Sad State of Music in the churches

[Havoc]

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.

Probably correct, but does that matter for any other reason than bragging rights?

[Snowbandit]

You guys are right, of course, and I was quite harsh in my treatment of volunteer organists. There are many wonderful church organists who use their talents for the glory of God and expect nothing in return. Many diligently practice and finance their own training too. A church, having one of these fine folks, is truly blessed. Sadly, and all too often, there is another side to that coin that's equally valid. It's the side with the primadonnas, those who have taken ownership of the church organ and don't allow anyone else to touch it. I just came home from church where I was treated to the "organist" banging away on the piana like it was Saturday night in the dance hall, leaving the pipe organ to rot. She gave away her home practice organ years ago and only has the piano for practice anymore so that's what we get. No one else better ever touch "her" organ though. We have talented young people in the church, music teachers and others who should be stepping up and learning the instrument but no one wants to cross her. I forgot, they're not all like that.

[Dogstar]

Folks definitely move because of the music in churches. Our church has recently had individuals move in from another church where the music director/pastor had publicly declared that the pipe organ needed to go to the dump. Praise band was the way to go. Nothing to brag about just fact of life in these days. Regarding my previous comments re. Music of the past few years. It was not intended as some kind of judgement, rather simply an observation. Sadly it seems as though folks are not exposed to much in the way of "older" music anymore. I don't know about where some of you folks live, but try finding a classical station on your car radio these days. Just about an impossibility where I live. Rock, Rap, and country. That's about it.

[jdoc]

just saw a free pipe organ in SW Ontario on kijiji, guess what instruments were on the platform beside it........drums, keyboard, guitar

[indianajo]

I don't know about where some of you folks live, but try finding a classical station on your car radio these days. Just about an impossibility where I live. Rock, Rap, and country. That's about it.

Noticed a lack on the car radio between Chattanooga and Atlanta last year. I couldn't believe there aren't enough people in Atlanta to buy one of those simulcast "contemporary Christian" "educational" stations and put some decent music on the FM band. As if everybody let Sirius/XM radio tap into their veins via credit card. Not that I don't like good contemporary Christian. But the seven-eleven description michaelhoddy used pretty much describes what they play. I'm glad contemporary is drawing in the young people in our church, but it is a pity they limit themselves to porridge.

[SubBase]

This example of a dying church, edifice and magnificent PO is a heartbreaker:
http://www.nycago.org/Organs/NYC/html/AllSaintsRC.html
A friend of mine has been trying to raise awareness about the organ there, but with the congregation dwindling to 50, the decision has apparently been made to mothball the building, which alone needs 16 million in restoration, let alone what it would take to restore the last Roosevelt ever built.
Casey

[Dogstar]

just saw a free pipe organ in SW Ontario on kijiji, guess what instruments were on the platform beside it........drums, keyboard, guitar

Are you going to get it?

[Juniper]

Things like the state of music might also depend on the region you live in. Here in New England I think very few churches have neglected their organs, and most of them are very well taken care of and used regularly. The traditional music is much more alive, and a lot of new works are used (not contemporary hymns, but well elaborated new compositions for SATB and organ).

Having said all that. I find that in RC churches (which are the ones I am involved in) have at least 1 of their 5 or 6 masses that uses contemporary music. Even the church where I am music director has a mass like that. While I use organ and play traditional Christian and Catholic hymns in those masses, I use the piano for the contemporary mass, and generally try and stay with the traditional Christian and Catholic music while adding very carefully selected contemporary hymns. Most contemporary hymns are terrible, but there are a few (VERY few) that are actually worth doing every so often for this contemporary mass. In addition, to avoid breaking out from tradition, I reharmonize some of the traditional hymns to give them a new-ish flavor. The pastor really wants this to happen and wants us to have a diverse music program. Please don't insult me or any of this though, because despite all that, I push for traditional in the other masses, and I don't think its so terrible to have one mass be contemporary, as long as you get it right. The problem is, most directors have no idea how to run a contemporary music mass without it being a concert. It still MUST serve the liturgy and not itself. I think contemporary gets a bad rep for this reason alone. Again, the rest of the masses are mostly traditional and Catholic music with organ.

Also, is it impossible to think that some traditional hymn tunes that have been reused for so long aren't necessarily great or worn out their time? There are a lot of great traditional hymns, but then there are some traditional hymns that should really disappear; that have a horrible melody or very bland harmonization. I think that certain hymns like that don't help worship either. I am abstaining from naming hymn names. By natural selection, most of the best hymn tunes have lived on all the way to this age, but there are a select few that I am astonished have lasted this long and still get regularly sung in churches.

Now going into a different area of this topic; that is: organists. I think a lot of the older organists (not all) are very bland and old fashioned in the way they play hymns. And before anyone starts complaining that hymns should be played as they always have been, keep in your mind the fact that Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven are now played in ways far different than the composers originally had imagined, which is not a bad thing. I was fortunate to have organ teachers and mentors who had a very vibrant way of playing the organ, particularly traditional hymns, but I have also heard obnoxiously boring organists play almost out of routine because they are playing the hymn for the 13806th time and are doing it almost like a zombie; playing in their sleep. I'm only 24, and I'm no authority figure on how hymns or organs should be played, but I am trying to put myself in the congregant's perspective. You have to give them some energy to make them want to sing the hymns. And as for the younger congregants; I'm convinced they can come to love the organ if more organist play hymns more vibrantly, as well as love traditional hymns, whether that be in the tempo, the registration, or the way the director asks the singers or choir to sing.

[Hamman]

I agree with that statement and will go on to say that alot of them play such Hymns without a smooth flow....more like a pianist trying to play the organ. My observation, though, are the church organist who play on youtube.

Now going into a different area of this topic; that is: organists. I think a lot of the older organists (not all) are very bland and old fashioned in the way they play hymns. And before anyone starts complaining that hymns should be played as they always have been, keep in your mind the fact that Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven are now played in ways far different than the composers originally had imagined, which is not a bad thing. I was fortunate to have organ teachers and mentors who had a very vibrant way of playing the organ, particularly traditional hymns, but I have also heard obnoxiously boring organists play almost out of routine because they are playing the hymn for the 13806th time and are doing it almost like a zombie; playing in their sleep. I'm only 24, and I'm no authority figure on how hymns or organs should be played, but I am trying to put myself in the congregant's perspective. You have to give them some energy to make them want to sing the hymns. And as for the younger congregants; I'm convinced they can come to love the organ if more organist play hymns more vibrantly, as well as love traditional hymns, whether that be in the tempo, the registration, or the way the director asks the singers or choir to sing.

[ClergetMusic]

One of my favorite quotes is from the pastor of the church I am music director for: "When you sing or play music, you're helping people pray." I have used this with several of my students to wish to sing or play for Mass, but they choose songs that are not appropriate: it helps them understand why they must choose appropriate literature.