Organists' Nightmares, (Not GTB) Options

[grand choeur]

[quote name='Alison' date='Apr 19 2007, 10:24 AM' post='498124']
[quote name='AntonPiano' post='496724' date='Apr 17 2007, 06:37 PM']


... I have trained our ministers ...

[/quote]

GC should be so lucky - you get to train your ministers!!! Sounds like a new thread topic.

Wish you well.

Admiringly,
GC

[Teknikus]

Guildford Cathedral, 1975. My first cathedral evensong. Sumsion Mag and Nunc and suchlike. No real problems - until the Nunc. I press Swell 2, expecting nice quiet 'lieblichy' sound to emanate. No chance. Out came the tuba et al. Total panic on my part; hadn't a clue. Couldn't see where the tuba stop was and it didn't seem to be where you'd imagine it would be, so it stayed on until the Gloria. Apparently, it turned out that a chorister had flicked a switch just below the console when admiring the instrument before the service. I learnt my lesson: no choristers under the age of 21 allowed anywhere near the console before services!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[Deborah]

Apparently, it turned out that a chorister had flicked a switch just below the console when admiring the instrument before the service. I learnt my lesson: no choristers under the age of 21 allowed anywhere near the console before services!

What makes you think that those of us over 21 are any better? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Altogether now: "What does this button do?" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/whistling.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sing.gif)

[maggiemay]

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!

A fellow organist's bete noire used to be the minister who would walk up behind him two minutes before the service was due to begin, (and while he was in the middle of either a voluntary or an improvisation) and want a vital word about something. On one occasion he was heard to stop on a diminished 7th chord, turn round and say "and how would you feel if I did that to you in the middle of your sermon?"

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

[fsharpminor]

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!

A fellow organist's bete noire used to be the minister who would walk up behind him two minutes before the service was due to begin, (and while he was in the middle of either a voluntary or an improvisation) and want a vital word about something. On one occasion he was heard to stop on a diminished 7th chord, turn round and say "and how would you feel if I did that to you in the middle of your sermon?"

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[jod]

A fellow organist's bete noire used to be the minister who would walk up behind him two minutes before the service was due to begin, (and while he was in the middle of either a voluntary or an improvisation) and want a vital word about something. On one occasion he was heard to stop on a diminished 7th chord, turn round and say "and how would you feel if I did that to you in the middle of your sermon?"

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

That's excellent! Lesson no 1, don't worry that the priest is in the middle of putting Vestements on have the conversation and make it very clear that when you are playing before the service that is not the time for a "quick word".

On Easter I had set the organ up for the last hymn, registrations all prepared when a book came flying off the music stand and hit the manuals during the dissmissal! ooops.

[organgrinder]

A fellow organist's bete noire used to be the minister who would walk up behind him two minutes before the service was due to begin, (and while he was in the middle of either a voluntary or an improvisation) and want a vital word about something. On one occasion he was heard to stop on a diminished 7th chord, turn round and say "and how would you feel if I did that to you in the middle of your sermon?"

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

That's excellent! Lesson no 1, don't worry that the priest is in the middle of putting Vestements on have the conversation and make it very clear that when you are playing before the service that is not the time for a "quick word".

On Easter I had set the organ up for the last hymn, registrations all prepared when a book came flying off the music stand and hit the manuals during the dissmissal! ooops.

Aagh!

[jod]

It appears that a number of orgainist nightmares involve relationships with clergy, then you ask the clergy the same question and its a case of nightmares with organists. Now is this a case of Organists are from Venus and Clergy from Mars? I'm sure a number of these things arise due to the fact that both parties want to do things at their very best, and there are differences of opinion.

IMHO The best relationships cme where the day-to-day running of music is in the DoMs hands with the understanding they've got to listen to the imput of the clergy, particulary the incumbant who can step in if there is a problem. Likewise Clergy need to listen to any advice that the DoM gives eg, yes we can do this with a months notice, but not this Sunday.

It sounds like most of you have good working relationships with your ministry team. It just seems a pity that there are these two terribly dedicated teams who keep clashing over things.

[mrbouffant]

IIMHO The best relationships cme where the day-to-day running of music is in the DoMs hands with the understanding they've got to listen to the imput of the clergy.

jod, give it up. we've had this discussion before and the threads got locked. please don't try and start another flame war by stoking this up again. if you persist, I shall be forced to alert the moderators to your (probably unintentional) trolling.

[grand choeur]

IIMHO The best relationships cme where the day-to-day running of music is in the DoMs hands with the understanding they've got to listen to the imput of the clergy.

jod, give it up. we've had this discussion before and the threads got locked. please don't try and start another flame war by stoking this up again. if you persist, I shall be forced to alert my fellow (?) moderators to your (probably unintentional) trolling.

[fsharpminor]

On Easter I had set the organ up for the last hymn, registrations all prepared when a book came flying off the music stand and hit the manuals during the dissmissal! ooops.

When that happened to me it bounced off the lower manuals with a 'squawk' and landed on the pedal board.
I then leaned over to retrieve it , hit my head on the lower manual, and there was another squawk ! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

[grand choeur]

On Easter I had set the organ up for the last hymn, registrations all prepared when a book came flying off the music stand and hit the manuals during the dissmissal! ooops.

When that happened to me it bounced off the lower manuals with a 'squawk' and landed on the pedal board.
I then leaned over to retrieve it , hit my head on the lower manual, and there was another squawk ! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

So these "squawks" were they diatonic or chromatic?

Definingly,
GC

[fsharpminor]

On Easter I had set the organ up for the last hymn, registrations all prepared when a book came flying off the music stand and hit the manuals during the dissmissal! ooops.

When that happened to me it bounced off the lower manuals with a 'squawk' and landed on the pedal board.
I then leaned over to retrieve it , hit my head on the lower manual, and there was another squawk ! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

So these "squawks" were they diatonic or chromatic?

Definingly,
GC

Cacophonical (IMG:style_emoticons/default/eek.gif)

[jod]

IIMHO The best relationships cme where the day-to-day running of music is in the DoMs hands with the understanding they've got to listen to the imput of the clergy.

jod, give it up. we've had this discussion before and the threads got locked. please don't try and start another flame war by stoking this up again. if you persist, I shall be forced to alert the moderators to your (probably unintentional) trolling.

Sorry... I've just had a gutful of hubby slating Church Musicians this week. My Church musician Bete Noir!

[waldfute]

On Easter I had set the organ up for the last hymn, registrations all prepared when a book came flying off the music stand and hit the manuals during the dissmissal! ooops.

Don't worry I did the same thing too. And the Mass before that i put my hand on the great while trying to retreve a pencil i'd dropped through the pedals (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)

And once i actually forgot to turn the organ on.


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/chorale.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piano.gif)