John Collins

Having just joined the forum I find this article most interesting; the Telegraph is typical of the masses who have no knoweldge or understanding of the organist's supreme effort to make the occasion special, be it wedding or funeral. As a lecturer and researcher specialising in early keyboard music I am in a position to offer pieces from right across Europe, frequently being able to pinpoint pieces from a specific town - of course, few non-organists who are let loose on the instrument can begin to approach this level of expertise which comes only from years of experience. It is singularly frustrating when undertakers persist in using pianists rather than organists, not only is it depriving the skilled player of a fee but more importantly it deprives the mourners of an unparalleledchoice of music from the non-specialist. I htink that it is up to the individual player to decide whether to charge for wedding videos, sometimes it's only a family friend waving a videocamera which is not the same as a professional with all the paraphernalia - however, given what is paid out on catering etc, the organist's fee, whether doubled or not, is small in comparison and the labourer is indeed worthy of his or her hire.