Summer Side Trips: Abbey Bach Festival

One of my favorite summer activities is to attend the Bach Festival at Mt. Angel Abbey, just south of Portland, Oregon.   Mt. Angel Abbey was founded in 1882 by Benedictine monks from Engelberg, Switzerland. The monastery is located on a butte overlooking neighboring flower and vegetable  farms. The beautiful Abbey Church has magnificent bell tower housing eight bells.  Inside the Abbey Church are not one, but two tracker action baroque style pipe organs.  

For the past 42 years the monks have been hosting an annual three night Bach Festival.  Each evening begins at 4:30 with a vesper service in the Abbey Church with the monks singing traditional Gregorian Chant. This is followed by a half hour organ recital or choral concert. 

Following the recital, everyone files out to the courtyard where the monks are waiting to hand out picnic baskets.  Concert goers are asked to form themselves in groups of four. Each basket contained German sausage on a bun, cheese, potato salad, fruit and cookies along with a bottle of wine.  Regular attenders often bring their own portable tables, table cloths, and wine glasses to make it a more festive occasion. 

Following a leisurely picnic dinner, guests are invited into the auditorium at 8:00 for a concert of chamber music.   Both the musical program and menu are different for each of the three evenings.   We met a number of regulars who attend all three evenings. 

The festival is always held during the last week of July. The weather in Oregon is always warm and dry at this time of year.  At a price of $55 per person for the whole evening including dinner, it is a wonderful musical experience which lingers with festival for the rest of the summer.  It is a fine example of Benedictine hospitality at its best.  

For those who arrive early there are self guided tours and a wonderful bookstore and coffee shop to visit.  Visitors will also see a number of icons throughout the monastery buildings painted by the resident iconographer Br. Claude Lane.