Despite changes in style, pipe organs endure
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The pipe organ has ruled the Christian worship sanctuary for centuries, and the majestic instrument continues to reign supreme in many Roman Catholic and mainline Protestant parishes.
It's a tougher sell for congregations moving toward contemporary worship.
The growth in praise-band led services, combined with a nationwide shortage of qualified organists, is prompting many congregations to leave pipe organs out of their new construction plans.
Jerry Aultman thinks that's a mistake.
The longtime organist and music professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological said the pipe organ doesn't need to be relegated to funerals and weddings, and it fits nicely into modern worship when used in the right way.
"We shouldn't abandon the organ in contemporary music styles," said Aultman, who plays each Sunday at First Baptist Church in Dallas. "The organ is a wonderful instrument to blend in with any kind of instrumental ensemble. It can fill in a lot of holes in the sound."
The pipe organ, which dates back to the third century B.C., "has always been the choice for churches who want one musician to fill the room with sound," South Dakota organ builder John Nordlie said.
The instrument has been considered expensive throughout its history, with current price tags ranging from $100,000 to well into the millions. But pipe organs hold their value and can last for generations if they're well-designed and well-maintained, he said.
Nordlie crafted his first instrument in 1977 for a church in Appleton, Minn., and has built nearly 50 organs in Sioux Falls shop. Each part is handcrafted, from the wood and metal pipes that turn airflow into notes to the ornate cabinetry that houses the massive structures.
Although electronic and digital instruments can try to emulate the sound of wind being pushed through pipes, "they will never match the sound of the pipe organ," Nordlie said.
"The difference is there," he said. "Whether you take the time to listen carefully is entirely up to you."
The large megabuilders of the 1960s have largely disappeared, but numerous smaller companies are building as many instruments as they can turn out, said James Weaver, executive director of the Organ Historical Society.
Weaver said music aficionados still value the incredible amount of craftsmanship put into each organ. For proof, he points to the top-of-the line organs being built for municipal concert halls such as the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
"The idea of a handmade instrument is something which is just still quite a wonderful thing in our society and it's something that we really care about," Weaver said.
Another factor contributing to the organ's decline is a fewer number of musicians qualified to sit behind the consoles. The pipe organ is a complex instrument, and playing it well requires intensive training and practice.
Weaver said the number of organ students dropped tremendously a few years ago as musicians worried about whether their degrees would lead to jobs. He said he's starting to see a turn-around.
"Now there are more positions available I think," he said.
Aultman agreed. He said there are fewer universities offering organ degrees, but the ones that remain are stronger.
"There are still students that are majoring in organ, and there are still churches that will hire them and pay them a living wage," he said. "And I think that's just going to get better."
Aultman urges organists who want to make a living to embrace contemporary styles. He suggests that organists trained to playing only off of sheet music to learn play off chord charts like Nashville studio musicians.
"My advice to organists is, 'Don't be a snob,'" he said. "You're not going to probably find a position where you can play all Bach preludes and fugues for the bulk of your work."
It's a tougher sell for congregations moving toward contemporary worship.
The growth in praise-band led services, combined with a nationwide shortage of qualified organists, is prompting many congregations to leave pipe organs out of their new construction plans.
Jerry Aultman thinks that's a mistake.
The longtime organist and music professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological said the pipe organ doesn't need to be relegated to funerals and weddings, and it fits nicely into modern worship when used in the right way.
"We shouldn't abandon the organ in contemporary music styles," said Aultman, who plays each Sunday at First Baptist Church in Dallas. "The organ is a wonderful instrument to blend in with any kind of instrumental ensemble. It can fill in a lot of holes in the sound."
The pipe organ, which dates back to the third century B.C., "has always been the choice for churches who want one musician to fill the room with sound," South Dakota organ builder John Nordlie said.
The instrument has been considered expensive throughout its history, with current price tags ranging from $100,000 to well into the millions. But pipe organs hold their value and can last for generations if they're well-designed and well-maintained, he said.
Nordlie crafted his first instrument in 1977 for a church in Appleton, Minn., and has built nearly 50 organs in Sioux Falls shop. Each part is handcrafted, from the wood and metal pipes that turn airflow into notes to the ornate cabinetry that houses the massive structures.
Although electronic and digital instruments can try to emulate the sound of wind being pushed through pipes, "they will never match the sound of the pipe organ," Nordlie said.
"The difference is there," he said. "Whether you take the time to listen carefully is entirely up to you."
