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    Frederik Magle
    Administrator

    Krummhorn
    Co-Administrator

Nothing like being forewarned!

JONESEY

New member
A few months ago I was asked if I would be on the Wedding rota - found out today that I am playing for a Wedding in 8 days!.
No sign of hymns, music etc.

Wondering what the best way to approach this is - I will be contacting the bride and groom, but is it acceptable to suggest that we stick to the 'traditional' music?

Thanks for your advice
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi Jonesey,

We've all been caught up in this scenario at one time or another, and the best advice I could give is that given the lack of preparation time, it would be quite acceptable for you to stick to the "standard fare" for music.

The bride and groom, should they have wanted something very "special", should have let you know well in advance as a common courtesy. Unfortunately, many couples getting married believe that we organists are "magicians" and can pull out any piece from the hat and play anything regardless if we have the music in our repertoire or not, let alone even owning the pieces!

You should only play what you feel comfortable with doing this late in the game. My 5 cents worth, anyway.
 

NEB

New member
Hi Jonesey,

I take the same line as Krummhorn here. It's purely practical, and I'll walk away and decline to play for them rather than putting myself in a compromised position (musically speaking)...

4+ months notice, fine, 2 minutes - you take what I've got... (I say it nicely of course... ;) )
 

jvhldb

New member
I got 3 weeks noticeto play a 30 minute prelude consisting of various love songs, learn the Wedding march (Mendelsohn), two hymns and accompany somebody that was supposed to sing during the signing of the register. I told the bride she was crazy and to buy a CD player, my mother told me not to talk to my sister that way and to start practising.

I do hope you have better luck with the wedding couples you get.
 

Flute'n'Pedal

New member
Hi Everybody!

I sympathise with jvhldb and all the other organists who get caught in this circus. I know priests and song leaders who are irritated with me because I ask for 3 days' notice on the hymns, especially if there are six hymns with no accompianment except guitar chords. They just can't grasp that I don't like to practise for twelve hours on Saturday, but would rather distribute those hours over 3 days. Are organists the only people who think ahead more that one day at a time?

LlL
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
jvhldb ... mothers are wonderful creatures, aren't they? I can just imagine mine (except he passed away four years ago) saying exactly that very thing!!
 

JONESEY

New member
Well, I'm meeting everyone tomorrow so they can pick the hymns etc, so I'll 'gently' guide them into some good choices I think.
As for in and out, it's the standard fare - they've already agreed to that.

I played for Evensong last night, so went a couple of hours early and got some decent time on the organ when the church was empty.

Another quick question (sorry!!) ... how long do you normally play for before the service - 30 mins?, less or more?

Thanks!
 

NEB

New member
Normally about 15-20 mins (or longer if the Bride is late. - I have backup lists of music for such eventualities.;) ) There aren't usually people in before that so why play to an empty building or just the staffers who've heard it all before anyway...
 

NEB

New member
I got 3 weeks noticeto play a 30 minute prelude consisting of various love songs, learn the Wedding march (Mendelsohn), two hymns and accompany somebody that was supposed to sing during the signing of the register. I told the bride she was crazy and to buy a CD player, my mother told me not to talk to my sister that way and to start practising.

I do hope you have better luck with the wedding couples you get.

You have my sympathies - emotions always tend to run a little too high and when it's your family it is much harder to say No!... :rolleyes:
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
. . . . . Another quick question (sorry!!) ... how long do you normally play for before the service - 30 mins?, less or more?

Thanks!

I begin to play when the first guest arrives. For some, this may be their first (and only time) entering a church, which may be somewhat intimidating, given all the polished brass fixtures, fancy linens on an altar, etc. Music has a way of calming the soul, so I'm just doing my part to make the guest feel welcome.

Although I traditionally play 20 to 30 minutes at the most, however, I have enough available repertoire where I can play for 90 minutes without any repeats. I had one instance years ago where the groom was one hour late in arriving at the church ... I had played my selections 4 times by then and was starting the 5th round ... from that point on I go prepared with 90 minutes just in case. ;)
 

JONESEY

New member
90 mins without repeats?, that's very impressive.
Due to the short notice and the fact I'm not yet one of the regular organists (I've played there off an on for 15 years, but am not on the monthly rota yet, very small Church and 3 organists) my repertoire is somewhat shorter than yours!.
I'm aiming for 30 mins without any repeats.

Here's looking forward to tonight, meeting the couple and getting the hymns sorted out.
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi Jonesey,

I'm certain 30 mins of prepared selections will do nicely in your situation.
Here's to you :cheers: on a successful meeting with the bride & groom this evening :cheers:.
 

NEB

New member
I have about an hour's worth of music available, but rarely use much more than about 20 mins.

Anyway - Good luck meeting the couple this evening. :cheers:
 

C5Says

New member
If you run out of music, maybe you can invent! Most long-time musicians, whatever their instrument, know how to pattern. There are certain keys that naturally blend together. You may be able to perform a great composition without being able to repeat it...unless maybe it's recorded for rewinding so you can trackback what you did. And since it's a wedding, a slow, sweet, romantic music may be on its way to the top requested for download. ;)
 

JONESEY

New member
Thanks! ... I've got easily around 20 mins and as it's a blessing, there's no signing of the register to play through, so I can bump the music from that into my list as well.
Should be fine - I'll have a full run through each piece Saturday morning while the Church is empty, so I can figure out exactly how much music I've got time wise.
 

Krummhorn

Administrator
Staff member
ADMINISTRATOR
Hi Jonesey,

Sounds like the music selection meeting went along fine.
Sometimes these things turn out totally in our favor ... at least you can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that things are going to go along fairly smoothly. You'll have to let us know how the wedding went.
 

JONESEY

New member
Hi Kh,

Yes, it went fine - very nice couple.
I'll be sure to post after Saturday - looking forward to doing it actually ... I'm normally called in as an Evensong organist, but have done a few weddings in the past.
Hopefully this means I'm making it onto the regular wedding organist list.

Something like this also fires me up for learning new music which is always a good thing.

One day I'll have the courage to record something and post it on here - it would be good to have some feedback on where I am going right and wrong!!!!.
 

Contratrombone64

Admiral of Fugues
C5 sorry to appear to disagree with you on your comment. You state that most "long-time musicians, know how to pattern". By this I assume you mean improvise. I was always an excellent sightreader and never an improviser, you coment is a little too broad ranging I think. Yes, jazz musicians, ballet pianists and church organists all improvise, part of their tools for playing. Orchestral musicians etc don't normally, as all their music is there in front of them on their music stands.
 

C5Says

New member
C5 sorry to appear to disagree with you on your comment. You state that most "long-time musicians, know how to pattern". By this I assume you mean improvise. I was always an excellent sightreader and never an improviser, you coment is a little too broad ranging I think. Yes, jazz musicians, ballet pianists and church organists all improvise, part of their tools for playing. Orchestral musicians etc don't normally, as all their music is there in front of them on their music stands.

I understand what you mean quite perfectly. I'm married to both in the same body. :D

By "pattern" I meant chording or chord pattern like "do-mi-sol" is a standard "C" pattern and it naturally blends. You're right, orchestral musicians are note-based, note-fed. It's in the system, much like the other group, the improvisers. Improvisers need practice too so it's easier to improvise.

You can be VERY good in one OR the other but you can also be very good in sightreading and occasionally push the improviser emergency button (skill not much, but will do) when needed.
 
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