Organist to Take Note of the Classics

It was long before his time, of course, but classical organist Samuel John Swartz thinks often of those days at the turn of the century, when concerts on his instrument of choice were as common as rock ‘n’ roll shows are today. Back then, before radios, phonographs and the current crowd of symphony orchestras, a live organ performance was about the only way most common folk could hear the works of Beethoven and other composers.

The popularity of pipe organ concerts at that time was reflected in the often upbeat music created for the instrument by composers of the day. And it’s on this music that Swartz, organ professor at Cal State Northridge, will focus in a concert at 8 tonight in the campus’s Recital Hall.

“It was kind of a peculiar period for organ music,” Swartz, 42, said. “There were all sorts of funny things going on with composition. Some of the pieces are simply pretty tunes. Others are rhythmic and very catchy, just fun to hear.”

The 90-minute concert will be split about evenly between works by American and European composers. Opening with period European works such as Cesar Franck’s “Pastoral” and Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens’ “Fanfare,” the show’s American half will include music by composers Virgil Thomson, Charles Ives and others. It’s that latter half that Swartz said he is particularly pleased to perform, since those American organ composers are rarely represented in organ concerts today.

Tonight’s program is part of the CSUN Faculty Artist Series, which each year presents about 15 concerts by music department faculty members. Early next year, Swartz plans an all-Bach organconcert on campus. The organist, who lives in Redlands and also teaches organ at the University of Redlands, said the two organ concerts are designed, in part, to publicize the organ program at CSUN, while helping to build audiences for campus concerts. The number of concerts sponsored by the school’s music department, including performances by faculty, guest artists and various groupings of CSUN’s 650 music majors, will number about 250 this academic year.

Still, the implied seriousness of the upcoming Bach concert, or even tonight’s program, is offset some by Swartz’s stage manner, said Gertrude Kohler, program and public relations director for the music department.

“He always speaks from the stage to give introductions before he plays a piece, which is very helpful,” she said. “He’s very friendly, even jokeful. Especially for people who might be intimidated by organ concerts, it makes it a little more personal.”

During his performing career, Swartz has appeared in concert with noted ensembles such as the London Symphony and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. During the summer months, he travels through Europe on an annual concert tour. And in January, Swartz will again help organize and perform at the three-day Redlands Organ Festival, which attracts international organists to perform and teach master classes.

But he said his most dependable audiences can be found at the First United Methodist Church in Redlands, where he is church organist.

“I think there’s a lot of good potential and a diverse number of possibilities in the church with the organ,” Swartz said. “But the world was richer at that time when you could have an outdoor setting for an organ concert, like at Balboa Park in San Diego, which is one of the few remaining ones.”

Indeed, Swartz said those hoping to make a living as an organist are now limited to teaching positions or work as a church organist. “Anybody who wants to be a concert organist, and make a living exclusively from doing recitals and touring is unrealistic,” he said.

The organ professor added that he is often disturbed by the dwindling number of organists now being produced in the country. He said a recent study revealed fewer than 300 organ majors studying at colleges across the country, “which is extremely low. I think that’s critical.”

CSUN’s organ majors, which he said ranged between five and 10, are a healthy number for any single campus, indeed one of the largest organ enrollments on the West Coast. But he said he is not surprised at the overall drop in interest.

“My guess would be that people are very concerned about what the job market is,” he said. “I think churches very soon are going to find great difficulty in finding anyone to play it, because churches are not, in general, encouraging people to study. It’s rare to find a congregation that offers a scholarship for a student who wants to study organ. And that’s a shame.”

Organist Samuel John Swartz, performing as part of the CSUN Faculty Artist Series, 8 tonight; Recital Hall, CSUN, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. Admission is $6 general admission, $3 for students and seniors. For more information, call (818) 885-3093, or 885-3180.