View Full Version : Not Really A Big Deal, But...
Chad Thorne
Nov-27-2005, 5:38pm
I played mandolin in church today for the first time. (Just joined the worship band.) As is usually the case, the mando felt very elemental and spiritual in that context. That was for me. Others remarked after the service that they enjoyed hearing it. During the service my wife in the pew heard somebody say excitedly, "Oh. somebody's playing a mandolin!"
Not that I did anything fancy, just let the mando be the mando. I prefer it that way; keeps me from thinking that it's my phenomenal chops ( http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ) that are blessing people - "playing in the key of 'I'", as somebody said today.
Anyway, it was just a very positive mandolin-related experience and I wanted to pass it on...
thanks for passing on some positivity!
peace!
mrkrishna
Nov-27-2005, 6:17pm
Lots of fun. And both you and the people were blessed by it. Sounds mando-good to me. I felt the same way when that happened to me,but there was no internet to tell anybody...Kerry K
Dano Reible
Nov-27-2005, 6:24pm
I have had the same responce when I would play a fill in a song on my harmonica. I thought that people would not know what to think about the blues harmonica lick in the middle and end of the song but after church I must have had a dozen people go out of there way to tell me how much they love the harmonica.
Just goes to tell you that many times the player of an instrument is not the true recipiant of it's beauty.
chipotle
Nov-27-2005, 6:45pm
Thanks for posting that, I love to hear stories like that. My daughter plays guitar in church sometimes and it is a rewarding experience.
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD
Praise him with stringed instruments
Chad Thorne
Nov-27-2005, 7:39pm
I have had the same responce when I would play a fill in a song on my harmonica. I thought that people would not know what to think about the blues harmonica lick in the middle and end of the song but after church I must have had a dozen people go out of there way to tell me how much they love the harmonica.
Just goes to tell you that many times the player of an instrument is not the true recipiant of it's beauty.
Don't know what church denomination you attend, Dano, but there's a guy named Buddy Greene who plays harmonica with Bill Gaither, often showcased. Awesome harp player who manages to get the old-time religion in a song along with a little sanctified "stank" at the same time. You might want to check him out if you haven't heard him.
i play both mando and harp in the group at my temple, and was concerned as dano was about the harmonica, but got a similar response. though raised in a leaning toward orthodox home, i am not overly religious,(the participation in the group makes my wife happy as it assures my attendance without issue), but it is an uplifting experience to make music that adds to the joy of the community.
thanks for this thread chad!
Richard Russell
Nov-27-2005, 8:19pm
Ooohhh Glory!!! #Buddy Greene is my inspiration! #I'm a harmonica player and now learning mandolin. #I learned how to REALLY play by listening to Buddy Greene! #Had a chance to meet him and he's a wonderful guy with a great spirit. #If you want to hear a definitive version of Sally Goodin, check out Buddy and SAM BUSH just tearin' it up on his CD entitled "RUFUS"!!! #Lightning fast and totally inspiring for the mandolin player and harp player alike!
Keep playing at your church Chad! #People are blessed
by it! #By the way, I believe heaven will be full of mandolins and harmonicas!
Chad Thorne
Nov-27-2005, 8:39pm
Ooohhh Glory!!! #
This says everything about the church YOU attend, arrich!! #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #Except when I was a kid they pronounced "glow-ray!"...
PatrickH
Nov-27-2005, 10:09pm
I do the same thing in the worship team in my church and have had the same experience. It is great fun and people love it. The chop chords add to the rhythm section. I think it is the wave of the future!
WireBoy
Nov-28-2005, 12:27am
i sprinkle the mandolin and mandola into my church music group (when i'm not playing bass). 2 masses every sunday! and my wife plays guitar at the first mass (and my daughter runs the sound board!). they go home and then i play the second mass. after the second mass, i go home and they have breakfast ready!
Life is good!
stefeb
Nov-28-2005, 5:27am
What kind of music does your worship team do? Contemporay, country, blues, etc.
I've been wanting to approach our music director, but our music is on the border of black gospel/contemporary, and I'm not sure how the mando would fit in.
On the up tempo tunes, I think the mando would add a lot to the rhythm section, and on some of the slow tunes a tremelo would certainly fit.
It would be interesting to hear from you folks that do play in a church setting as to the style of music you play.
Thanks.
Chad Thorne
Nov-28-2005, 6:33am
Stefeb, I'd go for it. Just because mandolin is not routinely used in black gospel music doen't mean you can't do it, especially if you're hearing it. There was a time when steel guitar was not used in gospel, too...
My church plays a mix of "contemporary Christian" usually very guitar-friendly, and some more traditional hymns. Mandolin slides in there nicely, but, again, I say "innovate" if ya want to. Approach the director. Worst he can do is say no!
