Endangered Species

There aren't enough organists to go around. That comes as no surprise to any one of us who have had the problem of trying to find a substitute at short notice.

Any one who plays and doesn't cause public embarrassment by his or her playing is already cemented into position at his or her parochial occupation. The plight is just not peculiar to Roman Catholic musicians; it is universal, at least in the United States.

This dearth of competent 911 organists has become especially poignant for me since I have no regular parish duties now. For example:

In the past three Sundays, I've played four of the six Masses at a local Roman cathedral on one Sunday, a 9:30 Mass at the convent chapel of a sisters' motherhouse on the Sunday before that, and had to turn down a desperate plea from a Methodist organist for two services next Sunday The worst part of it is that I'm not that great.

I can keep a steady tempo with the service music and can get through the hymns with no embarrassment, but Gerre Hancock, I ain't.

The reasons for this drought are many, not the least of which is financial. The going rate in this part of the country is $50.00 to $100.00 for a Mass or service. It is hard to standardize that amount because of the broad stretch of the levels of competency of the organists.

Too many of them aren't worth $100.00 and too few of them are worth a lot more. I know of no one who is willing to work for $25.00.

The problem is exacerbated when one encounters an organ poorly maintained with dead notes in a room with awful acoustics, to say nothing of a cantor who can't count past 1-2-3.

A hidden danger is the presider who improvises his way through the ritual or decides at three minutes before the beginning of Mass that the music selections need to be changed.

He is a prime candidate for a lawsuit for liturgical malpractice. The frustration one feels can quickly turn to resentment and a firm resolve not to return to that parish, no matter how friendly one is with the resident organist.

The American Guild of Organists has recognized the problem for several years now and has mounted several campaigns of trying to fill the gaps. The programs for junior organists and for pianists in transition to becoming organists are commendable. It will be several years, however, before we can see the strain starting to loosen.

Most of the full time organists/music ministers know when they will not be at their posts weeks before that happens and are able to snag the floater such as me to be the "temp" for that Sunday. Sometimes, an emergency emerges and-GASP!-an organist needs to "come to save the day."

Miracles are necessary. Perhaps the ghost of St. Cecilia or the ghost of C�sar Franck can wing their way from the organ gallery and supply musical leadership when summoned. At least, they wouldn't have to be paid a stipend.

Any suggestions? . . . I don't want to hear about prerecorded music. Job security is shaky enough.

You can reach Fred Moleck via email at fmoleck@earthlink.net