Charles Scramm wrote to me recently: Noel, I think you are treading on dangerous ground with this and are opening up Pandora's box. While you seem to be taking a cautious approach, I believe that it still sets a dangerous precedent. There's nothing wrong with doing without organ music (pre, post or within the service.) After all, that is done by a number of denominations during Advent and Lent. I would also add that unison or a cappella part singing by the congregation can be a very moving experience for those involved. Anyway, that's my unasked for two cents worth. I wonder how others on the list feel about it. Best regards to you and the list from an unseasonal warm, rainy Maine. Charles Schramm retired church musician (after 47+ years) Charles, Thank you for your thoughts and comments. I feel that offering MIDI disks that play the organ are only a stop-gap measure...a fill-in for the organist who may have to be absent, has his or her hands full, or for a church that has an organ but cannot find an organist. There is so much more to being a church organist that just playing the notes, as we all know. We have all experienced the stress of sitting while a sound engineer totally screws up a service flow by playing the wrong music track or the singer getting off and never recovering. We, however, can quickly overcome and adjust...someone running a sound system or a midi player can't. Many times the automatic playing of an instrument keeps the sound of the instrument in the air..and encourages the finding of a real person to play. I think the absence of organ can be very effective too...I make sure that the organ is silent frequently...during hymns and times when one may play traveling music..sometimes I do and don't. The pastor and I have an understanding..sometimes I begin to play during prayer and sometimes I don't...depending on the day and the situation. I have not yet begun to play during the sermon....though this young white Southern Baptist preacher attended a Black Baptist church throughout college (Carson -Newman) and has mentioned a time or two that he likes an organist who can punch up a sermon! I have had the opportunity to play a B-3 for a Black Gospel service, including the sermon (when the pastor got up from the piano and said he was going to preach he said, "now you go on and play")...and I did a very poor job - filling in for an associate who had been felled by kidney disease. Anyhow, I have wandered off the subject. I share your concerns, Charles. noel jones ____________________________________________________________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Download free music by Clay Baker at: http://www.frogmusic.com/JoyfulPostlude.html To unsubscribe or set to vacation, go to www.frogmusic.com/rodgersmem.html If you have any difficulty with this or PayPal, please contact noeljones@xxxxxxxxxxxxx for help!