CharlesW

Good Friday Prelude-What would you do?
Interestingly, the "rose" used by the local Trads has more of a red color that is darker than pink. The NO rose is pink. Don't know if that holds true elsewhere.

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Good Friday Prelude-What would you do?
The color is rose... not pink. At our place, it was shocking pink. I think actual Roman rose would be closer to a salmon color. Even our tabernacle cover would have shocked Victoria's Secret. But as we all know, Victoria doesn't have a…

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Good Friday Prelude-What would you do?
I understand the reasoning behind no (or limited) organ during lent, but I confess it saddens me. There are so many wonderful pieces in the repertoire for lent. Every year on "Pink Sunday" I played as many of those Lenten pieces as possib…

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Good Friday Prelude-What would you do?
In my years of playing for the NO during Lent, I often played those Bach chorales as introductions to the sung hymns. They are hymns, after all. I followed the rules of using organ to accompany singing, only. I didn't deal with the EF and w…

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Good Friday Prelude-What would you do?
I once saw a sign over a church door that said, "if you must talk, whisper a prayer."

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Wedding Woes
I was in a parish that never had deacons in over 100 years and didn't want them, either. The chancery foisted them on us and they were awful. One tried to interfere in music and I ended up raking him over the coals severely. Church music was …

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Good Friday Prelude-What would you do?
You really are going to have to get the pastor in on this to stop the talking. Playing softly doesn't work since they will only talk louder. You could do a short program of Lenten music beforehand so they might listen instead of talk. If it …

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Upgrading to Better Organ Shoes
In my younger days, I played in Hush Puppies for years. Around college age I got a new organ teacher who pushed wearing Organ Masters. I think you can play in nearly anything if you want to.

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Theology of Amazing Grace
I scheduled it maybe four times a year. That was to quiet the, "why don't we sing my favorite song," crowd. Do I like it? Not so much.

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Wedding Woes
Most of the deacons I have known were either priest wannabes or Protestant converts who brought their obnoxiousness with them. There were a few rare exceptions. Applying electrical power to the bad ones is not such a bad idea.

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Upgrading to Better Organ Shoes
I like them, too. Looks like the heel may be a bit higher than some other brands. I like those slip-ons OrganistRob320 listed the link for. I seemed to constantly have to re-tie my oxfords because they inevitably would loosen during use.

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Wedding Woes
i never found a way to win on weddings. I had to battle wretched music selections on the part of the bride and her family. Often they had an untalented family member they wanted to perform in the ceremony. Been there, done that with the microphon…

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Church Documents on Recorded Music
I always thought the judicious use of a cattle prod might get the basses on pitch.

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Upgrading to Better Organ Shoes
Francis, I told you about Tic Tac Toes. I saw a pair of them a fellow organist has and they seemed better made than Organmasters. This has been a few years ago so I hope the quality is still the same. Your feet gliding across the pedals in those …

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Upgrading to Better Organ Shoes
Now those shoes are flashy. I agree, Francis. Those works are often played too fast.

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Upgrading to Better Organ Shoes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya7Pop9QoUo

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Upgrading to Better Organ Shoes
Organmasters are not better these days, in my opinion. I think they have gone down a bit in more recent times. I don't believe they are made in the U.S. any more. This from someone who has 4 pairs of them. There is another company https://www…

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Phone Apps to Pay Music Stipends?
Once a well-off couple paid me in Olive Garden cards for their daughter's funeral. The pastor enacted strict guidelines after that ensuring we were always paid in U.S. dollars.

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Phone Apps to Pay Music Stipends?
I didn't accept money directly from the bride/groom/family of the deceased. The church did the collecting then paid me.

Comment by CharlesW March 2022 permalink
Hybrid Organs
Both Allen and Rodgers can be voiced. A lot depends on how close the nearest service is if the things conk out. The Phoenix looks interesting but there isn't a service facility nearer than 1000+ miles from my location. You may end up with Bo…

Comment by CharlesW February 2022 permalink
Hybrid Organs
Yes, they are expensive. I am a bit leery of Hauptwerk since they almost seem to need constant tinkering to keep them playing reliably. Fine in a home but I don't know how reliably they would stand up to church demands on the instrument. Ther…

Comment by CharlesW February 2022 permalink
Hybrid Organs
Yes, some of the digitals have improved while some brands sound pretty much like they always did. As I have said many times, the building acoustics can make or break the instrument. You know the space you have and whether or not you have room for …

Comment by CharlesW February 2022 permalink
The GOOD Vibes Thread
Blessing of Fiery Chariots. Below is the Prayer for the Blessing of Cars and any kind of Vehicle: Priest: Let us pray to the Lord. People: Lord, have mercy. O Lord our God, Who make the clouds your conveyance and walk on the wings of the wind. W…

Comment by CharlesW February 2022 permalink
The GOOD Vibes Thread
Still driving my 2003 Corolla with 86K miles. The dealer keeps it in excellent mechanical shape but I think I will have to get it repainted eventually. I could probably drive this car for another 10-15 years. Too cheap to buy a new one. Chris,…

Comment by CharlesW February 2022 permalink
Can't Help Falling In Love
There is nothing at all wrong with spreading the faith. Notice I said THE faith, not any faith you like or that conforms to your feelings. The trouble with the song mentioned above, is that it promotes Elvis more than it promotes Christ or Catholi…

Comment by CharlesW February 2022 permalink
The GOOD Vibes Thread
May he intercede for all of us who sing! And may he intercede for those of us who have aged out of singing.

Comment by CharlesW February 2022 permalink
Communion hymn for Easter?
Yep, remember that one well, too. In the Protestant church where I played early on there was a millionaire steel magnate in the congregation. He subsidized the church so no one was going to tell him to quieten down. He had a volume that could hav…

Comment by CharlesW February 2022 permalink
Communion hymn for Easter?
In my earlier days, I had to play them, too.

Comment by CharlesW February 2022 permalink
Communion hymn for Easter?
Be glad you are not a Baptist. What if you had to sing this jewel for Easter? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpJfT4_COzY

Comment by CharlesW February 2022 permalink
Can't Help Falling In Love
"Can't Help Falling in Love" is a song recorded by American singer Elvis Presley for the album Blue Hawaii (1961). What on earth does this song have to do with worship or anything liturgical? Are you just using the church as a conce…

Comment by CharlesW February 2022 permalink

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Username: CharlesW
Email: chazpipesatgmaildotcom
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