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Celebrating the pipe organ, the King of Instruments

Michael Stairs
Michael Stairs and the Wanamaker Organ

Tribute from the Wanamaker Grand Court

…an after-hours concert at Macy’s Center City commemorating Philadelphia organist Michael Stairs.

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Audio 1 hr 58 Min

Audio 59:00 Min

Audio 59:00 Min

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Program Broadcast dates:

Links and Resources:

Music played in the program

Hour 1

LEO SOWERBYPageant of AutumnENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK (trans. Lemare):  Hansel & Gretel PreludeEDWIN H. LEMARERondo Capriccio, Op. 64ANTONIN DVORAK (trans. Stafford):  Allegro con brio (i.), fr Symphony No. 8, Op. 88Joshua Stafford, organist (r. 9/29/18)

Filler – HUMPERDINCK (see above)

Hour 2

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER: Memory, fr CatsMichael Stairs (1930 Aeolian/Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA) DTR 8605

CESAR FRANCKChoral No. 1 in EALBERT KETELBY (trans. Ware):  In a Monastery GardenHUBERT PARRY (trans. Alcock):  Bridal March, fr The Birds of AristophanesGIACOMO PUCCINI (trans. Ellis):  Nessun Dorma, fr TurandotFRITZ KREISLER (trans. Stairs):  Variations on a Theme of CorelliARTHUR SULLIVAN (trans. Barret):  The Lost ChordENNIO MORRICONEGabriel’s Oboe, fr The MissionAndrew Ennis, flugelhorn; Peter Richard Conte, organist (r. 9/29/18)

Filler – DVORAK (see above)

This special after-hours program, presented at Macy’s Center City by the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, honored the life of a well-loved fixture of the Philadelphia music scene. Click here for a superb YouTube documentary in celebration of and tribute to the extraordinary Michael Stairs.

The next after-hours concert featuring the Wanamaker Organ at Macy’s celebrates the Leopold Stokowski ‘Symphony of 15,000’ Centennial, with masterworks for organ and orchestra performed by soloist Peter Conte and the Symphony in C conducted by Stilian Kirov (Saturday, September 28 at 8 p.m.).


APOBAContinuing support of PIPEDREAMS is provided in loving memory of Wesley and Lucinda Dudley by their family, with additional support from Walter McCarthy, Clara Ueland, and the Greystone Foundation, by Jan Kirchner on behalf of her family foundation, by the Art and Martha Kaemmer Fund of the HRK Foundation, in celebration of the life of Martha Hulings Kaemmer, and by listener-contributors to this public radio station. Additional support comes from Taylor & Boody, Organbuildersof Staunton, VA, and A. Thompson-Allen Company of New Haven, CT, members of APOBA, the Associated Pipe Organ Builders of America, a collaborative of designers, creators, and maintainers of pipe organs found in religious and educational institutions, concert halls, and residences throughout the United States and beyond. An APOBA resource guide and member prospectus is available at APOBA.COM.

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