January 2015
What’s a Weekend?

Jan 1, 2015 | Past Dean's Columns

NSAGO Dean Andrea Handley

Andrea Handley

There are so many little things that we share with each other as organists that no one else understands completely.   My favorite is the typical goodbye that people frequently utter on a Friday, when you’re leaving Starbuck’s or any other store – “Have a nice weekend!”  I always want to respond as Maggie Smith did in Downton Abbey – “What’s a weekend?”

But many of these little things are particular to December as an organist.   December is busy for most everyone, but not in the same way it is for organists.  Our busy-ness has little to do with buying presents or attending holiday parties or baking another batch of cookies.  It has more to do with ticking off with a sigh of relief one more rehearsal behind us, one more service behind us, one more concert.  And precious little time to sigh because the next event is looming on the horizon.  I was again reminded of that reality, as I was taking a deep breath after a particularly challenging service in mid-December, when someone showed up before I even got off the bench with a question about music for the following Sunday.

And every year I have recurring questions regarding Christmas music that I intend to bring up with my colleagues.  But of course as the new year takes over, they again move to the back burner and I realize the following December that I haven’t asked any of them.  Things like “Are there some well-written challenging carol arrangements for postludes out there (as in longer than 2 pages)?” and “Wouldn’t it be helpful to have an organ-friendly (as in actually playable) volume of accompaniments for Messiah choruses and arias (one with integrity, of course!)?”

So another December is behind us all, and another year of opportunity ahead, connecting with colleagues who share our challenges and privileges in this business of making wonderful music on a wonderful instrument!

Andrea Handley, Dean

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