Organists' Nightmares, (Not GTB) Options

[bourdon16]

The other thread was about the pedal variations.

I do actually have bad dreams about being an organist. Often I'm at the console of a large cathedral organ about 30 seconds before the Magnificat starts and I discover that all the pistons have been reset to useless combinations. No amount of flicking through all the other channels will locate my own settings!

In real life, about 25 years ago, I turned up to play for a friend's wedding and found I'd left the music 35 miles away. Luckily there was a spare in the cupboard!!

Anybody else want to own up to nocturnal or real-life troubles??

[mwl1]

I'm a beggar for putting up the wrong hymn number, or putting up the number then realising I either can't play the music, or don't have the music!

[AntonPiano]

i have one every sunday

especially in the gloria. i get really nervous and i hate it when the order of service changes and i dont get an order of service, or im not warned and im sitting there,as the congregation stare waiting for the gloria!
im stuck in lent!

yes it has happened
but i usually do stuff wrong all the time

ill get better with experience any how

i hope!

[mcm]

In the run up to Christmas once I dreamed that I was playing Bach's 'Wachet auf' but someone had removed the organ stool so I was trying to do it standing on the pedals - and the organ had about 6 manuals with the lowest one at chin height! Fortunately I woke up quite quickly - what a relief!

[daveinnorfolk]

Again the Gloria.

I once came in before the prayer (During the absolution)

and so get nervous at this point of every ****** service

[fsharpminor]

I'm a beggar for putting up the wrong hymn number, or putting up the number then realising I either can't play the music, or don't have the music!

I once had one hymn showing as 364 on the left side of the church, and 346 on the right!
The minister spotted it an announced that those on the left of the church would sing 364 and those on the right 346. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) Just to embarrass me I think (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[jod]

I felt sorry for the organist at Emmanuel URC before their lovely organ had a rebuild by Harrison and Harrison. The Open Diapason developed a cipher on Eb and the keys of the hymns meant that this clashed with everything.

The organ at Kennett often runs out of air, but as its a little church even though you've only got 5 stops to use, if you limit yourself to three its fine.

Other nightmare: walking into church and being greeted by the Churchwarden with the words "Are you the lady whose playing the organ today?" I had no music, had never played that organ yet fifteen minutes later was commencing on the first hymn.

[mrbouffant]

Other nightmare: walking into church and being greeted by the Churchwarden with the words "Are you the lady whose playing the organ today?" I had no music, had never played that organ yet fifteen minutes later was commencing on the first hymn.

Why didn't you just say no?

I've had the occasional glitch, for example the vicar announcing a hymn which (due to a typo on the hymn list) we hadn't practiced at quire practice. Fair enough, but then looking at it I immediately saw that no-one knew the tune (one of those annoying 'worship songs' which is written out in Mayhew-style as a very awkward and rhythmically peculiar arrangement - fine for me, not so fine for The Gathered Faithful). I had to get off the console and wander around to the front of the nave (in my stockinged feet) to tell the vicar we couldn't sing it because no-one knew it. A rather bizarre situation in the middle of Divine Worship. He huffed and puffed and went onto the Gospel Acclamation without further ado...

[jod]

Other nightmare: walking into church and being greeted by the Churchwarden with the words "Are you the lady whose playing the organ today?" I had no music, had never played that organ yet fifteen minutes later was commencing on the first hymn.

Why didn't you just say no?

I've had the occasional glitch, for example the vicar announcing a hymn which (due to a typo on the hymn list) we hadn't practiced at quire practice. Fair enough, but then looking at it I immediately saw that no-one knew the tune (one of those annoying 'worship songs' which is written out in Mayhew-style as a very awkward and rhythmically peculiar arrangement - fine for me, not so fine for The Gathered Faithful). I had to get off the console and wander around to the front of the nave (in my stockinged feet) to tell the vicar we couldn't sing it because no-one knew it. A rather bizarre situation in the middle of Divine Worship. He huffed and puffed and went onto the Gospel Acclamation without further ado...

I had been "volunteered" by the priest taking the service! Obviously my husband has more faith in my playing than I have and knew I wouldn't let the Church down. Even the DoM said he knew I would do it. Have I got "mug" tattooed on my forehead.

[maggiemay]

Other nightmare: walking into church and being greeted by the Churchwarden with the words "Are you the lady whose playing the organ today?" I had no music, had never played that organ yet fifteen minutes later was commencing on the first hymn.

Why didn't you just say no?

I've had the occasional glitch, for example the vicar announcing a hymn which (due to a typo on the hymn list) we hadn't practiced at quire practice. Fair enough, but then looking at it I immediately saw that no-one knew the tune (one of those annoying 'worship songs' which is written out in Mayhew-style as a very awkward and rhythmically peculiar arrangement - fine for me, not so fine for The Gathered Faithful). I had to get off the console and wander around to the front of the nave (in my stockinged feet) to tell the vicar we couldn't sing it because no-one knew it. A rather bizarre situation in the middle of Divine Worship. He huffed and puffed and went onto the Gospel Acclamation without further ado...

I had a slightly similar experience in my teens, playing at a big, important town-centre church where I knew nobody - my teacher had volunteered me to play a midweek service. I was given a list of hymns from a big hard-back hymn book. No problem sight reading any of this - but just hope there are no queries - no time to check.

Service starts ok and about 10 minutes in Vicar announces second hymn and I play over. Halfway through the first verse it becomes painfully apparent that no-one knows this hymn, much less the tune. Vicar calls a halt.
"They don't know this tune " (oh really ?!)

"Play the next one"

(Does he mean the next hymn? or the next tune in the book - surely not?)

"The tune on the next page"

(oh no - how do you explain this if he hasn't realised...)
(me) erm - it's not in the same metre ...
"what do you mean ?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

I kid you not.

[grand choeur]

How about sounding the Contra Fagotto while mounting or dismounting the bench? (Funny thing that, didn't realise it smelled like the after effects of baked beans and pork!!!).

Made the saints' eyes water, what with it clouding the quire rather like incense clouds!!!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif)

Then GC awakes and it was all maya... just a dream...

Nitrous-ly,
GC

[mrbouffant]

Oh dear my cuz, I hope the varnish was left untarnished! No greater sin than sullying the church fabric methinks. Get thee into the confessional and give me 20 Hail Marys.

[jod]

Oh dear my cuz, I hope the varnish was left untarnished! No greater sin than sullying the church fabric methinks. Get thee into the confessional and give me 20 Hail Marys.

Wot only 20 hail marys?

[grand choeur]

*Note to self - No more liver and onions before mass*

Remindingly,
GC

[Alison]

i have one every sunday

especially in the gloria. i get really nervous and i hate it when the order of service changes and i dont get an order of service, or im not warned and im sitting there,as the congregation stare waiting for the gloria!
im stuck in lent!

yes it has happened
but i usually do stuff wrong all the time

ill get better with experience any how

i hope!

Again the Gloria.

I once came in before the prayer (During the absolution)

and so get nervous at this point of every ****** service

I used to hate the Gloria moment, too, but I have trained our ministers to announce it now. Makes life much easier.

The other thing I had to train them to do was not to interrupt my playing before the service with a loud "Good Morning" into the microphone. It tended to make me jump and I would instinctively take my hands off the keyboard in the middle of whatever I was playing, and then I felt embarrassed because it sounded stupid. I asked them why they didn't just wait until I had finished, and they weren't even aware they were doing it - I'm quite happy to be background music that no-one listens to, but I would like the chance to play a perfect cadence at the end!