Death of the Church Organist
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Fri, November 05, 2004
- Viewed 131
- (27) comments so far
I guess I'm wondering, as a whole, what other churches are doing. Is there a shortage of churches who use the organ; or a shortage of organists?
What is your church doing? Do you use an organ in your main services? If not, did you use an organ 5 or 10 years ago? Perhaps you're an organist... how has the switch to contemporary worship affected you?
I'd love to hear what's happening in your situation!
Have a great weekend!
Todd
I ran across an article in The Berkshire Eagle last week that I found quite interesting. It really said the opposite of what I thought would be the case. According to the article, there is actually a shortage of organists to play in churches in Massachusetts. I know that New England is very traditional in their worship in many churches, but I guess I still thought that the situation would be reversed… that there would be too many organists for the available number of churches that are still using organs.
-----
Comments
if you want a Globally Recognized Avatar (the images next to your profile) get them here. Once you sign up, they will displayed on any website that supports them.
Marshall Jones on Tue, November 16, 2004
I have to agree with the person that posted saying that excellence in music whether it be contemporary or not. I am the music director in a church that averages a little over 200 each Sunday. We have an organist who has been here almost 50 years now and I have been taking organ from him and I love it! So I am one of the few young musician out there that are learning to play this great instrument. I am 26 for those that are wondering. As the Director of Music, I am directing an adult choir, oversee three volunteers who direct the children’s choir, direct 3 handbell choirs, and a handchime choir, lead a praise team for our contemporary service, plus teach music to the children in the preschool 2 days of the week. I teach about 80 children a week in the preschool to begin with. Several that I have taught there have become part of either the chime choir or the children’s choir now. In the music ministry there are 26 adults involved, and 34 children (only 18 two years ago when I started). The point is that these children learning what is excellence in music. They know I expect a lot of them and they rise to it. Too many people try to water things down too much for children. Because they are producing excellent music and they know it, these children are continuing to learn more and more. I have one ringer in my youth handbell choir that will turn 14 on Friday. She is playing a handbell solo this Sunday and not only is she playing it well technically, but very musically as well. If we encourage children without lowering our expectations we will have another generation of excellent musicians.
carolyn on Tue, November 23, 2004
My mother has a spinet organ she is willing to donate to a church or organization. It is a Hammond M3 from the early 1960s. Do you have a means of communicating this to groups that may be interested? The organ is located in S.E. Washington state.
Bradford Lofton on Thu, December 16, 2004
I agree with everything thats been revealed in your comments. I find it quite Pathectic that we have to serve at two or three churches to make ends meet. By the way I’m one of those professionals that plays at more than one church, and very under paid for my expertise. If by chance there’s any serious and lucrative offers for a deticated organist director, choir master, minister of music, keyboardist or whatever terminology or title you would prefer to use, please contact me @ [removed]
//<![CDATA[
var l=new Array();
l[0]=’>’;l[1]=‘a’;l[2]=’/’;l[3]=’<’;l[4]=’ 109’;l[5]=’ 111’;l[6]=’ 99’;l[7]=’ 46’;l[8]=’ 108’;l[9]=’ 111’;l[10]=’ 97’;l[11]=’ 64’;l[12]=’ 56’;l[13]=’ 98’;l[14]=’ 111’;l[15]=’ 114’;l[16]=’ 116’;l[17]=’ 115’;l[18]=’ 101’;l[19]=’ 97’;l[20]=’ 109’;l[21]=’>’;l[22]=’”’;l[23]=’ 109’;l[24]=’ 111’;l[25]=’ 99’;l[26]=’ 46’;l[27]=’ 108’;l[28]=’ 111’;l[29]=’ 97’;l[30]=’ 64’;l[31]=’ 56’;l[32]=’ 98’;l[33]=’ 111’;l[34]=’ 114’;l[35]=’ 116’;l[36]=’ 115’;l[37]=’ 101’;l[38]=’ 97’;l[39]=’ 109’;l[40]=’:’;l[41]=‘o’;l[42]=‘t’;l[43]=‘l’;l[44]=‘i’;l[45]=‘a’;l[46]=‘m’;l[47]=’”’;l[48]=’=’;l[49]=‘f’;l[50]=‘e’;l[51]=‘r’;l[52]=‘h’;l[53]=‘a ‘;l[54]=’<’;
for (var i = l.length-1; i >= 0; i=i-1){
if (l.substring(0, 1) == ’ ‘) [removed](”&#”+unescape(l.substring(1))+”;”);
else [removed](unescape(l));
}
//]]>
[removed].
Al on Fri, December 17, 2004
Like everything in the church, including the building, the question one has to ask is this: is the “organ” a possession or a tool? If it is a possession it will be protected and become a “sacred cow.” If it is a “tool” then it will be used for the function it was intended to accomplish and if it becomes obsolete to the needs of the church it will be replaced by something of greater effectiveness. This goes as well for: buildings, platforms, pews, pianos, guitars, pulpits, and fellowship-halls. Now, the question remains; should this list also include: choirs, worship bands, and worship leaders?
