Music today at Killermont, Glasgow:-
Before the service : Air for Holsworthy Church Bells, by S. S. Wesley
(This picture of Holsworthy Church Tower comes from the BBC web-page, Discovering Devon.)

During the offering : Gymnopedie no.1, by Erik Satie
Outgoing voluntary : Trumpet tune, by Charpentier

I just thought I'd post this picture as a reminder of a brilliant children's address - which attracted 100% attention from everyone present. You are the salt of the world - and you must shed light on the world - that was the message. With the proviso that nothing works without batteries. So - read your Bible if you want to stay charged up!

(Due acknowledgement to AlarmRemotes.co.uk for the image!)

You only need to bring the Common Ground hymnbook to Killermont tomorrow (10th October) - the rest of the hymns will be printed in the order of service.

The Choir will be singing:-
Introit - I was glad
Anthem - Sing, O daughter of Sion (by the wonderfully-named Mr Button)
Recessional - I come to you for shelter, Lord.

You will smile as you recognise the tune of "Ye banks and braes" - a guid Scots tune. Actually, the "Ye banks and braes" tune originates from an English melody, only slightly modified. Oh, horror! What a discovery! And the fact has been known by the select few for the past 150 years.

BB Enrolment - what a crowd!
The boys were there, the band was there - wasn't it great to have a "full house" for morning worship?

Trying to have an "upbeat" kind of atmosphere, I tried to make my organ contributions triumphal in mood.

Before the service, you heard "Judex", by Gounod. That was followed by "Bourree" (Praetorius), and then a couple of trumpet pieces - Trumpet Tune (Purcell) and Trumpet Voluntary (Clarke).

Once the Choir, Saxophones and percussion had performed the Recessional - O when the Saints (thanks, everyone!) - I played the same thing as an organ voluntary. To calm things down after that, you heard "Jupiter", by Gustav Holst. I love that piece!

We're not finished for today - don't forget the Band is playing at tonight's evening worship. I heard them practising some interesting songs, after the service this morning.

We were all reminded today, of just how lucky we are, with our computers and mobile phones and computer games. And Alan mentioned child poverty, and some startling statistics from Tear Fund, just before the end of the service. So I thought you might like to find out some more about Tear Fund.

Advance call!! The morning of November 7th is another Killermont All Age Service. I need cellists! If I know about you, I'll contact you. If you play cello or double bass, and think I might not know, please get in touch. Email Karenmca@april87.fsnet.co.uk Many thanks!

By popular request - advance warning! Tomorrow you'll just need CH3 for the last 2 hymns. You won't need to bring any other hymn books. The first two items are choruses, words to be provided. (Not forgetting The Big Screen, too!)

The Choir will commence with "Clap your hands".
Anthem (during the offering) "Walk with me".
Recessional, "O when the Saints". Sit back, clap if you wish - and listen to the Choir and instrumentalists giving it laldy. (Non-Scots will have to email me for a translation. Alternatively, visit Eejit's Glasgow Patter website, which gives all sorts of definitions!)

We shall be welcoming boys from the Anchor Boys, Junior Boys' Brigade and Company Section to this service, so it will be lively, without doubt. Watch out for marches, banners, and clean, smart, smiling boys! (Just how every parent likes to see them.)

The ramblings of a distracted organist.....

No-one saw my youngest son messing about before the service. Friends, I'm ashamed to say I threatened him with a quick drive to South Church if he didn't calm down. He calmed down.

Before the service, I played the Andante from Mozart's flute concerto, then Marche Romaine by Gounod. During the Offering, I played Ave Maria d'Arcadelt, by Franz Liszt. The outgoing voluntary was Coronation March, by Meyerbeer.

Not a good day for the organist, I'm afraid. I forgot to cancel the "pull out all the stops" registration after the last verse of the hymn before the sermon. So what happened? The gentle, meditative offering voluntary came out as a real belter. Sorry, everyone! Then I realised, too late, that I had decided to transpose the last hymn down a tone to make it easier for you all. The time lag was the time it took me to find the correctly transposed version in the hymn book.

Finally, you just try playing a loud, triumphant closing voluntary and taking a sticky chocolate biscuit off your sticky-fingered six-year old at the same time. He meant it as a peace-offering, but his timing was lousy! At least I kept going...

