Evening journal., 1919-03-28

men there 10 inspect il and see what
could be done about bringing it 10 our
store, and these men reported against
10. because it would mean such a vast
change in our building. but we brought
( it here, nevertheless, although 10 caused
considerable change in our building
plans, and we not only brought il here
but since then have added 20 II. so that
now it is three times as great as IL
originally was"
Concert of Rare Merit.
II Robert Browning could have writ
ten Master Hughes Of SaXe-Gotha,"
after hearing the greatest organ in the
world played by Charles Courboin. he
would have said thousands, instead Of
hundreds, in the lines
see our huge house Of sounds
flushing its hundreds at once"
The Wanamaker organ, In the years
since its installation, has brought TO
waiting hundreds its daily message Of
hope and beauty. The Musicians As
sembly. arranged for last night, was the
occasion, however. Of thousands enabled
10 hear the organ played by a master
No more impressive scene has been v---
messed In the musical life Of Philadel-
phia. Nothing approaching the gigantic
scale upon which this assembly was
arranged has ever been attempted here.
The Philadelphia Orchestra grouped
in the organ loft with the conductor,
Leopold StOkowskl, directing from an
inclosure that assumed dizzy heights
when viewed from the main floor. was
an impressive part OF a memorable
scene. Charles Courboin, formerly or
ganist at the Cathedral in Antwerp,
proved himself master OF an instrument
whose possibilities have invited the
greatest composers and players Of all
ages.
Courbein played selections from
Bash. Rayenello. Caesar Franck, dc
| Boeck and Widor. His work in the
detached numbers was greatly enjoyed
/ the clearness with which he announc-
| ed and developed the themes, espec-
| ially in the Bach numbers and Frapcb
Chorale establishing at once his ability
as a music an, as well as an executant
The great event OF the evening was
the combination OF orchestra and organ
lin the Widor G Minor symphony
three movements OF which were
/ played, the allegro. andante cantabilt
1 and finale. 1t was the first time IL had
been played with orchestra in America
Mr.. StokOwski conducted the orches-
ira in wonderful style. Being an eX-
ceptionally fine organist himself he
naturally has a peculiarly sensitive
sympathetic feeling for the instrument
and its possibilities In ensemble worl
with an orchestra. AT times the ma.
ieseic organ tone swamped the lighter
orchestral vibration. but on the whole
the two instruments were admirabl!
adapted TO each other. the individual
ity Of each being well preserved. while
the ensembles were wonderfully beau.
tiful and impressive.
Splendid Solo Parts.
The large part played by the Phila'
delph'a Orchestra in its portion Of th'
program must not be overlooked. Th'
Leonore overture Of Beethoven, thar
in which orchestra was never heard e
better advantage; Debussy's "L'Apre'
Midi dun Faune," and the "LiebstOd'
from Magner's Tristan und Isolde
formed combination that was O
rare enjoyment. or the greup th'
Debussy was also exceptionally effec
tive. All the enchsntment Of fores
scene was In the beautiful interpre
tation. The fineness OF the instumen
iation was surprisingly well adaptel
70 the large auditorium. all the dell
cacy and ethorealness 81 .he concep
tion being present -.