By Rodney L. Barbour
If you are considering
purchase of an organ for your congregation, you are among those who realize
that the organ has been and continues to be an excellent choice for the
accompaniment of worship. Today's organ (pipe, digital or pipe-combination)
contains controls and features beyond your "grandparent's church
organ" which move the instrument into a new realm of support of
congregation, choir, orchestra, band or soloist. Consistent with the mission of
Christian Sound & Song, to be a forum for helpful
information, these guidelines are not suggested to be the only valid approach.
But they do constitute one the author has known to be successful.
Getting Started
Before scheduling a
"test-drive" with the organ sales agency, organize a meeting of the
worship leadership team to discuss music ministry goals and ways an organ would
be supportive of these goals.
Topics might include: 1) a review of the music ministry mission
statement (or developing one), 2) needs (remodeled space, equipment,
recruitment of personnel), 3) dreams (new ministry groups, increased
participation in worship, additional worship styles), and 4) plans
(specific steps to connect the gaps among the dreams, musicians, space and
equipment).
The discussion centered on
developing a vital mission statement will have benefits beyond the organ
purchase. It will help you clarify your worship practices and provide a
framework for all music groups, activities and resources for music ministry. It
is also a perfect opportunity to revisit your overall church mission, and
ensure that your musical mission is fully in compliance. Seldom is good and
timely communication on these essential issues not worthwhile. Assessing your
needs will determine allocation of resources for improved space, available
funds for particular equipment and the hiring and training of persons to use
the equipment. Be sure to dream beyond the current and
obvious. What could be accomplished if there were no barriers, no pre-conceived
limitations or expectations? What new and different worship practices or styles
would bring added life and vitality into the worshiping community? What plans need to be developed and
implemented to bring those hopes into reality?
Questions to Stimulate Thought
Here are several questions
and possible responses directly related to the organ which may assist your
committee in developing dialogue which produces plans.
1) How is your current
instrument being used? (to accompany traditional hymns,
playing service music, accompanying the choir and soloists). Be sure to think beyond the sound and
"service" of your current instrument. Older pipe organs could have
tonal schemes which are not in touch with modern worship practices. The
technology of 20-30 year old electronic or analog organs is no comparison to
today's dynamic digital sound. Yesterday's organs played preludes, offertories,
postludes and accompanied choirs and did so in place of other instrumentalists.
You may want to visit other worship centers to expand your vision beyond what
you currently experience in worship or have imagined possible. Those who use
computers in their lives and work are experienced in this. Every technology Ð
musical and otherwise Ð is characterized by what might be called a Òuseful
functional lifespan.Ó
2) How could a new
instrument expand the music program? (accompany traditional,
blended and contemporary worship; support the orchestra and the praise band;
accompany the traditional as well as the contemporary; offer exciting musical
sounds which all age groups will enjoy; support solo concerts and ensemble
performances; support rehearsal and learning opportunities).
Today's digital, pipe or combination organ is equally at home with whatever
style of music is being performed. It supports the many types of congregational
song found in today's hymnals or projected using slides and videos with both
pipe and orchestral sounds. With
features such as MIDI control and bass and melody couplers, both volunteer and
professional musicians will feel comfortable playing today's organ. Experienced
organists and pianists will easily adapt to familiar playing techniques while
keyboardists from the youth group and praise band will appreciate added control
for quick sound changes. The congregation will immediately appreciate the new
and authentic sounds which bring excitement to worship! When it comes to
successful repertoire planning, variety Ð even in a traditional worship
environment Ð seems to be a big factor. TodayÕs MIDI-enhanced digital or
combination organs provide a significant new dimension of instrumental and
accompaniment variety.
3) What resources are important to our church in a new
organ? (tonal resources including pipes, digital voices, MIDI
Technology; physical resources such as room space, placement of
pipes/speakers, room
characteristics, human resources) Churches with existing pipe instruments can easily add
digital consoles and digital sounds to maintain the pipe heritage while
updating to today's musical standards. Digital voices and speaker systems offer
great sound in even the most difficult spaces. New MIDI Technology offers
realistic control of the nuances of Orchestral Musical Performance. These
instruments are exciting to play and offer resources for musical growth and
enjoyment for all who enjoy making music.
