Yesterday was my last organ lesson for a while. I am quite distracted because of my upcoming move, so the daily routines I had developed have been disrupted, and I haven’t been practicing organ very much. Continuing with lessons would be an exercise in frustration and guilt.
But I am SO glad I did these lessons. My teacher was awesome. I really like playing organ. I hope to get back to practicing and learning once my life settles down again. The principal in Maui said they have an organ at the church that I can use. I hope to make it part of my routine there.
Here’s an interesting thing I learned today. When an organist plays a four-part hymn, any repeated notes in the bass part (on the pedal) are connected as if they are tied. Repeated notes in the tenor line are played separately. The alto part is played with connected repeated notes, and the soprano part separates repeated notes. I thought it was hard enough thinking about hands and feet at the same time. Add this mix of legato and staccato, and it’s really complicated! I have new respect for organists.
Since I won’t be practicing organ, I won’t be going in to my church in the mornings any more. I’ll miss the cavernous sanctuary and the sparkly windows. I went in yesterday before noon and the sun was making kaleidoscope colors everywhere:
Wow! The windows are making everything gorgeous! I get distracted in church sometimes by the people who have blue hair due to the sun shining through the window.
As an alto, while it’s cool that you have to tie our (and the bass) notes together, I want to know why. Is it because of our supporting role? Are tenors just male sopranos? Are altos female basses?
I think playing repeated tenor notes separately helps keep the beat moving or something. My teacher played it for me lots of different ways, and when he did it differently, I could hear something was wrong. It was amazing. I should have had him play for me more and watched him. Or maybe I’ll just bring a folding chair and start sitting behind organists whenever I’m in church.
I remember as a kid referring to the “blue haired ladies” in church, but it wasn’t from the light coming through the stained glass!
Immanuel is gorgeous at that time of day – I agree…
You have learned so much since you’ve had time to do all these new things, and I know you will absolutely eat up the new environment thousands of miles west when you go – new foods, new language, new attire, new geophysical features, new plants…you’ll be exhausted, no doubt, but I know you’ll enjoy it all. Talk about taking a job just so you have plenty of fresh blogging material!
What a beautiful picture! God was decorating for Christmas, His way!
Indeed, that is one beautiful sight!
And that 3rd paragraph is Greek to me…..if you’re not talking about the pink or blue note I’m lost. All musicians amaze me….including you!