What was the organ music for 18th April? I started off playing Flowers of the Forest, followed by Roslin Castle. I found these pieces in an old flute manuscript from Dundee - but discovered the manuscript owner had copied them from another, earlier book of Scottish pieces. They date back to the 18th century.
During the offering, I played Libera me, from Faure's Requiem - a favourite movement from a favourite work.
The outgoing voluntary was Toccata and Fugue in D minor by J S Bach. Once I'd played a few notes for Hamish during his childrens' address, I felt I was somewhat committed to delivering the entire piece at the end of the service!
I must tell you about another piece of music I recently discovered. A colleague at RSAMD, Eric Rice, has written a beautiful Scottish piece entitled Cumbrae Cottage. He has graciously allowed me to make a choral setting of this piece, which I have just finished working on. Once the choir has had a chance to learn it, I am really looking forward to performing it with them. Eric thinks it's one of his most successful compositions. I hope he (and you) will like it just as much in its choral reincarnation, "A hillwalker's benediction".
Saturday, April 24, 2004
Sunday, April 11, 2004
Dear me, I really have slipped this time - I've omitted to post what I played for TWO previous weeks. Mea culpa!
On 28th March I played "Monmouth", by Wood before the service, and Promenade by Mussorgsky, after it. In the evening, when we had our very successful Lenten meditations on the sacrificial lamb, I played Coronach by Barratt, Arioso by Rawsthorne, and He was despised, from Handel's Messiah. My outgoing voluntary was O Haupt voll Blut, by Reger. The atmosphere of this service was exactly how I hoped it would be, and I am indebted to all those who took part to make it such a success. I don't wish to seem proud on my own account - I am not, and I don't take pride in my abilities at all, I can assure you - but I was humbly proud of everyone else's efforts and the way they worked together to such good result.
On 4 April, I played Judex, by Gounod and Minuet from Handel's Water music, before the service. I played Bohemian Rhapsody during the offering, and Rutter's Toccata in 7, as outgoing voluntary.
Today, 11 April, I played Organist's country garden by Andrew Wright, and Allein Gott in der Hoh, by Pachelbel. During the communion I played Wagner's Pilgrim's chorus, and Pie Jesu by Andrew Lloyd Webber. After the service, I played the Alleluia from Mozart's Exultate - it seemed suitable for Easter.
I was taken to task by a member of the congregation for playing Pie Jesu, because it was considered inappropriate for a church using the reformed church liturgy. I have to say I disagree! Let's look at the words (which you didn't hear, obviously, because it was played in my own organ arrangement) -
Pie Jesu, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem sempiternam.
This is an adaptation of the text in John 1 : 29 : Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Nothing wrong with that! The exact translation of the words in the Requiem is:
Merciful Jesus, who takest away the sins of the world, grant them rest. O Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, grant them eternal rest.
Apart from the "grant them rest / eternal rest", we very often hear ministers say these words during a communion service.
My conscience has no difficulty whatsoever with playing an organ arrangement of these words during a Church of Scotland communion service. And I can only go by my own conscience!
On 28th March I played "Monmouth", by Wood before the service, and Promenade by Mussorgsky, after it. In the evening, when we had our very successful Lenten meditations on the sacrificial lamb, I played Coronach by Barratt, Arioso by Rawsthorne, and He was despised, from Handel's Messiah. My outgoing voluntary was O Haupt voll Blut, by Reger. The atmosphere of this service was exactly how I hoped it would be, and I am indebted to all those who took part to make it such a success. I don't wish to seem proud on my own account - I am not, and I don't take pride in my abilities at all, I can assure you - but I was humbly proud of everyone else's efforts and the way they worked together to such good result.
On 4 April, I played Judex, by Gounod and Minuet from Handel's Water music, before the service. I played Bohemian Rhapsody during the offering, and Rutter's Toccata in 7, as outgoing voluntary.
Today, 11 April, I played Organist's country garden by Andrew Wright, and Allein Gott in der Hoh, by Pachelbel. During the communion I played Wagner's Pilgrim's chorus, and Pie Jesu by Andrew Lloyd Webber. After the service, I played the Alleluia from Mozart's Exultate - it seemed suitable for Easter.
I was taken to task by a member of the congregation for playing Pie Jesu, because it was considered inappropriate for a church using the reformed church liturgy. I have to say I disagree! Let's look at the words (which you didn't hear, obviously, because it was played in my own organ arrangement) -
Pie Jesu, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem sempiternam.
This is an adaptation of the text in John 1 : 29 : Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Nothing wrong with that! The exact translation of the words in the Requiem is:
Merciful Jesus, who takest away the sins of the world, grant them rest. O Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, grant them eternal rest.
Apart from the "grant them rest / eternal rest", we very often hear ministers say these words during a communion service.
My conscience has no difficulty whatsoever with playing an organ arrangement of these words during a Church of Scotland communion service. And I can only go by my own conscience!
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