A few days ago the ward organist asked if I would sub for her in church tomorrow and yesterday she sent a text with the hymn numbers. I saw 255 and instantly panicked because I thought it was True to the Faith. You all are familiar with the long and passionate grudge I have against that hymn. I spent the half hour before I could get to a hymnal mentally writing letters to our ward music director and bishopric that started with "Are you KIDDING me?!" and "Is this some kind of JOKE!" and "Why?" and "How?" and "Do you hate me THAT MUCH!!?!??!!!"
But it turns out True to the Faith is hymn 254. Crisis averted. 255 is Carry On which is still a tough song but it has one redeeming quality: it has a little fanfare in the middle. I have found that organists are split on their opinions of fanfares. Some love them and some feel silly playing them. But I grew up in a ward where fanfares were celebrated. My piano teacher was our ward organist and she always told me that when it comes to playing fanfares you go big or go home. And our music director never conducted any song with anything less than unabashed gusto. So I kind of love playing fanfares. And if I can manage it, I'll turn the volume up a little during them just to make sure the congregation is alive.
4 comments:
I love fanfares! I love that hymn because of it! Unfortunately, our organist isn't in the same camp about fanfares, and I'm pretty sure she turns the organ down for them. Bah! We just need to be in the same ward. I will go buy a cape of some sort and a giant baton and channel what I've heard about Anna Pealer, and we will be the dynamic duo of church music.
Fanfares are a joyful noise unto the Lord. I think that's pretty clear. Bravo!
I once had a college professor who wanted "A Mighty Fortress is our God" to be played at his funeral. It may not have an "official" fanfare, but the whole song is like a fanfare. It should be played with gusto.
I think everyone should have a fanfare at their funeral. Carry On would be a fun one to sing at a wake.
I hope you know that whenever I am at a meeting and we sing these hymns I always think of you.
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