I’ve always got a kick out of real music directors who derisively call electronic organs “toasters.”
My organ professor called them “two-manual radios.”
hahaha! All the real organist musicians I know refer to them as “toasters” as well.
At the same time, some churches have to make due with what they have. Although there is nothing comparable to a real pipe organ (when played by a competent musician), one can get a decent sound out of a toaster if the person playing it is a musician, an organist and has an understanding for it. Some electronic ones are just plain awful, though, but I’ve heard others where the sound (although not ideal) isn’t so bad for the size of the church.
I’m very fortunate and spoiled by the fact that we have a wonderful pipe organ at our parish cathedral commanded by one of the most talented (and humble) organists in our city. Our city and surrounding areas are also fortunate to have many churches with pipe organs. Some parishes have worked to keep them going. Others, are in process of fixing them (can take years) and then others just don’t have the resources to either fix or purchase a new one.
It’s all a matter of priority. Some parishes will work together to either fix or replace their pipe organ and don’t mind waiting years to get it all done. One parish I’ve worked is in that process now. It’s a gorgeous, huge, old Italian parish and they are using an electric piano for the time being until it is all replaced with the new pipe organ. It has been taking years, but worth it for them. Other parishes have other pressing issues which need to take top priority, so fixing or replacing a new pipe organ isn’t really on the list which is totally understandable.
One of the biggest tragedies - in terms of pipe organs - is that there were a couple of parishes with beautiful pipe organs that didn’t need much work, but these companies sold the parish on the idea that the toaster would be a better organ for the parish. I know organists who played on the originals up until they were taken out and these organs were totally fine to play.
Pipe organs only sound like a horror flick when it is played like one. Admittedly there are those organists who really don’t know how to work their organ and think “louder and uglier is better”. Then there are organists, like our music director, who have brought me to tears playing the most meditative, beautiful and sensitive piece from French organ literature that no other kind of instrument could have done the same justice to because the music was specifically written for the organ.
I think other musicians on here would agree, but one of the ways to get younger generations to play is if they hear the organ played well. Also, parents as well as parishes need to instill the importance of sacred music and music in general. It seems dead in the Catholic church in some areas. The kids taking piano and organ lessons are usually the Protestant kids. And from what the teachers have said, it’s because their parents and churches encourage and promote it. I don’t really see it promoted in the Catholic churches - either because there are people who don’t like the organ, have just given up on trying to encourage it, are indifferent to sacred music in general (usually because the music program at the parish is mediocre or bad) or think that the organ can only be done in cathedrals.
At the same time, it does sometimes feel like the organist is a dying breed. What I’ve found working all around are people who call themselves organists, but actually either have no clue how to play one or are actually not even real musicians. It’s always such a real joy and gift when I can play with someone who truly knows how to command an organ.
I wish more pianists would learn how to play the organ. This is because pianists who are also organists tend to play the organ with more legato, so it doesn’t sound so choppy. Of course, there is still a specific and different way of playing the keys of an organ to the keys of a piano, but a pianist (and a really good organist who knows his/her organ) have a better handle with playing with legato. I’m not generalizing as I know this is not always the case, but I’ve found this to be the case with other pianists/organists I know.
So pianists and piano teachers - PLEASE learn how to play the organ if you can or encourage your students to take it up as well.
