The Organ Forum

what do you tell members of the congegration who tell you that the organ overpowered the choir? i asked other members and they said it sounded just right. truthfully, if i don't play loudly, the choir does not sing loudly...

I didn't read your post, just the title of the thread. But the answer is "no."

Tell them to turn their hearing aids down! It's usually the older folks with hearing aids that I get this complaint from.
Mike

If they have to bring a change of underwear to the service, then you are playing too loudly.

Dan

My rule of thumb is that if I can't hear the choir/congregation then I am too loud. Of course, I have a piano and organ console that sits between the choir/organ/front stage and the congregation. So it's easy for me to tell.

I have noticed that the harder I push the organ the louder everyone else responds and vice versa. So to a point ... It may be worth pushing things to get people to sing a bit more.

I was fortunate ... the organ never used to be loud (we had the same organist for 52 years so people kind of got used to her). Then we had a new gal in for about 2 years and she let it rip every week. Fortunately, people got used to that AND she took the heat for being so loud :O)

If you can guess by my handle on here ... I like it loud. Hence the 32 foot Bombarde! The only time it is too loud is when you are using a Trumpet en chamade for Silent Night :O)

Yeah, as Bombarde32 mentioned, sometimes it really just depends on what your doing! You're obviously going to play "Crown Him with Many Crowns" much louder than silent night.

Unfortunately, Bombarde's rule of thumb can't be applied everywhere, like where I play. I play on a nice 1850's William King tracker organ, and I sit behind the choir and everyone else. So the organ really goes over my head, and from what I can tell, the organ isn't loud enough! Sadly, it's only 11 ranks, so once you literally have a tutti, you can't get any louder!

But it is true that the louder you play (to a reasonable extent of course!) the louder people sing. I've gotten two comments on this, on two different occasions, from two different people! Once, I was accompanying a choir singing, and I apparently was playing louder than the usual pianist does, but the choir director said the choir was actually singing louder, and she said probably from the piano. Another time, I was driving back from a meeting at which I had played, with another lady, and I asked her what she thought of my playing. She told me that she liked how I played loud and strong, and she sang more with it!

:)

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The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. - Johann Sebastian Bach
Baylor University School of Music

People will boldly follow a bold leader ... Ok, well, that is why I don't write inspirational texts. But you hit it on the head. As long as you don't surpass people's physical ability to sing louder (or force them to the point where they are uncomfortable) they will follow because you are the LEADER. So get on up there and LEAD!

I recently had an older lady tell me that she enjoyed my playing and that I carried the service. I do not point that for the sake of bragging ... but only to reinforce the idea that you are carrying the service with your music. If you want it loud, go for it. If you want it meek and mild then go that route. If one or two complain, you are probably ok as you will never be able to please everyone. If you get many complaints you might be going overboard.

Another thought ... Ask a choir member or other trusted singer to sit in the middle and try to sing against your registrations. You can adjust based on their feedback.

Concerning asking someone to sing against your registrations:

That's another idea that I have completely forgotten about. I have learned at conferences and such that it's a great idea to ask members of the congregation to give you feedback on not only your registrations, but also how fast you played, how easy it was to sing to, etc.

:)

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The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. - Johann Sebastian Bach
Baylor University School of Music

Hea, Hea, and Hea! Funny, But i did get a comlaint on playing too LOUD also, but get this
ONE, i was accompaning the CONGREGATION and by adding a Four Rk. mixture and some-
times the krumhorn to the other stops they really sang OUT!
The complaint came from an elderly lady who do's wear i beleive two hearing aids.
One gentleman who i know approached me and remarked that she said to him also, that
i play too loud. His response to her was, TURN DOWN YOUR HEARING AID! Gert!
I never received another complaint from her or anyone else. REMEMBER! YOU ARE THE
ORGANIST! weather they like it or not, no one tells me how i should perform, i do what i
think is right and proper.
When i accompany the choir I SET THE TEMPO! AND depending on the piece of music that
they are performing the volume is set by ME!
One other thing, i really am not too fond of playing under a choir director, BEEN THERE!
DID THAT! I find that some of them, not all mind you, but as i said SOME, do like to tell
you how to perform your duties!
Again, some like to show that they know more then you do, WELL, LADEE DA!
Just let the complaints flow right right past you, and after awhile they will get the drift that
you are in the drivers seat, end of story.


DIAPASON

Haha, that was one thing my organ teacher always reminded me of.

No matter what the person that's waving their arms in front of the choir does, YOU are the one that's in control, and the congregation is going to follow YOU.

Well said Diapason!

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The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. - Johann Sebastian Bach
Baylor University School of Music

that is a super idea, i will try that...

In my experience it's usually the people who can't play a note who whinge most. When I was a young organist in the 1960's one old geezer in the choir complained that he couldn't hear himself sing! 'You're luckier than me then' may not have been the most diplomatic reply, but it shut him up! He also declined my offer to let him play for the next service...

HAHA YES!

Tell those old ladies they should try leading a congregation and a choir in worship! Splendid idea!

(...that is, if you want to be known as the crazy nut that "plays that darn arrgan")

LOL!

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The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. - Johann Sebastian Bach
Baylor University School of Music

I am known for playing a bit...louder then most. But, thats just me. I have to put some life into some of the horrid hymns sang in our church. And, I am known as "that crazy nut who plays that darn arrgan." Strange, I think I am also known as "that crazy nut thatt danced on the table at the potluck this summer." Hey, I didnt know there was brandy in the punch. Oh, and we rarely accompany our choir with the organ, because the organ, at this point, is suckyness. It is getting rebuilt soon though. \

luvhi said:
"what do you tell members of the congegration who tell you that the organ overpowered the choir?"

You smile, say "Why thank you for your feedback," and then go do what you want to do. Since you can't win with the people who know more than you, why try? Anyway, why aren't their asses on the organ bench or in the choir?

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Cole
http://heavyorgan.org