{"id":12150,"date":"2013-05-05T07:40:18","date_gmt":"2013-05-05T12:40:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/?p=12150"},"modified":"2013-05-05T07:40:18","modified_gmt":"2013-05-05T12:40:18","slug":"beware-the-subversive-power-of-the-church-organist-says-new-british-survey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2013\/05\/05\/beware-the-subversive-power-of-the-church-organist-says-new-british-survey\/","title":{"rendered":"Beware the subversive power of the church organist, says new British survey"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"brenda\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A couple of days before I take on the big Rathgeb Casavant organ at the Church of the Holy Trinity at the Eaton Centre, the Telegraph<\/em> has published an article about the antics of church organists in England.<\/p>\n

This is probably only news to people who don’t attend church regularly, but organists are a sneaky lot, who find sly ways to comment musically on the goings on within their consecrated walls.<\/p>\n

The Telegraph<\/em>‘s religious affairs editor John Bingham compiled the highlights from a survey of churches:<\/p>\n

Among examples cited was that of the organist in Scotland who had fallen out with some of the elders in the Kirk but got his own back by inserting a thinly disguised rendition of \u201cSend in the Clowns\u201d as they processed in for a Sunday service.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, a vicar sacked an organist after he played \u201cRoll out the Barrel\u201d at the funeral of a man known to have been fond of a drink.<\/p>\n

In one decidedly high church congregation, an organist punctured the mood of reverence as an elaborately dressed clergyman processed back after the gospel reading \u2013 by playing the theme tune to The Simpsons.<\/p>\n

Another congregation found themselves passing around the collection plate to the strains of \u201cMoney, Money, Money\u201d by Abba.<\/p>\n

The survey uncovered examples of Eucharist celebrations livened up with renditions of Bon Jovi\u2019s \u201cLivin\u2019 on a Prayer\u201d; the theme tunes from the Magic Roundabout, Blackadder and Harry Potter and even \u201cI\u2019ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts\u201d.<\/p>\n

Sung Evensong \u2013 widely regarded as the jewel in the crown of English choral music \u2013 has been spiced up with such unexpected offerings as \u201cI\u2019m a Barbie Girl\u201d and \u201cI\u2019m Forever Blowing Bubbles\u201d<\/p>\n

One organist who responded confessed to playing hits by Oasis, Billy Bragg and even Kylie Minogue in services but added: \u201cNobody notices \u2013 I do it all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n

But when an organist played a slowed-down version of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins, even the most tone deaf members of the congregation eventually recognised it, sending them into gales of laughter.<\/p>\n

An older bridegroom took it in good humour when the organist played \u201cNo one loves a fairy when she\u2019s 40\u201d at his wedding, while candidates at a confirmation service were left perplexed to hear the strains of \u201cI\u2019m a Little Teapot\u201d from the organ loft.<\/p>\n

Stephen Goddard, of Christian Research, said: \u201cIt’s an oft-repeated adage in church circles \u2013 \u2018What’s the difference between an organist and a terrorist? -you can negotiate with a terrorist\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cHidden from view, your local church organist may appear unassuming and self-deprecating, but like any true artist, he or she can be eccentric, mischievous and very opinionated.<\/p>\n

\u201cMess with him at your peril \u2013 he will pull out all the stops to get his own back.\u201d<\/p>\n

(You can read the whole article here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

+++<\/p>\n

Let me cast my eyes down sweetly and say that things like that couldn’t possibly happen in Toronto.<\/p>\n

Right?<\/p>\n

+++<\/p>\n

In the same spirit of fun, here is an Indiana University student having some fun with the Super Mario Brothers on the 3-year-old Seward Organ (made by C.B. Fisk) at Auer Hall, followed by some Pirates of the Caribbean<\/em>:<\/p>\n