Penny Weedon starts a series on the outlook for the organ world, and decides the future is challenging but optimistic. - Here's your chance to comment! http://www.organfax.co.uk/articles/download/32
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Penny's Posts - So Are We Doomed?
(15 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Interesting topic of Penny's, and plenty food for thought. I agree with her article that it shouldn't all be just about the youngsters. Yes, it's important to consider them in the equation, but, I think personally, if we could get more of the 40/50/60 years old generation interested, we may be on to a winner - just so long as we are careful not to alienate the current loyal supporters. A very delicate balance, and something that definitely warrants debate and careful thought. Looking forward to hearing others thoughts....
Posted 1 year ago # -
One wonders if clubs in the UK which cater mainly for the mature person are unique only to the UK. The global approach by Yamaha Japan is to produce keyboards for the younger person. Should clubs in this country be willing to promote the use of keyboards instead of / in addition to the organ type of instrument, would that persuade the younger element to become interested?
Posted 1 year ago # -
As far as I can see, in Japan, they are still pushing organs too. The amount on Youtube etc playing over there is amazing, their standard is also quite amazing!
I'm not sure what has happened over here, but numbers just seem to be dwindling no matter what style the organist is, be it modern or more traditional...unless the venue asks for a donation on exit and you can get away with 20p or even nothing! I think we are a race of people that expects FAR too much for our money and far to much from, lets face it, ordinary human beings who just happen to be musically talented.
As for getting younger blood involved, I dont know the answer!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Just a small point
Last Sunday I played at the Rex Cinema, Elland (one of my few concerts)
Bearing in mind this running topic of "modern music" on a theatre organ -
I included a song from the show "Wicked" in my selection, plus a few more "up-to-date" melodies which seem to adapt well to theatre organ style.
Interestingly, it was this modern stuff that drew the most comments (all favorable, might I add) from a VERY mature audience.
For several weeks prior to the concert I had researched these pieces through my young piano and keyboard students and all knew them well, listened to them on their Ipods or whatever and seemed to consider them "in vogue".(I played the Conn 650 theatre organ which, though in excellent condition, is devoid of any rhythm/auto-accompaniment section - and a delight to play!!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thats great Stephen. On the other hand, the few concerts that I do, I get nice comments about tunes people haven't heard for years, as well as some 60's stuff I throw in and one or two 80's and 90's.
I dont consider myself a concert organist, mainly because I'm not up to it! ;-)
Posted 1 year ago # -
I believe the main problem around the clubs is not so much what is played.
Just getting new rears on seats to replace ones being left vacant through life's natural aging process is, perhaps, the most important task in hand.
Once they're in then it can be pinpointed what kind of, or era of, music they want to hear most.
It's ironic that the instrument of our desire, the electronic organ, whether of theatrical size and awe, or a relatively pocket sized Atelier, the like of which we so love to hear played well by visiting players to our club, isn't even included now in our club's name because the word 'organ' might put people off.
This must be quite a unique situation in the wider world of club activities.
Imagine if a swimming club felt they couldn't mention the word 'swimming' in their title, for fear that any thought of getting wet might stop people joining in the fun. The Butterfly Club, I suppose, might be their answer.
It's an illogical, but a very real, setback.
The million dollar question is how can electronic organ music be promoted to today's new, but rapidly maturing, mums and dads, in a modern way?
And without even mentioning organs?
It's a puzzler for sure.Posted 1 year ago # -
Pete - Its weird but true!!
I have tried to encourage members of my adult education keyboard class to come along to our local organ society "Blackpool Keyboard Club".
Some of them have eventually turned up on my personal invitation of a "free night" - enjoyed it - joined as members. They now realise that "organ" is not all hymns and Bach and that the music they enjoy playing on the keyboard is the same genre as what they will hear on the organs being touted around the circuit.
They, in turn, have tried (are trying) to persuade the others to do likewise but are still met with wrinkled noses and stuffy looks - as if they are "Stepford Wives/Husbands" that have been brainwashed into going to an ORGAN concert. I have tried - OOOOOOHH how I have tried - to tell them that they would benefit by listening to pro performances - hearing styles and registrations but they are resilient to it all, in spite of hearing those that have made the step discussing and enthusing about the month's performer.
And, to repeat my original post on another thread, why won't some of the more talented keyboard pupils or home players make the UPWARD step towards playing a modern electronic organ - same music, same facilities, same sounds and rhythms......... but with greater scope for freedom of expression.If there IS a "god" PLEASE find me some enthusiastic O R G A N students
Please, please...........sob, boo hoo:-(
Posted 1 year ago # -
This is an extremely thin tightrope on which to balance on.
Either upgrade to the music of the masses and alienate those who now support clubs or just go on as we are now and hope for the best.
There seems to be no winning formula.
I attended a Michael Wooldridge afternoon concert at our local theatre this week.
In times gone by, it would have been packed to capacity-the music was incredible the presentation superb and the price was exceptionally reasonable.
Those that were there were the same ones I see at our local organ societies and mature is the word I would use to describe most of them.
You can fiddle about with the cosmetics by altering the name of your society, but really, it will not make a huge amount of difference to the monthly attendance.
I wish I knew the answer to this ongoing problem-if it`s any consolation, this is happening in all areas of life-just ask the proprietor of a small retail outlet-he/she will tell you that they are struggling to survive.
The only thing is that we, who love live music of all genres, must try to encourage others, that sitting, semi comatose with a can of beer in one hand(Heaven only knows wot they re doing with the other!?) in front of that box in the corner, night after night, eagerly digesting the pap and dross that is (in the main) pumped out on a regular basis, are wasting their lives as such.
I rest my case,m lud!!
Jennifer KerseyPosted 1 year ago # -
I do certainly agree Jennifer that TV has evolved from a chunky box which used to deliver some intelligent content, to our current flattened picture of multi-channelled soup...which incidentally pixilates now and then for added interest.
Organ music and playing is an acquired taste. I know this, and people outside of the hobby I mention this interest to usually go quiet on me. Popular music has no instrumental content from one year to the next now, unlike in my youth of the 50's and 60's where bands, organists and pianists frequently entered the charts. There's nothing much electronically organised nowadays to pin our sounds on and come across as a legitimate part of today's musical scene...especially in the eyes and ears of those under 50, or even 60. The musical glitter has faded, largely removed by youngsters and those ghetto blasters of the 70's. You couldn't play 'The Baby Elephant Walk' loudly with your mates and retain much street credibility.
There may also possibly be a common opinion that a pianist has little to work with other than the mechanical sound of a grand piano, and so his/her talent in making the instrument 'sing' are more respected than that of an organist pressing a lot of buttons for effect.
I wouldn't be surprised to see 'home theatres' set up in time by pro organists for their 'live' performed concerts over the internet to subscribed viewers, thus doing away with any social club atmosphere. Requests are emailed in and dealt with by an out of view assistant...probably his or her partner in between doing some ironing.
In that scenario the large shows and festivals featuring several players will still hopefully draw together audiences, but the monthly local club concerts end up as more scattered small groups of diehards sat around a computer monitor watching their favourite players, with a cup of tea, and clubbing together a quid each for the cost of it, and occasionally switching the electric fire to two bars for that stifled community hall warmth they're so missing :(Pete
Posted 1 year ago #
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