• Welcome to the Pipe Organ Forum! This is a part of the open community Magle International Music Forums focused on pipe organs (also known as "church organs"), organists, organ music and related topics.

    This forum is intended to be a friendly place where technically advanced organists and beginners (or even non-organists) can feel comfortable having discussions and asking questions. We learn by reading and asking questions, and it is hoped that the beginners (or non-organists) will feel free to ask even the simplest questions, and that the more advanced organists will patiently answer these questions. On the other hand, we encourage complex, technical discussions of technique, music, organ-building, etc. The opinions and observations of a diverse group of people from around the world should prove to be interesting and stimulating to all of us.

    As pipe organ discussions can sometimes become lively, it should be pointed out that this is an open forum. Statements made here are the opinion of the poster, and not necessarily that of the forum itself, its administrator, or its moderators.

    In order to post a new topic - or reply to existing ones - you may join and become a member by clicking on Register New User. It's completely free and only requires a working email address (in order to confirm your registration - it will never be given away!). We strive to make this a friendly and informative forum for anyone interested in pipe organs and organ music.

    (Note: If you wish to link to and promote your own website please read this thread first.)

    Many kind regards
    smile.gif

    Frederik Magle
    Administrator

    Krummhorn
    Co-Administrator

What voluntaries will you play this Sunday?

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
A goodly list indeed! Wondering if many others plan as far ahead as you do KMB. Not sure I could be so disciplined, but then, like Bill, I deputise only rarely, so don't have a weekly commitment.

I have a salaried position, so I am on the bench every weekend. I try to stay about a month ahead with my music selections. I use the Lectionary for a given Sunday and try to base my selections as close to that as possible. I never know the topic for the Homily/Sermon until Sunday morning, so it's partly a gamble for me at times.

I usually present at least a 10 minute prelude. Could be one piece or several. I have done multiple composers for Ein Feste Berg as one prelude for example.
The offertory is usually a choir anthem, so my next solo opportunity is during communion and later the postlude. I have parishioners who actually stick around and listen to the entire postlude.

Kh ♫
 

KMB

New member
KH--

I can get a 5 minute prelude in (10 would be fun!). The talking during the prelude continues to diminish. I can't run much longer due to the morning choir rehearsal - and this congregation needs to socialize a bit. I, too, am fortunate that more are engaged during the prelude and remain during the postlude. The Lectionary is vital - indeed, one doesn't know about a homily/sermon topic until mid-week, at best.

--KMB
 

Padster

New member
Thought I would post my musical choices for the Feast of the Assumption (15th Aug)

Before:
Improvisation: 'Salve Regina Caeli' (own comp on 2 plainsong themes)
Priere a Notre-Dame (Boellmann)

During:
Something from L'Organiste

After:
Festal Flourish (Jacob)

Best wishes,
Padster
 

Padster

New member
Here is my selection of music for September:

7/9: (23rd in O/T)
Before:
Allegretto and Air (own comp.)
During:
Nos. 44 & 46 from Liturgical Interludes (Murray)
After:
Toccata in b (Gigout)

14/9 (Exaltation of the Holy Cross)
Before:
Fugue in b BWV 579 (JS Bach)
During:
Nos. 59 & 60 from Liturgical Interludes (Murray)
After:
Solemn Melody (Walford-Davies)

21/9 (25th in O/T)
Before:
Prelude in C, Melody (Hollins)
During:
Sept Pieces in C/c nos. 1,2 & 3 from L'organiste (Franck)
After:
Sortie in Eb (Lefebure-Wely)

28/9 (Thanksgiving for Harvest)
Before:
Le Coucou (Daquin)
Pastorale (Franck)
During:
Sept Pieces in Eb/eb nos. 1,2 & 3 from L'organiste (Franck)
After:
Toccata on 'Lobet den Herren' (Micheelsen)

Best wishes,
Padster
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Wow, Padster ... I'm duly impressed with that list, and that you are that prepared ahead of time. Congratulations on that :clap:!

I barely get titles in for the coming Sunday before the bulletin deadline ... Maybe because I'm in a bit of a slump for Preludes lately - the "din" during the prelude time is most annoying as I can't play anything soft and meditative; everything must be at least mezzo-forte or more to be barely heard.

It's a problem we addressed before ... the people don't even get quiet when the Pastor enters with the acolyte ... the subject will again surface at our next Worship/Music Committee meeting (of which I am the chair) - other members have mentioned this to me as well, so it's not just an 'organist complaint' anymore.
 

