CHANGING PARISH

The organ is as hugely versatile instrument and if played creatively using only the melody line from the book and the named chords to guide a harmonic shape, organ derivations can sound perfectly in order. A big problem can be our attitude toward such music. If we choose to judge it unworthy and complain, there is a huge risk it will be selected for use anyway and the organist gains, or perhaps enhances, a reputation as a grumpy uncooperative individual and no one is happy.

It is good that we have and can contribute our musical discernment, but collaborative approaches more often keep the blood pressure down than confrontational ones. Another aspect of change is the growing use of pre-recorded funeral/wedding entry and exit music. In some denominations, highly secular music might be ruled unacceptable, but not all parishes follow the guidelines of their hierarchies. When there are no diocesan or higher directives almost any music ever devised by man, woman or machine can be found scheduled.

Organists have a choice to accept or reject involvement with it. If clergy or others have a strong desire for a particular item, rejection of involvement from the organist only reinforces a trend towards pre-recorded music. One of the great benefits of a competent organist is their ability to make music just the right length when it is there to support movements of brides, coffins, or other elements and pre-recorded material is rarely the right length to provide happy integration with other parts of the service. When the music replay is managed by someone without musical awareness, there is a great risk an auto-repeat function gets used to make music last longer or a sudden stop button pressed when it needs to be shortened.