Soubasse
New member
I would like to hear if anyone has any informed, professional, sensible suggestions/opinions as to when and, more importantly, why it would be necessary to use every single 8' rank (excluding reeds) on every manual of the organ, with all manuals coupled, for accompanying congregational hymns.
Our cathedral director of music has issued an edict (no doubt in response to my carefully reasoned arguement as to why I and thousands of other church organists find 8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,4,2 registrations somewhat inept for accompanying) insisting that we must use all 8ft ranks (INCLUDING Celestes!) so that the males of the congregation can hear it "in their range." Yes, I'm possibly overreacting but I've been doing this for over 20 years and it grates on me being told to do things in a completely opposite way and furthermore, in a manner that experience and history demonstrates simply does not work.
Discussions please (for those who can be bothered )
Our cathedral director of music has issued an edict (no doubt in response to my carefully reasoned arguement as to why I and thousands of other church organists find 8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,8,4,2 registrations somewhat inept for accompanying) insisting that we must use all 8ft ranks (INCLUDING Celestes!) so that the males of the congregation can hear it "in their range." Yes, I'm possibly overreacting but I've been doing this for over 20 years and it grates on me being told to do things in a completely opposite way and furthermore, in a manner that experience and history demonstrates simply does not work.
Discussions please (for those who can be bothered )