What to play AT CHURCH?

[Kent C Brodie]

Now that I've been at this a year, I've offered my playing skills
to my church.. they were thrilled to hear that I can play the pipes,
and asked that I play some "special music" for our next service.

[Lutheran church, btw].

Other church members have played milder instruments, and the 'special'
music during the service is basically up to the instrumentalist. Flute
music is easy enough to fit into a service, but I'm wondering what
any of you have played for YOUR church services.

I'm planning on doing a small medley, something like a slow march,
followed by an air, and ending up with Amazing Grace. [I think the
latter is kind of expected. heh.]

I guess what I'm asking is, what types of tunes have you all played at
YOUR church? Are marches appropriate? A strathspey? (keep in mind that the
general public at my church won't have a CLUE as to whether I'm playing a
strathspey, reel, march, or whatever..)

Any help is appreciated. Also, any tune recommendations could be
helpful.

--
Kent C. Brodie - Systems & Network Manager Internet: <bro...@cpg.mcw.edu>
Medical College of Wisconsin MaBellNet: +1 414 456 5080
Clinical Practice Group (http://www.cpg.mcw.edu/www/staff/brodie.html)
"Keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times..."

[Bob Cameron]

In article <1996Nov4...@cpg.mcw.edu>, bro...@cpg.mcw.edu (Kent C
Brodie) wrote:

> Now that I've been at this a year, I've offered my playing skills
> to my church.. they were thrilled to hear that I can play the pipes,

(snip)

> I guess what I'm asking is, what types of tunes have you all played at
> YOUR church? Are marches appropriate? A strathspey? (keep in mind that the
> general public at my church won't have a CLUE as to whether I'm playing a
> strathspey, reel, march, or whatever..)
>
> Any help is appreciated. Also, any tune recommendations could be
> helpful.
>

There are other hymns which set well on the pipes. Check out the CD "Abide
With Me- Hymns of Faith" by the 48th Highlanders of Canada.
I play a few church services every year. One, at St. Andrew's Church in
wellesley I've played for their patron's day liturgy ( St Andrew's Day-
Nov 30) for 6 or 7 years. I play "The King Of Love My Shepherd Is" (tune:
St Columba) as a processional, and Amazing Grace for the Psalm, and a
March I wrote for the occasion of their 100th year, two years ago, as a
recessional.

I suppose it depends on the context- how the tune relates to the service.

--
The opinions and feeble attempts at humor herein are not in any way endorsed or acknowledged by my employer , etc etc,

Slan leibh, Bob

[Dave Keenan]

bro...@cpg.mcw.edu (Kent C Brodie) wrote:

> Now that I've been at this a year, I've offered my playing skills
> to my church.. they were thrilled to hear that I can play the pipes,
(snip)
> I guess what I'm asking is, what types of tunes have you all played at
> YOUR church? Are marches appropriate? A strathspey? (keep in mind that the
> general public at my church won't have a CLUE as to whether I'm playing a
> strathspey, reel, march, or whatever..)

Highland Cathedral, a slow march, is easy to play and quite appropriate,
I'd think.

Dave Keenan
--------------------------------------------------------
Celtic Fire, Ltd.
Bagpipes & Whistles Recordings
Supplies Books

P. O. Box 1294 Voice: (508) 833-3724
Forestdale, MA 02644-1294 Fax: (508) 833-3625
USA celt...@tiac.net
http://www.tiac.net/users/celtfire/
--------------------------------------------------------

[John Richardson]

On Mon, 04 Nov 1996 15:54:41 -0500, Dave Keenan <celt...@tiac.net>
wrote:

>
>Highland Cathedral, a slow march, is easy to play and quite appropriate,
>I'd think.
>

There's, also, organ accompanyment to it. Really sounds good with the
organ on the second and third time thru!

John

[Redgato]

In article <327f4470...@news.mindspring.com>, shr...@mindspring.com
(John Richardson) writes:

>>Highland Cathedral, a slow march, is easy to play and quite appropriate,
>>I'd think.
>>
>There's, also, organ accompanyment to it. Really sounds good with the
>organ on the second and third time thru!
>
>John

I'm a church organist and long time piper (Dunedin's first piper from
1956). I have played "Highland Cathedral" on the organ with a piper and
have also played the pipe part when I can find someone to play the organ
accompaniment. I have a question regarding the pipe and organ playing
together: should the piper play only the chanter (plug the drones) when
playing with the organ? I found that it seemed to sound better that way
(I particularly noticed it when I was playing the organ with someone else
playing pipes). However, when there are parts to a given composition that
require the piper to play alone, then the drones are needed again or the
music sounds "empty". Any comments pro or con?

To answer the question about what to play: there are lots of hymns that
adapt readily to playing on the pipes. I have several books of "Heavenly
Music"- some of the hymns sound fine; others are a little shakey- the
melodies are not quite the same when the pipe "translation" is completed!
Some hymn tunes just don't transpose well for pipes. Most of the time the
church congregation is so mesmerized by anyone playing bagpipes that they
aren't generally concerned with what you're playing but just the fact that
you're playing such a horrendous instrument fascinates them! I try to
keep my "liturgical" pipe music to a church related feeling- slower and
more stately music except for a recessional which can be more lively-- a
good march tempo. If you play a processional, a march or familiar hymn
would be appropriate, although a lot depends on the type of music the
congregation is accustomed to: from strictly liturgical to contemporary.
I play for a Naval Air Station Chapel that has both a Catholic and a
Protestant service. I have played pipes for both services but kept it a
little more solemn for this particular Catholic Mass. It all depends on
what church you're playing in!!

