See my new blog.

See my new blog.

See my new blog.

See my new blog.

See my new blog.

See my new blog

After a break I decided to start a new blog at http://frankezinga.wordpress.com/

My plan is to specifically write about aspects of playing the organ, organists, playing in church, and I will share some stories and experiences as well. When appropriate I will republish some older posts from this blog.

Frank

PS The accompaniment book for the 85 hymns is pretty much ready to go. Some editing and it should be available in March.  

2008

In April 2008, our old pipe organ was purchased by the Rev. Maynard H. Johnston of Leavenworth WA. He first came up to take measurements. He wanted to place the organ in his house, located in the mountain hills around Leavenworth. As an organist and pastor, he had installed an organ in a previous Lutheran congregation that he served previously. He had plans to build an organ himself from parts, and this was a long journey. Of his collection of 4,000 organ pipes, he had installed some very large pipes on the side of his home, under the overhang of the roof. He showed some pictures of his house and town. 

When he purchased our organ, he shared with me that he had come to the realization that his plans and God’s plans did not totally match up. He had realized that building a pipe organ from the ground up would take more years than the Lord had allotted to him. He was close to 80 years of age. Seeing and hearing the pipe organ in Langley convinced him that this was the way to go, to have sound or organ pipes fill his home.

We assisted Maynard and his wife Jan and some other helpers by taking the organ down and loading it in the rental truck. It was fully loaded and the swell wind chest did not fit in the truck. It had to stay behind. Maynard remained positive and was convinced that the organ would still play in his home. Despite his age, he had spend most of 3 days up in the organ loft, on his knees, taking out every pipe single-handed, so that he would know how to rebuild this in his home.

The truck left, loaded, and Maynard and Jan left too. Back to Leavenworth, up on the mountain, to rebuild. Because the Lord only left him with a limited number of days. I realized that Maynard knew what was written in Psalm 90 “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Wisdom is what he considered purchasing a working pipe organ, rather than building one from the ground up, I believe.

2011

In August 2011 we left for a short vacation to the US. After checking out Wintrop WA in the previous year, this year we decided to go to Leavenworth WA. I had never contacted Maynard Johnston after he left. But just before we left, I checked my old email files from 2008 and I found one with his address. This email was quickly printed and we headed to the border. The day after we arrived we decided to check out the town and surroundings of Leavenworth. Not knowing where to start we decided to check out the address on the email, and maybe a chance to see Maynard Johnson.

After attempting a scenic route over the high mountains, one hour later we took the conventional road through town. Going up, accessing a private road, ending up on a dead-end street, we arrived at three log-home type houses, of which the last one had the number that we were looking for. The front door was open. On the side of the house, I could see some organ pipes, as I had remembered from the pictures that Maynard showed me. A lady sat in a chair on the deck. I approached her and said the I was looking for Maynard Johnson. She responded with hesitation that this was his house, but that he was very sick. The lady was Maynard’s daughter, called by the doctors because of the critical situation. 

When I was ready to go back to our vehicle, Maynard’s wife, Jan, came through the open door and recognized me: “Frank, you are the organist from Canada”. She briefly explained that Maynard was very sick with cancer, but if we could wait a few minutes until the nurse was done, we should come in and visit Maynard. The daughter seemed suprised about these developments. Jan explained that he had a very difficult time, and that our visit would lift his spirit. With my wife and son we walked around the house for a few minutes.

Maynard was laying in a hospital bed. An old, sick man. His sight was not good, but his mind was still bright. He was emotional. We talked and remembered… Maynard was emotional and his tears were flowing freely. His house had the same beams on the ceiling as our church. Our organ could just be pictured in his house – and indeed it was installed in his house, just like that. 

In 2008, after the truck arrived in Leavenworth, Maynard and his helpers unloaded the organ and the pipes were installed after three days. With two weeks the organ was playing (although not tuned). Indeed, Maynard’s consideration that our old organ would soon fill his house with pipe organ sound, was correct. But also his feeling that his days on earth were limited, was right.

