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.

Program Broadcast dates:

• Week of September 9, 2019

Links and Resources:

• Printable program listings

Music played in the program

Hour 1

LEO SOWERBY:  Pageant of Autumn.  ENGLEBERT HUMPERDINCK (trans. Lemare):  Hansel & Gretel Prelude.  EDWIN H. LEMARE:  Rondo Capriccio, Op. 64.  ANTONIN DVORAK (trans. Stafford):  Allegro con brio (i.), fr Symphony No. 8, Op. 88 –Joshua Stafford, organist (r. 9/29/18)

Filler – HUMPERDINCK (see above)

Hour 2

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

CESAR FRANCK:  Choral No. 1 in E.  ALBERT KETELBY (trans. Ware):  In a Monastery Garden.  HUBERT PARRY (trans. Alcock):  Bridal March, fr The Birds of Aristophanes.  GIACOMO PUCCINI (trans. Ellis):  Nessun Dorma, fr Turandot.  FRITZ KREISLER (trans. Stairs):  Variations on a Theme of Corelli.  ARTHUR SULLIVAN (trans. Barret):  The Lost Chord.  ENNIO MORRICONE:  Gabriel’s Oboe, fr The Mission –Andrew 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.).

Continuing 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.