Looking for comedy relief?
Just come to my ward when I play the organ.
Last time I played, the sound of trumpets started during
the Sacrament hymn.
I still don't know how that happened.
Well, I was asked to play today.
I practiced all week and prayed that all would go well.
I managed to get to church early today to play prelude.
(So far, so good.)
The opening song was fine -- only missed a couple bass notes.
(Sorry basses.)
The Sacrament song was okay.
I turned the organ off before going to my seat so I wouldn't accidently play a note or two.
(Half way over. I thought I would make it without any big blunders.)
I went down and sat with the family on the front row.
I got to actually listen to Stacy's wonderful talk because
I told my kids the Bishop was watching them and they were very well behaved.
Then,
the Intermediate hymn -- "Did You Think To Pray?".
(I should have thought to pray before stepping up to the organ!)
Anyway, things were going great.
It's an easy song to play.
(One thing I must say is that I am a pianist, not an organist.
I don't know how to play the organ.
I turn the foot pedals off and play it like a piano.)
Well, for the Intermediate hymn,
I set the organ to the preset settings and turned off the pedals.
Made it through the first verse with no problem.
During some part of the second verse,
I was playing along and one of my knuckles accidentally pushes another of the preset settings buttons.
When this happened, the organ had a completely different sound and all the pedals turned on.
I had my feet resting on the pedals.
Yes, there was a loud, kind of long noise.
It took a couple of seconds to register what had happened.
The congregation continued singing and
I about died!
I was able to fix the problem and finish the song.
I was laughing through the rest of the song and I'm sure my face was beet red!
After the song,
I turned off the organ again and headed down to sit with my family.
I was trying really hard not to laugh so I kept my head down.
As I passed by the First Councilor, I whispered that I was "SOOOO sorry" and then made it to my family.
I couldn't help but burst out laughing (louder than I would have liked) when I saw Lee.
I looked up at the Bishopric and they were all laughing too.
Very funny but oh so embarrassing!
As Dan began his great talk, he mentioned that he had prayed that something would have happened to take away from his nervousness and proceeded to thank me for my blunder.
Even more embarrassing!
Oh well. At least it was in front of my ward and not a bunch of strangers who would judge.
I was among friends who still love me, right?
I really didn't want to go back up for the closing song but of course I did.
(I did, however, pray before this time!)
While playing the postlude music,
I was laughing more while all these people came up to me laughing as well.
I told the First Councilor that now he knows what NOT to call me to do.
So yeah, I'm not sure if I'll be playing the organ again anytime soon.
I'll just add it to my LONG list of embarrassing moments!
11 comments:
You had me laughing out loud with this! Isn't it amazing that we always notice what we did wrong and not focus on what we did right?
I mean, how many notes did you play correctly? I'll bet there were a lot more of those than those played incorrectly.
i am so sorry i missed this one. the trumpets had me laughing in sacrament meeting. i loved it.
Well I was there, and I made Dave promise not to go up and tease you. I wrote about this incident to Elder King later that night. It was really good.
P.S. the song was "Did you Think to Pray"
I am SOOOO sorry, I would have been mortified! I have been playing the organ in our branch for the last 9 months, with a organ professor on the the front row! I about threw up so many times... I finally asked to be released (I'm still the primary chorister too)and now we switch off (there are four people who play in the this small branch). Our current Stake President told me he was asked to play the organ even though he only played the piano and one time, mid sacrament song he hit the cancel button, the organ went off completely and he didn't know how to turn it back on so they finished a capella. AHHH!! I would have died. I have had more nightmares about playing the organ and leaving the church because of it then anybody can imagine. Usually they involve me playing songs I've never heard of, the congregation laughing and me running out of the church as fast and as far as I can. The most recent one I ran miles and miles away, where even J. couldn't find me and hung out at a diner for the rest of the day (!?) I can totally relate and really, if it helps, you made me feel so much better!
I think there could never be enough comic relief during sacrament meeting! I have to admit that it was quite funny. I must say that I'm really impressed that you made it as well as you did through the rest of the song! I would have been screwing up like crazy. Overall, you did a really great job yesterday!
P.S. Yes, you are still loved!
i would have loved to have been there to share in the humor! we ALL do things like this, don't worry! and all you can do is laugh it off, which you did nicely!
I didn't even notice! Just kidding, you did great. One flub is good, I would have flubbed many times.
My favorite was watching Max's response. Did he give you the so-so hand wave by chance?
And I think we should have trumpets more often - don't you?
Thanks for filling in - you do awesome work, and as I mentioned on Sunday, I think I appreciate the goofs most about Sacrament Meetings many Sundays.
I took organ lessons once so I really appreciate how difficult it is to play. I hold all ward organists in high esteem just for being willing to get up there do it. So I'm sorry you were embarrassed, but you have my full support.
p.s. The house across the street from me is for sale. Hint. Hint.
Hey, my husband just got called to the high council and he is over the music for the stake. I may have him call on you to do some training.
Seeing ow you are awesome and all!
Oh, heck no Sue!
Post a Comment