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Pause for thought ...

Don't forget to take a look at the Traidcraft website - if we all tried to use fair trading products wherever possible, what a difference it could make.

Food for thought - have you heard of Back to Church Sunday? It's an initiative by the Church of England. In Manchester, they're tempting people back to church with free-trade chocolate. Yumm! "The Church of England is launching a pilot scheme to attract people back to church - by offering a bar of fair trade chocolate to every worshipper." Read about it on the BBC news website!

Nebuchadnezzar - you can find out more about the subject of Alan's sermon, at ChristianAnswers.net. Or, for the kids, visit GardenOfPraise.com to see the story of the fiery furnace retold for children: it's called Three Brave Boys.

Sunday 19th October - and it was Harvest at Killermont Parish Church, Bearsden. (Click on the link to visit Harvest WebQuest). It was also the baptism of baby Mark.

Before the service, I played Chanson de matin (Elgar); To a to a wild rose (Macdowell - no Scottish connection!) and the ever-popular "September". Finally I played Tuba Tune (Lang) as the choir and minister came in.

During the offering, I looked at the pouring rain outside, as I played Summertime (Gershwin) - actually a lullaby to a baby, urging him to sleep. Prophetic words? Mark had screamed and yelled at the start of the service, but came back in his Dad's arms, blissfully asleep.

After the service, I played Nun danket, a voluntary based on "Now thank we all our God", by Karg Elert.

POINTS TO CONSIDER:-

• Fair trading - consider buying as much produce as you can through Traidcraft.
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Highlighting a forthcoming concert:

We were told this morning about the Soweto Gospel Choir's imminent visit to Glasgow. It's on Thursday 7th October at the Royal Concert Hall. (You can see the whole itinerary by clicking this link to the Soweto Gospel Choir website.)

Hard to see how the Killermont Choir could get to hear this fabulous group without foregoing their weekly practice, but hey! we could always give it a thought .....

Here's a quick summary of recent organ music at Killermont, Bearsden:

29 August 2004 : Pastoral dance on "Simple gifts", by A. Clarke; Prelude in blue, by Blinko; Soul song, by A. Fletcher. On the way out, the kids were treated to Jurassic Park, by Williams, then I played "Rejoice in the Lord", by Purcell - just to redress the balance!

5 September 2004: Agnus Dei, by Faure; Pavane, by Drayton; Solemn Procession, by Lloyd Webber - father of Andrew and Julian. Lascia ch'io pianga, by Handel (during the offering), and a Fanfare by Eldridge at the end of the service.

12th September 2004 (Communion Sunday) - 1st service: Finlandia, by Sibelius; Solemn Melody, by Walford Davies; Panis angelicus, by Franck. During Communion I played Barber's Adagio, and Nun danket (Bach, arranged by Rawsthorne) played you out.
2nd service: Jupiter, from the Planets, by Holst; during Communion you heard Franck's Andantino in E major and Prelude in B minor; at the end of the service I played Benedictus, by John Marsh.

Please remember my father in your prayers - he's in the Norwich BUPA hospital, having had a complex hernia operation. I played the Franck pieces because Franck is one of my francophile Dad's favourite composers.

And tomorrow is Harvest. Now, what shall I play ....?

What the Organist played this summer! (I'll give you a list, because I have been forgetting to update this website.)

25th July : Jesu, joy of man's desiring (Bach); Gabriel's oboe (Morricone); Priere a Notre Dame (Boellmann); Hornburg (Lord of the Rings).

1st Aug - my colleague, Hilary, played for you whilst I was busy being Godmother to my niece Jessica at her Christening down in Norwich.

8th Aug - Sursum corda (Ireland); One fine day (Puccini); Angel eyes (Matt Dennis); March from Aida (Verdi)

15th Aug - On the wings of a dove /Veni creator (John Barr); Pastoral dance on Simple Gifts (Andrew Clarke); Free the Spirit (Blinko); Chariots of Fire (Vangelis)

22nd Aug - Nimrod (Elgar); Now is the month of Maying (Morley); Alla marcia (Ireland)

Which brings us neatly to Thursday 26th August, the first choir practice of the session.
Anyone interested in joining Killermont Church Choir (Bearsden, Glasgow) has only to email me - or, if you're a member of the congregation, you'll find my phone-number in the church directory.

