My Hauptwerk Story
2014-11-14 - Playing and PiecesMy Hauptwerk story began completely by accident. Most accidents are things you look back and say: "Oh, I'm sorry I had that!" In this case, I say: "I am so VERY glad that I did THAT!". It really did change my life, and in many ways and on many levels, saved me...
I had been Organist and Director of Music at one of the most important Episcopal cathedrals in the US. I had the oldest cathedral choir of men and boys in the country, great Anglo-catholic liturgy, and a wonderful 4-man Austin/Skinner. At that point, I might not have even been interested in HW if it had existed at the time. In 2001, my dismissal was carefully engineered and I was told on March 15th that I had 15 minutes to literally "get out". The details of the ensuing wrongful termination suit are long and messy.
In the end, right or wrong ceased to be the important thing. In essence, I became "blacklisted," and in many ways it "finished my career." Try as I would, I just could not get another job of the type I wanted, so, after devoting everything in me to service in the church, I finally said, "That's it! I'm done! I'll NEVER play again. NEVER!" But, as we all know, "never say never," right?
So I really did wean myself almost completely off of music and organs. At first it was something equivalent to what a heroin addict must feel when they go "cold turkey" and attempt to give their "desire" up. That's what I felt for a few years, but it gradually lessened. I got back into drag racing (something I hadn't done for awhile!), and started working with a classic Corvette restoration shop. I didn't think of playing the organ or working in church, and the "addiction" became less and less.
One day, out of nowhere, I was asked to come back to the synagogue where I had worked for 8 years before leaving for the cathedral job that I mentioned. I didn't "want" to go back, but we needed the money, and the rabbi was such a good friend and pastor to me. I had not been in touch with him, as I didn't want him to know what had happened. When I saw him, we both broke into tears of joy AND sadness, but I WAS glad to be back, and I still knew the liturgy in my sleep. The mid 80’s 2-manual electronic organ sounded like it was glad to have me playing it, and NONE of my pistons had not been changed during the 4 years that I was gone!
So, after a few months, I said to my wife, "Let's see if I can find a church. Not to get "involved" with but hopefully, just to show up on Sundays." I found a few of these, all of which paid around $3000 per year and had mediocre 8-10 rank organs that ALMOST worked OK.
I sort of liked playing for the Episcopal liturgy, although was nothing like the high Anglican splendor that I was accustomed to, and the people were nice, and I didn't feel somebody was always getting ready to stick a knife in my back. I suppose after a "break" of almost 8 years, I was starting to WANT to play again, but I could still take it or leave it.
I did one interim job after another, which is far from ideal, but at least each successive job had a better salary!
In 2008, I was appointed as a one-year interim at a well-paying, traditional, Epsicopal parish with an excellent choir, and great clergy. The problem was that the church was about 60 miles away, and although I generally only had to come twice a week, it was a long haul. The organ, once again, was a small instrument, that was crammed into a space so small, that some pipes could never be tuned!
A friend of mine suggested trying to get Bob Walker (the best "electronic organ" guy in the minds of many) to do something for us. We bought a Colby 3-manual that had been a loaner, and Bob, who had already designed all the software for that organ, completely rebuilt it to my specs and with all the latest improvements. While it was a BIG organ, the room was quite small, and it was appropriately voiced. The Great alone had over 20 ranks, including independent reeds at 16, 8, and 4. Yes, was starting to get the urge more and more, although it felt like I didn't really know how to play anymore. It was a great relationship, and I was soon offered the permanent position, which I accepted, but with some "private reservation." I still was not sure that I wanted to get back into this again. In reality, I was already deeply re-addicted!
It was at this time that I accidentally ran across Hauptwerk while looking at organ videos on youtube. Somebody was playing the Mulet "Carillon Sortie" on the Metz sample set. What caught my attention was seeing the virtual console with the keys and stops moving. I thought it was recorded on the "real" organ. I decided I'd have to find out more about this program, but to be honest, I thought that it was only something you WATCHED on your computer.
When the job at a great church in Hoboken became open, I applied for it and got it. The church had the large and historic Wirsching that you've heard about from me many times. My predecessor had convinced the pastor that the organ was unplayable and should be replaced by a digital organ in the front of the church - and a 3rd rate one at that.
When I started the church had been hit by lightning, and NOTHING was playing on either organ. Now, I had played the Wirsching several times before, and already knew of its significance and grandeur. To make a long story short, the Wirsching was still in excellent shape, but it did have some problems that needed to be solved. So, after wasting almost $150,000, I had to convince the church to spend more. As you may recall, I was fired at the beginning of May, just as the organ was within days of completion. So, with my heart on fire and my playing at its peak, once again, I don't have an organ to play...
