By Jeff Brumley
South Main Baptist Church organist Daryl Robinson is tearing it up in the music world, winning awards and dazzling venues both sacred and secular.
“Daryl brings freshness and excitement to the hymn singing” and “is equally strong accompanying ensembles of all sizes,” said Stephen Bedford, interim music director at the Houston church.
Robinson’s age, 29, also challenges the common assumption in church music that the church organ is extinct. He said many church members still appreciate what the organ brings to worship.
“I really do think (the organ) is on the upswing for traditional worship, and I think there will be a great reenergizing for the organ and organists,” he said.
That comment jibes with consistent and recent statements by experts across the sacred music realm that the organ, after plateauing for a couple of decades, is on the upswing. Many congregations are refurbishing, upgrading or adding the instruments to their sanctuaries.
Robinson said it’s happening just in time for a new generation of musicians who are drawn to the organ.
Robinson, South Main’s organist and artist-in-residence, is among those capitalizing on the trend. He took two top prizes in the 2012 American Guild of Organists’ National Young Artists Competition and is recognized for innovations in programming and artistic skill.
Robinson spoke recently with ABPnews about his music and about the future of the organ in church life.
When did you feel that first tug toward the organ?
As a little boy in church. They had an electric organ at First Baptist Church, Pasadena (Texas).
Do you play any other instruments?
Piano and harpsichord, and I do quite a bit of conducting.
At your age, are you a minority among other organists?
Yes and no. There really are a lot of young people learning the organ and, even more so these days, there seems there is a lot more interest in undergraduate organ study. I think younger people are getting more and more interested in it. I’m doing a graduate degree at Rice (University) right now, and we have three undergrads who are 18 to 20.
Is it a myth that the organ is a dying instrument?
I really think that people — when they’re given the opportunity to be exposed to the organ — they are captivated by it…. It seems to me that contemporary worship has plateaued. More and more people are becoming re-interested in tradition.
What is it about the organ that lends itself to spiritual music and worship?
One of the things is that, in historic settings, when it was in the back (of the sanctuary), it wasn’t about being seen. So much contemporary worship is about having that band up front.… With the organ, it was this element of God speaking to the people and them not knowing where it was coming from. In the 17th and 18th centuries the organ was very exciting, and was easily the loudest instrument anyone would hear.
Does playing the organ move you, spiritually?
Yes, absolutely. There’s just something incredible about being in a space that is so distinctly different, with an instrument and music so different from any other, with such wonderful acoustics and ambience.… It really can provoke both meditation and contemplation and great excitement.
Do you ever lose yourself in the music while performing?
There are times when I am playing and lose complete track of time.
Is your goal primarily to play the organ in a church setting?
For me, the appeal of church work is being able to do so many different things. The organ is the main thing that I do, but at South Main you are interacting with people and doing ministry and being somewhere that values urban ministry.