"Simple Melody"

WOW am I proud of myself.  In the last two days I was able to work out and play the duet with counter melody of "Simple Melody."  I have tried things like this in the past but had no success.  I guess the lessons and hours of practice are paying off.

Joint is Jumpin

After hearing it several times on a commercial, I have decided to start working on an arrangement of "The joint is Jumpin'".  It has some tricky rhythms that will require some work.

O Devine Redeemer by Gounod

After hearing a recording a while ago of Lyn Larsen playing "O Devine Redeemer" by Gounod.  It isa very emotional melody.  I can't to try it on the LL Allen 324 at Bristol Glen later today.

Gloomy Sunday

I found a touching song.  Gloomy Sunday.  It is a sad blues song about suicide that I first heard on a TV show about the Lindbergh baby kidnapping.  The song was popular in Europe during the trial.

New Christmas song

Just found a newer Christmas song which is not in the usual 1930-1950s span for most of the common knowledge popular ones.  It is maybe for a little younger set.. "Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney.  It will be fun (yet not too difficult) to work out an organ arrangement.

Sweet Georgia Brown

A long time ago I gave up on trying to make an arrangement of "Sweet Georgia Brown" because it never sounded right. Tonight I realized that I had scanned the pages in incorrect order.  Maybe now I can finally work out something that sounds good,

Let's put out the lights

I just got the vintage sheet music for " Let's put out the lights", a Rudy Vallee song recorded by Sidney Torch in the 30s.  it is a nice bouncy number.  It is really great how the availability of vintage sheet music has increased at places like Amazon.  Don't let the old songs disappear!
An interesting note... It originally was recorded as "Let's put out out the lights and go to bed " but to be performed on the Fleischmann's Yeast Hour, it was changed to " Let's put out the lights and go to sleep.", the less racy version.

Movies were movies

I found a fun new song by listening to a CD by Sean Anderson fron Australia oN the Plummer organ.  It was from a medley songs from Mack & Mabel.  The song is "movies were movies."         n.

Turkish Towel

After well over a week, I finally finished my organ arrangement of "Turkish Towel" by the way, this is not the "Turkish Towel Rag".  The piece I worked on is the one recorded by several organists. I had a complete small instrumental combo arrangement to work from (strings, saxes, clarinets, trombones, trumpets, piano and more.. There was no piano/conductor score.  It took a while doing the transposing and ediiting to get it to a place where I liked it.  I am proud of it.

Strony's piston settings

After Walt Strony's concert at the Middletown Paramount, I wanted to get up there quickly to practice  on the organ so I could compare my piston settings to his.  I didn't have to make too many changes to my settings.  But the minor tweaks made such an improvement on my sound.  Now I just have to make some similar tweaks on the pistons that I use on the LL324 at Bristol Glen.

Strange dream

I had te strangest dream! I dreamt the my mom and I broke into Radio City Music hall so she could hear me play the organ.  We wandered all over the huge theatre and so no one. It took a while to turn on the organ but I was surprised how well I did playing it.  Strange dream.  I think I had the dream because the other day when I went to practice on he Middletown Paramount, I said to myself that I wish my mom was still around to hear me play it.

Strony at Middletown

I heard Walt Strony perform on the Middletown, NY Paramount's 3/12 Wurlitzer.  It was wonderful watching a master of registration play an organ of which I am very familiar.  I practice on it at least once a month.  I know which memory he used for his setup.  There a couple of sounds he created, I was not sure how he made them on that organ.  I hope he had a piston set for those few specific sounds.

It is such a pleasure watching someone who has total control of an instrument.

Fred

Found music

Acquired some more vintage music of fun tunes. First I acquired "What a Perfect Combination" from the 1930's song by Eddie Cantor.. Cost $14.50.  It is great that one can find so much vintage sheet music in England but unfortunately it costs more.  The other song is one I have been looking for, for a while, "Turkish Towel" by Sammy Fain. (not "the Turkish Towel Rag."). Unfortunately it is an arrangement for a small jazz combo.  At least it has a piano part that is a piano/conductor score so It should not be too hard to work out a decent organ arrangement...especially with the other instrument parts to fill it out.

What goes up must come down

I just received a vintage copy of "What goes up, must come down." from Cotton Club Parade. It was a tune Sidney Torch played.  Although it was a little pricey since I got it from a vintage music store in Great Britain, after looking at it, it will be worth it.  Cool beans!

Playing by ear

I have been struggling with playing by ear for yearscwith very little luck.  A number of years ago I worked out "Happy Birthday" because so many people have asked me to play it.  This morning while eating breakfast at the diner,  I figured out "Let's all go to the lobby." sitting at the counter with no keyboard. I couldn't wait to get home and play it. I only had one phrase partially wrong.  Wow.. i am very proud of myself.  It is strange that I always work them out inthe key of F.  I will have to work out my repertoire of two ear songs in other keys.  Off we go...

Quentin M. Maclean

I just acquired my first Quentin Maclean CD and WOW.  It is on a par to Sidney Torch's stuff of that era..  I think I even like it more.  I hope I can get some more recordings of his.

Organ Lesson - Ashely Miller Arrangement

My organ/piano teacher (John Baratta) has decided that I am finally ready to read a full theatre organ arrangement.   I have made large strides on reading three lines of music so I now can attempt a good arrangement.  We decided on "I saw the Harbor Lights" arranged by Ashley Miller.  There is such wonderful harmonies in the arrangement.  He did so much with so few notes.  I wish I had gotten to know him better before he passed away. 

Speaking of Ashley Miller, I ran into Jerry Mendelson at a GSTOS picnic recently.  He was a student of Ray Bohr and played at Radio City Music Hall with Dick Liebert and Ashley Miller.  A talkative guy with so many great stories to tell.

Wedgewood Blue

After listening to a Tom Hazelton recording of Wedgewood Blue by Ketelbey, I have decided to work on my own arrangement.  I was happy to see that my "Ketelbey Classics" book contained a copy of the song.  Tomorrow I will scan it to put on my laptop where all my organ music is now.

ATOS Convention LA 2012

This was the second convention I went to. My first was Atlanta in 1978. It was wonderful actually meeting all my friends I know from online. We heard so many great organs. The one I like the sound of best was the Pasedena Civic Auditorium Moller. It used to be Reginald Foort's traveling Moller. It has an incredibly full orchestral sound. Both Mark Herman and Walt Strony played it. Mark is developing player. I hope he makes some mre CDs soon. I was selected for the Mentor program..where I had a private hour session with Walt Strony. It was avwonderful experience and a got. Lot of gret tips The whole convention was great and I am glad I went (even though it was very expensive.) i am looking forward to Atlanta next year.

Metronome

My teacher has put me back on the metronome for the Hanon exercises. We stopped the metronome because it was making me too frustrated.  I can handle it now.