Media/Arts

Oct. 5, 2006

Vatican organist plays concert in Valley

By Andrew Junker
The Catholic Sun

SCOTTSDALE — Being principal organist for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome grants a perspective on the Church most Catholics will never see.

James Goettsche, who has held that position for 17 years, gave a concert at St. Maria Goretti Parish Sept. 22. In addition to playing pieces by Bach and Cesar Franck, Goettsche shared some of his unique experiences.

He has played the organ at nearly every papal Mass since 1989, but singled out the beatification Mass of Mother Teresa of Calcutta and the canonization Mass for Padre Pio and Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, as his fondest memories.

“I also had the honor of being the organist at the funeral services for Pope John Paul II,” said Goettsche, who also played at the subsequent conclave.

“The stove for the burning of the ballots whence came the white smoke was located right behind my back,” Goettsche chuckled as he recalled the momentous occasion.

Other duties for the organist include accompanying priests at St. Peter’s when they chant the morning and evening prayer on feast days and holy days.

Though the Gregorian chant and classical polyphony he accompanies at papal Masses may sound foreign to Catholics in America, Goettsche said the pope has not hidden his preferences within sacred music.

Pope Benedict “makes no secret that his favorite composers are Bach and Palestrina, and he thinks that these things should be used as much as possible in liturgical settings,” Goettsche said.

Ann Weiss, the director of music and liturgy at St. Maria Goretti who organized Goettsche’s concert, said she has seen a move to bring back traditional music into Mass and use it “inclusively.”

“I think there’s room for everything. You can have it all, contrary to what some might think,” she said.

Since the parish restored the church’s organ this past year, Weiss said it has been used in every Sunday Mass, though not exclusively.

“We do a very inclusive musical liturgy here. This weekend we’re going to open up with an organ hymn and we’ll close with a contemporary song,” she said.

The parishioners have supported integrating the organ back into the liturgy, Weiss said. For years the instrument had slipped into disuse.

When Weiss decided to feature it again, she found it was in need of massive repairs. She decided to host a concert for Goettsche last year as a way of raising funds for the organ’s restoration.

It was a disaster, she said.

The parish was missing key parts of the organ, including the piston key, which is used to determine the sounds an organ will make.

As a result, preparing the organ for his concert took Goettsche 12 hours. It normally takes him no more than two.

This year, the organ has been fully restored, and Goettsche said he was looking forward to having a “completely different experience with the instrument.”

Goettsche surprised the audience of 175 by incorporating them into his performance. After playing a prelude by Bach, Goettsche asked the concertgoers to rise and sing a popular hymn based on the piece’s melody.

The concert’s success encouraged Weiss to hold more performances at St. Maria Goretti.

She hopes the concerts will help pay for the organ’s upkeep so that it will never again fall into such disrepair.

“We’re just trying to make the most of what we have here,” she said.

Andrew Junker/CATHOLIC SUN

James Goettsche, principal organist at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, practices before his Sept. 22 Scottsdale performance.