Virgil Fox playing the Wanamaker Organ.

Elgar's Pomp & Circumstance March No. 1 (Land of hope and glory) and some people do not like this version. Well I do...At times Virgil was a flash showman but he was a quite brilliant organist. I have found that the people who criticise him are these 2 bit organists, and I do detect the green eyed monster.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Wanamaker
• organ
• Virgil
• Fox
• Land
• of
• hope
• and
• glory

[poopingeneral]

only you Virgil Fox could render a stirring and heartfelt interpretation as this. God bless you 10 fold!

[silverstartrucker]

@poopingeneral - I have an excellent, very powerful sound system, and the Wanamaker organ in the hands of the great Virgil Fox is a breath taking sound. Virgil Fox knew how to bring out the best in the Wanamaker organ.

[aireschel1787]

Thank you for posting this. The Wanamaker organ is quite a visual sight and the sound of the organ is magnificent!! Some years for my birthday (day after Christmas) my mother would take me into Philadelphia to Wanamakers, and on some occasions we would hear the organ. Also have heard a few recitals played on the Wanamaker organ as an adult, as well -- incomparable! Alas, the store is no longer John Wanamakers. Sarah

[silverstartrucker]

@aireschel1787 - Sarah, Look through my page for the great Virgil Fox playing Bach's COME SWEET DEATH...it is stunning !!!

[dustermouse]

Virgil Fox was THE MASTER of the Pipe Organ, God love him for what he has given us.

[TheMysticalOrgan]

It's a bit too fast for me but it's far from the tasteless vulgarity of which Fox has often been accused. Actually, it's quite brilliantly played, with exquisite phrasing in the slower parts.

[TheMysticalOrgan]

@cross147 - there's a lot more reverb there than there was when Fox recorded this, as the amount of retail floor space has been reduced and some of the upper galleries sheeted in with glass. What was once a rather dry acoustic is now extremely reverberant - the organ sounds all the better for it, but it does require careful handling!

[kenitoification]

RIP Virgil



[cross147]

reverb is gone :( but it's very good anyway!

[kasha1932]

OH! How I do love the very special sound of the Wannamaker organ!!!!! And played by the most marvelous player,Virgil Fox...almost can't stand it!!!! Thanks so much for this great posting!

[noteworthy99]

Dear Virgil, he knew how to play to make the organ sound so good.

Being several stops ahead of most organists he had time to consider his next move in good time. He didn’t need to jangle, drop notes and use the loud pedal. He had time to be musical and convey the sound of the organ, a point missed by many organists, impossible unless you are in full command of such a complex instrument.

Thanks for posting and thanks Virgil for your legacy of listening pleasure.

[poopingeneral]

@silverstartrucker I couldn't agree more :]