[rodgersorganusers] Re: A Thought About 'Pleasing Folks'

Keith Stiles:

I said nothing about stifling creative urges nor about playing the same =
hymns over and over, but here is what I think about these things.

If an organist doesn't have creative urges then he really is not an =
organist, just a player. If he has them but does not use them, then he is =
no musician and is not giving all that is asked of him. Without a musical =
approach our playing neither honors God nor helps others to do so--at best =
it is mechanical and thus uninspired. We are to bring our best to God, and =
this includes the grace of creativity he has given us.

I think the standard hymns should be used but not worn out. I think new =
ones should be used as well, but not exclusively. The musical challenge is =
to bring new life to the old standards and to play the new ones in a way =
that the congregation can grasp. These are challenges, to be sure. But =
they are challenges a good musician should gladly accept. And, as in most =
of life, the key is to find a workable balance.

I wholeheartedly agree that leadership sometimes involves prodding to get =
to a new, higher level. In music, this will, of course, include new hymns. =
But you can only prod so hard and for so long before it is just an =
annoying pain to the receiver who will then tune out the message. The =
leader has to approach this with cautious judgement and determine the =
right amount of force that will get the congregation moving, but not so =
much that they ask they resist.

In all, no one decides to become a church organist because it is easy.

Best regards,
Charlie


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