The Great Stalacpipe Organ - America the Beautiful

"America the Beautiful" being played on the Great Stalacpipe Organ.

Original composer: Samuel A. Ward.
Arranged/played by Monte Maxwell.

The Great Stalacpipe Organ is located deep within Luray Caverns and was completed in 1956 after three years of work by Leland W. Sprinkle. Each key is wired to a solenoid-actuated rubber mallet that is connected to one of 37 diferent stalatites scattered around 3.5 acres of the caverns. When a key is pressed, the mallet strikes the stalactite. The result is a very clear, pure tone that bears a resemblance to a xylophone or a lithophone. All of the stalactites, despite spreading over only 3.5 acres of the caverns, can be heard over all 64 acres of the caverns' interior.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Stalacpipe_Organ

This song can be found on the album "Midnight in the Caverns with Monte Maxwell", currently being sold both online and at the Luray Caverns gift shop.

I do not take credit for the song, the album or the album artwork.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• The Great Stalacpipe Organ
• Luray Caverns
• America the Beautiful
• Monte Maxwell

[fairyguidemother]

Thank you so much for posting these Luray Cavern songs. That organ is so awesome. I saw a report that some cave in Europe had markings on it from pre history that were musical notations. Guess this idea isn't new but it is wonderful

Althea