Prelude and Postlude—Can We Talk?

A frequent topic of discussion and debate on the Methodist Musicians' List is noise and activity in the sanctuary while the organist plays the prelude and postlude. Some organists diligently practice to prepare their musical offerings, only to have to compete with talking, laughter, people walking around, and generally being ignored; or worse, being regarded as an intrusion to the important fellowship that goes on before and after the REAL worship service. Some worshipers look forward to greeting and reacquainting with friends and church members before and after worship, only to have an organist, intent on showing off performance skills and an instrument's full sonic capabilities, get in the way of true fellowship.

The conflict has probably been with us since organs were first brought into the church to accompany worship, and it remains with us today. Organists have dealt with it in different ways. Here are a few that I know of personally:

1. Some years ago, the organist for annual conference loudly slammed the roll-top cover on the organ console after his opening service postlude, stormed out of the room with his robe flowing in the breeze behind him, and left the conference never to return. He found it rude that the conference would not listen quietly to his prelude and postlude.
   
2. The organist in one church I know about gradually increases the volume of his prelude and postlude as the music progresses and as the people continue to talk, often ending the postlude with the Tutti/Sforzando piston. This same organist will sometimes interrupt his playing during a loud passage by simply stopping mid-phrase, exposing the talking for all to hear. Of course, everyone stops talking immediately and looks at the organist to see what's happened. He then resumes at a much quieter level, as does the talking.
   
3. I heard of a guest substitute organist who interrupted his prelude and verbally instructed the congregation to take their seats and listen.
   
4. We've had several organists on Methodist Musicians' List confess to playing pop, secular, children's, and silly songs as postludes -- sort of a "So there, take that!" response to congregational inattention.
   
5. One organist I know simply stops playing when she judges the talking and visiting to be too much to bear. If it's during the prelude, she remains on the bench, silently waiting for the announced choral call to worship.

There is no simple best resolution. People will talk and visit, and organists will play. It's a topic the Methodist Musicians' List has debated in the past, and it will continue to come up in the future. Each organist, each worshiper, and each congregation will need to find their way. May that way be lined with grace, sensitivity, and prayer.