I am a church organist. My job is to help people worship. Whether it’s accompanying the choir, or playing quietly during Communion, my purpose is to help the congregation connect with their innermost selves and with their God. I play a pipe organ, what Mozart called “the King of Instruments.”
Playing in church is a lot different from performing on a stage. People aren’t coming to see me. It’s not about the solos I can play. It is about assisting the minister, the choir and the congregation in worship.
I began playing the organ when I was 8 years old. My family were strict Roman Catholics near Cincinnati. My childhood church was in traditional Gothic style with tall steeples, stained glass windows — and a glorious pipe organ. Its sound and power attracted me before my feet could even reach the pedals.
Sound has the ability to release emotions. I want my music to do that. I want to play music during worship as a way of helping people pray. It is, or can be, a pure instrument of the divine presence — even healing.
For lots of people, music eases the way to opening up to God. At times I function as a sort of empath, sensing and feeling the emotions and energies of people and expressing them through music.
Sometimes I’ll be moved to play a certain melody. Many times someone has come up afterward to say how that music had special meaning for them.
I like to improvise music around a tune that is familiar. Listeners may recognize only the first line of words, for example, “Be Thou my vision ….” As the tune is played and repeated in various ways, each person can build a personal prayer around that central idea.
The pipe organ is especially well-suited to sacred music. Its sound originates from a wind generator. Like the wind, the sound of the organ can be mighty and fierce; or it can be soft as a whisper.
We cannot see the wind, yet it is powerful, and everyone can see its effects.
Many Bibles have a footnote that says the Hebrew word for Spirit can be translated as wind. Ruwach (roo’-akh) can mean “The Breath of God,” referring to something that has been given a vital breath or divine inspiration. Perhaps that’s why I love the organ and how it uses wind to create the music.
Many people stay away from church because they don’t agree with doctrines or they don’t want others telling them how to live. Visitors often walk in with their guards up. But music frees the mind, allowing it to rest and delight in a moment of peace. We all need that sometimes.
I’ve taken part in many worship services over the years — weddings and funerals; Catholic, Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian. Bethesda Lutheran is now where I serve. Lane County is blessed to have many talented musicians and several excellent pipe organs. If you haven’t heard one lately, come soon and listen.
Karen Williamson is organist at Bethesda Lutheran Church. This column is coordinated by Lane Interfaith Alliance, a network of more than 40 religious traditions and spiritual teachings. For more information, visit www.laneinterfaithalliance.org or call 344-5693.