Vancouver church organist and composer Rupert Lang retires after nearly 40 years

Growing up in the 50s, Rupert Lang's father was an Anglican priest — meaning he spent a fair amount of time in parishes that had organs.

His family was living in Nelson, B.C., where the church had a small pipe organ. Lang was studying piano at the time, and would sneak in at night to play the organ, despite his piano teacher advising against it.

"My piano teacher said 'no, no, you shouldn't touch the organ, it'll ruin your piano technique,' which is totally wrong," Lang told CBC's Margaret Gallagher.

And that is where his love of the organ began.

As a child, Lang would sneak into his local church to play the organ. Now, many years later, he's retiring from his longtime post as the organist at Christ Church Cathedral. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

"It's kind of a visceral thing. It almost speaks to me. The pipes speak to me."

Now, after playing the organ at Vancouver's Christ Church Cathedral for nearly 40 years, Lang is retiring as the church's director of music, leaving behind a legacy of connection and artistry.

LISTEN | Lang to retire after nearly four decades: 

'It's like he takes the sound and shapes it'

Peter Elliot, the dean of Christ Church Cathedral from 1994 until 2019, says Lang and he had a close working relationship.

"Amongst the things I miss about being at Christ Church Cathedral really is Rupert's music," he said.

He said Lang always had a "keen aesthetic sense."

"If you watch him, which I had the privilege of doing for a quarter of a century, you watch him conduct, it's like he takes the sound and shapes it."

Lang said conducting, in particular, is where his spirituality and musicality collide.

"I'm bringing something in through me as I'm conducting," he said, and he became emotional thinking about leaving his beloved choir behind.

Not only does he play the organ and conduct the choir, Lang also writes original music for the church.

Lang not only plays music, but also writes and conducts. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

Bishop John Stephens said that while Lang is very capable on the organ, his ability to write music is "outstanding."

"He is one of those people that can write music and somehow connect with what's going on," he said, pointing to a piece Lang wrote specifically for funerals, one that embodies both the grief loved ones feel but also the celebration of a life well lived.

"It's hard to get that right and hard to find a way that brings that together. Rupert's got that ability to tie things together just beautifully."

Sculptor turned musician

Music isn't Lang's only artistic talent; he's also a sculptor.

Back in Nelson, Lang used to peek over his sister's shoulder as she worked on projects for art school.

"Watching her just inspired me, and I thought, 'Oh, I want to do this for a living.'"

His dad helped him apply to study with Saskatchewan sculptor John Nugent, and he received a government grant to do just that.

Lang went on to study at the University of Manitoba and St. John's College, and the University of Cambridge in England, among others.

Lang says he will miss his organ, his choir and his congregation. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

He joined the Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Vancouver on Aug. 1, 1986.

Now, just over 38 years later, he's saying goodbye to his choir, his congregation and his cherished organ.

"You can actually feel the wind under your fingers when you're playing. And I love accompanying. I've always loved accompanying hymns and anthems. So yeah, the organ has been it for me.

"The connection of my own spirituality has been very, very enriching and deep. I really appreciate my time here at the cathedral."

Organist Rupert Lang stands in front of the organ at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Ben Nelms/CBC)