An unsigned article published Friday (11/1) in The Economist reports on the evolving career paths of American organists. “For generations, the Episcopal (Anglican) church has been the steward of traditional [organ] music in America—and so the main employer of talented organists. But today the church is in steep decline.… At the same time, America’s conservatories are turning out exceptionally capable organists. ‘The standard of organ playing in the U.S. is higher than it has ever been in history,’ says Paul Jacobs, chair of the organ department at the Juilliard School in New York. ‘Perhaps there are not quite as many students as there were, say, 50 years ago, but the quality is remarkably higher.’ Mr. Jacobs sees a future for organists in ‘the broader realm of classical music.’ ” Several important U.S. classical-music venues “have either installed new organs or upgraded existing ones in recent years.” Chad Smith, vice president for artistic planning at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, comments, “Obviously most of the music comes from the church tradition, but we also think of the organ as a contemporary instrument, which is why we commission many new pieces.”
Posted November 7, 2013
