Friends of the Wanamaker Organ

At last! The complete story of the colossal pipe organ and the fabled Philadelphia retail palace that has been its showcase for 90 years. The Reigning Monarch of All Instruments was built in California and exhibited at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair as the world’s largest pipe organ. In 1909, millionaire merchants John and Rodman Wanamaker made it the centerpiece of their magnificent new store. Dozens of store artisans enlarged the organ over 18 years to maintain it as the world’s largest—a virtual symphony orchestra in pipes. Wanamaker’s showcased its unparalleled cultural achievement in brilliant after-hours concerts featuring Leopold Stokowski, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the world’s foremost musicians.

Ray Biswanger’s riveting presentation, which unfolds like a great novel, includes intriguing store lore, the fascinating history of the 17-ton Wanamaker Founder’s Bell, and never-before-published insights into the private lives of the Wanamaker family and the famous artists whose lives were intertwined with this world-acclaimed historic treasure.

Written for the general public and organ enthusiast alike, this sumptuous, highly readable book is published in a hardbound coffeetable format with 18 chapters, 5 appendices, complete specifications, the current console layout, and comprehensive endnotes. Informative and intriguing, the 302-page work features more than 270 illustrations, many of them full-page prints. Includes entire chapters on the St. Louis World’s Fair and the Wanamaker Founder’s Bell, much never-before-published material from newly unsealed archives of the Wanamaker Store, the Henry Willis organ factory, and other fascinating sources that reveal the complete, personal story behind the creation of one of the great artistic achievements of man.

Shipped by Priority Mail

“This is a book one will proudly display and surely enjoy reading again and again."

Music in the Marketplace is as much of a treasure as the organ it describes.

Rick Lombardo, PGN newspaper

Music in the Marketplace is fantastic! As a longtime enthusiast of the Wanamaker Organ I feel that I knew many facts about the organ. However the beautifully written book reveals so many details about the instrument that I did not know. It is also fascinating reading about the ‘human story’ of the Wanamaker Organ, the people whose passions (and egos) were responsible for creating this masterpiece. The highly detailed footnotes are also a joy to read and gives one an insight into the vast amount of research done in the writing of this book. Music in the Marketplace is an absolute must for any lover of the Wanamaker Organ!

Evan Jones,
Southbury, Connecticut

Ray Biswanger’s incredible book is a treasure for Wanamaker Organ addicts like me. Thank you, Ray, and thanks to the Friends for making this book possible. I have two copies. One for me and one which I share with family and friends!

Dan Stokes,
Louisville, Kentucky

Once and a while you have a friend or associate who accomplishes something first-rate that gets you so excited you simply want to share news of it with others.

A friend of mine and the organ world, Ray Biswanger, has just published a book that—for those of us who support the organ world in our work, concert attendance or philanthropic efforts—is a must-have gem.

Ray founded the “Friends of the Wanamaker Organ,” which is one of the country’s most successful support organizations focused on the preservation and advancement of a single musical instrument: the historic organ in the Grand Court of the original John Wanamaker Store (now Lord & Taylor) in Philadelphia.

It is the story of the world renowned Wanamaker Organ (one of the largest in the world) as well as one of America’s great philanthropic and business families, the Wanamakers, and the famous artists that have been connected with the instrument over its 90 years of history!

Ray self-published the book with the Friends as a non-profit endeavor. The quality of its design, photos, writing and research is just first-rate. For those of you looking to enhance your musical library with something substantial, check it out.

Art Stewart
Boston, Massachusetts

Thanks for permitting my indulgence. AGO received a review copy of Ray Biswanger's book about the Wanamaker Organ. I took a quick look at it and was instantly impressed by its quality and scope. Ray has done an outstanding job and has produced a really impressive, well documented, handsomely illustrated scholarly book suitable for any organist’s library or coffee table. Nice going, Ray!

James E. Thomashower
Executive Director
American Guild of Organists

I picked up Music in the Marketplace at the Tom Hazleton concert and read it until four o’clock in the morning the following day. There was much reminiscing, as I sang with the Bartram High School A Cappella Choir under Angeline Christalde in the early 1950s. I recall the fantastic performance of Virgil Fox, and so much more.

The book brings so much to life and is so beautifully written it will be a reference in our home for years to come. As is noted on the dust cover, the book “unfolds like a great novel.”

Tom Louderback
Spring eld, Pennsylvania

Music in the Marketplace is a gold mine of interesting information—my problem is that I can’t put it down!

Enos Shupp
Glenside, Pennsylvania

Music in the Marketplace is a pleasure to own. I am having a fine time showing it off and reading it.

Richard S. Heisler
New Britain, Pennsylvania

Music in the Marketplace is a splendid work! Unquestionably a superb job of telling the unique and fascinating story of the Wanamakers and their great pipe organ!

Howard A. Jewell
Taunton, Massachusetts

Please add my name to the many accolades I’m sure Friends has received for Music in the Marketplace. Thank you for a most wonderful book.

Paul Grammer
Ewing, New Jersey

Congratulations on the Wanamaker Organ book. I’ve bought three—two for gifts.

Robert Plimpton
Municipal Organist
The Spreckels Pavilion
San Diego, California

Wow! The book Music in the Marketplace is marvelous and truly fascinating! I love it! Thank you so much for writing and publishing it. It’s a real treasure! I keep my copy on the sofa to read and look through again and again. It is truly magnificent.

Graham W. Smith
Sarasota, Florida

Edition Deluxe autographed leatherbound limited-printing version of Music in the Marketplace, available for a donation of $170, fully $100 of which is tax deductible.