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The Auditorium Organ -- Atlantic City Convention Hall
Compact disc recording
$15 PLUS S&H

Listener comments

Go to our Gallery to hear two sound samples from the CD in MP3 format!

This recording was made on November 3 & 4, 1998 as a demonstration of the organ's present condition and with the hope of stimulating some interest in the instrument. It begins with the sound of the Right Stage chamber's 100" compressor starting up, followed by the low pressure and, then, high pressure blowers (these three blowers represent only 225 of the 625 horsepower that is required for the entire instrument).

Main program: Toccata in D minor, BWV 565; On The Boardwalk; There She Is, Miss America; Ol' Man River; Original Rag; Marche Militaire; On The Road To Mandalay; Berceuse (Vierne); Abide With Me; Psalm 100 (Bourgeois), Ad Nos Ad Salutarum Undam (conclusion).

The penultimate track is a demonstration of the Tuba Imperial and Grand Ophicleide stops, both of which are voiced on 100-inch wind pressure. Not all notes on these stops were working but, even so, their power and beauty in the extraordinary acoustics of the Convention Hall is evident. Finally, there is a descent of the pedalboard using the 64' stop.

The occasional cipher is heard and some of the reed stops are out of tune but, as the accompanying booklet says, this is a "warts and all" recording. Nevertheless, the essence of the instrument is there for all to hear, and the various faults constitute a heartfelt cry for its proper restoration.

This recording must be played carefully, as there is tremendous pedal energy - perhaps unlike anything ever previously recorded - especially when the 64' stop is used. So, don't blow out your woofers!