I was really pleased with the turnout and enthusiasm parishioners had for a series of "Organ Open Houses" that I hosted after the principal Sunday service for the last three weeks. This was such good "organ evangelism", in my opinion, that I want to share some thoughts on what I did so that others might take up the cause.

I conceived of a series of three short (20 minute) sessions over three weeks, but you might just do one or two. Really you should adapt everything here to your instrument and your situation. Your mileage may vary.

How to host an "Organ Open House"

Session 1: Organ Pedals

The organist plays with his or her feet, which is actually a really big deal. No other musician makes music this way. (Demonstrate with a short piece of music written for pedals alone, and/or a pedal solo excerpt from Bach or Buxtehude).

Let others try their feet (ask them to take their shoes of if you must) at the pedals.

Let folks peer inside the organ, or walk around if they can safely do so one or two at a time.

Session 2: Stops

Meet the pipes: all [however many you have] of them

Break down by families:

• Principals, the principal sound of the organ
• Add mixtures
• flutes
• strings, celestes
• Reeds

Demonstrate and pass around model pipes if you can find them (check with your local organ builder).

Explain different octaves of organ stops 8' (describe as "piano" pitch), 16', 32', 4', 2'

Finally, mutations and the cornet "recipe". I liken a compound stop to a "pizza seasoning" that contains all the necessary ingredients to make the cornet happen.

Let folks play around with the stops and devise their own "secret sauce" at the organ.

Let folks peer inside the organ, or walk around if they can safely do so one or two at a time.

Session 3: Bells and whistles

Time to nerd out.

• You could start with basic stuff. How do you see? TV monitor or mirror?
• Signal lights? Intercom?
• Explain combination action, and demonstrate a few of your recently set pistons.
  • Don't forget General Cancel (the organist's best friend).
  • The set button
  • Have a sequencer? MIDI?
  • How many toe studs do you have and what do they do?
• Turn on the case lights and operate the swell box so people can see.
• Operate the crescendo pedal, and if you can, turn on the "blind check" feature so people can see how it works.
• Tutti buttons! (Red light = "danger, Will Robinson!")
• Zimbelstern (if you're lucky)
• Rossignol (if you're really lucky)
• Any final idiosyncrasies?

Let folks play around with the pistons and other features you've just shown them.

Let folks peer inside the organ, or walk around if they can safely do so one or two at a time.

In conclusion

These are just simple ideas, and everything I did was very easy, but organ evangelism is important! So, get out there and encourage people to get up close to the organ they hear every week. If your experience is anything like mine, you'll be very pleasantly surprised with the success of your first "organ open house".

Labels: organ, organ pipes