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Concert Review
Grand Court Organ Day
6/466 Wanamaker Pipe Organ
Lord & Taylor Department Store (fomerly Wanamaker Department Store)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 11, 2005
Excerpts of Courtside With Enos Shupp (music review by Enos Shupp). As published in Fall 2005 issue of The Stentor.
On Saturday June 11, one of the largest audiences ever to assemble for this annual affair was on hand, possibly because of the monthly
radio broadcast of Conte and this organ. As with last year's affair, there was a live WRT1 broadcast from Lord & Taylor at 11:30am.
****
At 2:30 pm we had a Pops Concert played by Jelani Eddington, presented in honor of Wallace J. McLean. It opened with a good, solid playing of
the March Militaire by Schubert. Chopin's Waltz In A-Flat -- "Minute Waltz" was a splendid transition from
piano (as written) to organ, with very clever registration, using no percussion. A Stephen Sondheim tune Not While
I'm Around from "Sweeney Todd" enjoyed fine, classy playing using the Clear Flute.
From Leroy Anderson we had two pieces played back to back: China Doll and The Captains And The Kings. The first
was a cute, whimsical novelty. The second was an unusual piece rhythmically; a 2/4 - 3/4 march, but good "Anderson listening,"
well put over by Eddington.
A grand medley of six pieces by George Gershwin had a big opening with Love Is Sweeping The Country from "Of Thee I Sing",
followed by another full-sounding one, Nice Work If You Can Get It from "Damsel In Distress." The lovely Embraceable
You was top Eddington with rich registration and romantic playing with some improvisation. Some themes from Rhapsody In
Blue floated around and then I Got Rhythm ran through the Grand Court and concluded with The Man I Love from
"Strike Up The Band" for the smashing finale to the set.
Jelani concocted more rich, lovely sound for a very expressive playing of And This Is My Beloved from "Kismet." The
concert concluded with a great classic: the Polovtsian Dances from "Prince Igor" by Alexander Borodin, another splendid orchestral
work done to perfection on this Organ. Oh yes, for sure there was an oncore for the shouting audience. It was a whirlwind playing of
Chopin's Fantaisie Impromptu!
****
The general opinion was that this was the best Wanamaker Organ Day ever. I can't wait to see what they come up with for next year. This
should be broadcast on prime-time TV!
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