BUT I DO!!! Thanks to HAUPTWERK!!!
I'm not ashamed to say that I am "addicted" to HW!!! I'm proud of it!
I have so many friends "on the board," and it is their support that helps to keep my going and ALIVE! With my sometimes bad hearing issues, and other physical pains, HW is, without exaggerating, saving my life in a positive way, and a way that I can share with others!
Having HW is saving me - not only musically but emotionally and spiritually. If I had to "just stop" at this point, I think it would kill me. Having the chance to hear and play the wonderful sample sets of so many spectacular instruments, and to have a chance to post my performances on the Concert Hall means more to me than I can say.
As much as I get thanks and warm, positive feedback from people about what I bring to Concert Hall, I really feel that it is me who should be thanking THEM!
David E. Lamb
Comments
When I discovered Hauptwerk I knew I had to have it, but money was tight and there was just no way I could afford it. However, 18 months ago, my job situation changed for the better and I was able to start thinking about it.
Some friends from my church (where I played an Allen Protege every week) had an old Baldwin organ that did not work any more. They gave it to me and I took it apart down to the bare chassis. I had spent many years in electronics manufacturing, and am mechanically inclined. I also have a few shop tools that I have collected over the years. With those skills and tools I was able to re-purpose the console. I ordered MIDI electronics from a place in Poland. I built a PC from mostly used components, and have upgraded it a piece at a time. I knew I wanted a Cavaille-Coll organ and spent many hours comparing Metz and Caen. I ended up purchasing Caen 2.5 right after it was released.
I manufactured my own stop rail, key cheeks and ventil levers. I still need to rebuild the mechanical switching in the manuals, and am still looking for the 3rd manual. I purchased a 24" TV on sale (1080p) and built a music rack for it to sit in. It connects to the PC via HDMI cable. Now I have digital music. I still want to make touch sensitive page turners that will allow me to change pages without having to maneuver the mouse.
I picked up a wonderful set of speakers with 15" woofers for almost nothing and found a good amp at Salvation Army for $20. And after divorcing and moving right before Christmas, the organ is now located in a large living room with a high vaulted ceiling. The Caen set sounds incredible in the open air (I was using a set of Skullcandy headphones before the move) and I can almost blow the sliding glass door off the back wall when I really crank up the volume.
I do not play for services at this time, but I am able to spend an hour several times each week playing and actually improving for the first time in many years.
To all who contribute at the Concert Hall...THANK YOU! It is wonderful to hear what others are doing with their HW instruments and I have come to appreciate so many new composers and pieces of music. You are all an inspiration to me. At some point, I will be confident enough to post some things myself, but until then I am happy to just listen and work on my own skills.
John
Thank you for sharing your story. Many aspects ring true of situations I have known and I can empathise closely with your experiences.
I continue to enjoy your wonderful performances on CCH.
Thank goodness for Hautpwerk! It gives many of us the chance to maintain and develop their skills as organists without being tied to the vagaries of a church appointment in order to have a practice instrument.
Best wishes,
Andrew Grahame
Sydney
I grew up in Miami, FL, in a Southern Baptist church that, when my family first joined, had a 7-rank 1929 Moller residence organ with the pipes above the ceiling speaking down through a grille above the choir loft. Needless to say maintenance was a constant and losing battle. We had a very good organist, but she and the "powers that be" had more money than brains. They hired a consultant, went through a long process including a debate on pipes vs electronics, decided fortunately for pipes, and in 1972 installed a 2/39 Casavant electric slider chest organ. Sounds great, right? Wrong. The idiot consultant designed a Neo-Baroque organ yhat totally did not fit Southern Baptist worship, and the church negotiated the price down so far that Casavant threw the organ in, collected their money and ran. Problems abounded from the outset and the organ was never right. But that was the environment I grew up in. Fortunately I had good organ teachers, and took my first position at a tiny Presbyterian church at age 16. I soon joined the local AGO chapter, but developed an ego the size of Texas, and that plagued me for years. But I became passionate about my chosen instrument. Actually I should say obsessed with it. I also was exposed to ad fell in love with the theater organ. After high school I apprenticed in pipe organ repair until my weight and bull-in-the-china-shop clumsiness got in the way. Out of boredom I got my A.S. in electronics technology and unsuccessfully tried my hand at electronic organ repair. But all the while I continued to play in whatever church could put up with me. I also, as a related hobby began studying the history of the pipe and electronic organ. I watched with interest each new generation of electronic organ, noting that, although better by far than it's predecessor, it still could not accurately reproduce the sound of a pipe organ. I wondered if I would see that accurate reproduction in my lifetime.
