Help! I Am In Trouble!

oldman

oldman

Well-known Member
Location
PA
We have three organists in our church. One is going to be out of the state this year for Candlelight Service. The other two are sisters and just found out they both have COVID and one is being admitted to the hospital. That leaves us without an organist for Candlelight Services on Sunday night.

I played organ in a play the church put on about 10 years ago, so they called me last evening. I immediately went into shock. The organ that is used for the CL Services is located in the main sanctuary and is fairly new. It has 3 manuals, plus pipes and foot pedals. I asked them if they could call one of the other churches and ask to borrow one of their organists, but they seem to all have excuses why they can’t lend us an organist.

I have been practicing since 9 this morning until 2:30 this afternoon. They are asking me to play eight carols. Today’s practice didn’t go so great. I never played an organ with 3 manuals, but have played with two manuals. My wife said maybe the choir will drown out the organ. I doubt that will happen. The pipes are easy. That part hasn’t changed. The really slow carols are OK, like “Silent Night,” which will end the program, but the upbeat tempo carols like, “O Come All Ye Faithful” was troublesome.

I don’t have an organ at home anymore and I also got rid of the piano. I guess I will spend most of the afternoon tomorrow at the church practicing. I’m hoping that someone finds a real organist before tomorrow night.
 

oldman said:
I guess I will spend most of the afternoon tomorrow at the church practicing.
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Fake it till you make it!

Nice of you to step up to the plate. I think you are going to do a fine job on that organ. Everyone will be in a cheerful mood, and won't be paying attention to a few minor blips here or there on your instrument.

Good luck...and let us know how it goes! :)
 
Oh, boy, oldman. This is what happens when you're a man of many talents. There's no chance anyone is going to find an organist to play at this late date. So, it looks like you're it.

I know you'd have liked more time to practice before the show, especially because you haven't played a 3 manual organ. Think of it this way, at least you don't have to land a single-engine organ. 😉

Best of luck, I'm sure you'll be fine! 👍
 
oldman said:
I don’t have an organ at home anymore and I also got rid of the piano. I guess I will spend most of the afternoon tomorrow at the church practicing. I’m hoping that someone finds a real organist before tomorrow night.
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I just now saw on my Facebook feed that a local church is looking for someone to play the organ for a 1 hour service. Maybe you're in my county and that's your church. :unsure: I won't name the area for obvious reasons, but that would be way coincidental! In any case, I'm thinking you'll ace it!
 
Just continue to "Circle the field, until you are cleared to land"!

iu
 
Things are improving. I was told this morning there are three services tonight. One is for families with little ones 5 and under. The second service is for seniors and anyone with disabilities or just want to get home early. The third service will include a sermon and the Christmas Blessing. The third service is usually pretty full because we light the everyone’s candle at the end with “Silent Night” being played as the congregation walks out the door.

We are practicing the carol “Christmas Canon” with the children’s choir singing backup. It sounds really nice. That carol is played on the piano.

I think I’m ready.
 
CallMeKate said:
I just now saw on my Facebook feed that a local church is looking for someone to play the organ for a 1 hour service. Maybe you're in my county and that's your church. :unsure: I won't name the area for obvious reasons, but that would be way coincidental! In any case, I'm thinking you'll ace it!
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Maybe?
 
Meanderer said:
Just continue to "Circle the field, until you are cleared to land"!

iu
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Talk about something being ironic. We were flying in from Honolulu one Christmas Eve and landing at O’Hare. The plane was about three-fourths full. We’re talking about a Boeing 747-800. When we began our final, the Purser announced over the intercom for everyone to return to their seats and buckle up. We were still about 100 miles from the airport.

I heard the Purser making her announcement and in the background, we all heard the carol “Little Drummer Boy” being sung by Crosby and Bowie. No one knew where it was coming from. Each time she keyed her mic, we heard the singing. Still, no one knew where the singing was coming from. No one ever figured it out, but if I had to guess, I would say one of the controllers had a hand in it.
 
That is Nice!!!! And I bet , Oldman, you will sure do fine!
We sang many carols at church this AM, with piano back yp and tonight is the Candlelight service with piano carols.

Our organist had to move in with her son far away, about 3years ago, due to many disabilities she had and no one has played our organ since.

Our earliest service has drums, guitar, (s) sometimes, and a clarinet or Flute.

There are 3 people who play the drums, but, one of them, our church secretary, heard I was a drummer and she let me play the drums after a service ended. People were still in the lobby and they heard a loud Military March!
I threw in a few ratamacues, and controlled the high hat with my feet but they use the drum sticks for that.

As soon as I sat down , to play ,she realized I had been a serious drummer because of the way I held the drumsticks.
But so far they haven't needed me to sit in, because she and the two young members, love playing them and they all do a pretty good job.

I always played with two snares, at home, and used the brush for many songs-and someone took me to hear Buddy Rich in person many years ago, and he asked me what I was writing as he played- I was in the front row but didn't think he noticed. I handed him a few blank music sheets, on which I filled in some of what he played (tablature) and he autographed the music sheet (maybe 1965 I think?) and told me he never learned how to read or write drum music. He was fabulous.

It is odd for me, and I am grateful , that this forum opens up so many memories for me. And many others!!!!!
 

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