Articles
The King of Instruments
Praise God with . . . organs.
-Psalm 150:4 (KJV)
When asked to write an article on the use of the organ in the American church, I happily agreed. Since I did not want to include only my own thoughts, I sent a limited survey to select denominational leaders, pastors, spouses of pastors, ministers of music, organists, and university professors from various parts of the United States including California, Massachusetts, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Texas, Missouri, and Alabama. Twenty-one responses came from leadership in the following: Adventist, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Catholic, Congregational, Covenant, Episcopal, Foursquare, Lutheran, Nondenominational, Presbyterian, United Methodist, and United Church of Christ, with congregations ranging in weekend attendance from 150 to 10,000 worshipers.1
Before discussing the results of the survey, a brief history of the organ will be helpful. The organ first appeared in the Near East where descriptions predate Christianity. St. Jerome (c. 342-420) indicates that an organ at Jerusalem could be heard nearly a mile away at the Mount of Olives!
By the tenth century larger organs were being conceived, constructed, and installed. During the sixteenth and seventeen centuries, independent instrumental forms for the organ were being written (such as the toccata). Use of the pipe organ reached new heights in the deeply spiritual music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). In the eighteenth century, the unique role of the organ attained even more prominence, especially in the Roman liturgy.
In 1928, Pope Pius XI affirmed the human voice as the most perfect instrument, but went on to say there is one musical instrument, however, which properly and by tradition belongs to the church, and that is the organ. On account of its grandeur and majesty it has always been considered worthy to mingle with liturgical rites where accompanying the chants, or when the choir is silent, for eliciting soft harmonies at fitting times.2
On December 25, 1955, Pope Pius XII stated that the organ �adds a wonderful splendor and special magnificence to the ceremonies of the Church. It moves the souls of the faithful by the grandeur and sweetness of its tones. It gives minds an almost heavenly joy and lifts them up powerfully to God and to higher things.3Later, Pope John XXIII spoke of the organ as a �symbol of the life-giving breath of that spirit of the Lord that fills the world.�4
The organ is used today in most denominations. All of the churches participating in this survey have digital or pipe organs in their major worship spaces, which they include in worship on a regular basis. Even though some of these churches have started contemporary services, many are not held in the main worship areas. Of the congregations surveyed that have either blended or contemporary worship in their major worship centers, twelve use the organ regularly, one occasionally, and one never. However, the one church that never includes the organ in the contemporary services does use the organ each Sunday for the traditional worship services.
The majority of the organs were installed in the 1980s and 1990s. Of the 21 total responses, additions to present organs or new installations have recently been completed or are being projected by half of the churches. One organist responded with information that many churches in the Midwest are currently installing new pipe organs. Young organ students continue to be trained. I am familiar with several students of high school and college age who play the piano or keyboards for praise bands, but consider the organ their primary instrument. These young people are vibrant, versatile musicians who read traditional musical scores and chord charts, and are skilled improvisers.
Some of the newer �contemporary megachurches� are adding organs, sometimes in smaller chapels specifically designed for wedding ceremonies and traditional worship experiences, but one church in the Southern California area is actually planning to install a new pipe organ! Interestingly, the one church that discontinued regular use of the organ in 1995, has, in the past year, added a traditional service reviving the use of the hymnal and the organ. In a relatively short amount of time the attendance has reached 500, and the pastor intends to put increased emphasis on the �new� traditional service. All of the congregations surveyed present special choral or instrumental concerts at their churches and would include the use of the organ for these presentations. Several of them also have annual organ recitals and some concert series as well. Over half of the churches said that some of their constituency want to explore the mystical aspect of the Christian faith and are looking for traditional rites and ceremonial components of worship.
Though impossible to share all of the informative comments from the survey, here are selected statements about the future ministry of the organist in the local churches:
Adventist organist: a high value is placed on the ministry of the organist . . . an integral part of maintaining traditional worship.
Assemblies of God pastor: There is a rediscovery of great hymns, a renewed interest in liturgy and litany. Our seniors are beginning to enjoy contemporary music; our youth are beginning to enjoy hymns.
Baptist minister of music: The next five years will be essentially unchanged.
Catholic director of music and organist: �The role of the organ will be expanded. There are three young organ students in our parish. The organ is used at five Masses.
Congregational pastor: �continued leadership in traditional/classical service and specialized use in contemporary and blended.�
Covenant minister of worship: �The ministry of the organist will continue to be strong.
Episcopal organist: Always growing and becoming more vital.
Foursquare pastor: still primary in most of the hymns; used as a support instrument in most songs. It's our desire to have more of our contemporary worship include the organ.
Lutheran organist/choirmaster: The organ is the primary instrument in worship. The ministry of the organist is very much alive.
Nondenominational minister of music and worship: [a] major part of Sunday morning services and supportive role on Sunday evenings.
Presbyterian minister of worship: less use; perhaps decrease use to twelve times per year down the road.
Presbyterian minister of music: more involved in and with contemporary keyboard (synthesizer).
United Church of Christ pastor: �We just remodeled, refurbished and enlarged our organ and we plan a recital to feature it. I wish more involvement in the future with the organist in worship planning and music education.
United Methodist pastor: �The pipe organ is an integral part of worship and a particular delight to me personally. Our culture still values the beauty and majesty of worship in a cathedral-like setting by a powerful and inspiring instrument.
Dr. John Witvliet, director of the Calvin Institute, believes the organ will continue to be an instrument that flourishes in certain demographic and denominational groups. He adds, however, that the future of the pipe organ in congregations depends in large measure on how intentional organists (and those who support them) are about the pastoral needs of the congregations. The more that organ music is treated as an end in itself the more acute the problem will become. The more that organists draw on the immeasurable strengths of the traditions of organ music that we have to meet genuine pastoral needs of larger and newer audiences, the better.7
It has been said that when words fail, the organ inspires praise and adoration, reflection, and articulates the song of the heart. It appears that �the king of instruments� will continue to do that for many years to come. May we all continue to follow the Psalmist�s admonition to �praise God with . . . organs!
ENDNOTES
1. Thanks to the following leaders who responded to the survey: Kemp Smeal, Adventist; Dr. Glen Cole, The Rev. Don Stavros, The Rev. Thomas Matrone, and Dr. Tom McDonald, Assemblies of God; Dr. Terre Johnson and Dr. Joyce Jones, Baptist; Mark Purcell, Catholic; Dr. Gordon Kirk, Congregational; Dr. David B. Leestma, Covenant; Fr. Stephen McWhorter and Dr. Frederick Swann, Episcopal; Pastor Doug Andersen, Foursquare; Eric Dale Knapp, Lutheran; Dr. Clayton Erb, Nondenominational; Dr. Larry Ball, Mrs. D. James (Anne) Kennedy and Douglas Lawrence, Presbyterian; Dr. John Beyersand Inez Pope, United Methodist; and Pastor Judy Hanlon, United Church of Christ.
2. Lawrence J. Johnson, The Ministers of Music(Washington DC: National Association of Pastoral Musicians, 1983), 75.
3. Ibid., 76.
4. Ibid., 78.
5. Margaret Evans, �From the President,� The American Organist (NewYork: American Guild of Organists, August 2005) 5.
Theology, News & Notes (ISSN 1529-899X) is published for the alumni/ae and friends of Fuller Theological Seminary. It is published three times a year, in winter, spring, and fall.
The editorial content of Theology, News & Notes reflects the opinions of the various authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the views of Fuller Theological Seminary.
copyright 2006 by Fuller Theological Seminary. Produced in limited quantities for alumni/ae and friends.
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