Thanks,
Pat

[Kirk McMichael]

Kent C Brodie wrote:
>
> Now that I've been at this a year, I've offered my playing skills
> to my church.. they were thrilled to hear that I can play the pipes,

> and asked that I play some "special music" for our next service.
>
> [Lutheran church, btw].
>
> Other church members have played milder instruments, and the 'special'
> music during the service is basically up to the instrumentalist. Flute
> music is easy enough to fit into a service, but I'm wondering what
> any of you have played for YOUR church services.
>
> I'm planning on doing a small medley, something like a slow march,
> followed by an air, and ending up with Amazing Grace. [I think the
> latter is kind of expected. heh.]
>

> I guess what I'm asking is, what types of tunes have you all played at
> YOUR church? Are marches appropriate? A strathspey? (keep in mind that the
> general public at my church won't have a CLUE as to whether I'm playing a
> strathspey, reel, march, or whatever..)
>

> Any help is appreciated. Also, any tune recommendations could be
> helpful.

Kent:

One source of tunes which typically go well on the pipes and which have
an authentic church connection is the shape note tradition. Books such
as "Southern Harmony" and "The Sacred Harp" are good sources. There may
be some connection back to Scotland too, since this tradition was strong
in the Southeastern USA. I even found "Bruce's Address" in one of those
books (although the words weren't those for "Scots wh' Hae." Where did I
find the books? Well in the University Library up the hill. There is an
occasional advantage to the academic life.

Of course, the tunes won't be printed in the right key for the pipes,
but they'll often fit the range and it isn't too much work to figure out
what note to start on. Then you can take the rest by intervals and add
gracings as you see fit.

Hope this helps --

Kirk McMichael k...@wsu.edu
PM, The Border Highlanders Office (509) 335-3363
1215 NW State St FAX (509) 335-8867
Pullman, WA 99163-3344 USA Home (509) 332-2224

[John Richardson]

On 5 Nov 1996 18:43:08 -0500, red...@aol.com (Redgato) wrote:

>I'm a church organist and long time piper (Dunedin's first piper from
>1956). I have played "Highland Cathedral" on the organ with a piper and
>have also played the pipe part when I can find someone to play the organ
>accompaniment. I have a question regarding the pipe and organ playing
>together: should the piper play only the chanter (plug the drones) when
>playing with the organ? I found that it seemed to sound better that way
>(I particularly noticed it when I was playing the organ with someone else
>playing pipes). However, when there are parts to a given composition that
>require the piper to play alone, then the drones are needed again or the
>music sounds "empty". Any comments pro or con?
>

Pat,
My thoughts...under *no* circumstances should the drones be stopped!
That's part of our instrument. No tune could sound "better" with the
drones stopped. Remember that when HC is played the *pipes* are the
main instrument...the organ is the accompaniment. Even if it weren't
the pipes are not pipes without drones, and can't sound correct
because of blowing pressure(?). Don't do it. Ours is a unique
musical instrument that *must* produce sound from four places.

John

[Redgato]

In article <3280a037...@news.mindspring.com>, shr...@mindspring.com
(John Richardson) writes:

>My thoughts...under *no* circumstances should the drones be stopped!
>That's part of our instrument. No tune could sound "better" with the
>drones stopped. Remember that when HC is played the *pipes* are the
>main instrument...the organ is the accompaniment. Even if it weren't
>the pipes are not pipes without drones, and can't sound correct
>because of blowing pressure(?). Don't do it. Ours is a unique
>musical instrument that *must* produce sound from four places.

I understand all that, but the quality of the music is of great
consideration also. The organ itself seems to substitute for the drones
and in some instances, the drones plus the organ can sound less than
desirable. I don't agree about the chanter alone not sounding correct:
you can control the amount of pressure and thus the amount of air going to
the chanter just as if the drones were not plugged. You have to control
that pressure for the pipes - chanter plus drones- to sound right anyway!
Any instrument, in order to give a pleasing resultant musical offering,
must "agree" and blend when required to do so, with other instrument(s) in
which it is playing in concert. A French horn, for instance, may sound
entirely different when playing solo than when playing with a group of
other instruments (or one additional instrument).

You have to admit that when pipes are being played with an organ that the
main sounds being heard are the chanter (usually playing the melody) and
the organ (usually playing an accompaniment). If the drones + the organ
are making "noise" instead of music, then it should be the responsibility
of the musicians to decide how to improve the quality of their product. I
love the GHB, I have played for a long time, but just because pipes are
loud and raucous (especially considering the acoustics in many churches),
they DO NOT have to sound unmusical when played with another instrument
such as a liturgical organ. There are too many people already that think
the GHB is just so much noise! I would much rather have someone tell me
how beautiful and stirring the music was, than how much they hate the
noise of the pipes!
(And believe me, I've heard both, and not in equal measures!!!)

