Follow on discussion from Chris Powell's article - "Where do we go from here". The state of the UK organ clubs. Is there a future? What can be done? Your chance to give an opinion...
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Where do we go from here?
(2 posts)-
Posted 3 years ago #
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I dont know about the electronic organ club scene but speaking in relation to the theatre organ societies in the UK, this is an area I have been raising for many years but am speaking to deaf ears - or denial???
I have a reputation for being outspoken so why change the habits of a lifetime!!! However, I have always tried to tell things as to exactly how I feel whether good or bad in the hope it will result in improvements. Here goes:
For me personally, an organ society is supposed to STRENGTHEN your interest in the theatre pipe organ. However, for me it did the exact opposite. Since I was 15 (14 years ago) I have dealt with almost every theatre organ society in the UK and im afraid to say I find most of them to be rude, unwelcoming and cliquey. They are more than happy to have your money off you but it seems if you want to get further involved it's a case of "if your face fits" type of attitude.
Im not going to name societies on here but one society always put in it's journals how they were "desperate" for younger volunteers. So being young (well 26!) I asked and was told "we're okay". Why then did they say one minute they were desperate and then we are okay? It doesnt make sense!!!!
As a result of this I have now all but turned my back on the theatre organ but after backing from the church have had my confidence boosted and have been giving theatre organ style recitals on church organs all over the UK for the past 3 years.
Im not the only one that feels this way. A few years ago an ex cinema organist went along to an organ society "diy" night and vowed he and his wife would never go back again after such a rude and disgusting reception - sadly this is something I know about only to well!!!!
I have in the past approached some of these societies and gave them my views and told them where I felt they were going wrong. The result was either a complete denial, refusal to listen and sadly told basically not to come back.
Only yesterday I had an email from a 16 year old and this is what he had to say:
Hiya Chris :)
I'm glad its just not me 2!!
its aboustley stupid....mine was with the ***** organ society, they talk about wanting to save the organ yet they dont let anyone touch it!
there's this stupid old bloke called ******* and he thinks the console is his baby and he cant go 10cm away from it if anyone is next to it and he doesnt like blackpool style!
you have to play his style of music if you go on it.....if you put some good stops down and have some nice pistons he'll come over and be all like 'YOU MUST LEARN YOUR PISTONS AND YOUR STOPS IF YOUR GOING TO PLAY THE CINEMA CLUB STLYE' then changes them whille your playing.
If you've seen my video of me on the wurlitzer?
that was 2 years ago now and everytime i've tried to go back they have not let me because of some reason or other....in that video you'll see they dont go off the stage and there right next to me talking about me right next to me! its horrible atmosphere....i didnt get to play how i wanted ethier i really wanted to bash out some good showtunes etc, but just didnt feel compftable.
i've only played an organ *wurlizter* Twice! and that was my second time, ever since i've wanted to go back they ethier say 'its out of tune' or i can come but cant play it and have to watch them matience service it.
and they now go in on a wednesday morning every 3 weeks to sort it out and thats rubbish because i'm at school then! (will be at college soon)
it really does anoy me and there's nothing i can do about it......and just the way they are with me and talk to me like i'm nothing.
Where as i want to play 'if my friends could see me now' sort of style. With Glock and xylophone and Trems and vibrato sort of stops, ******* wants to play Funeral music with a sing flute stop down and no trems or anything. He should get on a church organ not theatre organ!!
i'll take it you've seen that video....well the old guy with his hair all Greesed back with butter is *******! the one with the hunchback, and the guy with the white hair and glasses is just as bad. they talk about wanting to save the wurlitzer but dont actually LET anyone save it!
and people like Chris Powel are really nice about it all, most organists are.Mine really anoyed me and still does when i think about it...which is why i ranted on!
I hope one day i get another go (soon) beacuse it's been 2 years! i've improved so much.
I'd love to blow that ******* away, of course i go to a few of the concerts there so its not been 2 years since i've been there, but since i've been on that stage and anywhere near it! its horrible watching the concerts beacuse i just want to get up and play! it really enties me but i cant. i even suggested, after the concerts WHY NOT stay back for an extra half an hour and let me have a go that way they cant complain about having to get it out and set it up etc, and he says it will wear it out if we do that and he has to get to 'meetings' after the concerts and then one week he has to leave to go and pick up his brother (when he doesnt even have one! haha) and then one week the hall is going to be used for something after it etc.
it just keeps on like this so now i think why bother!
although i really want to save the wurlitzer....JUST THEY DONT LET US!Thanks :)
*****To add to this this person will probably focus on the piano and like me put the theatre organ down to a bad experience. So another young person and their enthusiasm driven away.
Obviously, for the confidentiality of this person and the society, I have replaced any names with ******* but it gives an idea of what is unfortunately commonplace in the British theatre organ society scene.
Some of the organ societies have done a super job on their instrument(s) concerned - really first class. However, the same cant be said about their people skills - the two go hand in hand in this business!
In contrast however, I would like to offer my thanks to Larry Mcguire and STOPS at Greenlaw who in my opinion are the near as perfect to an organ society as you can get. They are welcoming, include you and really do encourage you! The NETOA at Howden-le-Wear are also very welcoming.
The organ societies are simply not in touch with younger people of today.
The next 20-30 years are going to be VERY interesting indeed for the British organ scene. However, with things as they are I am very doubtful as to whether most of these clubs and societies are going to be around albeit in a very reduced form. However, as harsh as this may sound, it's what they deserve if they are going to have this attitude.
Christopher Thompson.
Posted 3 years ago #
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