My First "Gig" (On organ)

[Bagnew]

I was up at (Catholic) Church the day before Yesterday (Saturday), practicing my new music which arrived in the post on Friday (David German's Festive Trumpet Tune, Joel Martinson's Aria on a Chaconne, and French Masterworks for Organ) when the Incumbent Organist (who turns out to be the President of the New Zealand Association of Organists(!)) came in to practice for this morning. I'd never met him before, and he had no clue that I was practicing - It would seem the parish staff and priests didn't think to tell him! He asked if I was having / had had organ lessons, and I told him No, that I was self taught, but have been having piano lessons for 10 years (Wow, it seems a long time! 2/3 of my life!) and various other instruments. He seemed impressed, gave me a few tips, and now I'm on the roster for 8 AM mass! I'm playing next Sunday, and looking forward to playing for more than 2 people!

I have no clue what I'll be playing, but I'll be getting the music in PDF Format tomorrow via email, and in hard copy when I get up to practice. I may do the Aria on a Chaconne during Communion, or the Festive Trumpet Tune as a Postlude. Any Suggestions for Easy-ish pieces that sound good and would be good preludes/postludes? I'm afraid I'm not too familiar with Liturgical Music as a whole (Although I go to a Catholic school, it tends to be filled with "Happy Clappy" music, and the majority of the time I go to mass, we wake up too late and have to go to the 9:30, rather than the 8:00, which means no Organ, just Guitars.... I'll let you form your own Opinions on that...)

For those who are interested, it's an Allen ADC 420
Pedal
Bourdon 16
Lieblich 16
Octave 8
Gedeckt 8
Choralbass 4
Mixture II
Bassoon 16
Trumpet 8

Swell
Bourdon 16
Viola 8
Viola Celeste 8
Gedeckt 8
Spitzprinzipal 4
Koppelflote 4
Nasat 2 2/3
Blockglote 2
Bassoon 16
Trumpet 8

Great
Principal 8
Viola 8
Gedeckt 8
Octave 4
Koppelflote 4
Blockflote 2
Mixture IV
Trumpet 8
Krummhorn 8

Swell to Great
Swell to Pedal
Great to Pedal

[Flute'n'Pedal]

Hi Bagnew,

I think it's very important that you go to 8:00 mass once or twice this week. Pay particular attention to what the organist is doing, and try to imagine how it will be for you when you're sitting in his place next Sunday. It would be nice if you could stand right beside the organist and watch him close-up. But if you can't do that, maybe you could talk to him after mass and get some more tips.

As for music, I think it's safest to play things you've already learned. It's a bit risky to play something that you've only started on this week, even if it's easy.

Greetings, Flute'n'Pedal

[wljmrbill]

I agree with Flute'n'pedal ... Be asure you know how to enter into each sectionn of the mass ( if people are to sang) with the priest celebrating....i.e. gloria, keyrie etc etc. these usually mean a timing situation between organist and priest etc. I am sure you will do well... another tip... Some times "simple is better" to the adverage church attendee.

[Bagnew]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I went to mass Yesterday morning. I should be alright, the Incumbent organist will be there, helping me along.

[Krummhorn]

Sage advice, above.

I had played in a rather large RC parish here some years ago, and although music was a very important and integral part of each Mass, I found that simpler music for preludes and postludes was received better. Bear in mind that those attending Mass wish to meditate before the service. Of course, on special festival Sundays, I would get more "adventuresome" with my musical offerings.

Eventually, you will, as pointed out above, have a special working relationship with the priest(s). Where I had played, there were no less than 6 or 7 different Priests who would be saying Mass ... each with their own idiosyncrasies on how the Mass was to flow. I always loved it when Fr McCarthy's was the celebrant ... in and out the door in 50 minutes flat, no matter what. Shortest homily in the west .

I was scared stiff playing my first RC Mass ... then came Holy Week ... holy cow .

[Bagnew]

I'm still on School Holidays at the moment (back to school on Thursday for Course Confirmation then a rehearsal for our show (Grease, I'm playing Trumpet in the band), then an hour or 2 on Tuesday, then we start properly on Thursday next week (I have no idea why it's quite so convoluted, but hey, what can you do?) So I have plenty of free time to practice. I'll be spending the rest of today (Tuesday) up at church, practicing, followed by a run-through with the Incumbent Organist and the Cantor on Friday, then a final run-through on Sunday Morning pre-mass.

[Krummhorn]

Sounds like you have all your ducks in a row there, Bagnew.

You'll have to tell us how everything went ... and from the looks of things, you will do just fine.

[Bagnew]

Everything went smoothly, no mistakes (from me, anyway, although the Cantor decided to sing the Psalm in F Minor, instead of G minor for one verse (I am quite thankful of the gift of transposition on sight!) before getting back to the right key).

Managed to give the priest the right notes to intone on, and got a chance to play in public. I'm on 8 AM Mass in 2 weeks, and possibly 9:30 too, playing with the choir.

[wljmrbill]

well done.. kepp up the good work....soon will be a picnic every sunday....LOL

[Krummhorn]

Congrats, Bagnew - Well done

The next ones will become easier ... I have always loved the "flow" of the RC Mass and thoroughly enjoyed my 3 years as Sr. Organist in a very large parish here.

[Flute'n'Pedal]

Hi Bagnew,

I'm glad that things went well for you this first time. And that you've been asked to play again. Don't forget to continue your piano studies; good pianists make excellent organists.

Flute

[Bagnew]

Played again this morning, this time with the choir. Played the Aria on a Chaconne and Festive Trumpet Tune today, as I didn't play them last time. The role of the organ is being scaled right back for Lent, so I won't have quite so much to do until Easter, where the Incumbent Organist and I shall be doing some Organ/Trumpet music.

[wljmrbill]

Don't forget that the tone and modes of the organ music for lent adds to the general feeling of repentance leading the glorious music the Easter Tide.

[Bagnew]

I don't choose the music, I just play what's given to me. I think that we will be using the organ as a very soft accompaniment to the choir during lent, with perhaps a few quiet pensive pieces.

[Bagnew]

Update!
On Tuesday 2 March, I was able to play for a Dedication Mass at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Auckland New Zealand. It was AWESOME!