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What do you play during communion?

Last post 09-17-2008, 11:38 AM by Ludwig tone. 21 replies.
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  •  10-28-2007, 5:48 PM 43613

    What do you play during communion?

    Hymns?  Chorales?  Free works?  Nothing?


     

  •  10-28-2007, 7:08 PM 43621 in reply to 43613

    Re: What do you play during communion?

    I've talked about my stress-free hymn arrangements in a similar context on this forum, I think. But what I do is select some hymns that are appropriate to communion -- hymns referring to communion, such as "Let Us Break Bread Together," or those reflecting on the crucifixion or the passion of the Lord, whether formal hymns or dignified gospel tunes, never anything tacky or overly sentimental.

    I set up several pistons with quiet sounds, celestes, soft flutes, and so on, along with some contrasting colors on the other manuals, including the softer solo reeds. I practice playing each hymn in a variety of improvised styles, going from SATB on one manual, to soloing out the melody on a second manual, then trying not-too-jarring re-harmonizations and mildly exotic chords and dissonances.

    Since it's hard to know  exactly how much music will be needed, I decide on different places where I can end if needed, or brief repeats that can be taken if only a few more seconds are needed.

    Since I will have rehearsed all this until I'm comfortable with it, I just relax during the time of communion and play the hymns with whatever variations come to mind at the moment. It usually works out well and folks are generally appreciative of the quiet and reflective music that enhances the spiritual mood.

    One thing I'd never want to play for communion would be a difficult piece that would stress me out and make me uncomfortable. This is one of the few times  in a Baptist church when the organ plays alone for an extended time period.

    John

     


    Rodgers 890 at church.
    Baldwin D422 at home.
    Scads of old organs in the shop! H E L P !!!
  •  10-31-2007, 10:30 AM 43738 in reply to 43621

    Re: What do you play during communion?

    I used to just improvise all the time, but now I try and play a hymn that is linked either to communion or the particular service

     

    Jezza


    "If you can't get the orchestra any louder, add the organ"
  •  10-31-2007, 4:53 PM 43757 in reply to 43613

    Re: What do you play during communion?

    I play the organ.Big Smile

    OK, I guess you need more of an answer than that.  Some of my selections may include some of the following:

    • O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
    • What Wondrous Love Is This?
    • Were You There?
    • When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
    You get the idea.  I play for a Protestant church, but I've also used some of these during Eucharist when I played for a Catholic church.

    Michael

    Allen Organs (505-B & ADC-6000), Frazee Pipe Organ (2/13 w/chimes),
    Pump Organs (Estey, Sears & Roebuck, Mason & Hamlin, Chicago Cottage, Williams & Sons, Angelius, Cornish)
    Pianos (Ivers sq. grand ca.1865, Ivers & Pond Upright-1929, Technics SX-PR600)
  •  10-31-2007, 7:33 PM 43772 in reply to 43757

    Re: What do you play during communion?

    Funny you should ask--this has been an intermittent subject of conversation between my pastor and me for years.  The tradition in conservative Lutheran circles is for the organist to play one or more hymns, usually about the doctrine of The Lord's Supper.  I have suggested from time to time that the congregation would do well to simply sit and meditate during the communion portion of the service, while the organist plays appropriately contemplative music.  We've been doing that a few times a year for several years now.

    DR 

  •  10-31-2007, 11:13 PM 43777 in reply to 43772

    Re: What do you play during communion?

    I like playing one of the many arrangements by Dale Wood, or Charles Callahan - there are other good ones too.

    My pastor has requested "recognizable communion tunes" Tongue Tied so I do feel a bit constrained by that.  After all, how many recognizable communion tunes could there be?

    If I run out of music, I just improvise.  If I've played two or three tunes, I enjoy trying to meld them together.


    Soubasse32
  •  11-01-2007, 12:01 AM 43779 in reply to 43777

    Re: What do you play during communion?

