On Sunday, November 5th, Saints Peter & Paul Episcopal Church will host an organ and piano concert. The free performance at 247 SE 82nd Avenue is the last concert featuring the congregation’s 1959-era organ. The church closes permanently on December 31st to make way for affordable housing. The 4 p.m. musical event will feature Daniel Resch on the organ and Michael Denison playing piano.
Wicks Organ Company of Highland, IL, built the parish’s air-driven instrument and shipped it to Portland. A year later, in 1960, craftspeople installed the musical equipment within the newly constructed sanctuary. The church will sell the organ after it closes at the end of the year. The acoustics in the church’s sanctuary enhance the natural sounds produced by the instrument, making this one of the last times people can hear it as it initially sounded. Wherever it finds a new home, the sound will differ slightly based on the surrounding room. After the concert, church staff will allow interested people to tour the organ chamber for a behind-the-scenes look at the massive pipes and other equipment.
The Saints Peter & Paul community invites all Montavilla neighbors and anyone who enjoys the works of Grieg, Rachmaninoff, and other classical composers to this afternoon performance. This is one of the final times the community can enjoy the church building and its intentionally designed acoustics. Residents who miss this event can attend the final celebration in the sanctuary at 5 p.m. on December 3rd.
