Hugh Morris, director of the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), will undertake an organ playing challenge, “25 hours in 2025,” November 21–22. This will take place in the studio of Viscount Organs in Bicester, Oxfordshire, UK, and is a part of the Royal College of Organists’ Play the Organ Year, of which the RSCM is a partner organization. This endurance challenge aims to develop messaging around playing and learning the organ, highlight its vital role in supporting worship and communities, and serve as a catalyst for fundraising efforts to support the RSCM’s ongoing mission to enable the flourishing of church music.
The core of the event will be a continuous performance of hymns, chosen at random from Hymns Ancient & Modern: Refreshing Worship. On each hour, Morris will play one regular organ work. Guest performers will join to perform and to talk about playing the organ. Audience members can donate to request a specific hymn, and local choirs will join in the singing of some of the hymns. The entire event will be streamed live on the RSCM YouTube channel. Alongside the challenge, on November 22, St. Cecilia’s Day, at 14:00 GMT, organists worldwide are invited to join Morris in a “mass play along” of “Largo” from Handel’s Xerxes.
The aim is to encourage churches to host open console sessions, introducing more people to the organ, and to inspire people around the world to play the organ. The music for this segment is available in easy, intermediate, and full arrangements from the RSCM website, with additional free resources like session plans and practice tips coming soon.
For information: rscm.org.uk.
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