    At a Church where I sub quite often, the Communion takes up a good portion of the service - enough of a portion so that I can play the quieter movements from a suite in L'Orgue Mystique by Charles Tournemire for the appointed Suday.
  •  11-01-2007, 2:48 AM 43780 in reply to 43738

    Re: What do you play during communion?

    Some hymns that I do for communion:

    - Sweet sacrament divine

    - O thou who at thy Eucharist

    - Soul of my Saviour

    - Draw nigh and take


    Currently own:
    ALLEN TC-3S (#42904 - 3rd Feb 1971) with Sequential Capture System

    Speakers:
    x1 Model 100 Gyro Cabinet
    x1 Model 105 Cabinet
    x3 Model 108 Cabinet
  •  01-28-2008, 2:53 PM 47841 in reply to 43780

    Re: What do you play during communion?

    During communion I like to either play a piece, improvise on something off the top of my head, or improvise on a hymn and sometimes try to mould two or three hymns together.

    Eamples of pieces: Priere a Notre Dame (Boellmann), Folk Tune (Percy Whitlock), Communion No. 1 (Guilmant), Aria (Charles Callahan), etc.

    Examples of hymns: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, Here O My Lord I See Thee Face To Face, Bread of Heaven, Fairest Lord Jesus, etc.

    Cheerio,

    ReedGuy

  •  02-07-2008, 9:43 PM 48330 in reply to 47841

    Re: What do you play during communion?

    One strange thing I found when I moved to North Dakota, was that the small rural parishes I serve did not sing during communion itself, but always sang a "communion meditation" hymn instead, once eveyone was seated.  This isn't exactly correct to catholic liturgical directives, as one is supposed to sing/chant or read the communion verse or sing an approprate him during distribution, but their practice worked well and I wasn't about to upset the applecart on this one. 

    (Speaking of: is someone aware of english collections of the communion verses arranged for the liturgical year?  I have not seen a suitable collection anywhere; just bits and pieces.)

    I found a good use of this time was to introduce hymns that were "new" to them.  After playing them through several times in different in different respectful registrations, we would sing the "new" hymn for the meditation hymn.  Has seemed to work out real well.

    As others have mentioned, its always a time to play appriopriate famaliar meditative hymns.  I will also play some gregorian motets as well-- Ecce Panis Angelorum is a favorite off the top of my head.  Good way to re-introduce and famaliarize the "classics".

  •  04-10-2008, 11:34 AM 51870 in reply to 48330

    Re: What do you play during communion?

    We normally sing 2 hymns during communion, and then I improvise for the remaining time and conclude in the key of the final hymn.
  •  04-11-2008, 4:07 AM 51918 in reply to 51870

    Re: What do you play during communion?

    I've been in my current position for about a month and a half so far, and communion is usually rather swift (despite it being a rather large church) so we normally just have time to sing the communion hymn. However, I'm tempted to keep my copy of the Dupre 79 Chorales and Tombeau de Titelouze close to the console to cover up any silent moments.

    However, I do play a prelude and postlude every Sunday, something which the congregation had never experienced before. Some curious listeners stayed for the Widor Toccata last Sunday, but I hope this number will increase - organ music should be savoured!

    This Sunday they'll be getting the Bach Dorian Toccata BWV538 before and probably Mulet Carillon-Sortie afterwards.

  •  04-11-2008, 4:14 AM 51919 in reply to 51918

    Re: What do you play during communion?

    tumult_in_the_praetorium:

    This Sunday they'll be getting the Bach Dorian Toccata BWV538 before and probably Mulet Carillon-Sortie afterwards.

     

    Wow! Big day!! 

  •  04-11-2008, 6:39 AM 51923 in reply to 51919

    Re: What do you play during communion?

  •  04-11-2008, 6:42 AM 51924 in reply to 51923

    Re: What do you play during communion?

    Choirmaster:

    I don't play for churches anymore, as I am no longer a Christian

    Heh, in my experience, the latter doesn't preclude the former! 

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