Play Church Service

WOW.. before I was going to play to a friendly home-town congregation (my own.) Someone called tonight that their granddaughter is being christened and the organist has taken ill. Would I play what I could. Since he is a friend I guess I will try. I will keep you posted to see how it turns out.

Substitute at Church

I have been asked to be the substitute organist at my church for one Sunday this summer. I said I could not play for special music (where people walk in that Sunday with the music and expect you to sight read it.) I also want to know the hymns ahead of time so I can practice them.

While I feel comfortable playing a theatre organ... church music is so different. I guess I will be able to do it. I have been bringing home the bulletin from church every Sunday and running through the hymns on my organ at home.. most I do ok playing.

Post Horn

I have started using the post horn in some of my arrangements now. In the past I have always stayed aways from it because it is so strident and harsh. Right now I am using it in the final chord of "Let Me Entertain You" and some of the solo spots in "Hard Hearted Hannah." Used carefully the post horn give a good punch... you just don't want to be punched often.

Hard Hearted Hannah

After to listening to one of my George Wright recordings again, I decided to make an arrangement of "Hard Hearted Hannah." It is fun to play with various solo voices including the post horn which I rarely use.

New Favorites

Now that I have a much larger list of songs that I play at Bristol Glen, it is strange how my "favorites" change.
Right now I am having fun with a loud console rising arrangement of "Let me entertain you." Two others that I like right now are "Anyone can whistle" and "Scotch and Soda." (the song that is.. I prefer Jack to drink)

Announce Songs

The other day at Bristol Glen when I was practicing someone walked in and asked me the name of one of the songs I played at the pre-movie concert the week before. I have been wondering whether I should announce the songs, so that pushed me over the fence. I have now started announcing each song before I play it. The residents enjoy hearing the name of the song and it also fosters more clapping (which isn't bad for me :))

The Producers!

I am going crazy trying to locate my vocal selections from the Producers. Bristol Glen showed the movie this week and would love to play some selections next Wednesday and my regular pre-movie concert.