May 2008
Use of the Piano in Church	Show Menu

By James Pasley

There are a number of hymns now in use which are best played on piano. On the occasions when such hymns are used, I used to bring my digital piano to the church. So I was very happy when a couple of years ago a piano appeared in Lucan Church near the organ. Since then it has been used regularly during services.

Having the piano next to the organ makes it very convenient to switch between the two for that one hymn in the service which is best suited to the piano. It can also be more appropriate as an accompaniment to children's songs during our family services. However, my favourite use of the piano during worship is to play voluntaries during the distribution of communion. Pieces such as Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Debussy's Clair de Lune and Erik Satie's Gymnopédies are particularly effective and many people have commented on how much they appreciate them. I have really enjoyed dusting off these pieces I learned years ago and practising them again to the point where they are ready to be played in public. It also provides a sense of purpose to learn some modern pieces such as Le Onde by Ludovico Einaudi.

Lucan church is a busy place with many young children at the service (including five of my own). With the children at Sunday school, Communion time offers a rare opportunity to sit in silence. I prefer to play pieces which do not have any lyrics so as not to interfere with the thoughts of those who use this part of the service for personal prayer. This approach was reaffirmed recently by a retired clergyman who told me how much he appreciated my use of "silent music" during the service.

I've also tried using the piano for voluntaries before and after the service, but it just doesn't have the same impact as the organ as there is so much activity in the church at these times. So while the piano continues to be used in a variety of ways during services, for me it is unmatched in its ability to facilitate such moments of silence.

James Pasley is one of the organists in Lucan and Leixlip parishes, Co. Dublin. He is a member of the Church Music Committee.

james.pasley@gmail.com

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