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in the Christchurch Town Hall,
New Zealand

Ode to Organists

A truly rare beast ~ a cleric who values his organist ~ wanted to celebrate the years of long service that the man had given to his God and his church, in verse, so we passed the word around our network. Regular reader/helper/corrector/supporter of the pages of this website, SNOW FENN, of Wellington, couldn't resist tackling the challenge. Needless to say, it was received with gratitude from all involved. We publish it here as one man's offering to the thousands of musicians everywhere who give so much.

Ode To Organists
By S.J.C. FENN


O glorious band of music makers,
Who down the years have been partakers
In creating sounds of widest variety
To please all tastes throughout our Society
Who from Church and Palace, Theatre or Town Hall
Played Hymns, or Cantatas, e'en music for All !
We thank you for stirring our deepest emotions
With subtle feelings far deeper than oceans.


From Titled musicians of the FRCO
Right down the scale as low as they go,
All organists serve a musical tradition
By giving their best what e're their condition !
For whether Bach Fugue, or some new-fangled part,
Music'ss their master, their love and their art,
It's a long dedication through good times and bad
And like all our lives makes one happy and sad !


An organist may face some unwanted distractions
Like rows with committees, and obstinate factions,
The blower in the basement that quits right on queue
And leaves you wondering , just what's best to do ?
Or maybe a sipher comes on in mid summer.
Turning the show into an absolute bummer !
The cleaner who left a brush in a big diapason
So you feel you could DO him with chunks from a mason


Then there's the case of the old music rack,
Which jammed up the action when shoved too far back
This actually happened in Wellington Town Hall,
And prevented the organist having a ball !
So you can now see, that their life's far from static
That there's fun in those pipes, and enjoyment pneumatic.
Most of the time the music's stupendous,
And the Great, Choir and Swell absolutely tremendous !


So thanks all you organists for your great inspiration,
And especially so, for your great dedication .
The consistent service, with which most of you serve,
In churches especially, with vigour and much verve
Is oftimes not recognised by clergy or congregation,
But without all your efforts be a loss to a nation.
Please therefore accept this small message of praise
Which those who love organs in your name raise !