Atlantic City’s Holiday Organ Recitals

We here in New Jersey are blessed to have some wonderful examples of what some refer to as “The King of Instruments”.

I’m referring to the great pipe organs we have here in the Garden State, like those at the Lowes’ Theatre in Jersey City or the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove.  But there’s one in Atlantic City that tops them all for sound and sheer size.

The Midmer-Losh Organ at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is the world’s largest pipe organ, or for that matter, musical instrument on earth, with 33,112 pipes, and its’ massive 7-manual console.   After many years of neglect, it is being restored and brought back to life.  And although all of those pipes aren’t working, it sounds better than it has in a long time.

The Historic Organ Restoration Committee Inc., a non-profit that is overseeing the restoration of the organ is presenting a series of 10 free holiday recitals Monday-Friday at Noon, between December 9^th and 20^th, and will feature eight different organists through the month.

It’s worth the ride for a wonderful chance to hear some more of the music of the season particularly when you consider that some of the older Christmas Carols were probably written just for an instrument like this.

If you’d like to know more about the organ and its restoration, and also recitals and tours throughout other parts of the year, check out boardwalkorgans.org.  Or the “Pipe Organs of Boardwalk Hall Atlantic City” Facebook page for some great work-in-progress pictures.

The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ at Macy’s Center City in Philadelphia is the largest fully functional organ, with 28,750 pipes.