Andy

I like the sound of a 'PA mute'.

I occasionally do recitals at my church. Unbeknown to me an urn was gently coming to the boil during one of of these. Fortunately the Brindley and Foster that I play is high up on the north chancel wall and so I could only hear the church heating system. A couple of musicians in the audience threatened to commit a very un-Christian act involving the urn and the tea lady which resulted in the urn being turned off.

It certainly is. If you feel the urge to play it again, let me know.

..which came in handy on Sunday morning when the blower motor burnt out.

the organ has unfortunately has been ciphering due to damage done by a previous director of music to the church more detail please?

One late summer Sunday morning we had a visiting preacher who delivered a fiery 'hell and damnation' - type address. The effect of this was helped immeasurably by one of the biggest electrical storms for some years. The Boellman Toccata commenced in my head. I thought I'd supressed the urge and that good taste would prevail but the storm resumed just before the end of the service....

Andrew Chadney, currently organist at St Stephen's, Norbury with Thornton Heath, London SW16. Like some previous contributors I learnt organ and piano at school and have had a rekindling of interest since hitting 30 (I'm now 46) and have lessons with Gerard Brooks. I've also been in the fire service for the last 24 years and have yet to meet a fellow firefighting organist. Does anyone on this board know of any others?

[ I started wondering who we'd call the one hit wonders of the organ world. Julius Reubke and his Sonata on the 94th Psalm immediately spring to mind - I gather he wrote another piece for organ, but it's certainly not standard repertoire material. What others would we put on the list? Rgds, MJF <{POST_SNAPBACK}> It wasn't entirely his fault though.

The arrangement of the opening movement of no.3 turned out to be quite acceptable and, by an amazing coincidence, I have had it requested for another wedding.

I play in a multi-cultural urban area and have, several times, been to churches where not even the congregation are there at start time. The wedding may be 45 - 60 minutes late starting. One vicar used to charge a deposit which was non-refundable if start time was delayed more than 30 mins - I got two double fees from him which made it a lot less painful. I tend to go out for a cigarette after 20 mins.

I have been asked for a movement from Brandenburg 3. I informed the bride that I was not aware of an organ arrangement, but she quickly countered with, 'Don't worry, I've downloaded a piano arrangement'

I have found that you can't please everyone. I have altered tempi in the past when alerted to the needs of 'the congregation' only to find out that many other members were quite happy with things as they were. A victory for the vocal minority.

Swell box!!! Isn't this heresy? Please help, confused amateur floundering.

https://www.boosey.com/pages/shop/product_d...sp?id=599329&a=

It's all very well for clergy to say we should be better prepared. I have a full-time job. On top of that the boss and her new assistant (who insists on talking while I'm still finishing) often have themes for services but don't feel it necessary to let me in on the secret. Also the size of our congregation is very variable so the amount of music required during the communion is necessarily decided at the time. I have dim memories of playing various Beaumont hymns on an ancient organ in a small Norfolk village each day for a week at the daily assembly of a church-run holiday club. Even at the age of 15 I hated all of them. Although I refused to play Hatherthorp Castle for my previous boss, I was still unable to escape 'Camberwell'! - vying for the crown of 'worst hymn tune ever' with Living Lord. (IMHO, of course) How about 'If I was a wriggly worm' for the most ludicrous and inappropriate (Our boss's assistant wanted it as an Offertory hymn recently)

Wear your anorak with pride.