An organist’s vacation….

You’d think that, when a church organist is on vacation, he would avoid churches. But nothing could be further from the truth. It’s not like we do it for the money—something musicians and teachers share is that they do their jobs for the love of it, and it’s also nice if it pays the bills. As an organist, nothing thrills me more than hearing other organists play wonderful music on magnificent instruments. Even better if it’s in an actual worship service, for organists have little time to worship when they’re trying to keep track of everything happening in the services during which they’re responsible for music. Believe me, it is obvious to everyone when I lose focus, even for a second. 😄 (I often tell Julio, my partner-in-music at Jacksonville FUMC, that it is really only during his solo piano service-playing that I can truly worship during our services. Oh, and also during your sermons, Steve. 😉)

It must be said that my wife knows me well—and she understands this. (Perhaps this is because she has heard my play-by-play after EVERY church service.) She has used her superb trip planning skills to work in Evensong at the main cathedrals most everywhere we will travel this week and beyond. She knew I would love it, but even I didn’t anticipate just how much I needed it.

We queued up early yesterday for Evensong at Westminster Abbey and learned as we entered that photography was not allowed during services. That was very freeing, and it made the experience, well, more experiential than documentary. We heard the choir rehearsing with the organ beforehand, giving us a taste of what was to come. As it happened, we were able to sit on one of the two front rows facing each other, with the organ and choir on our left and the altar on our right. The music was, of course, amazing—early baroque works of Adrian Batten and William Smith; Joseph Barnby’s 19th-century setting of Psalm 80; Herbert Howells’s Magnificat and Nunc dimittis; William Walton’s The Twelve; and the recessional Allegro giocoso by Edward Bairstow. Hearing highly-trained musicians, including the clear tones of boy sopranos, is a treat. But having it enrich a church service is even more uplifting.

The high point was singing along with the choir in the hymn “Let the round world with songs rejoice” (tune DEUS TUORUM MILITUM, which I recognized, but I’m not sure what text I’ve sung before…but I digress). I consider accompanying congregational singing my main job as organist, but I rarely get to be part of the congregation. Hearing scripture read and sung, listening to service music, speaking responses, and singing together—such a simple service in structure, but immersed in it I was quite overcome, especially considering the magnificent space and the fact that daily services have been held at Westminster for over a thousand years. I choked back tears and couldn’t really speak for quite a while after we left the sanctuary.

That service alone would nourish my soul for quite some time, but I almost giddy with the thought that we get to do it again this week at King’s College Chapel, Cambridge; Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford; and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Later on it will be Canterbury, Exeter, Bath Abbey, Yorkminster, and Durham. Like I said, my wife knows and loves me. 🙂

When I get back home, my organ skills will not have improved, but I hope that my refreshed spirit will show when I play. Our organ will likely have been revoiced by then, better balanced for the sanctuary space, and I look forward to learning its new nuances and leading congregational worship again. See you in August, church family!