Wanamaker Organ Day 2009 - Walt Strony - "Over the Rainbow"

The Wanamaker Organ has 466 ranks, and is the largest playable pipe organ in the world.
Commanding these huge resources is a massive console with six ivory keyboards and 729 color-coded stop tablets. There are 168 piston buttons under the keyboards and 42 foot controls. The console weighs 2.5 tons; the entire instrument weighs 287 tons.
The smallest pipe is a quarter-inch in length. More than 8,000 pipes were added to the Organ between 1911 and 1917, and from 1924 to 1930 an additional 10,000 pipes were installed, bringing the total number of pipes today to 28,500. More information at
http://www.wanamakerorgan.com/
http://www.waltstrony.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Wanamaker
• Walt
• Strony
• Organ
• Day
• 2009
• Theater

[RestorationStudio]

I had the honor of being involved in the refinishing project. I (The Restoration Studio) did all of the parts that could not be removed on -site. We also refinished the bench Walt is sitting on and the footboard. It was a tough enviorment to work in, but I was honored to be a part of it .

Rod Keyser

The Restoration Studio

[shorttim77]

Thanks Rod!  Great Job!

[Sesquiltera]

A moment of ravishing beauty. When I go there someday not too long from now, I will cry in pure awe.

[shorttim77]

Let me know when you are coming to Philadelphia.

[Organsk8er]

This is really beautiful! Did they strip the black, or darker paint off of the console? It's much lighter in finish in these videos than I ever remember it being. I really like it though, seeing the beautiful wood finish is great! Makes for a much more elegant look.

[shorttim77]

The console was dismantled and sent to Chicago for a total refinishing. It's like the finest antique piano finish ever!!

[drepalla]

Amazing instrument, Walt sure treats the song and the organ both respectfully and beautifully.

Thanks for sharing.

[TheMysticalOrgan]

@mRRRc - pistons! He was reaching with the tips of his fingers for a piston above that manual... he didn't actually press one of those keys, though it looks a bit like he did!

[Masterdavid1998]

play key board kat!

[lola9343]

@RestorationStudio Nice ad. Got The Restoration Studio in there twice.

[HENRYFOLEY]

You cannot get any better.

[MrMedderzEa]

i have just been reading up on this beast, i thought the albert hall organ in the uk was big at 9997 pipes, this has over 28,000 pipes im just lost for words on this, literally

[alaespsd]

beautiful scenery's completed with the organist's red suit. :)

[AshburnStadium]

"I have a feeling that we're not in Kansas anymore!"

As a native of the Philadelphia area, I have to "chime in" that this is a beautiful piece, beautifully played on a beautiful instrument.

[stone14me]

This is just so cool !!Reminded me of being a little kid back in Michigan with my family...

[Marshall7302]

@crustylion321 its basicly a classical type organ, but some VOICES, are set up with Tremulants that gives it the theater organ sound, like the harmonic flute that hes using has a slow soft trem on it that sounds awesome.