Precious memory. My first time hearing a live organ let alone a Wurlitzer. I had no idea at the time, but I did know that I enjoyed every thing about it. Including the show!
@garyreider6213
3 жыл бұрын
Years ago I had the honor to play this great instrument. What surprised most is when I took my hands off the keys and turned around I could hear the last notes I played. Gary Reider
@HudsonDiTomaso
2 жыл бұрын
Good job
@christopherandrews2594
2 жыл бұрын
I was in the audience during this run of the Christmas Spectacular great fun listening to the wonderful Wurlitzer in all of it's glory
@worsedoughnut
7 ай бұрын
My dad worked at the music hall and then MSG for almost 20 years while I was growing up, and we got to see this sight at the Christmas Spectacular on opening night every year. I won't lie and say that my younger self fully appreciated it the whole time, but these days I do miss the magic of the music hall itself, and I was always in love with the organs coming out to play like this. Thank you, fantastic recording!
@tucsonorganist
4 жыл бұрын
I was there in the late 1950s for the Christmas show and loved it. I don't know for sure. I think it might have been Dick Liebert at the console. It was the first time I'd heard the instrument and I remember when he hit a low note on the pedalboard with what might have been a 32' stop, I felt my chest compress as the air was pushed out of me. One of my fondest memories.
@Organgrinder1010
4 жыл бұрын
Had a similar experience in the early 1960s. The organist took over from the orchestra and suddenly the room was absolutely FULL of music! I had never experienced anything quite like it before!
@HiringAPtAdvocate
3 жыл бұрын
@@Organgrinder1010 unfortunately it you went for a Christmas show now you would be disappointed by the sound of the organ. It is no longer amplified. See my response to Jim Hawkins.
@digitricks
2 жыл бұрын
I'm only 31 but I've heard LP's of Dick Liebert and I wished so bad I could have been alive at the time to hear him in person!
@Jamaicafunk
4 жыл бұрын
I met one of the organists a few weeks ago. Awesome musicians. Nice guys.
@DebSherr
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing this video, my Mom and Dad worked there decades ago, they met and fell in love. 💕
@lukegreen5341
10 ай бұрын
0:02 I've Been To This Venue The Radio City Music Hall In New York City In The United States Of America Back In November 2018 Around Christmas Time 2018 And It Was Super Awesome And This Wurlitzer Pipe Organ Is Exactly The One At The El Capitan Theatre In Hollywood In The City Of Los Angeles California In North America And The Odeon Compton Organ From The Odeon Leicester Square Theatre In London's Glittering West End In London And The Odeon Paramount Theatre In Birmingham In England In The United Kingdom As Well. Thanks Mate. X
@HiringAPtAdvocate
3 жыл бұрын
@Jim Hawkins I grew up in NYC and went to RCMH as often as my parents would take me. Back then the organ was mic'd into the house system and as Walt Strony says they had an 'algorithm' that was spatially set for the lounges, lobbies, under the balconies and in the Hall. You heard and felt the organ appropriately depending on where you were located because of Dick Liebert's ears. Listening to the distant sound of the organ these days, in the best spot in the house, from which this recording appears to be be recorded, is depressing. Recently I have spent lots of time online trying to find photographs of the Hall construction and the organ installation, but have been unsuccessful. I may be recalling some information incorrectly but there are 4 pipe chambers on the 50th Street side of the Hall and 4 chambers on the 51st Street side of the Hall. The chambers rise several stories and are basically above the consoles BUT behind the hung, sound absorbing ceiling that impedes the organ's sound egress into the Hall. With 4 manuals with 58 ranks of pipes, it is the largest organ the Wurlitzer factory ever built, but without amplification it no longer has that exciting sound, of my childhood. Originally it uniquely had 2 identical consoles, with TWO pneumatic relays and pneumatic combination actions so Each console could play the Entire organ independently! At some point, per Lew Williams, the 51st Street console (the one played more often) got a third row of toe studs on the left so they are no longer identical consoles. Recently mechanical upgrades have replaced these pneumatic parts with computer parts. SO now the consoles may come out of their alcoves and play from the orchestra lift or the stage but sadly I've never seen that. ;-( BTW Jim did the book talk about the armed forces guarding the stage elevators? It is the same technology used on Aircraft Carrier elevators during WWII.
@Organgrinder1010
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Robert for this information, disheartening though it is. I'm going to stop breaking my neck to hear the instrument again. That one experience I shall never forget, however. It was magnificent!
@jimstevens1726
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the info. I sat at the main console in the early 70s and got stage fright and couldn't play. I was wondering how that organ was doing. I am very sad to hear they disabled the aux sound system. Ashley Miller used to crank out some nice stuff on that organ when the house was pretty much empty. Actually it always sounded great in the 1970s no matter who played.. Another irreplaceable piece of 20th century grandeur no longer appreciated as the USA degrades further.
@danielmkubacki
4 жыл бұрын
Great video. It would be nice if the people would be quiet and listen.
