peter ellis Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 So anyway - there i was in the organ loft playing the accompaniment to the rather unsatisfying Jubilee Mass by Flor Peeters. Reaching the high point of the whole piece (the end of the Gloria) I went one piston change too far and instead of underpinning the choir with full organ I left them bellowing to the accompaniment of one swell flute (which I'd carefully set up so I could give a note for the collect). I almost had to laugh! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJJ Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 Not this week but not so long ago I played for the induction of a new Vicar. They had given me an out of date draft of the order of service (no hymns announced!) so that when I launched in with a very loud playover and first verse for the printed hymn I received my very own Archdeacon's visitation at the console to get me to shut up. That hymn had been moved in a subsequent version of the running order and replaced with a quiet meditation! AJJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 So anyway - there i was in the organ loft playing the accompaniment to the rather unsatisfying Jubilee Mass by Flor Peeters. Reaching the high point of the whole piece (the end of the Gloria) I went one piston change too far and instead of underpinning the choir with full organ I left them bellowing to the accompaniment of one swell flute (which I'd carefully set up so I could give a note for the collect). I almost had to laugh! =========================== I had a bit of an off-day this morning.....stressed, tired and strangely out of it. The Bach Trio Sonata was a travesty and I abandoned all efforts after the first movement. I couldn't improvise for once. I just played through mass and the hymns without the slightest involvement, but I staggered through the Adagio movement of the Toccata, Adagio & Fugue. I perked up towards the end, and got through the final voluntary, but I can't even recall what it was I played!! It was like a hangover, but without the alcohol. MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kropf Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 So anyway - there i was in the organ loft playing the accompaniment to the rather unsatisfying Jubilee Mass by Flor Peeters. Reaching the high point of the whole piece (the end of the Gloria) I went one piston change too far and instead of underpinning the choir with full organ I left them bellowing to the accompaniment of one swell flute (which I'd carefully set up so I could give a note for the collect). I almost had to laugh! Already longer ago.... I accompanied the Dvorak Mass in D, playing the Klais (IV/73 or so) of Graz Cathedral, Austria. When finishing the first Kyrie with the great D major cadence, my page turner pressed the combination button for the expected Gedackt 8' to accompany the entrance of the "Christe" by the solo soprano. But instead of it, there came a mix containing the Vox humana, the tremulant and the Zimbelstern!* Knowing that the combination system there was thunderstorm sensitive and had its faults, I quickly re-hit the button, and there the Gedackt was - but the Zimbelstern joyfully ringed on for some seconds... *) I was lucky that the voicing of the instrument is so poor, that it did not disturb the singer too much... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OmegaConsort Posted May 6, 2007 Share Posted May 6, 2007 So anyway - there i was in the organ loft playing the accompaniment to the rather unsatisfying Jubilee Mass by Flor Peeters. Reaching the high point of the whole piece (the end of the Gloria) I went one piston change too far and instead of underpinning the choir with full organ I left them bellowing to the accompaniment of one swell flute (which I'd carefully set up so I could give a note for the collect). I almost had to laugh! Along time ago now..........it was Wesley Blessed be, the funny chords before Love one another and after the treble solo, and I what I had set up on the choir was perfect for it, except right at the top of the stop jamb, Great Reeds on Choir was drawn, and of course I didn't notice. I dont think I will ever forget the comments in the pub afterwards.....the reaction of the conductor at the time paled into insignificance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themythes Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Found myself playing for evensong at Winchester one Sunday afternoon many years ago for a choirmaster whom I didn't know. The pipe organ was having major things done to it and we were provided with the ubiquitous (in those days) Allen. I was happily Murrilling away in E major and we arrived at the Gloria of the Nunc Dimittis. Honest, guv, I really did think that I had pre-set the biggest solo reed available on the choir for the fanfare bits at the start, but something had clearly gone wrong: all I and everyone else got was the choir 2 ft piccolo - charming no doubt, novel indeed, but I wasn't asked again. DRH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murton Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Sang "we'll go in the strength of the lord" this morning, so during v2 set up the great reeds transfer and reeds on to top manual...had some fun playing some extra fanfares during the last verse, then realised, too late though, that having pressed a great piston, the reeds had come off. So all my hard work was in vain. As the trumpets face down the nave, I can't hear them much anyway, so I noticed too late to do anything about it...all the school would have heard during the chorus was an attempt at a Reg Dixon accomp without anything else...a bit of a let down for me, but probably bloody relief for them!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wolsey Posted May 8, 2007 Share Posted May 8, 2007 Found myself playing for evensong at Winchester one Sunday afternoon many years ago for a choirmaster whom I didn't know. The pipe organ was having major things done to it and we were provided with the ubiquitous (in those days) Allen. I was happily Murrilling away in E major and we arrived at the Gloria of the Nunc Dimittis. Honest, guv, I really did think that I had pre-set the biggest solo reed available on the choir for the fanfare bits at the start, but something had clearly gone wrong: all I and everyone else got was the choir 2 ft piccolo - charming no doubt, novel indeed, but I wasn't asked again. DRH ...And it was on that same Allen organ at Winchester Cathedral during the Harrison resoration that I was accompanying Blair in B minor. I aimed my right toe at one of the *very* many pistons arrayed on the RH side ready for the final B major chord; I could have sworn blind that my foot was correctly positioned. Instead