I have been subbing for the organist in our ward for the past few weeks, something I always enjoy doing. Our ward chorister has a habit of choosing some of the more obscure hymns, which also tend to be the ones that are more difficult to play. Today, I put up the hymn numbers on the little board and looked over the hymns before beginning to play prelude. Listed as the opening hymn was #11 'Twas Witnessed in the Morning Sky, a hymn I have never heard before. As I started playing it, I realized that not many people were singing. I attributed this to people not knowing the hymn, like me, and I preceded to pump up the volume to compensate for the lack of singing.
After the hymn was over, the conducting member of the bishopric stood up and apologized to the congregation for the hymn, which he said was actually hymn #12. It was only after I looked back up to my music that I realized that I had played the wrong hymn! I had no idea, and I wouldn't have known if he hadn't said anything. Hymn #11 is "What Was Witnessed in the Heavens?". Oops!
5 comments:
If it weren't for your post, I would have thought the Chorister made the mistake of listing the wrong hymn number. It all turned out fine...I caught on with verse two!
Too funny! That sounds like something I would do. :-)
That's awesome. I'm glad it's not just me. Once I accidentally started playing the Sacrament hymn for the opening hymn. I played the first line of "I Stand All Amazed" before I realized my mistake and started over again.
Actually, the lyrics for the two hymns didn't seem to be so different until about the third line. I did just fine with #11 until then! I had to laugh when I read this, I thought that #12 was the real one all along! Had I been playing and realized what was happening, I probably would have burst into tears and run from the chapel never to return - props for keeping your cool!!
Oh, I am so glad that I am not the ward organist.
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