Too Loud! Too Fast!

[diapason]

BOO HOO HOO HOOO! I cried all the way home, how terrible, how revolting! The other church job that i accepted to help on in the catholic church that i belong to, Well, i was told that i played too fast, AND too loud! Ha, Ha, Ha, and loudy dow! but like tutti said, IT'S MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY! Hey, Tutti, you know what, i like that phrase! Thanks! Gads! they made me nervious with the way they dragggggg their music, they sing slower then "Grave'. At the lutheran church we sing at a nice tempo, nobody gets lost, and furthermore, if i played the way they wanted me to play at the catholic church, they just would'nt stand for it,When i was first hired there, they made me understand that they liked to sing, and they like to sing at a comfortable beat, without dragging.I thought that i could possibly get the catholics to do likewise, Ohhh Nooo! They are too set in their ways.I know when i attend the Sat.evening liturgy and they sing, i think boy, am i glad that we do not sing THAT SLOW! I mean, now do'nt get me wrong, we do'nt go like a race horse, but it is a nice even tempo. I also played at another lutheran church last wed.for an advent service, in which the pastor is serving also as a vacancy pastor, and no complaints from there, they sang beautifully,at the same tempo i always use.I really do not care to play in the catholic church, i do not really care for their music all that much, and its not sour grapes either,and i am not prejudece.IF i get any more calls from THEM, i am going to decline any more offers, Besides, they have three organist,What in the world do they want with a fourth.I do'nt appreciate playing for a church with so many holding down that position. At the lutheran church i AM THE ORGANIST! I do the FUNERALS,WEDDINGS, And anything else that comes along, if go on a vacation or i am sick THEN a sub is called.

DIAPASON

[Orgrinder010]

Join us in the "dark side of the force" (Theatre organists). You'll never get "Its too loud" or "Its too fast" from us. lol

[Hammondlover]

Or the Hammond-its never loud or fast enough. Find a Pentecostal church. They'll give you a work out.

[FrenchHorn8]

[quote user="Orgrinder010"]Join us in the "dark side of the force" (Theatre organists). You'll never get "Its too loud" or "Its too fast" from us. lol[/quote]


That's on my Summer 07 to-do list! Too bad we don't have many TO's around here

[diaphone32]

I've had to play at two Catholic services and they wanted their hymns soooooo slow (one service was a funeral), but they only ever had 3 verses at the most in their hymns.

Jezza

[Tutti]

It's worth considering but also remember you'll never please EVERYONE. If you were singing at the tempi you played could you get the words out? Did the tempo fit the text?

As for volume many times the organ is placed in a location that makes it difficult to know just how loud it is to the congregation. I was told the organ was too loud at the new church I'm at and I tended to believe them so I lowered it some. The organ is behind the altar in an alcove so I have no way of knowing just how loud it is in the pews so I guess I have no choice but to believe them.

[diapason]

Hmmm! You know what Tutti, you did give me food for thought. The organ at the lutheran church for one thing is up in the gallery, it speaks out from a chamber over across the loft from where the console sets.It speaks through a decrative large grill covered with a dark grill cloth. The "Anthiphonal" division is behind the alter,which i do not play for hymn singing. The organ in the catholic church is up front at the alter.The large speaker cabinet hangs on the wall directly above and BEHIND the console.The sound goes out over your head from behind you. Actually, the lutheran church organ sounds better, i am away from the sound, and it goes out over the congregation, much better sound.

Diapason

[andyg]

[quote user="Orgrinder010"]Join us in the "dark side of the force" (Theatre organists). You'll never get "Its too loud" or "Its too fast" from us. lol[/quote]

Don't you believe it, Nathan. When I was [much] younger, still at school, I started playing at some local clubs at weekends. Dining and dancing, they called it. Well, I got told off for being too loud and for playing dances at the wrong tempi for starters. this was in the days before organs had digital readouts for rhythm tempo etc, so a metronome was used to shut the dancers up! As for the 'too louds', my standard response was to look for the biggest looking guy in the club, point to himand say "He's just said the music's too quiet!" No-one ever had the nerve to go up and argue with him - just as well, probably.

On my last night in one club where I had to play awfully quietly, I took in a couple of leslies and really let rip - well, they couldn't fire me as I was already leaving! Oh, the number of people who said they were pleased that they could finally hear the organ!

Andy G

[Fettler]

What have you guys got against the Catholic church?. You always seem to be complaining about it. Yet, in my experience, Catholic church-goers tend to be better behaved than their Anglican/Lutheran counterparts, and actually sit in silence and even prayrather than exchange gossip. Yes, perhaps the R.C church does like its music played slower, but that is because it is quite ancient and has been around for a long time, unlike johnny-come-latelys such as Lutheranism. I am sure those people you played for are glad to know that you don't care for their music, but I am sure they are equally heartened to learn that you are going to decline any more offers. You are indeed THE ORGANIST, you also sound like a PRIMA DONNA too.

Best wishes,

Fettler

[Menschenstimme]

Hi Fettler,

As a middle-aged "cradle Catholic" who has never missed Mass (other than due to illness) even on a holy day, I thought I should chime in. I have been assistant organist at my local church for over 20 years now. I have never read Why Catholics Cannot Sing - but I have heard enough about it to understand and agree with the contents. Our mainstream parishioner prefers the music faster rather than slower; but also softer rather than louder. Fortunately, they are mostly a silent majority and the minority of parishioners who prefer to hear and enjoy all that our III/72 Schantz is capable of are both vocal and supportive. Our parish has been known for many years as being more serious about music and quality (as well as orthodox) liturgy. Our priests mostly support this norm, although we have had a few notable exceptions, one of whom would have silenced the organ and removedthe tabernacle and the marble altar rail if he could have gotten away with it. He did literally smash the traditional baptismal font to bits with a sledge hammer in the middle of the night--he had help--but he made sure it was destroyed so that nobody could recover it, ever. Thank God he was the exception rather than the norm.

But I digress! I am sorry to say that our average parishioner would not care one way or another if there was any music for the liturgy or not. Fortunately, our parish is staffed by the OCD Carmelites and they are generally quite orthodox liturgically and supportive of traditional music. However, my brother and I are planning on leaving funds behind after we are gone to maintain the organ. We fear that if we fail to do this, thatapathy will allow this magnificent organ to fall silent.

"There it is." (Franz Josef II of Austria)