The New York herald., 1922-04-29
QUARTER CENTURY
OF HELPFUL MUSIC
AT WANAMAKER'S

When the founder of this business:
twenty-six years ago, reopened tne eun 0oolS
long and honorably associated with tne
history and traditions of New YORK. no
made music part of the business. 49,,
good music nus " was confined to a few select
concert halls, the churches. and imited
number OF hnt nomes ehe,r M5ipn5 daIv tasks almost
entirely without the influence OF music.
internationally Famous.
Recltals by famous artists were inaug-
urated In the Wanamaker Piano Saionst
and laid the foundation of that pnase o.
the Wanamaker Store which Is nov III
ternationally famous-the MUSIC sioe u
the Wanamaker institution.
These Stewart Building recftalS reacneu
q climax in 1904 in the concert given py
great orchestra under the dlrectlon on a.9 n9
greatest living composer, Richard
Strauss.
wanamaI<er Auditorium.
When the new wanamaker building was
erected across the street from the old
Stewart store there was built into II tne
realization of a dream--a beautlful CON
cert hall containing fine organ. IN lnis
hall decorated with mural paintings py
a famous American artist, there began
in 1906 the series of daily afternoon con-
certs known t as Ihich the wsnaaaedsr snfanaed over
period of fifteen years, with increasing
success and prestige
In this hall have appeared some OF the
most famous musicians and artists III
In this hall also many famous person-
ages have had their first Introduction 10
the public Here was laid the foundation
of their present and future success. iss
OF these names, would require Columns ,a OF
space, many have long since become
household words in the musical homes OF
the country.
Great Musical Movements.
In this hail. also, have been born many
of the influential musical movements OF
the day.
The American Composer.
Here occurred also, the first systematic
series of concerts devoted to the works
of the American composer, series ex-
tending over several years, and dating
ber. have been scattered over q period OF
several years, enlisting the cooperation or
nearly two hundred composers and assist
ing artists, many OF whom had their first
introduction to a musical pubic IN tniS
Here, too, was given the first demon-
lation between the art of music and the
art of the dance. Presented at the very
height of the dance craze which preceded
the great war 1t attracted thousands or
spectators, and was followed by similar
demonstrations elsewhere.
The great literature OF dramatic music
as represented In the catalogue OF the
phonograph has been drawn upon for a
series OF operatic tableaux vivants, In
which the phonograph, accompanied by
the great organ, sang immortal melodies
while artists in costume pantomimed the
acts upon a miniature stage.
The Reproducing Piano.
The reproducing piano, greatest of all
musical inventions-the Ampico-brings
into the Auditorium the BRAIN the spirit
and musical genius Of the greatest plan plan
Recently, another forward step was
taken which will add many interesting
things in the future-the construction in
the Auditorium Of a new concert organ.
"a Jewel Among Organs"
This organ. the largest In the city, de-
signed as. concert instrument combines
the stately sonorities of a Cathedral in
strument with the warm and luscious
tone-colors Of the orchestra, i contains
which make possible a range Of nuance
and expressiveness hitherto unknown in
enty-five hundred pipes, one hundred and
twenty speaking stops, sixty-five
horse power blower and a range Of tonal
dynamics which has been described as
overwhelming.
This instrument was built In the wana-
maker organ shop under the supervision
is non-commercial, functioning solely IS
an artistic laboratory. 1t was organized
some years ago Tor the purpose or huild-
ing the Grand Court organ. the largest
organ in the world, constructed in the
Wanamaker Philadelphia Store. These
two instruments, the Grand Court Organ
and the Jewel Organ. are its only output
They were created with a hope OF bring
Ing new inspiration to music lovers
Nearly two million people hear these or
gans every year
Duprc and Courboin.
Last fall the wanamaker store invited
the public OF New York to the inaugural
concerts OF this magnificent instrument.
Two great master organists of Europe
and America were presented in a series
OF remarkable rectals, Marcel Dupre or
ganist at Notre Dame Cathedral Paris,
France, who made his first American APP
pearance, and Charles NJ Courboin, for
merly OF Antwerp Cathedral.
The enormous success of these recitals
Is now a matter of history.
Music by Hadiophone.
For several weeks the wanamacxer
Radio Broadcasting Station (W.w.Z
Waveiength 3G0 metres), has been sending
out muslc--songs, AMPICO reproductions
and orchestral selections both day and
evening. This Is the only. store In New
York doing this. Letters from hundreds
of homes IN New York and adjoining
States testify to tho qualification with
which this service has been received.