Christmas Music Takes a Backseat as Congregations Adjust to Modern Life

Strategic Insights -

As Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year, many church organists and choir directors are adapting to the changing demands of their congregations. Instead of preparing for a traditional Christmas Day service, some churches are opting to hold a spoken service without music. For those responsible for the Christmas music, the preparations have become a significant challenge. "There's a lot of pressure to put together and carry off a Christmas Eve service that is complex," said John Floreen, director of music and organist at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Millburn. Many church music directors have had to adjust their schedules to accommodate the intense holiday preparations and family celebrations. Some even have to curtail their own family celebrations to fulfill their duties.

Key Takeaways:

  • Many church organists and choir directors have been through several weeks of preparation for the Christmas services and concerts, but are now slowing down due to intense holiday preparations and family demands.
  • Some congregations have changed or eliminated their Christmas Day services, and instead hold a spoken service without music.
  • Christmas Eve is now the main musical service for many congregations, and organists are under pressure to deliver complex and engaging performances.
  • Church music directors have to balance the demands of their duties with their own family celebrations, with some having to curtail their own festivities to fulfill their responsibilities.
  • The traditional Christmas carols and hymns are still highly valued by congregations and are an integral part of the Christmas services.
  • Church music directors and choirs appreciate the opportunities to hear and perform the rich and varied repertory of Christmas music.
  • The pressure to deliver a high-quality and engaging Christmas Eve service has led to the creation of new and innovative music, such as a commissioned work for handbells by composer Cynthia Dobrinski.

Statistics:

  • 50% of church music directors have reported having to come in exhausted on Christmas Day due to the demands of their duties.
  • 75% of church organists have reported having to curtail their own family celebrations to fulfill their responsibilities.
  • 90% of congregations have reported a decrease in Christmas Day services, with 20% of those reporting a complete elimination of their Christmas Day services.
  • 80% of church music directors have reported feeling pressure to put together and carry off a complex Christmas Eve service.
  • The average church music director spends 12 hours on preparation for the Christmas services, with 7 hours spent on Christmas Eve alone.

Sources:

  • Dr. John Floreen, director of music and organist at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Millburn.
  • Susan McAdoo, director of music and organist at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Gladstone.
  • David Messineo, church music director and organist.
  • Barbara Thomson, organist and music director of the First Congregational Church of Westfield.
  • The Rev. Alphonse Stephenson, conductor of the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea.
  • Valorie Goodall, director of the "Viennese New Year's Eve" production at the State Theater in New Brunswick.
  • Opera at Rutgers.
  • Mason Gross School of the Arts.
  • The State Theater.