God Rest Ye Merry...

[handsoff]

The Christmas morning Eucharist at my church will be considerably enlivened this year when approximately 12.5% of the regular congregation will be joined in Holy Matrimony.

 

The couple have requested that I play "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" as the concluding voluntary (not intending that the congregation should sing along). I'm perfectly happy with this but wonder if anyone knows of a suitable piece using this tune that I could offer? *Two conditions, 1) it's not too hard because I'm rubbish and 2) suitable for the organ shown in my avatar which does have a pedal board, and 3) the tune is clearly audible. Thank you in advance.

 

* There are three types of people in this world; those that can do maths and those that can't.

[Philip]

There is a piece by Wilbur Held in Cramer's publication 'The Church Year' (which contains Chorale Prelude type pieces for all seasons). It is straightforward and if I recall marked ff throughout (which on your organ probably means pull everything out I'd guess!).

 

I don't know if it is published separately, or if there are any YouTube performances to view (I'm at work at the moment so can't access YT).

[handsoff]

Thanks Philip, it is on YT and sounds just the job. I'll see about getting hold of a copy so that I have plenty of time to mug it up. The 8' Open, 4' Principal, 2' Piccolo + Larigot with faint and grumbly 16' Bourdon will do the trick nicely.

 

 

Your quick reply is much appreciated.

[Richard Fairhurst]

There's also an enjoyable

in the Oxford Book of Christmas Organ Music. Might be a bit of a stretch on that organ but probably just about doable...

[handsoff]

Thanks Richard, it's certainly a nice piece but I think too much of a stretch both for me and the organ!

[handsoff]

I've just ordered the Wilbur Held from the OHS at $10.00 + P&P.

 

P

[Tony Newnham]

Hi

 

If piano is an option, there's a Rondo by S. Wesley that I donwloaded from the web a while back - not too difficult - I've got it in mind for the carol service at our second church, where there's no organ.

 

Every Blessing

 

Tony

[handsoff]

Thank you Tony, but there is no piano; perhaps fortunately as my piano technique is even worse than that for the organ!

[David Drinkell]

The Held piece is a good one - his stuff is useful and catchy - Gebrauchsmusik of the best kind. I have the Wesley but have never managed to get enthusiastic about it.

[handsoff]

To add a footnote to this thread.

 

I bought and thoroughly learned the Wilbur Held without too much difficulty and launched into it after the Eucharist/Wedding yesterday morning. Bar 6 has a top D and the organ decided to cypher on that note at that point. Had it ever done it before? No. I carried on regardless but I'm sure that even the most musically unaware in the congregation/audience must have noticed something amiss. The last chord E Major with a slightly shrieking (Piccolo 2' + Larigot) D natural wasn't as bad as it would have been in other keys, I suppose... It took a lot of vigorous note-bashing to stop the cypher. I'll put a red sticky paper dot on the key until I can fix it/ get it fixed properly.