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What voluntaries will you play this Sunday?

Nikam

New member
It would be interesting to know who's chosen what, Sunday by Sunday.
 
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Padster

New member
Here's my selection:
Prelude:
Three movements from 'Parish Thoughts': 1) 'Boredom', 2) ' What's For Dinner?', 3) 'Facebook Update' [Delirium Tremence]

Postlude:
Mad Dash in G (from "Let's Get The F*** Out Of Here!: 12 Pointless Postludes) [McPartlin/Donnelly/Armstrong/Osman]



Best wishes,
Padster
 

pcnd5584

New member
Here's my selection:
Prelude:
Three movements from 'Parish Thoughts': 1) 'Boredom', 2) ' What's For Dinner?', 3) 'Facebook Update' [Delirium Tremence]

Postlude:
Mad Dash in G (from "Let's Get The F*** Out Of Here!: 12 Pointless Postludes) [McPartlin/Donnelly/Armstrong/Osman]



Best wishes,
Padster

If you are that jaded about your Sunday employment, perhaps it is time to consider a new direction. Or, if you do not need the money, stay at home and relax instead.

 

Padster

New member
If you are that jaded about your Sunday employment, perhaps it is time to consider a new direction. Or, if you do not need the money, stay at home and relax instead.

By your denigration of me as jaded, am I to take it that you are enthusiastic about the situation? For what possible reason? It will all be gone in ten years time anyway. Do you really think churches will be able to continue shelling out on musicians and pipe organ maintenance with an ever-decreasing budget?

Personally, I do not get paid a penny for Sundays, so perhaps I will take you up on your suggestion. Thanks.

Best wishes,
Padster
 

Nikam

New member
Sorry you do not enjoy what you do Padster, but am hoping others will respond with rather more interest.
 

Dorsetmike

Member
I can see some churches maybe going that way, more likely in circumstances such as Lars mentioned in another thread with a new Pastor with "happy clappy" ideas but for many of our churches with a strong music history I don't see it happening, except maybe in some smaller urban parishes where the clergy and choir outnumber the congregation - assuming they still have a choir!
 

wljmrbill

Member
Interesting thread I hope. I do not play anymore except on rare occasions. Play at home and help friends as needed. The downward trend in church attendence seems to go with the whole world situation. IMHO;;sorry not on the subject of thread. a footnote..besides salary I always considered it a benefit to have a good organ to practice and play. Hope all is well with you Nikam
 

pcnd5584

New member
By your denigration of me as jaded, am I to take it that you are enthusiastic about the situation? For what possible reason? It will all be gone in ten years time anyway. Do you really think churches will be able to continue shelling out on musicians and pipe organ maintenance with an ever-decreasing budget?

Personally, I do not get paid a penny for Sundays, so perhaps I will take you up on your suggestion. Thanks.

Best wishes,
Padster

Hardly a denigration - you come across as somewhat embittered; under the circumstances, it would be difficult to impute anything positive to the meaning of your original post.

For the record, I think that you are wrong - in ten years' time I believe that there will still be churches where good music and pipe organs are valued. Certainly, at the same time, there will also be places where organs have been discarded and where music is provided by nothing more than a few guitars or an electronic keyboard.

About a year ago, the Church Times (a weekly publication for the Anglican community in the UK) published the results of a comprehensive survey of church attendance. The results were both illuminating and encouraging: the only area in which there was actually a growth in the number of those attending services regularly was that of cathedrals and greater churches. (i.e., in those places which still offered fully choral services.) In some types of charismatic churches or house-churches, there was in fact a decrease in regular worshippers.

From your posts, I have to wonder why you bother. It appears that you have no enjoyment in your present work, and no remuneration (how so?). Since you appear to be rather weary of the whole situation, why continue?


You ask if I am enthusiastic about the situation - and for what possible reason.

In the first instance, I happen to work at a church where music is both valued and supported. The organ is also a superb and comprehensive instrument (although in need of some restoration). Last Sunday, for example, we offered the following programme:

09h45: Sung Mass
Vierne - Messe Solennelle
Motet: Hear my prayer - Mendelssohn
Sortie: Allegro (First movement from Vierne's Second Symphony for Organ)

11h15: Choral Mattins
Leighton Responses
Venite (to Anglican chant)
Psalm 64 (to Anglican chant)
Te Deum - Stanford, in C
Jubilate Deo - Britten, in C
Anthem: Insanæ et vanæ curæ - Haydn

For once there was no Choral Evensong on this day. However, there would normally be such a service. A few weeks earlier, the programme was:

Leighton - Responses
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis - Stanford, in A
Anthem: The Spirit of the Lord - Elgar (From The Apostles)

The above programme is far from unusual. for example, last year, on four successive Sundays, we performed:
Duruflé - Requiem
Fauré - Requiem
Will Todd - Mass in Blue (This was for a Confirmation service)
The following week was Advent Sunday and, in addition to a full programme in the morning, the evening candlelight service included about twenty to thirty minutes' organ music before the service (chorale preludes by Bach and Buxtehude, for example), several unaccompanied choral works, including Thomas Weelkes' Alleluia and Hail, gladdening light, by Charles Wood. Afterwards, I played the Prelude from Bach's Prelude and Fugue, in C minor (BWV 546).

