The Washington herald., 1920-08-01
CINEMA ORGAN
RIVALS CHURCH
W. H. Nash Shows Need For
Higher Salaries For
Sacred Music.

music in Washington is perhaps
plainly evident to every one" said
Walter II. Nash, one of the fore
most organists of the, younger gem
'eration in this city, to the musical
Editor of The Herald. 1T is Tor
this reason that l am going to at
tempt to set forth abe causes ana
possibly, offer a few suggestions
towards it's betterment.
In reviewing the conditions which
surround local church organists'
find several features, which II I'M
proved upon, would be not only OF
great benefit to the orgsnist him
| self, but would be of such valuable
service to the church toward build
ing up it's congregation, that very
1 few would lose sight of this oppor-
tunity to try and accomplish bigger
results.
First of all. let US consider the
existing conditions from the stand
point of the organist. In city like
Washington, where large musicai
events of a municipal nature are
still is their infancy. and where
practically all of our better con-
certs are the result of outside tall
ent, II is not surprising that we hnd
such a small number of organists
Iby the average church service. The
musicians of this class can, perhaps,
be numbered on the fingers OF one
Ihand. OF course, We have organ
lists Who are experienced and are
doing good work, but the remainder
are more or less of the beginners
school. where they are striving for
goal which seems to grow less
and less desirable as they plod on
ward"
1T is seIf-evident," said Mr.. Nash
that when a church wants an or
ganist to take over its musical ac-
!tivities it wants some one who Is
beyond the stage of being mere
: performer at the keyboard. 1t wants
) an organist who Is broadmindcd IN
his work. and who can be relied
l upon with perfect confidence by the
I congre CATION. This is accomplish =
D ed by the examinations held by the
; guild.
. Coming to the organist's salary,
y II approach the most ridiculous side
n of his existence. For the past
n several years, during which living
e conditions have risen to such an
5 enormous height. l find that the
salaries OF our organists are either
r remaining on the same level, as OF
u.
= lpittanCe-barely enough for car
= fare. This is perhaps the poorest
- induCement to young organist
: and at the same time the greatest
e lhindranCe to an ambitious Congre
cation"
. Mr.. Nash was asked il a church
D. had the right to expect the propeI
y, results from one who must spent
&" his week days at some other oCCu
- patton than that required by tn
n church. and answered the question
= himself by stating that to his minC
2 it was impossible.
Going to the opposite direction
, from that of tho church. we find il
:, the cinema certain ideas carried OIL
- in such a large way and on such
: broad scale that the public canno
> fail to be greatly Influenced by I
= in their regular attendance. Thi
:, fact is most evident in the music
. which we find being produced in
- particularly fine style. In some 0
the larger movie houses are foun
organs which are the equal of an
IL. Of our church organs. and as a di
al rect result. We find highly pal
e. orGanists of unusual merit.
ss 1T is on account of this new for
IS mutation of ideas. derived from tn
u big enterprises, that a large peI
de centage of our churches of the les
ry progressive type find their congr,
As cations gradually dwindling ava
at The churches that are doing II
ers greatest amount of good at II
n present time are those which hay
in, adjusted themselves to modern col
ct ditions and surroundings This
lu- the progressive type to which
So great deal of credit is due for Il
he development of good church musi
ly Mr.. Nash stated that the guild hi
md suggested. at some Of it's meeting
that a fair salary for the organi
would be one-half of that paid
|. the pastor. Mr. Nash was of Il
-. opinion that this was an eXcelle
- plan, which could be adopted wi
>. the very best results. an6 add,
that churchgoers would agree wi
him that an organist in a liturgic
church is at least so per cent as In
sI portant as the presiding clergym
lu in some cases. if anything, mo
lou important.
lue' 1t is plainly evident that the i
ducements to good organist.
far as church work is concern,
iaIl are very slim. May urge, tn,
Il. TO all those who are interested
ord .+be welfare ~ ooo5 obrraL
,st- ltbat in ordar 70 drau tbo 80 :.
tsicians into this line of work,
iCo-operate for better conditions
. the organist's field and better mu
81 will be sure to result"