Years ago when I was just a young lad of about five or six my parents purchased an old, huge, upright piano. I was fascinated by this instrument, and I still remember trying to pick out hymn tunes that I had either heard in church or played by my mother at home.
Piano lessons inevitably followed. My teacher was a gifted musician and instructor, and I was brought up through the Francis Clark method. I loved every minute of it.
At age eleven (sixth grade) my parents enrolled me in a Christian school, which met in the basement of a local church. We had chapel services daily, and as there were no pianists on staff, I was asked to play.
Anyone familiar with the Francis Clark piano method will know that it is a classical, somewhat European method of teaching, not particularly compatable with chordal, hymn playing. My parents informed the school I would play for them, but needless to say, I was in fear and trepidation, having never really played music like this before, and certainly not for congregational singing.
I still remember the first time I played. I sat down at the piano, a hymn was called out, I turned to the page, and gulped. It was in 4 flats! After what seemed forever, I found all the notes of the first chord and played it, and they all started singing. The only other chord I played for that first verse was the last one, which happened to be the same as the first one. That was the beginning of my musical service to the school, and later, the church, that service now being in its fortieth year.
When I was around age twelve, I had progressed to about a late-intermediate level, and had become fairly proficient at playing through most hymns. About that time our church organist left for another church across town, and I was asked by the church to move to the organ for Sunday worship (up until then I was the choir pianist).
That proved to be rather embarrassing, one reason being that I could barely reach the pedals as I was short for my age. Another was my age; most pianists and certainly organists were adults with years of practice and experience behind them, and here I was just twelve years old.
Nevertheless, I accepted the request and thus began my relationship with the organ.
I was privileged to have as a piano teacher at that time a gentlemen who was the musical director of a large Baptist church (our parent church), in which was a very nice pipe organ. He agreed to give me some lessons to help me in my organ playing duties.
I’ll never forget those times at the console of that magnificent instrument. There is something about playing the music of Bach on an organ that just cannot duplicated on other instruments. Playing the great hymns of our faith on an organ is an unparalleled musical experience, and taking that instrument, with the response to God of His people through hymns, and putting that into the context of corporate worship, enters through the gates of the sublime.
It is a sad thing that today the church has cast off these wonderful expressions of beauty and worship for the trite, shallow, and commercial expressions that cater to an entertainment mindset.
It was a delight for us, then, to recently be privileged to attend an organ dedication concert at a local church in Dallas.
The organ.
The external pipes in the front of the sanctuary (there was another set in the balcony, plus more hidden from view).
The music has been prepared.
One of the organists and master of ceremonies for the evening was Colin Howland. Here he is explaining the various, historical uses of the organ.
Mr. Howland dresses up as J.S. Bach and then plays through Bach’s wonderful organ work, Fuge in G-Dur.
Click here for a short video clip of this piece.
Abigail listening to the concert.
Kimmy and friends enjoying the beautiful music.
One of the wonderful things about this concert was that after finishing all of the musical demonstrations of the historical use of the organ, Mr. Howland made a point to tell the audience that the best use of the organ is when it is used to accompany the people of God in raising songs of praise to our Lord.
I agree.
Here Mr. Howland plays while the audience sings, Holy, Holy, Holy.
Click here to listen to this hymn with voices and organ. If you listen carefully you will hear two young voices singing along, Abigail and Annie.