@powertube5671
4 жыл бұрын
That's the way it's always been. The first time I was there as a kid, I was so awed by the sound of the organ, yet everyone was just BSing. The average person goes there to watch a bunch of women kick their legs up and the organ is just background like in a baseball game. They simply don't appreciate that organ or any organ. They probably can't tell the difference between the thunderous Radio City Music Hall organ and a small Hammond living room organ. Yes, I remember, the low notes felt like a small Earth quake. I have a coffee table picture book of Radio City Music Hall. They show all the Art Deco, the hydraulic lifts under the orchestra and one of the organ consoles. It's a beautiful book, but it doesn't even show the pipes nor their location. Radio City Music Hall hasn't exactly gone out of its way to promote the organ. I'm donating the book to the library because it's a disappointment.
@3markaw
4 жыл бұрын
This is pre show. If you will notice people are still finding their seats so during the show it would hopefully be quieter.
@HudsonDiTomaso
4 жыл бұрын
At least they’re using the organ!
@martinegerton8094
2 жыл бұрын
@@powertube5671, I've visited Radio City twice for the Stage Door Tour, which is fabulous. Much to my dismay though, the Wurlitzer isn't even mentioned. I fully appreciate that it's a niche interest, but surely even a philistine couldn't help but be impressed by hearing this incredible beast. Look at the Fox in Atlanta! Mighty Mo has it's own section in their website. I can't quite understand why the jewel in Radio City's crown is barely even acknowledged!
@unclelouie3828
2 жыл бұрын
The organ was used to open the programs and during Intermissions. It was never really 'featured'. What a shame. Used to sit thru many shows "just" to hear (Dick Leibert) at the organ. You had to 'be there' to appreciate that sound. Those were great times. I miss them.
@trapezemusic
9 ай бұрын
I have trouble distinguishing the melody. This is partly due to members of the audience talking to their neighbors, last minute arrivals finding their seats, etc. Still, I think the acoustics are less than excellent. The same thing happened last week when I attended the 2023 Christmas Spectacular ad sat in the second mezzanine. I love seeing the organ but the melody is difficult to distinguish.
@marknoller1026
3 жыл бұрын
The organ and be heard with the orchestra. Especially the pedal or bass lines.
@davef.2329
9 ай бұрын
How much of the organ is functional today? I'd heard that amongst other other ranks, the 64' hadn't worked for quite some time.
@sebastianaparicio7119
4 жыл бұрын
Wow I can’t believe that there are 2 whole organs and the cool part is that one plays a percution and the other the pipes how amazing I want to be an organist looks fun
@corywright1982
4 жыл бұрын
One organ, two independent consoles. 4/58 Wurlitzer.
@HudsonDiTomaso
4 жыл бұрын
The holes in the ceiling are because the organ's pipes are so huge, that they need another room!
@whackamolechamp
3 жыл бұрын
I was lucky enough to experience Performances like this live in the 70's as a kid. The acoustics were amazing and you felt the sounds reverberating through your body.
@HiringAPtAdvocate
3 жыл бұрын
The sound of the 70s is no longer available. See my response above.
@sebastianaparicio7119
3 жыл бұрын
@@HudsonDiTomaso I know! It’s pretty cool how is needs a whole room!
@stepheneggert9474
8 ай бұрын
I bet the swell shads are closed a bit..one big organ..2 consoles.. i hope this organ ,gets reg maintenance..done. Its a national treasure..or landmark status.. the Chicago theater ..organ has landmark status.. run by the same management company..i believe.
@oliverroycroft1082
4 жыл бұрын
They need to do Gustav Mahler’s 2nd or 8th Symphony in this building. That would be legendary.
@chem100
2 жыл бұрын
Not Mahler, but check this out: kzitem.info/news/bejne/zoqIt2FusZ6beIo
@markgrochowski3199
Жыл бұрын
We went to the Christmas show last weekend. The organ is barely audible over the audience before the show starts.
@Jacob-kq6wb
Жыл бұрын
Great 👌
@Mike-kc8rl
Жыл бұрын
Is this Wurlitzer still in situ and playing??
@Parker6432
3 жыл бұрын
Who are the organists?
@anthonystein4962
2 жыл бұрын
Dick Leibert and Raymond Bohr
@micdom43
Жыл бұрын
under Madison square garden productions
@unclelouie3828
Ай бұрын
They only use the organ "between" shows when people are coming in & out and talking. They "never" feature it. What idiots!!
@joanerhard454
3 жыл бұрын
Hello
@johnferguson4089
3 жыл бұрын
How disappointing! The biggest Wurlitzer pipe organ that Wurlitzer ever built (48 ranks I believe) and you can't hear it! I imagine that all that 'sunrise' plaster work masks the sound of it. It's a beautiful sight for sure and I've heard how organists complain of the muffled sound. Now I've heard it! That instrument should fill the place and it doesn't! I can only imagine the difficulty the two organists have playing together and I take my hat off to them but it would be extremely hard to hear what each is playing.