Chad Thorne
Nov-28-2005, 6:38am
i play both mando and harp in the group at my temple, and was concerned as dano was about the harmonica, but got a similar response. though raised in a leaning toward orthodox home, i am not overly religious,(the participation in the group makes my wife happy as it assures my attendance without issue), but it is an uplifting experience to make music that adds to the joy of the community.
thanks for this thread chad!
Ira, are you playing traditional songs at temple? Is there even an option of playing contemporary songs (please pardon my ignorance)? Insofar as I hear Jewish music as incorporating some of the modes/harmonies that are also heard in klezmer, I'd think a harmonica would sound wonderful in that context (of course, for what I'm hearing you'd probably need a chromatic harmonica)...
I have a friend, raised in an Orthodox home, who maintains that Jewish music and the blues have a lot in common. I don't think he's wrong.
blues and trad. jewish music do have alot in common- use of minors and 7ths is rampant, though the progressions and rythmic variations are often quite different. we do not play any klezmer music at present. more like folk music. we do alot of tunes created by debbie freedman and rabbi shlomo carlbach (spellings are prob. wrong), and currently working to create our own tune for a prayer., the lyrics with the exception of one song are prayers/psalms. i use diatonic/blues harps for my harmonica songs. its a real campy feel. we also do a couple of traditional melodies on some slow tunes on which i do lots of tremolo in concert with a flautist on which the guitar and bass do the background rythm- beautiful if i say so myself.
i agree about the harp in klezmer tunes. it could kinda take the place of the clarinet parts, and even some of the fiddle.
thanks for asking.:blues:
ps- re: the option of playing contemporary music. my temple is conservative, and technically should not have any instruments playing on sabbath services regardless of the tunes. our new rabbi is progressive and sees the makeup of our membership and therefore to the need to offer a variety of options for attendees. with the help of some like minded temple members, he convinced the lay leadership/ritual committee to try it. the agreement was music for a monthly kids service and once each month for a friday night service- a big deal for a conservative shul (yiddish for synagogue). it is now, by far, the best attended service outside of the high holy days! if there are any folks in the metrowest suburbs of boston who have interest, it is the 3rd friday of every month-7:45 at temple beth torah in holliston on route 16 near the milford border (i get to spend the 2nd friday each month at my open mike for a different kind of communal bonding!)
WireBoy
Nov-28-2005, 1:46pm
Stefab,
# the mando works great with other rythym guitars: #gives the strum pattern a high register sheen. #Mix up the strum pattern to counterpoint/accent with the guitars. #Tinkely tremelos on the 'holes' between verses and refrains are really nice. #For a refreshing change of tone, the mando takes over for the usual piano orguitar lead during an 'instrumental' verse. #its a cool tool to put in an ensemble. #
listen to a bit of Del Grosso to see how his blues chops could be applied to your gospel flavor.
I live in Indiana and have played old time gospel on mando at my church and received many compliments . The only time it was a bomb was when I played " Just a Closer Walk " using the version found in Jethro Burns book . Guess they weren't ready for that one . My conclusion is know the crowd.
I'll jump in as another mando player in a church worship band. The "band" came together about a yr and half or so a go. We have a bass player, a drummer, a piano/backup vocalist, an elect/acoustic/backup vocalist, a lead guitarist (elect and acoustic) who is the lead singer. I add mando, 12string acoustic guitar, some dobro/lap steel, and Irish tin whistle.
We do a variety of stuff from old timey hymns (eg: Old Rugged Cross), regular type hymns, more contemporary Christian stuff, some country (eg: Randy Travis' Three Wooden Crosses, etc). And it's all good.
Except for the lead, none of us are especially talented. But people are blessed. God uses the efforts to provide a more meaningful worship experience. What more could you ask for?
And the mando fits in a lot more places than one would think. You just need to be sensitive to the congregation and the makeup of your worship band. Sometimes when the piano player is out, I play 12 string instead of mando to add fullness, sometimes it's mando to add that high, tinkly sound to fill in for the missing piano. Just depends on what's going on.
But again, it's all about worship and not about any individual. It ain't a performance ...thank God! I can't think of a better situation to be in. Have fun and enjoy.
FredB
ps. It's my opinion that there will be A4's and F5's for all in Heaven #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Jackie Walters
Nov-30-2005, 3:03pm
Chad - That's what happens when you use the talents God has given to you for his glory! He blesses you for it.
2 Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole earth, looking for people whose hearts are perfect toward Him, so that He can show His great power in helping them...."
Keep up the good work there Chad..
Angelfire