Pipe Organ Database

Online update from Ray Cornils -- Built in 1912 as a gift to the City of Portland by Portland native Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis in memory of Hermann Kotzschmar. A new console was installed in 1918 and another one in 1927, when substantial additions were made to the instrument (added Antiphonal division, enlarged Orchestral division, significantly enlarged Swell division, and added many percussion instruments. In 1967 the organ was moved back 15 feet by Austin Organs when the auditorium was renovated. In 1981 the Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ became the official custodians of the instrument, acting as an agent of the city and began a massive campaign to restore the organ (done largely by David Wallace with consultation with Austin Organ Company. At that time the organ was in poor playing condition. In 1995 it was removed for storage during auditorium renovations. It was reinstalled by David Wallace in 1996-97 into a chamber which was moved an additional 15 feet back, but had the 1912 dimensions and specification of 1927. New console (2001) and Mixture (2003) by Austin Organ Co.

Kotzschmar organ. Enlarged by Austin 1926, 4-; moved back 15 feet by Austin 1967. 6,518 pipes in 3 divisions. Removed 1995 for storage during auditorium renovations. Restored by David E. Wallace in 1997.