Pat

[Todd Muscat]

Redgato wrote:
> ...and in some instances, the drones plus the organ can sound less than
> desirable.

Well, Only if the piper & organist can't tune-up!!

> You have to admit that when pipes are being played with an organ that the
> main sounds being heard are the chanter (usually playing the melody) and
> the organ (usually playing an accompaniment). If the drones + the organ
> are making "noise" instead of music,

Again, probably, only if the Drones & Organ aren't *IN TUNE*!

> then it should be the responsibility
> of the musicians to decide how to improve the quality of their product.

Or; it is, quite simply the responsability of the piper to tune his
instrument properly. Having played in churches, I can say that this is
no easy task, & the piper can't expect to come in and do it on a whim.
It takes me an hour or two working with the organist, my reads, & tape
(usually a day befor the event) to pull it off. One time I couldn't get
there ahead of time - but the organist gave me a frequency measure from
his Bb and I 'tuned remotely' to it.

> I love the GHB, I have played for a long time, but just because pipes are
> loud and raucous (especially considering the acoustics in many churches),
> they DO NOT have to sound unmusical when played with another instrument
> such as a liturgical organ. There are too many people already that think
> the GHB is just so much noise! I would much rather have someone tell me
> how beautiful and stirring the music was, than how much they hate the
> noise of the pipes!

Trust me! It's *NOT* the Drones that make the pipes raucous (in fact
most would say that the drones mellow & emeliorate the Chanter)
**UNLESS** of course - Once again - the Drones are out of tune!!! Just
play in tune guys - no one will complain. :-)

Cheers
Todd

[Olivier Couet]

John Richardson wrote:
>
> On 5 Nov 1996 18:43:08 -0500, red...@aol.com (Redgato) wrote:
>
> >I'm a church organist and long time piper (Dunedin's first piper from
> >1956). I have played "Highland Cathedral" on the organ with a piper and
> >have also played the pipe part when I can find someone to play the organ
> >accompaniment. I have a question regarding the pipe and organ playing
> >together: should the piper play only the chanter (plug the drones) when
> >playing with the organ? I found that it seemed to sound better that way
> >(I particularly noticed it when I was playing the organ with someone else
> >playing pipes). However, when there are parts to a given composition that
> >require the piper to play alone, then the drones are needed again or the
> >music sounds "empty". Any comments pro or con?
> >

Are you sure the drones were correctly tuned wit the organ ?

Olivier

[sax...@fastnet.co.uk]

Anyone got the organ accompaniment written out, in TeX, or postscript,
or anything e-mailable?

The drones I believe are to accompany the pipes and fill out the
sound, so you probably shouldn't use then when playing with an organ
to avoid clashing, and also perhaps to allow the music to progress
into different keys. But when the organ shuts off for a pipe solo,
the sound will be seem empty, so how about the organ playing the
drones, just by holding 2 As (pipe scale) down; that should fill it
out a little and give the impression of drones. It's not really
practical to stop and start the drones (Inventors: possible idea
here?).

red...@aol.com (Redgato) wrote:

>In article <327f4470...@news.mindspring.com>, shr...@mindspring.com

>(John Richardson) writes:
>
>>>Highland Cathedral, a slow march, is easy to play and quite appropriate,
>>>I'd think.
>>>
>>There's, also, organ accompanyment to it. Really sounds good with the
>>organ on the second and third time thru!
>>
>>John
>

[Julia Harlow]

> Redgato wrote:
> > ...and in some instances, the drones plus the organ can sound less than
> > desirable.

> > I love the GHB, I have played for a long time, but just because pipes are

> > loud and raucous (especially considering the acoustics in many churches),
> > they DO NOT have to sound unmusical when played with another instrument
> > such as a liturgical organ.

What, pray tell, is the difference between a liturgical and non-liturgical organ? Do you
mean pipe vs. electronic; church vs. concert hall, or what?

There are too many people already that think
> > the GHB is just so much noise! I would much rather have someone tell me
> > how beautiful and stirring the music was, than how much they hate the
> > noise of the pipes!

It has been my experience that by far the people who complain the most and loudest about
how awful bagpipes sound are classical musicians (theoretically, my colleagues). I've
certainly heard some organs that are as loud and raucous as the pipes can be.

Yes, pipes and organ are loud. If it really is too loud for the size sanctuary you have,
usually the piper can stand somewhere not directly in the room, but still visible to the
organist. Or perhaps a word in the bulletin to the effect: "you won't hurt anyone's
feelings if you plug your ears and listen". When I (piper) play with my husband (organist),
he often wears earplugs. No problem.

I think most people's problem with the sound of the pipes and other instruments (organ,
brass band), other than sheer volume or the occasional skirl, has more to do with tuning
differences between the two: (approximately) just intonation vs. equal temperament.
This can be unfortunately rather telling on certain notes such as C (concert D), where
what is considered "in tune" for each are rather different from each other.

Julia Harlow
Piper for 23 years
Doctor of Musical Arts, Organ Performance, 1993.