@HudsonDiTomaso
3 жыл бұрын
I don't understand man, I can hear it just fine.
@johnferguson4089
3 жыл бұрын
@@HudsonDiTomaso - I've just had another listen to this video and the organ sounds distant. I play and teach on these instruments and it should almost pick you up and shake you. I think it's probably due to the way this video was recorded. Maybe it was recorded using the in-built microphone on the video camera which would explain the 'distant' sound. Here are a couple of links to other video's of this organ which you might also enjoy... The first is of Walt Strony playing a selection of pieces.......kzitem.info/news/bejne/tZyIwICKamh_kqA And here is Ray Bohr (one of the former organists of RCMH) playing a selection of pieces on the same instrument ..... kzitem.info/news/bejne/mYV6saekbaNkq3Y (Unfortunately, the sound cuts off in the middle of a piece at the end.) In my original comment I indicated that this organ was 48 ranks....WRONG....it's 58! The Radio City Music Hall organ was the largest WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ to ever leave the WurliTzer factory in Noth Tonawanda, New York. The 4 manual 58 rank (sets of pipes) WurliTzer Opus 2179 was built in 1932 with an electro-pneumatic action with two identical consoles. When Radio City Music Hall was planned in the early 1930s, S. L. Roxy Rothafel, chief of architecture and construction for the hall and its sister Center Theater (at Sixth and 49th), planned to install the largest Theatre Pipe Organ ever built. He was best acquainted with the Kimball Organ Company, having given that firm the contract for the organ at the great Roxy Theatre on Seventh Avenue, so Kimball was contacted to bid on a large organ for the Music Hall. Legend has it that the Rockefeller board of trustees felt that the most prestigious theatre in the country should have an instrument built by the country's top Theatre Pipe Organ company, so the contract was eventually awarded to WurliTzer. Strange as it may seem, the Kimball specification was retained, even though the organ was built by WurliTzer. This may have been the influence of Roxy, but what really transpired is unknown today. Although Kimball built many Theatre Pipe Organs, they never built the pure, thoroughbred instruments that WurliTzer did, and their organs often retained a concert organ nature. Although RCMH certainly sounds like a WurliTzer, it is quite a radically different specification and stop-list. The stops for the typical Great manual (2nd keyboard from bottom) of a Theatre Pipe Organ would normally contain nearly every available stop in 16' pitch, but Radio City's organ resembles Kimball's Concert Pipe Organs, having but three 16' stops. On a typical Wurlitzer design and on an organ of this size, one would normally expect around 40 of them to be available at 16' pitch. The Orchestral division on this instrument resembles more of a Swell division of a classical organ than what you would generally find in a theatre pipe organ. The Solo manual (top keyboard) has the most powerful stops and the only 16' Tibia Clausa stop on the manuals. It is normally available on every manual except for the lowest (the Accompaniment manual) and is also available as a Pedal stop. Another unusual feature of this instrument is the inclusion of an independent 16' Contra Bass (56 pipes) in the Pedal section, again following Kimball's idea for a concert instrument. The Radio City Music Hall 4/58 Mighty WurliTzer is played by two identical four-manual consoles which are completely independent of each other, unlike the more usual setup in which a second console was a 'slave' to the first. The 58 ranks and 4,178 pipes are installed in eight chambers (rooms) divided on each side of the stage. A recent rebuilding included solid-state control systems throughout and the ability to locate either or both consoles anywhere on the stage, the orchestra pit elevator, or the original alcove positions. A complete MIDI interface has also been installed. This organ, which was built especially for the theatre, has pipes ranging in size from just a few inches to 32 feet. Finally, great credit must be given to the organists who play it. As mentioned, it's not your typical WurliTzer stop layout, the sound is definitely WurliTzer but can be rather difficult to handle. The audience loves the sound, but spare a thought for the person/s playing it because they have their work cut out to make it sound fabulous.
@jamesp8391
2 жыл бұрын
Well, here’s a couple explanations from someone who knows. The organ chambers are pretty deep and oddly shaped, and the grills aren’t really very wide. There’s about 5 feet at least in between the shades of the chambers and the grillwork depending on the chamber. Wurlitzer had no choice because of the way the building was designed. There’s even massive steel I-beams running through the chambers and behind the wall between the shades and grille openings. Although, I have to say, the sound DOES get out. It’s loud when nobody is in there. The biggest issue is that every time that organ plays, nobody shuts up to listen to it. If it’s quiet, it does indeed grab you and throw you around. Organists complain because they’re directly under it and the sound goes over their head. Step out from the console about 10 feet, and it’s a HUGE difference.
@johnferguson4089
2 жыл бұрын
@@jamesp8391 - Many thanks for your comments James
@raoulmongilardi6152
11 ай бұрын
The sound is great, it is all the audience talking that is masking much of the sound and the fact this is a one mic set up. Really.
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