Back in January of 2009, Portland musician Ethan Rose hosted a special concert at the Oaks Park Roller Rink. It showcased his new work, OAKS, which he composed and performed on the vintage organ at Oaks Park, coaxing delicate and ethereal sounds out of the instrument that were miles away from the typical roller-rink fanfare. It really showed what a remarkable instrument that old pipe organ is. Rose also recorded an album of that material (also called OAKS, out on Holocene Music) and a short documentary of the project was filmed. Directed by Charles Wittenmeier (28 Days in May) and produced by David Cress and Bernadette Spear, the film is finally finished—watch it here.

I remember that Ethan Rose “concert” at the Oaks Park Roller Rink as one of the most unusual and memorable musical experiences I’ve had in Portland, which has offered no shortage of memorable musical experiences. Dozens of Portland twentysomethings, all at differing skate-skill levels, skated round and round the rink to this glowing, near-ambient, quietly gorgeous music. Rose’s OAKS project was something pretty special, so it’s great to have this visual document—which looks as stunning as the music sounds—to accompany it. Check it out.

Video courtesy of Holocene Music.

End Hits: We are also very big fans of “Sk8er Boi.”

Ned Lannamann is a writer and editor in Portland, Oregon. He writes about film, music, TV, books, travel, tech, food, drink, outdoors, and other things.

4 replies on “Watch the Documentary of Ethan Rose’s <i>OAKS</i>”

  3. PICA also has the entire Oaks Park Roller Rink performance on DVD in our Resource Room – stop by and watch!

  4. PICA also has the entire Oaks Park Roller Rink performance on DVD in our Resource Room – stop by and watch!

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