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 How embarassing!May 8, 2007 at 12:25 AM Yesterday I went to play at the VA for the second time. They have the most amazing Steinway and sons piano there. A GRAND piano!...They requested that I play Jesu, Bliet meine freud (Jesus joy of mans desirings) for communion. Not the piece I had planed on but I knew it from memory, because I didn't bring the music. Just as communion starts I began to play, for the first 30 seconds it goes ok. Then don't I forget what I am supposed to play and just make it up (playing badly) as I go along? after about a minute of trying to remember it I gave up!
From Jim W. Miller
It wasn't a big deal in this case, but there's a life lesson here. Namely, don't get forced into feeling obligated to change things like that when you're the one who'll pay. In my first job I got requests for changes in a thing at the last minute and instead of putting my foot down, I went ahead as well as I could. It led to a product recall that I never really lived down. It wasn't a safety issue though at least.
Posted on May 8, 2007 at 1:29 AM From Emily Grossman
"Man of Many Desires"? It's actually translated to mean "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring." I bet Bach and Jesus both had a good laugh over that one. Well, at least I did. :)
Posted on May 8, 2007 at 9:45 AM From Emily Grossman
PS When they ask next time, just say no to "Jesu". ;) Sorry to hear about the untimely memory lapse.
Posted on May 8, 2007 at 9:49 AM From Karen Allendoerfer
I was performing a Brahms piano trio in a chamber music recital at Caltech about 10 years ago, and in the middle of the 4th movement, the piano pedal fell off with a loud crash. We had to stop. We played the 4th mvt again after intermission when they fixed the piano. While this was obviously more embarrasing for the pianist than for me, it still shook me up. But now that I've survived that and can laugh about it, performing doesn't scare me as much. What's the worst that can happen? Well, the instrument can fall apart in the middle of the piece--and if it does, I'll be okay!Posted on May 8, 2007 at 10:44 AM I think you had guts to keep plugging away trying to remember, and now that you've lived through "the worst that can happen" and survived, you may find that you're able to take more minor performance glitches completely in stride.
From Marsha McCoy
I have a cousin at the local VA. I'd like to thank you for just being there. I'll bet your effort was appreciated.
Posted on May 8, 2007 at 10:59 AM From Richard Hellinger
There seems to be many translations of the pieces names the book I have (called joyful songs, no publisher listed) traslates it the way I had it. But I corrected in my blog seeing that the book I have is probably incorrect.-Thanks Emily!Posted on May 8, 2007 at 7:29 PM Karen, Yah I had the guts to keep trying. I attempted to play it 3 times! before giving up! The wouldn't you know it. I get home (on an instrument I am comfortable on) and can play it perfectly! This was my first time at the sunday service so the first time with this piano. So hopefully I will be able to get used to it and deal with it. I sure hope the pedal on this piano stays on. I can't imagine what I would do then! Your Welcome Marsha! I know a lot of the veterns enjoy it because they don't have any pianist besides me, and without that they either don't get to sing hymns or have to sing it acapella. Which is never as fun as with an accompianment. The piece I was originally going to play was Canon in D by Pachelbel. I really don't see why I couldn't play that though. It would have sounded a lot better though! This entry has been archived and is no longer accepting comments. |
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