Boardwalk Hall Organ To Be Part of Miss America Pagent

[Admin]

The massive Midmer-Losh Pipe Organ in Boardwalk Hall (formerly Atlantic City Convention Hall) will be played for the first time publically in more than 4 decades as part of the Miss America Pagent events. It will greet arriving patrons as part of a ten minute preshow presentation by Stephen Ball the halls new official organist.

The organ is the largest musical instrument in the world but because only about 30% of is functional, the Wanamaker Organ in Macy's in Philadelphia holds the distinction of the world's largest playable musical instrument as it is currently over 90% playable.

Complete article here.


Here's a video

[gtc]

Fantastic story. Looking forward to hearing it.

And here's a documentary on the organ:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Krm7k3Q-3vc

[Terpodion]

Very good news indeed. I used to work with Timmy Hoag, the A.C. municipal organist at the time, and he always looked forward to the pageant.

[myorgan]

I can't wait to hear the organ breathe some life again. Does anyone know the date of the pageant? MY wife'll think I'm crazy, but I want to hear that instrument! Would be much better live, but we're never in NJ on a Tuesday.X-(

Michael

[gtc]

I can't wait to hear the organ breathe some life again. Does anyone know the date of the pageant?

Preliminaries: September 10, 11 and 12. Final: September 15.

[Jaxvirtualorgan]

For those who were not able to attend the Miss America preliminaries and thus unable to hear the instrument with just the one chamber operational, may I direct your attention to the following YouTube video; Abide with me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpUh81oNkww. The actual recording of the tune was made sometime during November 3 & 4 of 1998 and can be found on track 10 of The Auditorium Organ Timothy Hoag & Guests (ACCHOS/CD/01). To hear the instrument when more fully operational I refer you to Boardwalk Pipes & Bach On The Biggest (ACCHOS/CD/02) particularly Toccata & Fugue in D Minor at track 11 on the CD. Bach On The Biggest was recorded on November 23 and 24 of 1956.

[myorgan]

I watched the entire thing on network TV, and NOTHING with the organ. I was so disappointed!:'( I guess I'll just have to go by on a Tuesday and see it sometime.

Michael

[Admin]

I watched the entire thing on network TV

You ought to receive some sort of award for that.:-)

[AwfulClyde]

Very good news indeed. I used to work with Timmy Hoag, the A.C. municipal organist at the time, and he always looked forward to the pageant.

Terpodian,
Have you had any contact with Tim Hoag in recent years? I'm concerned, as we have not heard from him in a couple of years.
I've known Tim and his late parents since the early 80's. I hope he's OK.
Pete

[Terpodion]

Terpodian,
Have you had any contact with Tim Hoag in recent years? I'm concerned, as we have not heard from him in a couple of years.
I've known Tim and his late parents since the early 80's. I hope he's OK.
Pete

The last I heard was he was working for Peragallo. That was about five years ago.

[Young Organist]

It truly is a great organ. I was messing around youtube a little searching, "largest organs in the world" and this one along with the organ at Macy's in Philadelphia came up. I think they were made by same company, but I'm not sure which ones bigger. They're the 2 biggest in the world, no doubt, but which ones exactly bigger! Well, the world might never know. I saw that above video on youtube quite some time ago. Is this the first year their using this organ in a pageant?
Y.O.

[davidecasteel]

I think the combined organs in Passau Cathedral (5 instruments played on one console) is considered to be the largest church organ in the world.

David

[Pipeorganbuilder]

When these organs were built, the organ companies called them Symphonic organs since they contained not only classical ranks but also theatrical ranks at super high pressures to fill in these massive buildings and give you the sense of surround sound.

[Menschenstimme]

I think the combined organs in Passau Cathedral (5 instruments played on one console) is considered to be the largest church organ in the world.

David

I have a CD recording of this organ from almost 30 years ago. The organists's name is Edgar Krapp. I get misty just thinking about it.

[davidecasteel]

I am wrong about Passau's instrument. I found this

Until the 1990's, the Passau Domorgan was the largest church organ in the world. Presently it is "only" the largest Domorgan (and third largest church organ) of the World.

on this web site: http://mypipeorganhobby.blogspot.com...n-germany.html.

David