Blessings,
Al
Ken on Sat, February 26, 2005
I attend a non-denom church in rural NE Indiana. We have two services, both of which are primarily traditional, but the associate pastor does try to include some contemporary music periodically. We are blessed to have a small number of pianists and two organists. One organist, though he can play and loves to, can only play at a relatively basic level. The other is very good. Our problem is both are getting older and the question of what will happen after they go Home has no answer. We cannot pay someone to play and those who do are people who call the church home, not a ministry job. There seems to be a shortage, because if one wants someone who can play well, you’d basically have to add them to the salary.
What concerns me is the lack of good musicianship in churches. I have been involved in a number of churches and have noticed that musicianship is lacking. Sure there are people who can play piano or guitar or even organ, but few can play well. One church I know of doesn’t have even a good pianist. Poor music can distract from the corporate worship experience, but what are they to do? It is a tough problem with few answers.
Bobby on Sat, March 12, 2005
I must admit as a classically trained vocalist who has had his fights with church leadership this is a problem.
Our leader dumped BOTH our pianist and organist in favour of having tapes for the choir, and that led to a few members leaving in angst. I love the organ and have the utmost respect for it—one listen to the organ and you can almost feel as if this was the perfect music for meditations on the Word of God.
chris bishop on Tue, April 26, 2005
As the son of an organist, I have heard a lot of organ playing in my life. We have a 50-year-old organist at our small church in southern New Jersey. Her predecessor had the job for at least 50 years and was playing until she was very old. It was difficult to find a replacement organist. Indeed, quality organists seem to be difficult to find from what i can tell. Maybe more churches should rely on other types of instruments. There is nothing that says you can’t use recorded music as a background to your singing or throw in some piano playing or guitar playing or whatever. Maybe the church has to change in in changing times.
Chris
Brandy on Sat, September 17, 2005
The church for centuries has promted and been benefactor to the arts. Have you ever thought about the education that your minister has as compared to your church musician? Most professional church oranists have studied their art since they were children, that is not true of most “professional” ministers. It is up to the congregations to decide what the value of professional musicians are worth to them. If your church can afford to pay a minister a salary, it can afford to pay it’s musician.
How are America’s children to become connisseurs of the arts when they listen to garbage coming out of our houses of worship? This feel-good-charismatic theology in Christendumb (not misspelled)is just a passing fad. Let’s stick to the basics.
Sandy on Tue, February 07, 2006
I agree with so much of what has already been posted. I live in upstate NY and play at a traditional Presbyterian church with a lovely pipe organ. Nearby there is a pipe organ building company which is still in demand to create new church organs or rebuild old ones. There definately is a shortage of church musicians and organists in particular in this area and most churches still do traditional services.
C. M. Warren (Head Organsit/Music Director/Chior D on Thu, March 16, 2006
I understand what everyone is saying, the shortage of organists, pianists, trumpeters, floutists. Sad really. NO NOT REALY! The only thing that is sad about it is that the only way you people, musicians or non-musicians, do anything about it is to complain. Do something about it , get your children off there lazy butts and have them play an instrument, start them on the piano, then move to other intruments. But don’t let them stop push them tell them “that you will thank me later for it”. Trust me I know my brother and sisters complain to my parents for not pushing them, but I keeped it up. I love it, it is the best thing that has ever happend to me. I now play for 1st service Organ (traditional), and 2nd service Piano (contemperary). The sounds that can come from ones fingers is the most beautiful thing to anyone. Play the way you play, everyone has they’re own style don’t play like someone play like you learn from a teacher and play like you. That is music. Not the crap that out children listen to today. And yet we just chose to complain. STOP complaining and do something , Piano, Organ, Pipe organ, Theatre organ, Keyboard, Trumpet, Flute, Trombone, Clarinet, French Horn, just to name a few of what I can play. Now go and play, Play for the one thing that matters most…........ !
Peter Hamm on Fri, March 17, 2006
C.M.,
Although I favor contemporary music, you couldn’t be more right about the tremendous benefits to kids having a REAL musical education. Besides the obvious, it helps them with abstract thinking, mathematics, and countless other things. Music is good for you. Kids who learn piano and stick with it, or any other music that actually requires learning theory, get better grades in other subjects in school, too. Thanks, I appreciate your comment!
Carrie Doyle on Mon, June 02, 2008
Hello,
My name is Carrie Doyle and I am an organist in a small town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
I’ve been looking for work perhaps playing at funerals or services other than Sunday at 10:00, and there is little to no information to be found online in our area.
If you find such an opening, would you let me know? I hear constantly of a need for organists/pianists, but the openings are rather hidden.
Thank you. -Carrie
Page 2 of 2 pages < 1 2
Post a Comment