Organists' point of view

[methodistgirl]

I still can't believe what happened to me while practicing yesturday.
I guess you read about it in another forum about my foot slipping
and every stop popped out. I don't need to tell you how loud it was
and what a noise with one note! I had to quit what I was doing,
push in all of the stops and just pick out my favorite ones to keep on
with my practicing. I was playing a polka. I know everyone who was
anywhere near the organ was holding their ears.
judy tooley

[Krummhorn]

. . . I must say, I attended a Lutheran service in Brisbane that was very, very happy clappy, complete with PowerPoint "songs" instead of hymns and impromptu prayers. A nice service, but I do prefer the bells and smells approach, personally speaking.

I totally agree with what you have said. I grew up in an AELC church that later became part of the ALC Synod - always very strict about worship format and style, always very high church, as it had originated from the German Lutheran church.

Moving to Arizona, the church where I have been organist since 1982, was LCA before the merger into ELCA. We were very high church until the late 80's, then dabbled in some Contemporary (Folk?) services which failed miserably. That project was abandoned for nearly 10 years, and since 2004 we have tried "slapstick worship ", however without powerpoint on the wall (thank goodness). For the music, we use piano (me), electronic keyboard, drums, electric bass and a vocalist, along with the handheld percussion "things" like klave's, tambourine, and other "noise makers." The idea was to attract more young people to church services as we offered 2 services, one a very high liturgical service and the other this slapstick style. Attendance has soared (avg 192) at the high church one and has fallen to about 24 at the 'contemporary' worship.

So, we are re-evaluating the format for this contemporary service - due to necessary annual budget cuts (In the US, there is no "state church", so each congregation must stand on its own two feet financially and otherwise), we have lost the funding for the "praise band" so it will be keyboard with vocalist from now on. This church has about 450 members ... 20 years ago it had 1,750!

All said and done, my personal preference is high church with lots of liturgical chanting/responsorials ... and as long as this church has at least one of those type services, I'll stay onboard as their organist.

[NEB]

I hear where you're coming from there Krummhorn. I think that the happy clappy idea 'to attract young people' is often a bit of a desperate measure to try to revitalise a church and bring young people in. I think young people are much more descerning than that and whilst easily swept up by the latest rap star are fickle enough to drop them just as fast when they realise they're not necessarily that wonderful. My experience of younger people is that they actually appreciate strong structures they can relate too, things that don't change too much and they can rely on in some pretty turbulent years whilst growing up. I'm so glad you kept up the liturgical services and didn't let them fall by the wayside, and It's very interesting that it's the happy clappy that has been the casualty and not the traditional liturgy.

I always think it is interesting that the Catholic Church as led from Rome remains one of the most powerful and influential organisiations in the world with a vast international following. I'm Anglican, but very catholic within that and happily my current appointment is very high church.

As to size - no idea - I just see plenty of people, some I know now, many I don't...

[Contratrombone64]

NEB and Krum ... at Christ Church St. Laurence, we have a small but devoted younger set. The congregation is predominantly baby boomers and older ... and, I must away as I'm reading the lesson this morning ... or was that the intercessions? Oh well, I'll find out when I get there. I think the choir are signing a Palestrina setting of Missa Brevis ... will be pleasant. A nice time for me to focus on peace and connection with the universe.

p.s. poor old St. Laurence was cooked on a griddle iron as his matyrdom. He apparently said "Turn me over, I'm cooked on that side ..." apochrophal but often told by the clergy at the feast of St. Laurence. Hideous way to die.

[Krummhorn]

You hit the nail on the head, NEB, about young people preferring something structured to which they can relate ... Most of the young people in our church were born when all we offered was high church, and throughout all their growing years with parents taking them to church every week, that is what they learned to appreciate. The young people in our church actually prefer the high liturgical setting as anything else is quite foreign to them.

There are the 'mega churches' around here who attract thousands of kids every Sunday ... acid-rock Christian music, amplified in such a manner that it can be heard for several blocks away, flashing strobe lights, fancy lighting, powerpoint projections, in all a very theatrical production where they can be entertained. We don't offer that and have no plans on doing so.

I am indeed thankful that this church decided to purchase a pipe organ in 1979, 3 years before I became a staff member there. I have made sure it is well cared for over the years - the organ technician (from Quimby Pipe Organ Co) makes 2 visits each year for tuning & maintenance.

[NEB]

Acid-rock christian music - sounds more like a pop concert doesn't it?

[Krummhorn]

Yes it does, NEB. We are ushers at a local performance hall, and some of the music (aka noise) venues there are like those pop concerts - the amplification is cranked up to 170 decibels, your chest bones vibrate, the interior walls move ... and instant pounding headache. We have mega earplugs we wear to those concerts, but it's so loud even those don't help much.