Article Repost: Beware the wrath of the church organist . . .

Apparently they slip in songs that make them giggle into the service.  For example:

"In one decidedly high church congregation, an organist punctured the mood of reverence as an elaborately dressed clergyman processed back after the gospel reading – by playing the theme tune to The Simpsons.  

Another congregation found themselves passing around the collection plate to the strains of “Money, Money, Money” by Abba. The survey uncovered examples of Eucharist celebrations livened up with renditions of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer”; the theme tunes from the Magic Roundabout, Blackadder and Harry Potter and even “I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts”. Sung Evensong – widely regarded as the jewel in the crown of English choral music – has been spiced up by such unexpected offerings as “I’m a Barbie Girl” and “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles” 

One organist who responded confessed to playing hits by Oasis, Billy Bragg and even Kylie Minogue in services but added: “Nobody notices – I do it all the time.” But when an organist played a slowed-down version of Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins, even the most tone deaf members of the congregation eventually recognised, sending them into gales of laughter."

My favorite memory is of a church musician who used to slip in a very slow version of "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac to fill time during prayerful moments.

To read the rest of the article:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10034068/Beware-the-wrath-of-the-church-organist-musical-revenge-is-sweet.html?fb

Rock Musical Auditions

Last night I played for 'Tommy' auditions, and I made a list of the musicals people chose their audition material from:

Aida
American Idiot
Chess
Evita
Footloose
Hair
Jesus Christ Superstar
Little Shop of Horror
Next to Normal
Rent
Starlight Express
Tarzan 
The Toxic Avenger

...plus a couple of stray rock/pop songs from the radio

Here are some links about rock musicals/repertoire ideas (all from within the last couple of years):

A List of Pop/Rock Musicals by Year

30 Days to a Better Book: Day 22 – The Rock Musical

Interview with Artist Sheri Sanders: ROCK THE AUDITION