King Charles and the organ

[Colin Pykett]

I might be behind the curve on this one, but have only recently become aware that the King has concerns for the future of the organ and related matters such as the shortage of organists.  For instance, the following appeared in The New Yorker concerning advice he sought from Andrew Lloyd Webber (having written this, I hope the latter will forgive my informality - I think his correct title is actually The Lord Lloyd-Webber):

A few years ago, he [the King] urgently summoned the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber to his office to present an idea.   "He was worried about . . . the fact that there wasn’t enough access for young people to go and learn how to play the church organ,” Lloyd Webber told the Washington Post. In April, 2021, Charles marked International Organ Day with a message to the Royal College of Organists, urging its members to secure the future viability of what, as he reminded them, Mozart had described as the “King of Instruments.

(The link to the Washington Post article is best followed from within the above extract itself - it doesn't seem to have imported properly here).

[John Robinson]

Excellent news, and I hope that this support by HM may encourage more people to take an interest in the organ, both playing and construction.

Sadly, compared to such places as Holland and Germany, this country seems to have little interest in the instrument in many quarters.  I have tried to inculcate an interest in the instrument when teaching at primary school, though I have no idea now how successful that may have been.
Perhaps the King will meet with more success.

[pwhodges]

I note, however, the typical conflation of the organ with "the church organ".  Admittedly, for most learners, that is still the most accessible to learn on (though it's now considerably easier to get a similar instrument at home, if there's room - and money - for a simple console), but focussing on one use of the instrument is sad, and could reduce interest from non-religious people.

Paul

[Colin Pykett]

Without getting further involved in the religious aspects, I have to agree.  These sentiments remind me of a professional musician friend, though not an organist, who disparages the organ as 'the lackey of the church', in addition to his dislike of it as a 'horrifyingly inexpressive instrument'.  Although these are only his opinions they appear to be quite widely held among musicians more generally.  Even a very well known pipe organ builder once referred to the products of his firm merely as inexpressive instruments played via 'an ivory-covered switchboard'.

For what it's worth, my opinion is different and it can be reduced to something along the lines of 'if it was good enough for Bach then it's good enough for me', and a lot of his output was either transcendentally absolute or secular and disassociated with religion.  But the point surely has to be this - FACT: the organ is closely wedded to and identified with the church; FACT: the church seems to be of little (and decreasing) interest to the majority of the population;  DEDUCTION: therefore the organ is also of little (and decreasing) interest to them as a musical instrument.

I wish things were otherwise.  From time to time, others here have said that the salvation for the organ increasingly lies in relatively cheap electronic organs in the home.  For instance, you can currently get a new 2 M/P one with lots of stops and several different voicing options using the very latest sound-engine technology for under £9k.  Second hand prices of decent instruments can be as little as £2k (not long ago on the same manufacturer's website).  You just plug it in and off you go (quite different to VPOs, which either require an educated DIY-er or a plug-and-play one which is significantly more expensive). However, whether this will ever be enough of a compensatory 'salvation' in the long term remains to be seen.  I've had a succession of electronic instruments in my home for over half a century, but most visitors (save the tiny minority who play themselves) merely express polite curiosity, at best, in my presence.  When out of earshot my spies tell me they are significantly less restrained, such as the one who apparently raised loud titters at a dinner party at which I was not present by saying 'most people satisfy themselves with body building, but Colin prefers organ building'.  You can pretty much guess at the pornographic channels the well-lubricated conversation degenerated into after that, apparently!  (He was my boss at the time, by the way).  I expect most of us have experienced something similar.  In the big wide world out there, organists and their instrument are regarded as little more than weird nowadays.

So is there really any hope for the organ in the long term?  There could be, seeing that we have a King who is a convert to the cause who has an impressive track record of badgering powerful vested interests into action over things like architecture and the environment.  At least, it might help.

[Adnosad]

Just read a very illuminating article in " The Guardian " today ( Sat ) re` the organ which I recommend to those forum members who are of an open mindset re` the direction in which the organ should be going if it is going to survive.

Essentially It describes David  Pipes ( a name known to one or two here?? ) collaboration with a couple of  heavy rock bands and a classically trained female vocalist who have gained more than a modicum of success with their performance  in Huddersfield  Town Hall and a redundant church.

Great interest is being shown in these people to perform in other churchs` including that located in my native city of  Bristol, namely  St. Mary  Redcliffe.

Well worth perusing , I think this will generate more interest in the organ than the somewhat inane witterings of a Certain Other Person .

This could, hopefully, be the progenitor of the long awaited renaissance of the organ in the 21st cy instead of its languishing in the dust of the 19th.

 

 

[S_L]

David Pipe - not Pipes!!!

Yes, I just read that too! And I agree with what you say!! It's high time that the organ, and the organists, got out of their 'fusty' archaic selves! Good on David Pipe - and Anna Lapwood - and all of those fine young players working so hard to drag the instrument screaming into the 21st century.  

[John Robinson]

11 hours ago, S_L said:

David Pipe - not Pipes!!!

Yes, I just read that too! And I agree with what you say!! It's high time that the organ, and the organists, got out of their 'fusty' archaic selves! Good on David Pipe - and Anna Lapwood - and all of those fine young players working so hard to drag the instrument screaming into the 21st century.  

The wife and I are going to see Anna Lapwood at Manchester Cathedral in a few weeks.  She is an excellent example of young people who are going to resurrect interest in the organ in this country.  Jonathan Scott is another very impressive organist who can really make the organ sound as if it's being played by TWO organists!