News on church music
Background, tips and stories on the organist shortage, church music and the eKlecia® organ app. Filter by category or year.
The new eKlecia® app: now for tablet and iPad – and more stable than ever
The latest update to the eKlecia® app brings tablet and iPad support, greater stability even on older devices, finer filters for the regional section and even more privacy protecti…
Hymns for a baptism: the loveliest baptism hymns for the service
Which hymns are suitable for a baptism? From „Ich bin getauft auf deinen Namen" to „Komm, Herr, segne uns" – the loveliest baptism hymns from the Gotteslob (the German Catholic hym…
Hymns for the Harvest Thanksgiving festival: the loveliest hymns of thanks for the service
Which hymns suit the Harvest Thanksgiving festival? From "Nun danket alle Gott" to "Großer Gott, wir loben dich" – the loveliest hymns of thanks from the Gotteslob and the Evangeli…
Hymns for a Church Wedding: The Most Beautiful Wedding Hymns for Church
Which hymns for a church wedding? The most beautiful wedding hymns from the Gotteslob and the Evangelisches Gesangbuch – with numbers, suited to every moment of the wedding, and wh…
New in the eKlecia® App: Find Hymns by Occasion – and Choose the Prelude Freely
Two new features in the eKlecia® app: find hymns faster with the occasion filter and switch the prelude on or off for each hymn – including cloud sync across all devices.
Hymns for a Funeral: The Most Beautiful Funeral Hymns for a Dignified Farewell
Which hymns for a funeral? The most beautiful funeral hymns from the Gotteslob and the Evangelisches Gesangbuch – with numbers, suited to every moment of the funeral service, and w…
There are fewer and fewer organists – and that is the solution
There are fewer and fewer organists – and that is the solution. Why honestly accepting the organist shortage is the first step towards dignified organ music without an organist.
Hymns and Dementia: How Music Awakens Memories in the Care Home
Familiar hymns often reach people with dementia when words have long since failed – music from youth is deeply anchored in the memory. How dignified devotions in the care home succ…
When the Organist Is Unavailable: What the Parish Can Do Now
The organist is ill, the service is coming up – what to do? Three realistic options in an honest comparison: find a substitute, sing a cappella or play organ music. And why an app …
May You Play Organ Music in a Church Service? What Is Permitted – and What Is Dignified
May you play organ music in a church service when no organist is there? Usually yes – a prohibition is rare. What matters is dignity: genuine organ sound, started at the right mome…
What Does an Organist Cost? Fees for Weddings, Funerals and Services
What does an organist cost for a wedding, funeral or service? An honest overview of the usual fees – and how parishes secure dignified music even without an available organist.
The new eKlecia® version is here: the digital organist against the organist shortage
The new version is here — the biggest update in the history of eKlecia®. Over 1,000 church hymns on real pipe organs, a sound that can be adjusted to any space, and an operation th…
Why Digital Solutions Are Becoming Second Nature in Parishes in 2026
Just ten years ago, the sentence "We'll have the organ accompanied digitally" would have raised eyebrows in many parishes. In 2026 it is an everyday matter. What has changed — and …
The organist shortage in 2026: causes, extent and how churches find solutions today
The shortage of organists in Germany reached a critical extent in 2026: 60 open positions each year face only 35 graduates – a structural deficit that leaves many services, care ho…
The Problem of the Organist Shortage: Structural Causes, Historical Roots and Ways Out of the Crisis
The shortage of organists is not a phenomenon of recent years — it is the fruit of structural failures that have been maturing for decades. An analysis of the causes, the consequen…
Care Homes Without an Organist: How Senior-Care Facilities Secure Musical Accompaniment Today
When the volunteer organist retires, care homes lose more than just music — they lose an important anchor in the residents' everyday life. What dementia research says about the eff…
Funeral Without an Organist — Dignified Music in Difficult Moments
When the organist is unavailable at the crucial moment, the bereaved face a difficult question. What parishes can do, which hymns suit the occasion and which practical solutions ha…
Music Therapy: How to Design a Music Programme for Older Adults with Mental Illness
Introduction: the significance of music therapy in hospitals and care homes Music therapy is a form of rehabilitative and social intervention that uses music and musical elements t…
Building a Church Organ: From Idea to Realisation
This article is not intended as a DIY tutorial, but rather to explore the possibility of building a church organ for musical performance yourself. The following overview is a basic…
The Role of the Hospital in a Person's Spiritual and Emotional Care – 6 Ways Music Can Help Patients
Introduction: What responsibility does the hospital bear for a patient? Healthcare is changing, and hospitals today offer more than just medical care. Hospitals now also offer thei…