With Macy’s planned closure, the future of the historically important Wanamaker organ is uncertain
”It’s one of the most important four or five organs in the world,” said Ray Biswanger, executive director of the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, which oversees the instrument.
The planned departure of Macy’s in Center City throws into question the fate of the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, an enormous, historically significant instrument whose daily concerts are both a part of the daily shopping experience and a special draw in their own right.
”It’s one of the most important four or five organs in the world,” said Ray Biswanger, executive director of the Friends of the Wanamaker Organ, which oversees the instrument. “People make pilgrimages to it as with no other pipe organ because of its rich sound and incredible beauty.”
The instrument — an artifact of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair — is often called the largest fully functioning pipe organ in the world. It is physically woven into the store in the Wanamaker Building, with parts of it on the second, third, fourth, sixth, and seventh floors.
“It’s like an octopus,” says Biswanger.
The daily organ concerts will continue through mid-March, he said. But it’s unclear what will happen after that. Macy’s, which Biswanger said has “generously” supported the upkeep of the organ with various resources since taking over the retail space, has offered to connect him with the building’s owners to discuss the future of the instrument.
”The Friends of the Wanamaker Organ has nothing but praise for Macy’s and their long-term commitment and emotional investment in this cultural landmark,” Biswanger said.
The Wanamaker Building holds rare protections from the Philadelphia Historical Commission, with its Grand Court, including the iconic eagle statue and organ, one of only five interiors that are protected in Philadelphia. But that doesn’t mean the organ is guaranteed to stay there forever. It simply means changes or removal can’t happen without approval.
”It speaks to what Philadelphia is as a musical city to have that instrument here,” said Jeremy Rothman, chief programming officer of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts.
“I would always tell our guest artists when they come into town to go hear a recital of the instrument, and it was always a point of pride that we could talk about the Philadelphia Orchestra and arts and culture, but also that every noon you could walk into Macy’s and hear a recital,” Rothman said. “It’s so important to the cultural fabric of Philadelphia that we have this art for free every single day.”
Staff writer Nate File contributed to this article.