New chances for organists

Klaas Hoek

Het ORGEL 94 (1998), nr. 3, 34-36 [summary]

The number of music schools increased in the 1960s. Subsidies increased proportionally. In the 1970s budget cuts led to smaller subsidies. The size of music schools decreased.

There was a big difference between the interest of electronic organ students, and that of their organ tutors (organists): they were taught to interpret old music, while the students’ interest in electronic organ music was related to popular music. Later on the keyboard superseded the electronic organ. The number of organ students at music schools decreased and with it the employment for organists.

The church offers, however, several opportunities – that is, if organists manage to become the centre of music making in the (church)community and provide a closer relationship between music and social environment. A potential stimulus is the blurring of borders between light and classical music, and the possibility that simply making music can be expected to become more important than the interpretation of music.