THE director of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), Hugh Morris, has accomplished a 25-hour organ marathon to “raise the profile” of the instrument and to lift funds for Play the Organ Year.
Mr Morris, accompanied occasionally by fellow organists and choirs, began the “25 hours in 2025” at 5 p.m. on 21 November, and accomplished the challenge at 8 p.m. the subsequent day. He said that he was fuelled by tea, coffee, and “quite plenty of biscuits”.
His performance on the Viscount Organs studio in Bicester, Oxfordshire, was streamed survive the RSCM YouTube channel, and may still be watched online.
The marathon comprised a continuous performance of hymns, which were “primarily chosen at random”, and music from local choirs and guest organists, who also spoke in regards to the organ.
“It was an experience lived within the moment,” Mr Morris said. “I cannot now recall what pieces I did or didn’t play, nor which of the handfuls of hymns I played.”
In an announcement, the RSCM said that the “endurance challenge” sought to advertise learning and playing the organ, because the instrument played a “vital role in supporting worship and communities”. The Play the Organ Year campaign represents this mission.
The statement continued: “Churches report difficulty find people to play the instruments that we have now to support worship. . . A big focus of our current work is in empowering music leadership and developing young people.”
Mr Morris said: “They are the long run, and helping them engage with, after which grow and develop through, church music, is a giant a part of what kept me going.”
The organ marathon included a part of this yr’s Director’s Challenge — “Hands on with Handel” — wherein organists of any standard world wide were invited to play the Largo “Ombra mai fu” from Handel’s oratorio Xerxes, alongside Mr Morris on St Cecilia’s Day, 22 November (News, 24 October).
Seventy-six organists have reported their performance. A map showing participants’ locations is published on the RSCM website.
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