The large megabuilders of the 1960s have largely disappeared, but numerous smaller companies are building as many instruments as they can turn out, said James Weaver, executive director of the Organ Historical Society.
Weaver said music aficionados still value the incredible amount of craftsmanship put into each organ. For proof, he points to the top-of-the line organs being built for municipal concert halls such as the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
"The idea of a handmade instrument is something which is just still quite a wonderful thing in our society and it's something that we really care about," Weaver said.
Another factor contributing to the organ's decline is a fewer number of musicians qualified to sit behind the consoles. The pipe organ is a complex instrument, and playing it well requires intensive training and practice.
Weaver said the number of organ students dropped tremendously a few years ago as musicians worried about whether their degrees would lead to jobs. He said he's starting to see a turn-around.
"Now there are more positions available I think," he said.
Aultman agreed. He said there are fewer universities offering organ degrees, but the ones that remain are stronger.
"There are still students that are majoring in organ, and there are still churches that will hire them and pay them a living wage," he said. "And I think that's just going to get better."
Aultman urges organists who want to make a living to embrace contemporary styles. He suggests that organists trained to playing only off of sheet music to learn play off chord charts like Nashville studio musicians.
"My advice to organists is, 'Don't be a snob,'" he said. "You're not going to probably find a position where you can play all Bach preludes and fugues for the bulk of your work."
Thanks for the article on pipe organs. Â As another commenter posted, the American Guild of Organists has a large chapter here in Seattle. Â The chapter works to promote the instrument, provides scholarships and grant funds for organ-related study and outreach events, and hosts a number of events throughout the year aimed at professional development and such. Â One personal goal I have is to see the organ come out of the closet as simply an instrument of the church. Â It is much more versatile than people give it credit for. Â Toward that end, the organ world does need to consider opening itself up to promoting more than just the literature of deceased white men of generations past. Â Yes, much of it is incredible music, but we shouldn't let it stop there. Â And, unfortunately, many modern compositions (free form, not sacred) appeal only to a very small portion of the population. Â So, I see a huge opportunity here if we are to see the instrument not only survive an age of dwindling church attendance but also thrive and become a more utilized and appreciated instrument in contemporary culture.Â
Thanks for this article, KOMO. Â I do agree that pipe organs are highly versatile instruments!!
I would like to reinforce the fact of the tremendous breadth and versatility of the pipe organ. It can make a broader range of sounds than any other musical instrument, and it can be played in interesting ways so that it enhances a huge number of settings. Too bad that people as a whole do not realize how versatile it is, and it is also too bad that people associate pipe organs with great costs. Recycled instruments are affordable for many settings, and we have builders in the Pacific Northwest who can proivde these as well as new instruments. I even know of one place where such instruments can be provided for public settings on a charitable or very low cost basis.  Further, we have a large chapter of the American Guild of Organists in this area with many competent organists. So, we are in a great part of the world to make excellent use of the pipe organ, and I would encourage all of us to do exactly that.
Love pipe organs. Problem is, there are few buildings that can "take it" when all the stops are pulled out. One does want to keep the windows intact.  The one in the cathedral in Passau, Germany is phenomenal.Â
I'm one of those "authenticity" people, needing to hear period music on period instruments. Â I have an old vinyl recording of Bach organ music played on the Luneborg organ, on which J.S. Bach actually played, which I treasure. Â
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For those similarly afflicted, I would recommend Beethoven's nine symphonies as recorded by the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century conducted by Frans Brüggen.  It is a revelation on how the music sounded to audiences of the time as compared to large orchestras more suitable for late 19th century composers. Â
How much more could have been added to this article. We have two of the finest organ builders of the United States right here in Washington state, Martin Pasi in Roy and Paul Fritts in Tacoma. We also have one of the finest organs in the entire country, the magnificent Flentrop of Seattle's St. Mark's Cathedral.
@Furd You sound like a man who knows his organ. :)
How I love the majestic sound of a pipe organ. I had the great honor, whlie in high school, to be involved with a project of dis-assembling a 42 rank organ from a church in Edmonton, and transporting it and re-assembling it in a school chaple in Wisconsin. It took two years to complete, but when the wind blew through those pipes again and the sound of Bach (or Handle or Luther et al) echoed through the building, it was stimply stirring. Alas, although I can play the piano, I never was able to master the organ. Keeping my feet moving while doing the same with my hands just proved too much of a challange. And I am still in love with the pipe organ!
I wonder who ended up with the organ from the old Pizza & Pipes in Ballard.Â
Excellent article. Thank you KOMO