WHEN the International Bamboo Organ Festival celebrated 40 years in 2015, the organizers expressed concerns about the financial viability of continuing it.

For, indeed, if even local artists couldn’t compete with international acts coming to the country to stage sold-out concerts, how could the Bamboo Organ Festival—a celebration of sacred music—stand a chance?

This year, the instrument whose bamboo pipes were first cut by Augustinian Recollect friar Fr. Diego Cera in 1816, turns two centuries old. And while the festival gets to enjoy another year, the probability of it ending is not lost on executive director and founder Leo Renier.

“If we have no care for history, nothing will be left,” said a clearly emotional Renier during the press con held at Manila Hotel. “The organ will just be a cabinet. You just look at it. It was not created to be looked at but to be heard. It creates beautiful music.”

The annual one-week festival will open on Feb. 18 at St. Joseph Parish in Las Piñas. The organ’s music shares the spotlight with music from renowned local and international artists.

The by-invitation-only gala concert will feature a blending of music of the bamboo organ; the pan flute featuring Switzerland’s Michel Tirabosco; the piccolo featuring Austria’s Raphael Leone; and the violin featuring Gina Medina Perez—in different settings, including two concertos by Vivaldi, the Magnifica by Durante; the motet “Jesu Meine Freude” by J.S. Bach; and the Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramirez.

Resident conductor Eudenice Palaruan will premiere a special composition, “Canas”, a term for “reed or bamboo,” and one that Fr. Cera went by.

Concert organist professor Armando Salarza will also present the winning piece of the 1st Bamboo Organ Composition Contest, which saw entries from Filipino music students.

Other musical performers include Christian Dino, Maria Sherla Najera, Pauline Therese DV Arejola, Kyle Tingzon, Jeandro Rabang, Mark Westvent Abesia; Villancico Vocal Ensemble; and MSO Chamber Orchestra.

As in previous years, there will be a “Concert under the Trees,” on Feb. 20. The open-air concert will feature relatively “less serious” music to be performed by the UP Jazz Ensemble, Tirabosco, France’s Jean-Marie Reboul, Bossa Nova artist Sitti and Daryl Ong (The Voice of the Philippines, ASAP 20 artist, Awit Awards 2015 Best R&B Recording).

Tirabosco’s pan flute will blend once more with the bamboo pipes in a unique recital on Feb. 21. Reboul will accompany him in a night supported by the Swiss Cultural Fund.

Hong Kong-born Australian organist Jennifer Chou will have a recital on Feb. 22.

On Feb. 23, the liturgical children’s choir Mirabilia of Betis, Pampanga, under the direction of Msgr. Greg Canlas, will perform together with the Las Piñas Boys Choir under Salarza.

Tickets for all concerts are at P600, P400 and P200. Students with IDs can get tickets at P100 at the gate only. The gala night on Feb. 18 is reserved for corporate sponsors, sustaining members, donors and institutional members of the Bamboo Organ Foundation, Inc.

Call 8257190 and 820795; SM Tickets at 470-2222, Ticketnet at 9115555, Ticketworld at 8919999.