A Wanamaker Organ Day! #2038

Hour One

ARTHUR BLISS:  Fanfare.  EDWARD ELGAR: Pomp & Circumstance March No. 4 in G –Peter Richard Conte (r. 6/1/19)

RICHARD WAGNER (trans. Lemare):  Flying Dutchman Overture.  HECTOR BERLIOZ (arr. Baker):  Rakoczy March –Ken Cowan (r. 6/1/19)

RICHARD STRAUSS:  Four Last Songs (Frühling; September; Beim Schlafengehen; Im Abendrot) –Clara Rottsolk, soprano; Peter Richard Conte (r. 6/2/18)

Filler – ELGAR (see above)

Hour Two

NICOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV:  Procession of the Nobles, fr Mlada –Andrew Ennis, flugelhorn; Peter Richard Conte (r. 6/2/18)

DIETERICH BUXTEHUDE (trans. Chavez & Conte):  Chaconne in e –Peter Conte (r. 6/2/18)

SIGFRID KARG-ELERT:  Choral Improvisation, Nearer my God, to Thee –Peter Conte (r. 6/2/18)

CHARLES-MARIE WIDOR:  Symphony in g for Organ & Orchestra, Op. 42b –Symphony in C/Rossen Milanov; Peter Conte (r. 10/1/11) Gothic 49293

Filler – BERLIOZ (see above)

Thanks to James Stemke of DSP Recordings who documented all of these performances in the Wanamaker Grand Court.  The 464-rank Wanamaker Organ, with its 28, 750 pipes, is maintained by a dedicated team of professionals and volunteers led, until his recent retirement, by the indefatigable Curt Mangel.  

Though the coronavirus lockdown required cancellation of Organ Day 2020, Macy’s and the community are actively working to get the full music program back on track.  For now, you can hear the Wanamaker Organ live during 40-minute concerts at Macy’s every noon, Monday through Saturday, in the Wanamaker Building at 1300 Market Street, adjacent Philadelphia’s City Hall.  Support for activities involving the instrument are provided both by Macy’s and, particularly for the special ‘organ days’ and after-hours events, Ray Biswanger and the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ.

Continuing support of PIPEDREAMS is provided in loving memory of Wesley and Lucinda Dudley by their family, with additional support from Walter McCarthy, Clara Ueland, and the Greystone Foundation, by Jan Kirchner on behalf of her family foundation, by the Art and Martha Kaemmer Fund of the HRK Foundation, in celebration of the life of Martha Hulings Kaemmer, and by listener-contributors to this public radio station. Additional support comes from OSI, Total Pipe Organ Resources of Erie, PA, and Parsons Pipe Organ Builders of Canandaigua, NY, members of APOBA, the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America, a collaborative of designers, creators, and maintainers of pipe organs found in religious and educational institutions, concert halls, and residences throughout the United States and beyond. An APOBA resource guide and member prospectus is available at APOBA.COM.