The pipe organ.
The name alone conjures up memories of sacred music bellowing through pipes in the back of a glorious church. For those of you that don’t know, the pipe organ is actually a large combination of keys (like a piano), hand stops and combination pistons, which push air through large pipes to create sound.
The pipe organ was originally associated with gladiatorial combat after its invention in the late 2nd century. By the 8th century it had become a prominent part of the Catholic Church, used during mass for musical purposes. Although it is still used in a religious setting for the music at church services, the pipe organ recently has re-emerged as both a secular and recital instrument.
Leading this revival of the ancient instrument is none other than Jesuit freshman Henry Webb.
As the saying goes, “it was love at first sight”; Webb first became interested in the organ after he first heard its beautiful notes. “I was in a French cathedral when I heard the organ playing. I was enthralled by the music and the reverberation in this large space,” comments Webb.
Shortly after this experience in 6th grade, he began teaching himself how to play organ pieces by “watching videos of other organists on YouTube.” After taking some piano lessons to receive the basic techniques that it takes to play the organ, he started to take organ lessons from Christiana Harmon.
Mrs. Harmon not only plays the organ at Park Cities Baptist Church, but also has played countless recitals throughout the world. In 2002 she received second place from the U.S. Naval Academy composition competition, as well as first place in 2003 at the Potomac American Guild of Organists anthem competition.
Webb was a quick learner and showed a real enthusiasm for the instrument, as well as a God-given gift for playing.
Instant success does not even begin to describe Henry’s masterful work at the organ in the past years. In only two and a half years of playing, Henry has already “won the Wanda L. Bass Oklahoma City University High School Organ Competition,” and he has been “invited to participate in the Advanced Pipe Organ Encounter at the Jacob School of Music on the campus of Indiana University.”
Along with these outstanding accolades, he has also played various preludes and recitals all over Texas, and even in France and Spain.
Perhaps his biggest accomplishment was being able to tour Europe in the summer of 2011 playing different organs in cathedrals all over the continent such as the famous Santuary de Loyola in Azpeita, Spain. A blog post written by a lady who had heard Henry play the organ at a special event at Park Cities Baptist Church articulates this talent.
She kindly described Webb’s performance as “glorious,” saying that “Henry Webb was BORN to play the pipe organ.” Later in her post, she says, “His feet and hands were flying along the keys,” and that “it was certainly a match made in heaven.” That said, it might be safe to say that the sky is the limit for this outstanding young musician.
While these laudatory awards and remarks are certainly very nice, they are only icing on the cake for Webb, as playing the organ has done much more for him. “By playing the organ I have learned that finding ‘what you love to do’ takes away the stress of life and brings a lot of happiness and freedom,” adds Henry.
This example of a young man who persevered while doing something that he really enjoyed perfectly models what Jesuit looks for in a student: hard work, determination, and commitment.
Webb artistically comments, “I have also learned that when you believe in yourself and have a goal, anything is possible.” Truer words have never been spoken, and we should all try to remember them.