4) What specific organ features are important to our
church? (MIDI, alternate voices, memories, user-friendly
features) In today's church music, the ability of the organ to be
supportive of any musical group or style is essential. MIDI allows the organ to
control both organ and orchestral sounds. The best MIDI system allows the
musician to control musical expression and other musical issues in REAL-TIME
performance. Important features
include: two MIDI Couplers per keyboard for realistic orchestrations; velocity
(speed of attack) control
using "fixed numbers", velocity keyboards or expression pedal;
the ability to set and adjust octave transposition, chorusing, reverberation,
sustain, panning on individual MIDI couplers; and the ability to easily select,
set and store MIDI performance parameters to a "piston" memory system
for gratifying real-time performance. GM/GS Standard will offer
selection of MIDI sounds, so orchestrations will have the correct
instrumentation in a performance. Additional
Voices are found on most digital organs to address the various
organ schools of performance. The most flexible system is to have an alternate
voice (Principal or Diapason) on an individual stop basis rather than having to
change a complete division. Multiple Memories
allow a number of organists to perform using the same instrument Ð each using
their own stop settings). It's most handy to have quick access to these memory
levels from the keydesk rather than having to scroll to these in a drawer. Memory Cards allow
each organist to store their personal memory settings to a card that may be
removed from the organ for safety, security and ease of performance.
More Resources
Wonderful resources for
planning an organ purchase are the websites of various organ companies. You can
download information including company information and even specific model
information and specifications of each instrument. This information may be
helpful as you continue your dialogue and study before meeting with any
particular company. In addition, your worship group may wish to speak with a
consultant or organist who has a vision for the organ in current and future worship practice to interpret your group's dreams and
questions.
Finally, it's time to
schedule visits to several worship spaces to hear representations of the
instruments you choose to hear. You should provide the person playing the
demonstration with a "program" of sounds/hymns/worship songs your
music group wants to hear Ð a result of the criteria developed in the planning
meeting. Sound is what is now important. Do you like what you hear? Ask
for details about the installation.
Are the pipes/speakers placed carefully with other musical resources
(choir, piano, orchestra) and in the same room as the other performers (no
chambers in adjacent rooms speaking through tiny openings)? Can the instrument
be adjusted on a note-by-note basis for proper sound in the space? Don't be
distracted by "sales talk." An issue such as lighted drawknobs
or moving drawknobs is important to some, but it's really
only an issue of preference. Some prefer the traditional movement because
"that's the way it's supposed to be." Many companies including pipe builders
have moved to a lighted system with advantages being silent operation, superior
visual recognition and better long-term service-life. Purchase whichever style
you desire! As to "numbers,Ó there are different
technologies available (i.e., fixed sampling rates versus variable sampling
rates.) Naturally, each company would like you to think their technology is
best. Just because a company has the highest sampling rate, or the largest
(whatever) number, does not mean this is the best sounding instrument or the
best suited for your situation. Ultimately, your ears will be your best help in
sorting through the various possibilities.
Different churches will
approach this issue in different ways. The committee charged with this project will
probably begin with a general frame of financial reference. It cannot be said,
though, that price is no object Ð even in a good-sized congregation. In some
scenarios, itÕs been fruitful to assemble a preliminary range of price points
(approximate) and associated instrument models from several makers which are
available at those points. As your groupÕs evaluation of quality, sound and
flexibility progresses, you will likely develop a feel for why certain features
and capabilities cost what they do.
Unless you are blessed with a
particular ÒangelÓ who has given you carte blanche, you
may be able to return to your congregation with a special appeal for necessary
support. An organ is a resource that lasts, so donÕt underestimate the
potential help which might be forthcoming from a few able and motivated donors.
Therefore, donÕt let price alone dictate your initial considerations of
features and quality.
Final Thoughts
Once the decision is made and
the organ is installed, schedule training sessions for the musicians using the
instrument. Plan reasonable/
attainable goals for gradual integration of the new sounds into worship
services. Schedule a worship concert featuring the new instrument. Plan short
programs for special interest groups of the church, i.e. youth, children's
department, seniors group for up-close and personal opportunities to hear and
even play the new instrument. And finally, enjoy the sound! "É let the
pealing organ blow, to the full-voiced choir below, in service high, and
anthems clear, as may with sweetness, through mine ear, dissolve me into
ecstasies, and bring all heaven before mine eyes!Ó (John Milton)
Rodney L. Barbour, M.M.,
University of Cincinnati, is a nationally recognized organist and musician. He
directs the adult choir at John Wesley United Methodist Church in Cincinnati.
He is also a product specialist for Rodgers Instruments. He can be contacted
at: RodneyBar@aol.com.
© 2004 Christian Sound
& Song. All rights reserved. Churches are encouraged to reproduce
for use in their ministries. For any other use, permission must be obtained
from the publisher.
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