At most services, there was a good congregation (that at the Advent candlelight service numbered several hundred).

This is one of the reasons I do see hope and a future for this glorious tradition - and why I enjoy my job immensely. Whilst it is demanding it is also rewarding.
 
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pcnd5584

New member
With regard to voluntaries, I shall (as usual) improvise before each service - partly due to the fact that it is impossible to time printed repertoire with the machinations of the clergy. At least with an improvisation, I am able to tailor the length of the piece to the arrival in the Choir Stalls of the Crucifer and the rest of the procession.

Tomorrow morning, my colleague is due to play the voluntary after the Mass. After Choral Evensong, I am to play the voluntary. I have not yet decided what to do. I might play the Final from Vierne's First Symphony for Organ, or I might play some Bach - perhaps the Prelude and Fugue, in G major (BWV 541). I shall post my choice tomorrow.
 
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Padster

New member
I am sorry for hijacking this thread. I am rather negative and embittered at times, I seem to be up one day and down the next. Perhaps I am schizophrenic or bipolar.

Anyway, to show willing here is my selection for this weekend:

Prelude:

Andante, Allegro and Largo in d (Galuppi)
Air from Suite no. 3 in D. (JS Bach)

Postlude:

Carillon in Eb. (own comp.)

Best wishes,
Padster
 

Nikam

New member
All is forgiven Padster - and thanks for your contribution. Galuppi is a totally new name to me, so hopefully Google will provide some background info.

Bill, have PM'd you.
 
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Padster

New member
Thought I would keep this thread going to support the interest of the original poster.

Here's my offerings this Sunday (3rd Aug):
Before
The Sweet Rivelet (Jackson)
Sarabande & Interlude (Sumsion)

During:
Various pieces from the OUP Early English Organ Music book.

After:
England's Glory* (Nigel Ogden)

*
chose this because it is summer and I haven't practiced(!), and because it has a nice middle section.
 
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Nikam

New member
Thanks Padster! Have picked up Nigel Ogden's 'England's Glory' on youtube just now; another one new to me. May decide to order the sheet music.
 

Padster

New member
Music for this weekend (10th Aug)
Before:
Pastorale, Reflection [I Watch The Sunrise] (own comps.)

During:
Something from L'Organiste.

After:
Toccata in G (Dubois)

Best wishes,
Padster
 
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Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
The month of August at my church is when we utilize parishioner talent, so I'm mostly off the hook for special music with the exception of the Postlude.

I have delved, in prior months (and will into the future) to feature organ works by lesser or mostly unknown composers. I have several parishioners who have enjoyed those selections, two of which are former organists and were not familiar with these composers.

I really like the idea of this thread and hope we can continue to share this information between fellow colleagues.
 

wljmrbill

Member
Lars: that is one thing I like about Marko as he plays mostly unknown/unfamiliar composers and has such a great instrument to show them off. Lucky guy and congregation
 

KMB

New member
If it is helpful to the original poster...my upcoming voluntaries for the next month, as a classical-pianist-at-the-organ, are:
8/10
Vaughan Williams - Prelude on "Rhosymedre" (Three Preludes Founded on Welsh Tunes)
(choral)
Couperin - Elevation (Messe pour les Couvents)
8/17
Peeters - Nostalgia, op. 59 no. 3
Bach, J.C. - Wie schön leuchet der Morgenstern (O Morning Star, how fair and bright)
Pellegrini - Canzone (detta la Serpentina)
8/24
Franck - Petit Offertoire (1885)
Raison - Trio en Passacaille, Messe du 2eme Ton
Campra - Rigadoun
8/31
Vierne - Chorale (24 Pieces in Free Style), op. 31, no. 16
Dubois - Petite pastorale Champenoise (Deux petites pieces)
Pachelbel - Toccata in d minor
9/7
Widor - III. Andante Cantabile, Organ Symphony no. 4 in f minor, op.13, no. 4
Reger - Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren (Praise to the Lord, the Almighty), op. 135a, no. 15
Bach, J.S. - Kommst du nun, Jesu, vom Himmel herunter (Come thou, Jesus, from heaven to earth), BWV 650

The offertories in this church need to be fairly short. I plan the voluntaries about 6-8 months in advance and try to stay a few weeks ahead in my practice. I can't speak for others, but this is what I try to do. I'll look forward to following the thread.

--KMB
 

Nikam

New member
A goodly list indeed! Wondering if many others plan as far ahead as you do KMB. Not sure I could be so disciplined, but then, like Bill, I deputise only rarely, so don't have a weekly commitment.
 
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