Shall I tell you what we'll be singing on Sunday? No, I'll wait until we've practised it first!

Oh dear, I'm sorry - I haven't been keeping up to date.  And what good is a blogspot that isn't up to date?!
 
On Sunday 27th June, I kept my promise and went traditional - A Bach Prelude and Fugue in A major and then Handel's "Silent worship" played you into church.  During the offering, I played Gluck's "Che faro" (What would I do without Euridice?); and the outgoing voluntary was the March on a theme by Handel, by French romantic composer Guilmant.  Not a film theme in sight.
 
And then we went on holiday, and my colleague Hilary deputised for me - many thanks, Hilary!
 
Now we're back again, having enjoyed the break but not really benefitted from any warmer weather.   Obviously Brittany wasn't far enough south!
 
Bill preached about "light" this morning.   Slightly at a loss as to what I could play that had any connection with light, I played Elgar's Carillon, then Handel's Minuet from Berenice, before the service.  I played Phyllis Tate's arrangement of "The lark in the clear air" during the offering (clear air - light - well, there's a vague link there!), then a Procession by Sumsion for the outgoing voluntary.

On Sunday 13th June, I was at a conference in Dublin. I did think of you all!

Last week, 20th June, I confess to playing to the gallery. With Sunday School Prizegiving, I wanted the music to be (as far as possible) recogniseable to the kids as well as the adults.

Did I succeed? Before the service I played "Trumpet tune" by Charpentier (quite often played at weddings), then the Jurassic Park theme by John Williams.

The offering was collected as I played a Pastoral dance on "Simple gifts", by Andrew Clarke - a recent acquisition.

You went out to the Raider's March, from Raiders of the Lost Ark, again by John Williams. And my son's non-church-going friend commented that he recognised the music, so I must have scored there.

This week - watch this space - I've promised to be more conventional, for those that didn't like the Raider's March!

6th June 2004 - this morning was Katie's baptism, an eagerly awaited event in Killermont. And wasn't she good?! Hannah was every bit the proud big sister, too.

Before the service, I played Magnificat, by Guilmant, then an Entree by Dubois for the Choir's entry. Talking of whom - didn't they sing "Lord, I want to be a Christian" beautifully? Well, I thought they did!

During the Offering, as a tribute to Katie, I played Gershwin's "Love walked in". I'd hazard a guess that was the first time Killermont's organ played that little number!

After the service, I thought it only appropriate to mark "D-Day" for the older members of the congregation who still have vivid memories of the event. Walton's "Spitfire" seemed to fit the bill.

My own little monsters managed not to show me up after the service - at least, not in my earshot and nothing was reported to me - so all three are permitted to go swimming this afternoon. And my Sunday headache is abating already....

Last week? Oh heavens, I can't remember what the outgoing voluntary was for 23rd May. How embarrassing! (Normally the choir can see me jotting down what I've played in a little blue notebook. I must have been in too much of a hurry to escape the organ stool and supervise Small Fry. I think it was a Soldiers' Chorus from a 19th century opera. Maybe it'll come back to me later ...)

I can tell you that before the service you heard "O for the wings of a dove" by Mendelssohn, "Serenata" by Sanderson, and "The strife is o'er", by Rawsthorne. The offering was the "All creatures great and small" theme by Pearson.

Today, 30th May 2004, is Pentecost. I played "Blue haze", by Rosalie Bonighton, then Verdi's "Anvil Chorus". That was buoyant enough to prepare everyone for the introit, "Dance with the Spirit" - with Helen on the violin, and Colin and Jamie playing cello. Another debut, certainly for Jamie. I haven't been at Killermont long enough to know if Colin has played for us before. And thanks to John for managing the mike for us, too!

The choir anthem, "Every time I feel the Spirit", went with a bang - I was proud of them.

To keep the theme going, I played "Free the Spirit" by Timothy Blinko during the communion. I love that piece! Must look out some more Blinko music.

And after the service, you heard the eighth of Bach's Eight Short Preludes and Fugues.

