My schedule at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church has changed recently so instead of playing a Sunday High Mass and Sunday afternoon Vespers and Benediction, I now play a Saturday Vigil Mass with Benediction instead of Sunday Vespers. Before the schedule changed in July, Father Paul Lillie suggested that I play the same prelude and postlude for Saturday and Sunday. Wow! What a concept!
Won’t there be some crossover with some people attending both services? Yes, but guess what? Father Paul preaches the same sermon for Saturday and Sunday! And it’s possible people don’t remember that I’ve played the same music in the space of less than 24 hours! The Saturday service is at 5 pm, and the Sunday High Mass is at 11 am.
All this means is that I get a second chance to play my chosen prelude and postlude, and my music is no longer a one off! I’ve been the organist at St. Mark’s for nearly two years, and there’s been ONLY ONE exception (that I can remember!), where I’ve repeated a prelude and a postlude. That means I’ve played something different every Sunday! Like “grinding out sausages every week,” my theory teacher in college used to say.
Based on last weekend’s services, I can say that the second time is better — that is, my performance at the 11 am High Mass is better — all of which is good, since it seems that more people attend the Sunday service.
At St. Mark’s this is a typical congregational High Mass which I’ve been playing during the summer months—the choir is on vacation during the summer, and the service is sung with Mike Dupre as cantor.
- Prelude
- Angelus
- Opening Hymn
- Asperges
- Kyrie (Missa Angelis)
- Gloria (Missa Angelis)
- Psalm (improvise under chant)
- Improvisation before Alleluia
- Improvisation following Gospel
- Nicene Creed (sung)
- Offertory Hymn (with added improvisation as needed)
- Sanctus and Benedictus (Missa Angelis)
- Agnus Dei
- Music during the distribution of communion
- Communion Hymn
- Closing Hymn
- Postlude
(Wow! 17 pieces of organ music in one service! Of course, there are numerous “a cappella” chants besides, for which I don’t play.)
By the way, I play completely different repertoire at Nuuanu Congregational Church on Sundays at 9 am. My musical responsibilities consist of:
- Prelude
- Opening Hymn
- Introit (played after the children’s sermon)
- Hymn following the Peace
- Hymn before the Sermon
- Hymn following the Sermon (on Sundays where the choir does not sing)
- Organ voluntary following the Lord’s Prayer
- Offertory
- Doxology
- Closing Hymn
- Postlude
The weekend of August 15-17 will be much busier, because St. Mark’s will have a High Mass celebrating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Friday night, 7 pm. The next morning, Aug. 16 I will play a funeral at Nuuanu Congregational Church at 11:00 am, and the St. Mark’s Vigil Mass at 5:00 pm. The next day, Sunday, Aug. 17, I’ll play the 9 am service at Nuuanu, followed by the 11:00 am High Mass at St. Mark’s. In all, FIVE major services in one weekend.
So — I had to laugh when I saw this posting on the Facebook Organists Association page this past week:
I just got home from church, and I’m exhausted. People don’t realize what it takes to prepare during the week, then play a whole (in my case, Lutheran) service. My goal is to lift the spirit of worship through music. In order to accomplish that goal, a lot of energy is needed. Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. My choice is to use the gifts God has given me, and I do with great joy, but I’m tired. My age might be a factor (83), but I think, no matter what age you are, the physical demands are significant. The organ I play is a 3 manual Rodgers Inspire 343, a true joy to play. Sorry, gotta go rest up today because tomorrow will be spent commencing to begin preparation for next Sunday’s service. (Martin Staub)
Here are some comments:
Cheryl Cheves Harp I’m an 82 year old organist who plays at an Episcopal church at 9:00 a.m. every Sunday, then drives to a United Methodist church in a nearby town and plays their 11:00 service. Been doing it for decades. The people at both churches are great. I think about retiring, but know I’d really miss doing it.
Evelyn Duncan Bless you for your continued service! I am also a Lutheran organist. Not only is there prep time, etc., but there’s also the focus necessary to complete the service. No time for the mind to wander. Sunday afternoon nap is God’s thank you for a job well done !!
Cindy Fisher Thomas Just played (as a sub) an 8:30 and 10:00 Methodist service with a soloist. Also played a service yesterday afternoon. Have a 35 min. drive home, stopping for a Coke to wake up, I could fall asleep standing up!
Mary Comer When I get home from Church I put my pajamas back on and go to bed!
Hey, remember Christmas 2023 when Advent IV and Christmas Eve were on the same day? This was my schedule for December 24:
9:00 am Nuuanu Congregational Church
11:00 am St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
7:00 pm Nuuanu Congregational Church
11:00 pm St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
I wasn’t playing (just conducting), but at Church of the Incarnation in Dallas when I was Interim Choir Director/Music Director for a year, I came in for a worship meeting at 8 with the clergy and the musicians for the contemporary service as well (about an hour’s drive from where we lived), warmed up and rehearsed the choir at 8:30, the choir sang the 9:30 service. Then the 11 o’clock choir arrived, warmed up and rehearsed (section leaders and some singers did both), then did the 11 AM service (usually the same anthems, but different service music and full Anglican chant). After service, took time for lunch, then came back to the church and took a short nap in my office, then prepped for Evensong. 4 PM rehearsal for Evensong (traditional Anglican Evensong with Preces and Responses, Anglican Chant, Anthem, Mag & Nunc, etc.), Evensong at 5 PM, then drive home. It was a wonderful experience, but a long day!
Wow, Dick, you have me beat! Those were the days, eh?
Other than the addition of numbers 2, 4, 8, & 9, the High Mass is as it was when I was playing there under the late David Kayner. Nostalgia – I wish I could have stayed in Honolulu and continued to play at St. Mark’s, but the economy prevented that.
Keep Going Kathy! it will keep you young in heart and health! on Sept 3,2025 I will celebrate the beginning of my 53rd year at my Church. The organ Aeolian-Skinner 47 ranks in a room of generous acoustics and a very talented choir. I am always looking forward, not backward. I enjoy your blogs very much. jb
Dear Kathy! My very belated but sincere condolences on the passing of Carl of which I only became aware now. How many fond memories I have of LCH, YOU, and that magnificent Beckerath which LCH is so privileged to have. Although I never got to PLAY it, I enjoyed many recitals and simply SINGING HYMNS at a Sunday service when I wasn’t «illegally» subbing at «Holy Activity» or Central Union, or Sundays for Fr.Chun’s «Sunday Congregation» at Iolani. I’m now serving St.Paul’s — Nanaimo, BC, in my 66th year as an organist and awaiting a new II-36 MAKIN Digital Instrument to replace our 4-rank Unit Casavant (Op.1694 – 1942) which is simply too small, too dull, and needing what Casavant estimated as $200,000 of «refurbishment». I miss Hawai`i terribly but being a Canadian citizen unable to obtain a Green Card I found Vancouver Island the closest thing to Hawai`i Canada offers.
A voice from the past! Good to hear from you! I am still playing the organ and have TWO church jobs in addition to a bunch of organ students, keeping crazy busy.