[rodgersorgan] Re: Christmas Music at Christmas



Very well said Noel,
Far from being off topic, I am thankful this issue has at last been raised, 
and needs to be discussed at length. It is central to the identity of the 
organ in today's churches and is the subject above all others that will 
bring me out of my closet to make comment.
As one who has recently been asked to play "without the pedals" by the 
music "leader" (an electric guitarist) and one who flatly refused, in a fit 
of final rebellion (and it was final) against church "musicianship" who 
don't have a clue that the organ is NOT a backing instrument for a band... 
(My ! that is a long sentence and it's not even finished!).. I would like 
to hereby endorse this discussion about the role of the organ in 
contemporary churches and seek to find some answers as to how we can 
promote same yet again, as the king of instruments in such places.
I for one have found that most people in churches love to sing and the key 
for me has been to encourage good hymn singing rather than to try and 
endorse the organ as a classical instrument (No slight here against 
classical literature, but above all else, the Organ stands as the ultimate 
leader and support for congregational singing) In fact, I have seen great 
surprise in many people who never knew they could sing so uninhibitedly. 
The band never did it for them! Never will! Who can sing to a guitar and 
drums..???. One is forced to listen in that context, not to lift one's 
voice at all...
By the way Noel, Thanks for the CD. Arrived safely.. haven't had time to 
delve yet, but looking forward to it.
Ralph
Rodgers Organs
New Zealand
At 02:31 PM 12/4/2002, you wrote:
>Free Priority Mail Shipping through the Holidays from on music from Frog 
>Music Press!
>================================================================================
>
>John,
>
>Your comment is welcome.
>
>However, this is an Independent  Rodgers Organ Discussion Group.  We who 
>play Rodgers
>Organs find ourselves most often playing them in churches. Strange, but 
>true.   Some
>churches follow a church year and the Rodgers Organ is used to fulfill 
>those musical
>demands.  Other churches choose to ignore the church year, celebrating 
>only the church
>festivals that they feel appropriate.  My Amish friends celebrate 
>Christmas and
>Ascension Day only.  They also worship in barns and homes and do not use 
>Rodgers
>Organs.  They do not find playing and selling and designing Rodgers Organs 
>an offensive
>occupation for me to be in.  They just wouldn't do it themselves.
>
>In private e-mails I hear the cries of those who have large Rodgers Organs 
>that can
>uplift a worshiping community and are instead relegated to playing backup 
>to a Praise
>Band.  Organists who are told not to play the pedals because it interferes 
>with the Bass
>Player's bass line.  When did the corporate singing of a church. led by 
>the corporate
>singing of the choir and the organ become a sing along with microphones, 
>choreography.


-

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