It seems I may have made a dreadful mistake. Back on September 27th I played a service at my local Congregational Church. They had replaced their old 1980’s Allen with an Allen MDS 360 with and Expander II that was donated with the closing of another nearby CC. This church is also in the process of finding a new Minister of Music. Well, since this church is only about a block away from my home, I foolishly became interested in the possibility of offering my services as an interim organist.

I was informed that they already had an interim organist; notwithstanding, I decided to go to the dedicatory service (9/13) to see/hear this “new” instrument and talk to the pastor and the current interim organist. As it turned out, the interim organist was going to be away on the 27th and asked if I could play for him. Of course (like a fool) I agreed and managed to practise feel my way around this particular model of Allen and adapt some of my “special” registrations to it.

Needless to say, after two years of not playing the organ and barely touching the piano, I was a little rusty. But, I managed work up the Vierne ‘Berceuse’ Op.31 #19, for a prelude and Teddy Dubois’ ‘Grand Chœur’ (from 12 Pieces) for the postlude. I even gave a little musical offering, in lieu of the anthem, where I took an hymn ‘If You Will Trust in God to Guide You’ (Neumark) and described and played for them Bach’s choral prelude ‘Wer our den Lieben Gott Lässt Walten’ (#43 Orgelbüchlein). I had them sing a verse of the hymn, then played the choral in its ‘original’ (4/4 as opposed to the hymn in ¾) then gave them Bach’s arrangement. They seemed to like it (applause).

All in all, the service went not terribly. Afterwards one of the trustees wanted me to write him a note telling him how much I enjoyed practising and playing again, and he would go to the church council meeting to see if I could have a key so as to be able to practise on that organ.

And that was that. I should have known better.