Does Lack/loss Of Of Faith Colour The Way You Play?

[Malcolm Kemp]

I strongly suspect that one of the reason organists and clergy don't get on well is that very often they don't talk to each other on a regular basis - sometimes not even saying hello to each other on a Sunday morning. That is not a good basis for a working relationship is any area of life and I am sure that organists and clergy are equally to blame. If I am playing for a service anywhere I make a point of saying at least something to the person taking the service before it is due to start, even if it just "hello".

 

Malcolm

[Vox Humana]

I have no idea whether Hector's correspondent imagined they were doing the priest a service or whether they were simply spurred by malice, but, in either case that person needs to understand that, when a Christian is in difficulty and asking for help, the correct Christian reponse is NOT to kick him in the teeth. There are more intelligent and helpful alternatives. Sorry to be blunt.

[Guest Patrick Coleman]

We went to this place before over the Church Times Q&A business.

 

It makes me profoundly sad that a Board like this cannot be used as a privileged 'safe' place where real issues can be aired and discussed - sometimes robustly - in an atmosphere of trust.

 

We know that several Board contributors have withdrawn from this online community because that privilege has been abused. This last breach of trust feels a bit like the last straw.

 

Organists, organ builders, and those interested in the instrument are often in isolated positions and can be made to feel 'strange' or assume that other think them so. We should be grateful to Manders for this opportunity to communicate more widely about our common interest(s) - it's needed and valued.

 

I agree with Vox (as I often do) that this is no way to treat another Christian, but I would extend that and say it's no way to treat another human being.

[gazman]

What a contrast between this behaviour and the grace that that you have shown.

Hear, hear!

[Tony Newnham]

I have no idea whether Hector's correspondent imagined they were doing the priest a service or whether they were simply spurred by malice, but, in either case that person needs to understand that, when a Christian is in difficulty and asking for help, the correct Christian reponse is NOT to kick him in the teeth. There are more intelligent and helpful alternatives. Sorry to be blunt.

 

Hi

 

I regard this sort of behaivour as a breach of confidence. Potentially, all those who have contributed to this thread are at risk of having comments misconstrued by thissort of thing. It's the very reason why some correcpondents feel the need to use screen names or aliases, which I find a sad state of affairs, but understandable.

 

I wonder how the person concerned would feel if comments he had made annonymously were passed on to his employer?

 

Every Blessing

 

Tony

[Guest Hector5]

Hi

 

I regard this sort of behaivour as a breach of confidence. Potentially, all those who have contributed to this thread are at risk of having comments misconstrued by this sort of thing. It's the very reason why some correcpondents feel the need to use screen names or aliases, which I find a sad state of affairs, but understandable.

 

I wonder how the person concerned would feel if comments he had made annonymously were passed on to his employer?

 

Every Blessing

 

Tony

 

Thanks for all the kind comments - perhaps it's time to put an end to this thread and pursue and continue to challenge, questions and enjoy all aspects of the subject associated with the organ, and also to relish the art of free speech which we should all enjoy.

 

A message to DaXXX Wxxxxx - if you read this, please email me (or contact me), and perhaps we can have a civilized discussion about your actions. No recriminations, just the need to understand your reasons behind what you have done. As you can see, people on this website are intelligent people who enjoy, but sometimes need to air feelings in times of difficulty, and appreciate the responses from like minded people.

 

I personally value this forum very much, and am personally grateful to the moderators and to you, the friends that I have never met for your input and support.

 

Onwards - now what about talking about the affect of house organs on our pets!

 

Cheers to all!

 

Hector

[Guest Roffensis]

A few observations/pointers, that may/may not make sense!!

