For a classical organist, it doesn’t get much better than playing Philadelphia’s Wanamaker organ. The six-manual, 29,000 pipe instrument is arguably the grandest and most storied instrument of its kind.

That said, Peter Richard Conte probably considers himself pretty lucky to be playing it two times a day, six days a week.

“Is it reaching the top? I’ll let you be the judge of that,” Conte said. “But it’s the largest functioning organ in the world, and it’s a damn good gig.”

Conte is the Wanamaker’s Grand Court Organist, its fourth since construction in 1904. He takes a break from the Wanamaker this weekend to play a 7:30 p.m.  Sunday concert at First-Plymouth Church, 2000 D St., sponsored by Abendmusik: Lincoln and the Lincoln Organ Showcase.

Conte learned to play as a child in New York City. He started on piano at age 6.

“Then I moved to the organ once my feet could reach the pedal board,” he said.

Since then he’s become one of the most celebrated organists in the world, noted for his transcriptions of classic pieces, from Bach, Wagner and Brahms, to opera scores and waltzes.

“I base my transcription choices on the history of a lot of transcriptions, which is to bring the popular music of the day to audiences,” he said. “I try for an audience-friendly repertoire. It’s got to have someone whistling at the end of the concert.”

Conte said he often spends “weeks and weeks and weeks” on a piece, transcribing, tweaking and adjusting to his liking.

Some pieces, such as the Brahms arrangements he’ll play this weekend, are fairly easy to transcribe. Others that sometimes involve hundreds of instruments, can force Conte to make tough decisions about what to include in his performances.

“Once I’ve found something that catches my ear, I listen to recordings of different composers and then I get to decide how much of that I can realize in two hands and two feet, and sometimes I have to make compromises,” he said. “Hopefully, the end result is satisfying.”

Unlike a violinist, guitarist or even pianist, Conte can’t move his instruments around, and isn’t even guaranteed the same instrument every time, because different organs have different configurations.

“They’re all unique,” he said. “You have to cater your program to the particular organ you’re playing on. Generally, I like to get to spend at least six or seven hours on an instrument (before performing).”

But he’s already familiar with the organ at First-Plymouth, and his glowing comments of it bode well for his performance Sunday night.

“Some organs are incredibly friendly to play on, but the one in Lincoln is just a dream, and I’m looking forward to that,” he said.

Reach Joel Gehringer at 473-7254 or jgehringer@journalstar.com.