THE Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) is launching a year-long campaign to ask more people to play and appreciate the organ.
The campaign, “Play the Organ Year 2025”, will feature First Encounter organ recitals, including, where possible, sessions designed for people latest to the organ. “We know that there are numerous organs in beautiful churches that are underused; indeed, it is usually a struggle to search out enough people to play them for services,” the director of the RSCM, Hugh Morris, said.
“Hello? I’m all in favour of becoming an organ donor”
“So, Play the Organ Year is a superb opportunity to encourage people to try the organ for themselves, and to find what it seems like to play an instrument that literally sits at the guts of their local communities. The RSCM is proud to be working with our friends on the Royal College of Organists [RCO] and other organisations in supporting this initiative, and we sit up for sharing the stories as they unfold.”
Free Play the Organ packs can be found, containing detailed plans and resources for hands-on sessions suitable for anyone from an entire music novice to those with a bit experience of piano or other keyboard instruments.
The chief executive of the RCO, Sir Andrew Parmley, describes the organ as “an impressive instrument unlike some other — powerful, versatile, visceral, and massive fun to play . . . a singular and thrilling experience.
“But, with declining church attendances, drastic cuts at school music education, and ever smaller audiences for live performances, we all know that fewer and fewer persons are getting the prospect to find this for themselves.”
The Director of Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge, Anna Lapwood, is patron of Play the Organ Year, alongside a team of leading organists from across the UK. “I hope that as lots of us as possible take up the challenge to throw open the doors and make 2025 the yr we share this remarkable experience with a record number of individuals,” she said.
