tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002745.post115688610327513123..comments2023-06-08T11:21:10.878-04:00Comments on EPISTLES FROM THE SCRIPTORIUM: FUNERALS (Adoremus Bulletin 9/06 Issue)Brian Michael Pagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836644567939527991noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002745.post-1156971906054544992006-08-30T17:05:00.000-04:002006-08-30T17:05:00.000-04:00I've had my share of good singers and good musicia...I've had my share of good singers and good musicians from the outside as well - but the typical is still a dud. In fact, the last funeral where I had to take a bench fee, the organist, supposedly a 40-year veteran of "music ministry" made the Rodgers sound like a dang Hammond, or worse - maybe a Lowrey. Melody on the great, chords on the swell and very heavy on the tremulants. It was awful. And the singers:<BR/>PLEASE JOIN IN SINGING OUR GAAAAAAAAAATHERING HYMN, HERE I AM, LORD, NUMBER... (I wanted to tell them in a not-so-polite way that there is no such thing as a gathering hymn, but the flautist was the dead man's daughter)<BR/><BR/>Choke, barf (cough never got a chance). Lucky for them my pastor was away.<BR/><BR/>BMPBrian Michael Pagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09836644567939527991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7002745.post-1156959824561541962006-08-30T13:43:00.000-04:002006-08-30T13:43:00.000-04:00Not all the "import" musicians are, ah, turkeys......Not all the "import" musicians are, ah, turkeys...<BR/><BR/>20+ years ago I was the organist at a local parish and had to work with Aunt Sadie, Uncle Ralph (et al) for weddings.<BR/><BR/>So when Ms. X wanted her uncle to sing, I said yeah (with no enthusiasm) and told her he should meet me at the church 2 hours early (figuring that as usual, I'd wind up with serious edits due to limitations...)<BR/><BR/>I get there and the singer's already in the church, doing warmup arpeggios, through FOUR OCTAVES, all on pitch.<BR/><BR/>Gratias a Deo for gifts...<BR/><BR/>Turns out he was a regional small-show opera chorus singer. <BR/><BR/>It was a GREAT wedding, musically.Dad29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08554276286736923821noreply@blogger.com