk8er]

PS...this is a very exciting, fine recording of one of my favorite pieces...especially considering the condition of the organ at this point. His subscription was cancelled...LOL

[Organsk8er]

I'm sure Keith Chapman would b thrilled to see this grand organ being restored and made to play fully the way it is right now. Peter Conte is a wonderful organist, I'm not sure he's better than Chapman, just different. I have all of Conte's recordings, and a lot of times, if you didn't know it wasn't an orchestra, you simply wouldn't know, which is exactly what the organ was designed for!  Rather incredible!

[skinnyblinddude]

Fozzymaple commented Conte is all technique, no emotion.

Well, I respectfully disagree! Anyway, define your use of the word emotion. On the Wanamaker Legacy CD, Peter Conte performs with tremendous emotion. He is a very dynamic organist as well, proving that the Wanamaker organ can be as fierce as thunder and as gentle as a butterfly.

[luticia]

Guys,shut up! It's me who is THE superior musician! No discussion!

[Fozzymaple]

I think Chapman was a superior musician and organist to Conte. To me, Conte plays the Wanamaker like a gigantic theater organ (or at least his registrations sound that way), but Chapman registered the Wanamaker to much better effect.

[lipsbach]

Conte is playing an essentially different instrument today, and anyway, there's really no reason to rate one as a superior musician to the other, is there?

[Fozzymaple]

I believe it is a fair comparison, and Conte is all technique, no emotion, and Conte has a number of other issues, which while not directly related have made themselves manifest in his playing. I know that I would very much like to see someone like Nathan Laube take over as Grand Court Organist.

[Darthymerej]

is that a Bach Lute Suite

[Bartokfriend]

Originally written by Bach for unaccompanied violin.

[KE5RHD]

Who keeps track of the presets on this organ? How do you keep from ruining someone's registrations?

[SyrPipeOrg]

At this point it has a Peterson combination action, with, as far as I can tell, eight memory levels. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I recall seeing their standard rotary knob for memory level selection mounted in the cabinet that houses the system, behind the console.

[codeman2008]

Only eight levels? That's a pity! If it were up to me it would have allot more than that! But I'm not going to be playing it anytime soon, so it doesn't affect me...

[SyrPipeOrg]

When that system was put in, I believe that was the extent of the technology available at the time.

[codeman2008]

It was put in fairly recently... I've played organs with 300 levels of memory. Maybe it's because of how huge each combination is!

[frayrob]

Amazing talent!!! Thanks for posting this.

[JohnPercyLasher]

If you can believe it, I own a copy of the "Pictures at an Exhibition" album seen in this video. Unfortunately it is in poor condition. :(

[AzeroII]

BWV 29 of Johann Sebastian Bach

[musichiere70]

Really wonderful... Keith Chapman was a real Virtuoso, and it's superb to see his playing!

[kingfish196]

I was lucky enough to see Keith Chapman in concert at Gray's Armory in Cleveland back in the early 70's. His version of the 1812 Overture complete with way ahead of his time pyrotechnics was the single best organ performance I've ever heard.

[ksbear2]

Or saw, I expect?

[SyrPipeOrg]

I would do nearly anything for a video of that performance. Does one exist?

[smsoe]

Only what you see, which is taken directly from the VHS video I made back in the 80's. It's monaural, of course, and actually the quality of this upload is about as good as the video looks on a TV.

[lipsbach]

What do you call this, if not a video?

[rugerzandlugerz]

a king of the king of instruments

[bagnewauckland]

No, not a king, THE king

[clydesight]

I have an album done by Keith Chapman playing the Suite Gothique and a Handle Organ concerto on the Wanamaker. He was an incredible talent playing an incredible instrument! I was so sorry to learn of his death. We lost a good one! But he lives on though his recordings.

[JRCOOTS]

Great Organist, great guy.

The line "oh, my subscription was cancelled" is a classic example of his dry humor.

[topper2142]

Again,thankyou so very much for uploading these!!!!!

[theremin137]

I echo other people's thanks for posting these WONDERFUL videos. What a rush of nostalgic memories they invoke.

[smsoe]

Thanks for the kind words; I was fortunate to know Keith in High School and recently came across the videotape that I had made at Wanamakers in the early 80s; I've posted these as a tribute to him and his amazing talent.

[19lfm12]

Years ago I heard an LP he recorded at Wanamaker's. I was transfixed by his style & command of the instrument.....which lacked a combo action at that time! I think he is better then Conte.

[whs1325]

I love the exuberance that he shows in his playing! He obviously knows the instrument quite well. This video is a tribute to his artistry. God bless you Keith Chapmen.

[pordzio]

Magnificent rendition of Bach's sinfonia from cantata 29. Could listen to it all day long.

[shabbyroadscholar]

Do you have any other videos of Keith? he was my teacher in the late 70's.

[SuperElBorba]

Have you made the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ aware of these videos?

[smsoe]

I've been in touch with the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ but left on a trip right after uploading these and haven't had time to contact them, but I will! Also, I have another video of this particular noontime recital to upload and will do so soon.

[SuperElBorba]

I studied with Purvis at Grace and of course knew Keith very well. He was such an amazing natural talent . .

[mbeth3000]

thank you so much for posting this! I have fond memories of my father and Keith working together! I see the flair of their similiar playing styles as I watch and remember this!

I was just alittle girl when all of this took place! I used to have just memories, now I have these You Tube videos! Thank you for rekindling lost memories!

M Wrenn daughter

of William S. Wrenn, Jr.

Organist

[accousticdecay]

This is awesome. He was a complete virtuoso, apparently as a teenager.