Lent, the 40 days (not including Sundays) before Easter, is a time of re-turning to God. This is a time that is filled with a different kind of music than we have heard for the last 3 months; music that leads us into contemplation, confession and to a different kind of listening.

Yes, listening – something our culture doesn’t always do well. When I started this blog, I had hopes of writing every week or two, of posting my thoughts and experiences as a church organist. I started talking to my colleagues and other organists – but realized that it’s not that simple. We are a different kind of musician, you see – and that is hard to put into words.

Because even though we may play the same instrument, we often have to be many different things to many different congregations – and that variety is hard to sum up in a few words.

So, I stopped writing the blog and started listening.

As I carved out more time for silence and listening to others, reading more of what other organists are struggling with – I realized that Lent is never really gone for us. As organists, we are always aware of all of the noise in the room – and for those of us who are also choir directors, we are ever vigilant to how we will balance the instrument, the singers and the room – we are constantly re-tuning and re-turning everything to the Lord.

So we re-turn to the Lord every week, praying for guidance, listening to the choir, the room and the people. And during this time of year, many of us find that some of the folks around us in our congregations have stopped talking as much and are listening – at least a little more. And this is our opportunity to give them a reason to keep listening.

So if, in the next few weeks, as you listen to prelude and special music, if you hear more silence, remember it is all part of the music – including the silence. For in the silence – the music lingers, and it grows, attaching itself to us. It weaves its way slowly through our ears, our minds and into our hearts – re-turning us to the room, the day, and the presence of God around us. For God is with us in the music too. The music, for some of us, is where we encounter God early in the day – whether the music is in our minds – ringing in the silence, or in our ears coming from instruments or voices, it calls us to re-turn.

Lent – Spring, new life – in the music, however it comes. Yes.

Pipe Organs

Pipe Organs, marvelous inventions that mimic our very breath and carry a phrase that impels us to the boundaries of our physical limitations, should we attempt to outsing one! An instrument that when studied and lovingly cared for can delight us with music that stirs our souls, puts a beat in our step and can wake us as if the final trumpet has sounded, or delicately lead us in a lullabye for a new child. The King of Instruments - the Pipe Organ!

Or as some people think is it not? Is it just an old fashioned instrument, something that takes more than it gives? "You know, Grandma had one in her church. They still use it to play an old rusty hymn - what is it good for?" No, you may have an electric or pipe organ that hasn't been cared for, or maybe even have one that has - but the person sitting on the bench, the artist that brings this beast to life - is just as much a part of the picture of the pipe organ's life as the professional stage musician is on his or her keyboard rack. (Where do you think the idea came for multiple keyboards being played at one time, hmmm? From organists - of course!)

Although there is a resurgence in the building of pipe organs in various places, there are many people who do not know anything about them - so they don't see a need for them. Can I change the level of ignorance that abounds today about pipe organs in a blog? I don't know, but I can write about folks who have a passion for this lovely instrument and hopefully by writing a few posts with the ocassional picture, I can share why these instruments and the artists and players who love them are more than a passing fancey of the past, but a vital part of our world today. Maybe those of you who read this will decide to try it out for yourselves! We can talk about how to do that, too!