Sad State of Music in the churches

[matmilne]

This has been coming for over a hundred years, sadly. Rising costs, meets declining congregations coupled with poor maintenance and general neglect, meets declining education standards and selfish short sightedness.

These all work against the physical pipe organ.

[miaclockman]

One correction to this original posting - the church had a seating capacity of 1,000 - not 7,000. But it still speaks volumes by virtue of the fact that people were spilling out into the foyer/vestibule and standing along the walls.
I would also like to say that I have a great deal of respect for a friend of 30 years who worked with me from time to time at various churches and was the director of the Youth Choir. Despite a heavy schedule as a physician/surgeon, he wrote parts for musicians and had the intuition and liturgical/musical sense to create that balance of music as it applied to the scriptures of each Sunday. People like him are rare and pastors need to wake up and start paying liveable wages for competent musicians (as well as people who have a sense of worship) rather than depend on "volunteers" who may or may not have any training. Otherwise, I believe that churches will still continue to empty out which is tragic.
Christ had passion and fire to spread the word - he was far from mediocre. Unfortunately, we have too many seminaries that are turning out mediocrity out of desperation. The saying rings true that "many are called but few are chosen".

[paulj0557]

I found this video tonight. An exceptional Hammond player and wow what a nice sounding organ. Consider the time in history we are watching here. What model Hammond is he playing? That lower manual sounds very chorus like.

[Dogstar]

With all due respect I would suggest that most pastors in my experience have little control over what is paid to church musicians. I pastored a small Baptist church for twelve years until I retired. They barely had enough Money to pay me. My wife was the musician until she died. After that I learned to lead singing without instruments of any kind. I am learning organ now for my own pleasure and possibly to help out in my present church if I ever get good enough. Seems to me that one of the major problems facing the churches is a lack of desire among many to discipline themselves or their children to get away from the computer or tv long enough to get a musical education. Further to that a tendency to write off anything that was not written in the last thirty or so years as not worth listening to.

[Havoc]

I guess they said the same when they tossed Gregorian out and put polyphony and organs in the church. Thing is we don't live in the past and society changes. Worst thing is you shouldn't even judge this.

Sorry, but I don't think believe, religion and organised church should be considered equal. Music might be part of a tradition but in se it has not much to do with the reason people believe or go to church. Only musicians think it is so.

[davidecasteel]

Music may not be the reason that people go to church, but it may be a deciding factor as to just WHICH church people go to.

David

[Snowbandit]

The more I learn of organs, organists and church politics, the more I've come to understand the importance of paying the musicians. Volunteer organists have little or no incentive to learn new skills and often don't even bother to practice from week to week. They create for themselves a little fiefdom centered around the organ and woe to anyone that tries to usurp their position. Any church that wants to have, and continue to have in the future, a viable music program which includes the most difficult of all instruments needs to actively seek and promote younger candidates.

[RayE]

I agree that it is important in most cases to pay an organist, but there are some out there playing who do it to give back to their church and thier God, and don't ask for or require monetary pay to give them incentive to practice. To imply that a volunteer organist is less inclined to do their best because they aren't getting paid is an insult to those selfless musicians who choose to volunteer their time. I'm not knocking paying organist here, there are many fine organists out there who deserve every penny they are paid, and it is a great thing for a church to support church music by paying a competant organist. I just take offense to the notion that someone that volunteers is less motivated to do thier best because they aren't being paid. Volunteers play because music is their avocation something they love to do, they don't need pay to motivate them to do what they do. For the many small churches out there that are struggling to keep the doors open, the hobyist musician that volunteers their time is a God send. I am defiantely not saying that volunteers are superior to payed musicians some are better than others, just as some paid organists are better than others. What I'm saying is that the volunteer organist should be given credit for making sure that the organs in their parishes are actually being played and not sitting there in disuse.

[Hamman]

I'm a volunteer organist for our church for 5 years now and its my worship to God as I see it. I also feel a awesome responsibility to be practiced up and prepared to help lead the congregation into worship. Something I don't take lightly! If other musicians are getting paid....to me thats between them, the church official(s) and God. I have no judgement whatsoever on their arrangement. I can only answer for my self as to what my motivations are. Volunteers can have as much premadonna pride as anyone else including some higher educated paid organist. That again is something that God will be the ultimate judge of. I look at my talent as what God has blessed me with...... so to me using it for his glory is the least I can do.

[AllanP]

Some organists earn their living playing the organ and teaching students. They need to be paid in order to eat and pay rent. Others earn their living othe rways and play the organ for the pure enjoyment of making music, these can be volunteers.