We heard that cancer made him very sick in the fall of 2010. His Lutheran congregation decided to celebrate the Christmas service at the house of their pastor. Surrounding the house on the mountain, a service of singing and prayer resulted in an unforgettable Christmas for both pastor and congregation. Then in May 2011 the family was called, because the end of Maynard’s life was expected. At that time the congregation came out again and held a prayer service on the mountain. The Lord granted Maynard more days on this earth, and Jan mentioned that the summer had been a good time.

Now in August the situation went bad. The family was called again. We showed up unexpectedly.

Maynard was sad. He expressed that he had not been able to play all of J.S. Bach’s organ works during his life. He felt that he had failed because the organ was still not completed and not tuned. He was not able to finish it anymore, because his legs failed. The realized that the Lord was calling, but he had the feeling that he had to do more work her eon earth. He mentioned that he prayed for musicians of the next generation – that they would find time for meditation and prayer. That they would find time alone, with God. That they would seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That they would find willingness to serve. That they would inspire the next generation. We talked and discussed.I felt a connection with Maynard. He seemed to feel more like a musician than a minister right now. He was passionate for church music and church musicians. He spoke with passion about church music.

And then I played on our old pipe organ. Maynard had not been able to play his organ since Christmas last year. Now we were here, I could play it for him so that he could, for a last time, again hear the sound of the organ pipes fill his house.

The organ was like I remembered it. Not in tune, but that did not matter.

Maynard could not see the console, his bed was turned the other way. He had no special requests – I was wondering what to play… My first piece was the Toccata and Fugue in D-minor by J.S. Bach. My wife was concerned about the volume (and so was I), but Jan did say that it was okay.

The doors and windows were open and the organ pipes sent the sound of Bach over Maynard’s bed out over the valley and the city of Leavenworth.

Then I remembered a Bach chorale. I used only the Principal 8′. When I was finished, a strong voice came out of the bed: “That’s right, Frank, that’s right…!!! Death where is your sting, death where is your sting… oh, it is so true, Frank”. I had not made the connection with this text, but Maynard had. Then I finished with “Great is Thy Faithfulness”. When I came back to the bed, Jan was wiping Maynard’s face as tears were pouring over his face.

This visit turned out completely unexpected to us and to the people we visited. It was emotional, it impacted our entire holiday - we prayed for the family on every occassion. The timing was perfect – our visit was directed by God and guided by the Holy Spirit. This was the experience of the family and ourselves.

Why…? I am still thinking about this. God’s ways are higher than our ways.
It had to be like this.
It was in God’s plan.
We will leave it with Him, and continue to carry out our task, that He provides for every day.

Maynard H. Johnson was called home by the Lord the Sunday following our visit.

We pray that God comforts and strenghtens Maynard’s wife, Jan, and his children.

Celebrating Canada Day – in thankfulness to the Lord.

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our Dominion in thy loving care;
Help us to find, O God, in thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the better Day,
We ever stand on guard.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

There are changes to some of the hymns in our new Book of Praise. Changes in church music are not new. When King David wrote his Psalms, it is unlikely that they were known tunes. King Solomon added more than 1,000 songs. During the Reformation John Calvin continued to change the tunes of the Psalms (first he composed some himself, and later used professionals). Luther introduced many new hymns, and new music was composed by church musicians for several centuries.

We did not get 1,000 new songs, like the Israelites in the time of Solomon, but only 2 new tunes and about 8 changes. Although we don’t know how Solomon introduced his songs, we know that King David had professional musicians working in the service of the Lord.

So, what do we do with our relatively small changes in our own congregations? Some suggestions were made in the workshop handout. One example is that the minister makes a brief comment about a change, when he announces the hymn. Here is an example how that happens in Langley: 

It is important that the minister and church council realize the importance of the congregational singing and that attention is needed for proper introduction of the change.

www.bookofpraise.ca