of a thrilling tutti complete with 32' reed, the choir's "Amen" was underpinned with the strings and 32' flue which another organist had used to adorn the end of Rutter's 'The Lord bless you and keep you' which had been sung by the choir at the morning service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Last Sunday night, due to pressure of time, my boss had not rehearsed the psalm in the full practice immediately preceding Choral Evensong. Shortly before it was due to be sung in the service, I happened to notice that in my copy the first two verses had several changes of pointing. I leaned over and whispered to my boss "Do you have these pointing changes?" He consulted his psalter and said "Yes." Unfortunately, from the confusion whch ensued, I think it likely that the only other choir member who had the same pointing changes was the alto on cantoris - who was sightreading the chant, and therefore failed to notice most of the alterations. At the end, the choir resumed their seats looking rather sheepish, and my boss turned round and announced brightly "That went well....!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombarde32 Posted May 10, 2007 Share Posted May 10, 2007 Did I screw up? Well, I suppose you could call it that. Playing for funeral today I accidentally knocked hymn book off bench onto pedalboard. Carried on playing hymn (well you just can't stop, can you?!) but pedal notes in middle all to cock! It's not easy pedalling a hymn-book! BAH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 Did I screw up? Well, I suppose you could call it that. Playing for funeral today I accidentally knocked hymn book off bench onto pedalboard. Carried on playing hymn (well you just can't stop, can you?!) but pedal notes in middle all to cock! It's not easy pedalling a hymn-book! BAH! I can do that without resorting to dropping a hymn book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riddler67 Posted May 11, 2007 Share Posted May 11, 2007 The topic header does say this week, so apologies for mentioning my saddest moment to date which did occur some 20 odd years ago. I managed to fall off the bench at Grossmunster Zurich while playing the opening of Purcell's Bell Anthem - leaning over to reach the top manual (which I think is an enclosed positiv or something sim???) - the pure Ionian tonality became somewhat compromised by Ligettian clusters. While I did recover, the effect on the soloists due to be singing the opening verse was more prolonged - not one of them managed the entry, merely a few gasps of poorly retained mirth drifting across to the loft. Now I wonder - what on earth was I doing playing that opening on the 4th manual anyway? And, of course, the Terror of the Bell has never gone away. I still tremble when I see that particular anthem programmed, 22 years down the line. Tim Marlborough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombarde32 Posted May 12, 2007 Share Posted May 12, 2007 The topic header does say this week, so apologies for mentioning my saddest moment to date which did occur some 20 odd years ago. I managed to fall off the bench at Grossmunster Zurich while playing the opening of Purcell's Bell Anthem - leaning over to reach the top manual (which I think is an enclosed positiv or something sim???) - the pure Ionian tonality became somewhat compromised by Ligettian clusters. While I did recover, the effect on the soloists due to be singing the opening verse was more prolonged - not one of them managed the entry, merely a few gasps of poorly retained mirth drifting across to the loft. Now I wonder - what on earth was I doing playing that opening on the 4th manual anyway? And, of course, the Terror of the Bell has never gone away. I still tremble when I see that particular anthem programmed, 22 years down the line. Tim Marlborough Fantastic - not many of us would admit to that one Quality, real quality! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJJ Posted May 12, 2007 Share Posted May 12, 2007 I can't listen to the Alain 'Litanies' any more without being reminded of the time when I managed to pull the heavily cellotaped copy off the music stand during one of the more complex sections when turning pages for a very well known international recitalist. I met him again not so long ago and mercifully he did not remember the incident. One of those toe curling moments in ones life all the same! AJJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Clark Posted May 12, 2007 Share Posted May 12, 2007 I'd welcome a thread entitled "Did anybody NOT screw up this week?". It would guarantee my total absence from this forum, probably to the delight of 99% of the membership. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innate Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 I'd welcome a thread entitled "Did anybody NOT screw up this week?". It would guarantee my total absence from this forum, probably to the delight of 99% of the membership. We could all respond "no". Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 Indeed one could not be certain that someone, somewhere would not be able to deny that they did not feel they could respond "no" to not having screwed up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Psalm 78 v.67 Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 That knocks "double negatives" into a cocked hat! PS - and TOTALLY off topic is anyone here on "Facebook"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 That knocks "double negatives" into a cocked hat! PS - and TOTALLY off topic is anyone here on "Facebook"? Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Psalm 78 v.67 Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 There are hundreds of "you"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 There are hundreds of "you"! There are? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Psalm 78 v.67 Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 There are? O you know what I mean - same name. (Didn't realise pcnd5584 was such a popular name) Smiley in wrong place in last post - couldn't be bothered to wait for edit to load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcnd5584 Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 O you know what I mean - same name. (Didn't realise pcnd5584 was such a popular name) Neither did I - I shall have a look later. Did you find what you were looking for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Psalm 78 v.67 Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 Neither did I - I shall have a look later. Did you find what you were looking for? No - ran out of time. And being on dialup, each page takes ages 2 load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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