Padster

New member
Thanks for your support.

I have done a bit of soul-searching over the past week concerning solo organ music in church. The evening mass is always quiet and reflective, but sadly I think its days are numbered because the Archdiocese won't provide cover for our priest when he is away. The morning mass is full of chatter in the organ loft, which I don't mind, but choir members seek to involve me and seem to think I am there just to accompany them. Both situations left me downhearted. I had decided to follow the crowd, do what most Catholic church organists do and just play the hymns, or at least ramble through a selection of them as preludes, like most do. I reasoned that if I did this, I could dispense with practice completely. After all, playing hymns is a doddle compared to the music most of the organists on this forum play. But then I realised how much I love my music, especially organ music and have decided to fight against the general malaise which has contributed to the organ's image as a 'funeral instrument' amongst the public, thanks in part to those same meandering chord-bashers. I don't care if they don't listen. I'll play for my own enjoyment, and for those of other realms who are always listening and perhaps have a greater appreciation of art than the average human.

I published this list in advance to give people ideas. Occasionally I will try to catch the ears of the public with a familiar or unusual piece. I selected Le Coucou for Harvest because of the associations with nature. I play it on a single '8 flute which really brings the piece to life, and lifts the organ above the ordinary. I am also using it this month to wind up our priest because we have got pigeons roosting in the roof space!

Best wishes,
Padster
 

Padster

New member
Following that weird outbreak of enthusiasm I am back down to earth again. I have tried to be positive, but fighting against the 'laissez-faire' attitude towards church music is impossible. I am getting too worked up over things and I realise that others aren't. It doesn't seem to be a big deal if you don't practice in our parish. Just turn up on Sunday and play. And anyway, good luck with trying to get into church to practice on the organ. The place is locked up and the organist doesn't figure at all on the key-holder's list. After TWENTY years!! DESPITE repeated requests. But then, to be fair, none of the musician's have a key. The flower arrangers and cleaners do, but I guess we're just not that important. I've got a wedding tomorrow. After that I'm chucking it in.

Best wishes,
Padster
 

KMB

New member
Padster, it would seem time to look for another gig. The best time to look for a job is when you already have one.

My September list, FWIW:

9/7
Widor - III. Andante Cantabile, Organ Symphony no. 4 in f minor, op.13 no. 4
Reger - Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren (Praise to the Lord, the Almighty), op. 135a, no. 15
Bach, J.S. - Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter (Come thou, Jesus, from heaven to earth), BWV 650

9/14
Vierne - Légende (24 Pieces in Free Style), op. 31, no. 13
Nowak - Pange Lingua (excerpt)
Nordman - Short Festal Postlude

9/21
Albinoni, arr. Giazotto - Adagio in g minor
Bach, J.C. - Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (From deep affliction I cry out to you)
Gabrieli, G. - Fantasia on the VIth Tone

9/28
Rowley - Chorale Prelude on "St. Peter"
Walther - Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan (What God does is well done), v. 1
Bach, J.S. - Lob sei dem allmacht’gen Gott (Praise be to God Almighty), BWV 704

--KMB
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Padster

New member
Nice list.

I took your advice. I quit. I have decided to make a clean break from church music and won't be looking elsewhere.

Best wishes,
Padster
 

KMB

New member
Padster-- You need to do what is right for you. Your talents are valuable - find the right place when it is the right time. --KMB
 

JONESEY

New member
Sorry it came to that Padster - never good to be that unappreciated.
You'll find the right position at the right time. In the meantime, just play for your own enjoyment. Sometimes it's just the best way.
I took a good few years out before I started playing in Church again after a fall out with the then Vicar. Worked for me.
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Padster,

I fully respect your decision, based on the very odd conditions you have experienced, and do hope that this doesn't leave a sour taste about being a church musician.

We've all faced certain oddities at some point or another* and have gotten through them and continued with our talents. Don't forget that you likely pleased a whole lot of parishioners with your weekly music presentations, and you can and should be proud of that.

*One pastor "ordered" me to transpose all hymns down a fifth so he could sing them. I refused. That initiated a meeting and I politely told him "you and I are professionals and highly educated in our respective fields ... tell you what, I don't tell you how to preach and you don't tell me how to play the organ!" Problem solved and we continued to work together as a team for the next 8 or so years until he retired.

