• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • Our Team
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Saint Antoine Daniel KYRIALE
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

Children and Organ Failure

Andrew R. Motyka · June 19, 2013

ICHARD CLARK, my impressive co-blogger, had a picture on his Facebook of his children watching him play a postlude on Father’s Day. I thought, “Aw, that’s cute.” And by “Aw,” I mean, “impressive that they’re listening to the piece instead of, say, actively trying to destroy the instrument.”

Perhaps I should explain. A couple of years ago, I had just begun working at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in Altoona, PA, which boasts a 1931 Steinmeyer organ, a truly majestic instrument which I was able to trick everyone into thinking I was at all qualified to play. I was still new on the job, only about 3 weeks in, and still very self-conscious about, well, everything since this was my first Cathedral gig. This sets a fertile backdrop for the mischief of my offspring.

My wife (Julie) arrived for Mass with my two daughters, aged 4 and 2, and was bringing the elder, Mary, to the choir loft to sit with me during Mass (separating the girls was the most effective way to get them to behave, and Mary would sit quietly even then). The younger, Lucy, darted up the stairs to the loft and closed the door, locking herself in. Oh, and I wasn’t up there yet. Julie came running down to tell me that Lucy was locked in the loft. Horrified and thinking of my rambunctious 2 year-old leaning over the edge of the rail, I ran up to unlock her.

Thankfully, she wasn’t leaning over the edge, just standing on the organ pedals and pressing buttons. She wasn’t even making any noise, which is practically well-behaved for a child of 2. I checked everything on the organ to make sure it was okay, and we were good to go.

5 minutes before Mass, I pressed whatever combination I had prepared for my prelude, and started to play. No sound came out. I checked, and the organ was indeed on (don’t ask me why I have the experience to know to troubleshoot that particular problem). Everything was set correctly, but no sound was coming out. Panicked, and having exactly 1.5 minutes before the beginning of a radio-broadcasted Mass, I called an audible at the line and ran down the stairs to use the piano for the Mass (please don’t kill me, Dr. Kwasniewski).

The Mass went fine, but as soon as it was over I started panicking again. There was a special event Mass that evening, complete with brass, and there was no way I could get the organ company out to look at the instrument before then. It was also my third week on the job, and I was pretty sure my irresponsible parenting had just cost the parish several thousands of dollars in repairs. Things weren’t looking so good for our hero, Andy.

I phoned my predecessor, not knowing what else to do (telling the rector was absolutely not on the list of possibilities). I explained the situation, and he laughed a bit. Laughed, the jerk. Apparently, the same thing happened once to his predecessor (the organ not sounding part, not the Father of the Year locking your child in the choir loft part). He directed me to one of the old combination stops on the instrument, marked “all stops off.” Indeed, it was pushed in, and once reset, it worked just fine.

In my defense, this organ was restored in 1992, and all of the old combination stops were left on the console, just for the historical look of the thing, and also to mess with the newbies. How was I supposed to know to check not the pistons that are functioning and in use today, but the pistons that are 75+ years old and never used?

So that’s yet another embarrassing story from the choir loft. The organ wasn’t broken, I wasn’t fired, and Lucy wasn’t hurt on her solo adventure into the loft. I couldn’t be mad at her; she was 2, and at least she didn’t get hurt. It could have been much worse.

No, just kidding; I was still pretty ticked since I almost gave myself a panic attack. But again, Lucy was 2, and even to this day uses her cuteness as a defense mechanism. I was helpless.

Happy belated Father’s Day, everyone!

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Andrew R. Motyka

Andrew Motyka is the Archdiocesan Director of Liturgical Music and Cathedral Music for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    Hymn by Cardinal Newman
    During the season of Septuagesima, we will be using this hymn by Cardinal Newman, which employs both Latin and English. (Readers probably know that Cardinal Newman was one of the world's experts when it comes to Lingua Latina.) The final verse contains a beautiful soprano descant. Father Louis Bouyer—famous theologian, close friend of Pope Paul VI, and architect of post-conciliar reforms—wrote thus vis-à-vis the elimination of Septuagesima: “I prefer to say nothing, or very little, about the new calendar, the handiwork of a trio of maniacs who suppressed (with no good reason) Septuagesima and the Octave of Pentecost and who scattered three quarters of the Saints higgledy-piddledy, all based on notions of their own devising!”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • Candlemas (2 February)
    “Candlemas” • Our choir sang on February 2nd, and here's a live recording of the beautiful INTROIT: Suscépimus Deus. We had very little time to rehearse, but I think it has some very nice moments. I promise that by the 8th Sunday after Pentecost it will be perfect! (That Introit is repeated on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.) We still need to improve, but we're definitely on the right track!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplified Antiphons • “Candlemas”
    Anyone who desires simplified antiphons (“psalm tone versions”) for 2 February, the Feast of the Purification—which is also known as “Candlemas” or the Feast of the Presentation—may freely download them. The texts of the antiphons are quite beautiful. From “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium” you can hear a live excerpt (Mp3). I'm not a fan of chant in octaves, but we had such limited time to rehearse, it seemed the best choice. After all, everyone should have an opportunity to learn “Lumen Ad Revelatiónem Géntium,” which summarizes Candlemas.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“In particular, today we must remember that our liturgy—celebrated according to the books promulgated by Saints Paul VI and John Paul II—must be preserved from any element from the ancient forms.”

— Bishops of Costa Rica —Hat tip to ‘Catholic Arena’

Recent Posts

  • Did Pope Francis Just Publicly Rebuke the Prefect of Divine Worship?
  • Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “The Normal Syllabic Value” (6 Feb 2023)
  • Hymn by Cardinal Newman
  • Church Music Shouldn’t Be “Headache-Inducing”
  • Introit • Candlemas (2 February)

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.