On an island known for its richness in cultural and architectural heritage, music also plays an enriching role for its residents and visitors.

George Town’s Streets of Harmony (straddling Lebuh Farquhar and Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling), has been home to magnificent and heritage-rich houses of worship for centuries.

A brisk or relaxing stroll beginning from the Church of the Assumption (whose grounds also houses a Roman Catholic museum), onto St George’s Church, Goddess of Mercy Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple and ending at the Kapitan Keling Mosque, tells a tale of how multi religions can co-exist in harmony.

Penang island has also the distinction of being home to two majestic pipe organs found in two heritage churches on the same street in the Unesco heritage core zone!

Southeast Asia’s oldest Anglican church – St George’s Church in Penang – in 2017, received a bicentennial blessing in the form of a 1,050-pipe Mander organ.

It then joined the ranks of its “neighbour” – the Church of the Assumption in hosting its very own pipe organ.

Erected in 1914 and assembled in Penang by 1916, the Assumption Church’s pipe organ was restored in 2013, and carries the pride of being Malaysia’s oldest pipe organ.

As the annual George Town Festival returns to the island next month, a special music treat awaits pipe organ buffs.

Timeless classics by sons of Penang like Tan Sri P.Ramlee, Jimmy Boyle, Edwin Rajamoney and Tan Sri Ahmad Merican are among the tunes that will fill the air, as both heritage churches host lunchtime organ recitals on July 20 and July 27 respectively.

“I am excited to feature the organists of both churches at this innaugral event featuring the two lovely pipe organs in Penang,” says Leonard Selva Gurunathan, who is the resident pipe organist at the Church of the Assumption.

Gurunathan will also be playing some of his original pieces (inspired during the pandemic when he used to chase sunrises).

Young and upcoming Malaysian pipe organists like Matthew Arwinraj Jaya Paul are among the performers who will be infusing a new twist to P.Ramlee songs like “Hujan di Tengah Hari.”

He is also set to share a heartfelt piece “Lay Thine Hands” composed by his late grandfather, Edwin Rajamoney.

Here’s a sneak peek of what to expect during the concerts, kindly presented by Leonard and Matthew …

FREE TICKETS https://www.cloudjoi.com/shows/free-lunchtime-organ-recital