I then sat down and played the theme from Scheherazade and asked if anyone knew it.

I remember hearing this in my childhood which was not particularly well informed artistically. The old guitar playing smoker whom I often greet in the halls said in a critical growl, “Days of our lives!”

I take it he didn’t like it. Undaunted I reminded them of the story of Scheherazade (“Arabian nights”) and then identified and played the themes for the princes and the prince.

Without a comment I launched into “Habanera” from Carmen.

I was winning them over. After identifying Bizet to the audience I played “The Syncopated Clock” by Leroy Anderson.

I figure it’s a Lawrence Welk type tune and would amuse them.

I finished off with a Reader Digest’s version (literally I was playing from one of those Reader Digest’s anthologies) of Rhapsody in Blue.

Then I launched into a series of popular songs, then finished up with hymns. By the time we were done many were singing along. If you ever need an ego boost this is a good volunteer gig. The people who are coherent (about half?) are lavish in their praise.

Earlier in the day I cut orchestral sections of the Bach cantata movement in my rehearsal. I figured out I took out about one fourth of the piece and didn’t remove any of the choral sections. This should make this a bit more appropriate for use in my situation.

I received the organ demonstrator pieces I ordered in the mail. At first glance they don’t look terribly exciting. I will play through them and hope that the music sounds better than it looked.

Having an 8:30 AM class curtails the lazy mornings I like to get up early and enjoy. Gotta skate.

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