Hopefully you can find some substitute gigs. Good subs are hard to find and with all the years of experience you have under your belt now, it would be sad to just simply hang up the organ shoes at this point.

I once took a two year hiatus away from a regular church position - did sub work and mostly played a round of golf on Sunday mornings instead. It was a refreshing break, but I sorely missed playing ... for me it's an emotional outlet sometimes; music calms the savage soul.

I wish you all the best in the future. And for goodness sake, keep practicing at least. There should be other churches where you could arrange practice times during the regular office hours. I have several people whom I have granted practice privileges at my church ... and overall better for the pipe organ anyway - the more it's played the better it stays in working order and tune.

Lars A.
 

Padster

New member
Thanks for your encouraging words but I have completely finished with church music and this unrewarding b*stard of an instrument. What on earth was I thinking of learning it? What has it all been for? The painful process of learning to pedal correctly; the co-ordination, learning to read 3 lines of music at once. All to be treated like dirt time and again. If I had my time to go over again I wouldn't touch the organ with a six-foot barge pole. And in any case, this dog of an instrument is all but dead.

I truly believe most parishioners wouldn't notice if I showed up and just played hymns without any practice.

You say music calms the soul. Well, in me it engenders the complete opposite: frustration, anger and despair. I am done with the lot of it.

Golf sounds like a much better idea.

Best wishes,
Padster
 
Last edited:

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Thanks for your encouraging words but I have completely finished with church music and this unrewarding b*stard of an instrument. What on earth was I thinking of learning it? What has it all been for? . . . And in any case, this dog of an instrument is all but dead.

Padster, I can certainly understand your frustrations and maybe it's time for a sabbatical from church music. I did that between church positions for about two years and did sub work occasionally, but mostly played rounds of golf on Sunday mornings.

I don't agree with the statement that the "instrument is all but dead", as many churches around the country and world continue to install fine pipe organs, as well as enhancing some of the older instruments by adding ranks and upgrading consoles.

I truly believe most parishioners wouldn't notice if I showed up and just played hymns without any practice . . . The painful process of learning to pedal correctly; the co-ordination, learning to read 3 lines of music at once. All to be treated like dirt time and again. If I had my time to go over again I wouldn't touch the organ with a six-foot barge pole.

But, there are those who do appreciate our craft and do listen to our prepared pieces. It's those people that make all the effort worth it for me, and I feel good about what I have played, even if few ever comment about it.

Apparently this latest situation has you very upset where you want to just chuck it all. You are not alone as I'm sure others have also had those same feelings at one time or another. Please don't let this one situation spoil your initial love of this great instrument. Yes, you were treated like dirt in this one church - but I think it is an isolated situation. Not all churches are like that ... please give it another chance ... after a hiatus possibly.

We've all had to endure what seemed like endless practice sessions learning pedal technique and reading organ scores. We did it because of our great interest in the king of instruments - we were all drawn to it because of all of the instruments sonorous sounds, and then having the ability to have all those resources at our fingertips brought much joy to our hearts and eventually to our listeners.

You say music calms the soul. Well, in me it engenders the complete opposite: frustration, anger and despair. I am done with the lot of it.

Right now, that's probably true. You are currently burned out on the whole situation. Take a break from it, but please don't scrap the whole idea of playing ever again.
The organist community still needs great people like yourself, and it's all of us, working together, that will keep up the interest in church music as a whole.

There are fewer and fewer young people stepping up to the challenge of being a church organist these days - there is nobody waiting in the wings to take my position whenever I retire from playing on a weekly basis, nobody at all, and that makes me worrisome. But thanks to organizations like the American Guild of Organists who continue to introduce young people to the organ through their Pipes and Pizza programs, we might, however slowly, begin to replenish the void of available organists in the future.

When I do retire from playing in church, it won't be a full retirement - I will continue to play like once a month perhaps - I just can't see myself quitting altogether, that is as long as the fingers and toes keep functioning. I've been in this career for 53+ years now - it's part of me, it's in my heart and soul, and the thrill of being able to lead people in joyful hymns is my reward.

I have never regretted making the decision I made when I was 13 years of age ... I just passed the 53 year mark in service playing (32 years in my present position) and still enjoying all of it. It's in my heart and soul.

I am hoping that you will, someday, return to the organ console. We all look forward to that day :).

Lars A.
 
Top