Meanwhile, through a long string of firings, a vast majority of which in retrospect were nobody's fault but my own, God was slowly teaching me humility and respect. Slowly because He was dealing with a stubborn hard-headed Kraut whom He had to practically beat it into! But not all of the firings were my fault, and some of those were painful. One in particular caused me to walk away from the church and the organ as you did, for a little over a year. I threw myself into my job as a cabbie, working 7 days a week, going anywhere there was a buck to be made. But like you, I couldn't stay away from what I had grown to love. That was 18 years ago. Now at age 52, I wish I could turn back time, give my younger self a good swift kick in the butt, and be the kind of organist and person then that I am now. Since that's not possible, I'll just have to go forward with the determination not to repeat my past mistakes. I'm clear across the country now where my past sins can stay buried, and the reputation I have earned here in Minnesota is far better than what I left behind. My move north also gained me a wonderful young lady to whom I have been happily married for 16 years.
One night a little over a year ago, I was browsing YouTube and stumbled across a video of Rob Stefanussen playing Keith Chapman's setting of "Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella", which I also play, snd when I realized that he was NOT playing a pipe organ, actually said aloud "O my God, they've actually done it!" The accurate reproduction of pipe organ sound electronically which I didn't think I'd see in my lifetime is actually here, and it's called Hauptwerk.
It is my firm belief that this is the answer for churches that can't afford or don't have the space for the real thing, and I plan to finance my own setup by designing and installing Hauptwerk organs, with the help of a nearby reseller, in churches in this area who are in need. In the meantime, I will keep listening to CCH and learning even more about my chosen craft from others in my field who are not only highly skilled but just as passionate about our instrument and our chosen ministry as I am.
It is through posting here on CCH that people such as yourself, David, continually inspire and educate other organists like me, helping us also to be better in the process. For this, I offer you my deepest and most heartfelt thanks. Someday when I am able to afford my own setup, perhaps I can begin to share the fruits of my experience and your inspiration with others through this forum. Until then, as always I remain
In His Service,
Ken Hager
Brainerd, MN
Are you related to the late Arthur Motter Lamb? He was Director of Music at the Middlesex School in Massachusetts.
Doug Sjostrom
No! Not me! I have NO musical relations - NONE... ;-)
Maybe that's a good thing!
With best regards,
David
The clergy has a different vocation and sometimes loves music wholeheartedly and contribute to it enormously, but it is also possible it is disinterested and sees it as an unnessesary or even unwanted part of the church service, distracting from the REAL issues. And all the gradations in between.
The congregation, brought up on a diet of pop music, Oprah Winfrey and tv-comedies loves the few songs they remember from their youth (usually the top five of church music that musicians abhor) and is adverse to anything unknown or "modern".
They are not there for the music, most of them.
So the better we play and develope ourselves during long hours of studying and practicing, the more we tend to alienate ourselves from our "public".
So what you said about Hauptwerk being a life-saver goes for me too.
I studied the organ later in life, not because I was brought up with it, but I discovered a marvelous instrument. To get access to one I had to become an organist.
I was often flabbergasted by what I saw and heard going on down below.
But the organ was worth it.
After a few years I gave it up, bought a boat and sailed the waters of Zeeland every weekend, not seeing a church from the inside for more than 15 years, playing the piano (my main instrument) only.
At last a friend asked me if I could fill in once a month for another guy. Well, why not?
So I became an organist again in a very nice church with a wonderfully musical vicar and a bit of a posh congregation. Man, did I have a good time.
We migrated to Spain and I had to leave that church behind. It had merged with three others anyway and the mentality had changed a lot, so I wasn't that sad, only of leaving my beautiful Batz.
But now I have a beautiful Batz here as well: Utrecht, along with a few other marvelous samplesets. Mostly organs you could only dream of earlier.
Playing for the concert hall is an inspiration: people are actually interested in what you do and HOW you do it. We keep each other going that way.
Finally we have an audience that understands what we are doing. They don't have to agree, but the understanding part is the main thing.
I still play services here to help a church out, but I would not mind quitting if possible.
Hauptwerk AND everyone at at the concert hall is all I need!
Edo
You are a valued member of the group and a true friend to all - me, not the least!
With friendship and best regards,
David