 

In most cases where I have been employed (as opposed to used, which can happen, if you let it) I have always known when I have done as much as I can for a Parish. I had several things that I looked for in the past (being very snugly content now in two excellent posts) , and which I advise others to be wary of in the future. All is not always what it may seem to be at first. One point is that daggers may be drawn at 50 paces once the niceties are over and the novelty of you has passed. Then what can happen is that the real you may become the issue, not he that pushes the keys. The round peg may have to fit in the round hole, squares may not be tolerated. So, for whatever reason, I choose to keep my life very private, and avoid "do's" and PCCs. Concise comments work wonders, and I often observe those judge rather than be judged by a higher power. As immensely flattering I have in the past found it that my life can be found so very interesting, I never fired bullets. So many flew in my direction it seemed a waste!! In the past, having been told of a devil sitting on my shoulder and of three old ladies who wanted to pray over me because of it, I saw the light very quickly.

 

In any post I would stay if happy and respected. Leave these out, and I would leave them out. If things became a chore I would leave, and if I felt I could do nothing for a Parish, that I was a surplus curio, I would leave also. Musicians do have a real gift, and most of us I would think a faith. We also need to be inspired, just as we are told all scripture is inspired by God.

[OmegaConsort]

Onwards - now what about talking about the affect of house organs on our pets!

 

Hector

 

One member of this forum, who is a very good friend of mine had, for a little while, a hybrid (pipe/electronic) organ and a cat with mental problems (it used to get tangled up in the wine rack amongst other things!). I don't remember whether cat and organ were around the same time or not, but I do know that the organ wasn't responsible for the state of the cat's health (initially at least!).

Maybe our member might be able to throw light on my musings!

I have two cats and no house organ.

Best wishes

Richard

[Guest Patrick Coleman]

I have no house organ, but both of my dogs go and hide when I listen to organ music.

 

If I go to the church to play, they sit outside and bark - unless our resident organist is there, in which case they make a fuss of him!

[ajsphead]

I love playing the organ, and more so - playing for the liturgy. Obviously faith is an important connection to accompanying the liturgy, no matter how loose the connection is. The reality is that over the past 5 years, I've had what little faith I had systematically beaten out of me. As I said before, I do not want to get into incumbent-bashing, as I have worked a system by which I basically 'get on' with the present P in C. Sad to say, I cannot take Tony's advice and speak to the incumbent, as this is basically the problem. I now only have occasional flashes of inspiration, and this is generally when the incumbent is not present.

 

I like the church where I play the organ - the choir and congregation appreciate me, so why should I move on?

 

In terms of recitals - yes I love giving them, not as much as I would like. Playing the organ is a real passion, and I'm continually questing for new and interesting music to play.

 

Thank you all for you comments, and please keep them coming.

 

Hector

 

In common with others here, I have faced similar problems, having the spirit pushed out of you by the attitude and approach of the clergy. This ranges from the extremes of low church evangelical, to my last appointment at the top of the candlestick of anglo catholicism. I felt that I had lost my zip, particularly with off the cuff improvisations during the offertory but the congregation were so sad when I left that it caused me to consider the driving forces at work. Having been strongly of the opinion that everything I do should be an offering to God, I felt it was a demotivation when the clergy do not view it in the same way, do not consult or even ask for an opinion, not necessarily expecting them to take up a suggestion, and do not take into account the needs of the church when specifying the service music.

 

Upon further examination, I discovered that the cause of my psychological position was rooted in the fundamental belief that the clergy were neither listening to nor paying heed to the needs of the congregation, and much of my concern was on their behalf. I would seriously question, as did others, whether that church was feeding the spiritual needs of many, or indeed any of those present, except the clergyman, and it was for my own, and my family's spiritual welfare primarily, that I decided to leave.

 

I was fully aware that I had nowhere else to go to play. but considered the time could be well spent getting to know God again, trying other churches, and offering my services to one who would understand and use my skills, and where I and my family could find a spiritual home. It feels a little like a wilderness to start with, but if you keep talking to and listening to God, and try to keep an open mind and don't write your own prescription for God's solution then you stand a chance of growing in your faith, from which many more things may come.

 

AJS

[Guest Hector5]

Please can we avoid clergy bashing on this thread no matter how slight! I did suggest that this thread might be better buried, especially as we appear so have someone out there intent on mischief. It is a serious subject, but perhaps it would be better if this was and end to it for the moment.