My Job
I just realized that my Christmas Eve and Day are shot.
Christmas Eve: (Sunday)
Playing at Dr. Wright's Church, 6:00 p.m.
Christmas Party at Canterbury House, 8:30 p.m.
Music Rehearsal, 9:30 p.m.
Christmas Music, 10:30 p.m.
The Festival Holy Communion, 11:00 p.m.
(with choir, organ, flute, trumpet, horn, euphonium, tuba, and violin - and I have to arrange all the music for it)
Christmas Day: (Sunday)
Holy Communion, 11:00 a.m.
Yes, that's right. I have to do church services at 11:00 p.m. on Satrday night, AND 11:00 a.m. on Sunday Morning.
Why do I do this to myself? Nobody is doing it to me, I do it to myself. I could just decide that there will be only organ for Christmas Eve, afterall, I am the MUSIC DIRECTOR. But it's the highest, most holy day of the church year (aside from Easter) and I want the music to be the best. AND the congregation and people in charge have come to expect nothing but the best from me. I did that. I gave them the best once and they expect it every time.
And why am I playing on Christmas Day? Well, because it is Sunday, and we have to have church on Sunday. I was given the option to not have music at all on Sunday, just spoken mass, but if you got up and went to church on Christmas morning, you would probably be disapointed to just have spoken mass without organ at the very least, to play your favorite Christmas carols. So I'm stuck with both services. And it's all my fault. I cannot say "no".
I do a Wednesday Evening service (which is actually pretty cool, for those interested, each Wed. at 6:30 p.m.) with guitar music (Lauren Brown), and David Jordan on sax and myself on piano. I choose music for it every week, make copies and provide the players with music. I plan the Sunday service (the pipe organ, formal service) with a choir that ranges in size from 0-5. (How do you plan for that?)
Every 5th Sunday of the month, we replace the Sunday 11:00 service (the pipe organ one) with guitar music, just to provide a hint of variety. I have to find players for that, choose music, schedule and lead an additional rehearsal, and, as of this coming Sunday, provide wake-up calls for the players (well, one in particular) so they will make it. (Which I will do gladly if it means they're going to be there, and on time.)
And I do it to myself. Nobody would have ever expected it of me if I hadn't done it first. We could just be a tiny church with tiny music and a tiny organist. But No. I have to go try to make us bigger than we really are.
Oh yeah, and my current project - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at the American Village. I'm in charge of that too. 4 Church Choirs, a million songs/hymns/stuff, the freaking Bishop, and a partridge in a pear tree.
And I do it to myself.
Why?
Christmas Eve: (Sunday)
Playing at Dr. Wright's Church, 6:00 p.m.
Christmas Party at Canterbury House, 8:30 p.m.
Music Rehearsal, 9:30 p.m.
Christmas Music, 10:30 p.m.
The Festival Holy Communion, 11:00 p.m.
(with choir, organ, flute, trumpet, horn, euphonium, tuba, and violin - and I have to arrange all the music for it)
Christmas Day: (Sunday)
Holy Communion, 11:00 a.m.
Yes, that's right. I have to do church services at 11:00 p.m. on Satrday night, AND 11:00 a.m. on Sunday Morning.
Why do I do this to myself? Nobody is doing it to me, I do it to myself. I could just decide that there will be only organ for Christmas Eve, afterall, I am the MUSIC DIRECTOR. But it's the highest, most holy day of the church year (aside from Easter) and I want the music to be the best. AND the congregation and people in charge have come to expect nothing but the best from me. I did that. I gave them the best once and they expect it every time.
And why am I playing on Christmas Day? Well, because it is Sunday, and we have to have church on Sunday. I was given the option to not have music at all on Sunday, just spoken mass, but if you got up and went to church on Christmas morning, you would probably be disapointed to just have spoken mass without organ at the very least, to play your favorite Christmas carols. So I'm stuck with both services. And it's all my fault. I cannot say "no".
I do a Wednesday Evening service (which is actually pretty cool, for those interested, each Wed. at 6:30 p.m.) with guitar music (Lauren Brown), and David Jordan on sax and myself on piano. I choose music for it every week, make copies and provide the players with music. I plan the Sunday service (the pipe organ, formal service) with a choir that ranges in size from 0-5. (How do you plan for that?)
Every 5th Sunday of the month, we replace the Sunday 11:00 service (the pipe organ one) with guitar music, just to provide a hint of variety. I have to find players for that, choose music, schedule and lead an additional rehearsal, and, as of this coming Sunday, provide wake-up calls for the players (well, one in particular) so they will make it. (Which I will do gladly if it means they're going to be there, and on time.)
And I do it to myself. Nobody would have ever expected it of me if I hadn't done it first. We could just be a tiny church with tiny music and a tiny organist. But No. I have to go try to make us bigger than we really are.
Oh yeah, and my current project - A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at the American Village. I'm in charge of that too. 4 Church Choirs, a million songs/hymns/stuff, the freaking Bishop, and a partridge in a pear tree.
And I do it to myself.
Why?