Keith Becker, organist at First Congregational United Church of Christ, is pictured playing the church’s organ. The church recently hosted a recital by renowned organist Bruce Stevens as part of the Organ Historical Society’s national convention this week.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Kayleen Petrovia)
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In the photo above is a tag featuring the name and hometown of organ builder John Brown of Wilmington, Delaware.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Kayleen Petrovia)
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For more than a century, parishioners who have gathered at First Congregational United Church of Christ have heard the music on the church’s pipe organ.
While the organ is a reflection of the history of the oldest church building in Marysville, the organist himself adds a bit of a modern flair.
“I’m not your conventional organist,” said Keith Becker.
Becker, who became the full-time organist for First Congregational UCC several years ago, helped the church host the Organ Historical Society for a recital during its national convention this week.
The convention centered in Columbus but the society chartered four tour buses – and over 200 people – to First Congregational UCC to see the organ and hear renowned recitalist Bruce Stevens play.
“It was actually standing room only in a packed house,” Becker said.
Becker said the organ he plays every Sunday draws the attention of national groups because of its rarity and good condition.
The instrument dates back to 1864, when the church contracted with organ builder John Brown of Wilmington, Delaware to construct the organ for “a phenomenal amount of money at that time” – $1,300, Becker said.
The organ was installed and dedicated a year later.
Becker said it is “one of the last few remaining organs that are all original,” aside from being one of the last John Brown organs.
Long before he began playing this specific organ, Becker said he began playing the instrument in the 1970s.
He studied music at Heidelberg University before teaching music classes in public school.
Becker said he was already playing the organ at that time but wanted to “branch out,” so he seized on an opportunity to study under the head of the organ department at The Ohio State University. There, he earned a Master of Music in Organ Studies.
Afterward, he began filling in for organists in Marion before playing at churches in Prospect and Richwood.
His time at the organ has only increased since then.
Nearly six years ago, Becker accepted the full-time organist position at Trinity Lutheran Church in Marysville. Then, the lead pastor told him that the organist at First Congregational UCC wanted to take one Sunday off per month, so Becker decided to fill in for him.
Fast forward several years and Becker is the full-time organist, meaning he plays during every Sunday service, at both churches.
“I do what I love full-time,” he said.
The arrangement “worked out perfectly,” Becker said, because Trinity Lutheran has a service at 8 a.m. and First Congregational UCC’s follows at 10:30 a.m.
“I have break time for a coffee and doughnut in between, and they’re only three or four blocks away,” he said with a laugh.
Beyond that, Becker said he gets to experience “both ends of the spectrum” because Trinity Lutheran has a much larger organ than First Congregational UCC does.
“It’s a sheer joy,” he said.
While Becker said he has played his fair share of organs and been to many organ recitals, “you don’t get up close” the way he was able to during the recital hosted by the Organ Historical Society.
He said Stevens, who is well known among organists in the U.S. and Europe, spent more than five hours rehearsing on the church’s John Brown organ Saturday.
Becker said the two were able to share their backgrounds with one another and connect in a way that only music facilitates.
Becker said the power of music itself means he has a simple philosophy when it comes to playing.
“People sometimes have a bad week,” Becker said. “I can be joyful and upbeat in my playing and hopefully inspire others to be joyful and upbeat, and send them out on a happy note.”
The organist said he has a special opportunity to do just that with the congregation at First Congregational UCC, which “likes some more modern, upbeat type of music.”
While demonstrating how he plays the organ, Becker explained he will play hymns traditionally but likes to incorporate some of his own arrangements into worship songs like “You’ve Got a Friend in Jesus.”
“You know ‘Jesus Loves Me This I Know?’ You don’t know this arrangement,” Becker said as he bobbed his head along to the fast-paced tune.
Becker said he sees his love for music and talent on the organ as a gift from God, and he tries to “pass it forward” to others.
“There will come a day that I can’t do this anymore,” he said. “But I’m going to keep going as long as I can.”
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The organ at First Congregational UCC is one of the last remaining John Brown organs. Above, organist Keith Becker demonstrates how each stop affects the sound produced by the instrument.
(Journal-Tribune photos by Kayleen Petrovia)