[rodgersorgan] Re: Challenging keys

Hi, Bill, et al:
   
Playing in different keys hits me between the fingers 
on hymns that I learned in keys published for the songs 
60 years ago.  Though I expeimented with some hymns in 
keys other than written, it was usually for my own 
satisfaction about how I could keep the music interesting 
and move it along, or make it easier to sing in a 
different voice range.
   
I remember being the pianist for a men's chorus one 
Sunday evening.  This was a substitute job when the 
regular pianist was out.  I knew every one of the songs 
that we sang, and have played them many times since I 
was a teenager.  This evening, we were singing out of a 
brand new edition of the Baptist Hymnal and the songs 
were lowered one-half step or more, ...every one of 
them.  Bummer.  I played the white notes, the black 
notes, and the cracks in between as I frantically tried 
my best to "sight read" these new settings.  <grins>
   
Also, I was one of those who bought into the false 
idea that it was easier to play the sharp keys as 
flat keys.  I played most of the songs written in 
A major in A-flat major, etc.  Once we get into the 
habit of doing things like that, we are crippled in 
public accompaniment, except many of the people thought 
the flatted keys were easier to sing.
   
When I went for my Masters auditions, the committee 
threw "We Plough the Fields" before me.  The song was 
written in E-major.  I had seen the song before but 
never was interested in it, so didn't have a 
predisposition to play it in E-flat under my fingers.  
Surprisingly, I stumbled through the song well enough 
that they passed me, ...in E-major yet.  <grins>  
Singers were not expected to be keyboard masters in 
those days.  <more grins>  Now, I wish I had spent 
more time on keyboard technique development.
    
Oh, well...  That is what life is all about.  Some 
things we do come out well, and others we know 
need a bit more refinement.
    
F. Richard Burt
Dorian Organs
   
   
.

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