Saturday afternoon - time for the stress levels to start rising as I contemplate letting my sons loose on Killermont tomorrow. For a long time I endured constant headaches (no, I can't blame that on Killermont) - now they've abated, thankfully, but you can be sure that my head will be throbbing by 9.30 am tomorrow! No.2 son is away at a friend's house. No.1 son has been warned to keep an eye on no.3. No.3 has been told that he mustn't run, mustn't shout, mustn't barge into grown-ups, must watch where he's going at all times, apologise if he should accidentally bump into anyone - and ANY collisions will mean no swimming on Sunday afternoon. Call it a Victorian revival. Except they wouldn't have gone swimming on a Sunday. Ah, well.

16th May - before the service, you heard Solemn melody by Walford Davies. During the offering, it was Nessun dorma, by Puccini. You went out (believe it or not) to Jurassic Park, by John Williams. Never let it be said that I don't try to reach out to the younger members of the congregation.

Talking of whom ... my profound apologies to anyone that my youngest son barged into after worship last Sunday. He is told, repeatedly, not to run and shout when grown-ups are about. I am very sorry that two ladies found it necessary to comment on his appalling manners, which obviously reflect badly on me and on his upbringing. And I can only promise that I will continue to teach him better manners - as I do, though some must find it hard to believe. I'll warn his brothers to try to calm him down if he appears too over-excited. You will appreciate that until I have tidied up my music and closed the organ, I can't be there in the corridor to keep an eye on him.

9th May - Youth Service at Killermont. What with the band - the saxes and flutes and drums and guitars and so on - your poor organist began to feel decidedly - well, CONVENTIONAL!

What could I do to make it better? Well, I played some bluesy music before the service - Prelude in blue, by Blinko, and then The good news, by Simon Lesley. I thought the choir contributions ought to be up-beat too, so we played the "Vicar of Dibley" theme tune, The Lord is my shepherd (by Goodall). I'm not alone in having a great affection for the Vicar of Dibley - my heroine!

And a STAR is born. Our minister's middle boy made a triumphant debut in the choir recessional - Oh when the saints (in the McAulay arrangement) - as a new arrival in the saxophone section. Well done, Gavin.

The outgoing organ voluntary was Marche in F major by Lefebure-Wely. Not modern, not blues or rock or anything else - just good, triumphant organ music. And why not?

25th April - I played Cumbrae Cottage by Eric Rice (see my previous posting), before the service. During the offering I played an organ arrangement of "O Master let me walk with thee", by John Barr (from Church windows : a suite for organ).

The outgoing voluntary was the March from Aida, by Verdi.

2nd May - before the service you heard Marche Romaine, by Gounod, and Elevation, by Boellmann. Then I played "The dark island" as the choir came in.

The offering was John Williams' Schindler's list theme, and the outgoing voluntary was by popular juvenile request - the Star Wars theme, again by John Williams.

9th May - it hasn't even happened yet! Prepare yourselves to sing "Daniel was a man of prayer". We started it last week - but that was just the beginning. Tomorrow's service is a youth service, so here's hoping it all goes triumphantly well.

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".

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!

Oh dear, I see that I forgot to post what I played last week. So, here goes:-

On 14th March, you heard Pachelbel's Canon before the service, Handel's Largo during the offering, and a Rondeau by Purcell on the way out.

Today, being Mothering Sunday, I scratched my head trying to think of something appropriate to play. But when I arrived at church this morning, I found everyone sweeping up broken glass after a nocturnal attack by vandals. So, before the service I played two Negro spirituals: Oh Lord, what a morning, and Nobody knows the trouble I've seen. Then, determined to get mothers in somehow, I played Schubert's Ave Maria.

During the offering, I played part of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, and because there was a meeting after the service, I just played a short outgoing voluntary - Courante, by Praetorius.

You won't forget to come to the special Lenten service at Killermont next Sunday evening, will you? 6.30 pm, Killermont Parish Church, Bearsden, Glasgow. See you there!

What was the organ music on 7 March?
Before the service : Elegy by Rawsthorne, and Dream Children nos. 1 & 2 by Elgar
During the offering : the Flower duet from Lakme, by Delibes
Outgoing voluntary - G minor short prelude & fugue, by J S Bach

Advance warning!

Special evening service on Sunday 28th March : a Lenten meditation, entitled The Sacrificial Lamb, led by choir and organ. This is designed as a gentle, thought-provoking service, which will have a good musical blend of traditional old favourites and a few more modern contributions. See you there!