My wife attends our local Anglican church. She's not particularly religious but finds it comforting, especially in current times.
Like most UK churches they have moved from traditional Victorian/Edwardian hymns to more gospel praise and worship type songs, although they do bang out some trad hymns on the organ. Mostly it's acoustic guitar, piano and flute.
The vicar heard that I play or rather am learning to play the sax and asked if I would like to join them occasionally! I am an atheist or possibly an agnostic but don't have an issue with those who believe and don't object to playing for a church congregation.
Thinking hard about this. Am I 'good' enough (won't have a full band to cover my mistakes!), is a sax 'appropriate' and if so would tenor or alto be a better voice?
It's been suggested that 'Cornerstone' might be a good start. It's in C maj so D or A major on sax. Nothing too complex, less so than many of the jazz standards I've been playing recently. It would be a different direction for me but might enhance my repertoire and performing skills.
Any thoughts appreciated.
(As an aside, a gentleman turned up at last week's rehearsal. Sat in but didn't play anything. Thought he was a relative or friend of a band member. Turns out he is the vicar from our local church. He plays flute, studied music at uni and is interested in joing our band! His wife (guitarist) said he was very impressed by the band and musical abilities, better than he thought an amateur band would be).
Hi @cappers,
I think it would be good experience to play with a smaller ensemble! I have no idea what or how the current ensemble plays: purely as a 'backing musicians' for songs sung by worshippers and/or musical interludes prior to, during or following the service.
'Cornerstone' sounds like a great song to 'join in' with. Not too difficult, with examples on YouTube and sheer music on Musescore.
FWIW, I found playing sax in a smaller (rock/pop) band different to playing in a community (Big) band in that:
- I had to think more about how my sax could 'add something' to existing songs and instruments
- one of the ways was to provide occasional short 'fills' in breaks between (or during) vocal lines; often just one or two notes
- another is to play longer (softer) tones to give extra support to a chorus, a crescendo, etc.
- and of course playing solos (which in my band often alternate with other soloists); flute? piano?
One the things I learned was to listen to the 'dynamic shape' of songs. Was it the same volume throughout? Or was there a gradual build up to a crescendo (before taping off to quieter ending)? So I learned that it often sounded better when I 'joined in' (with fills or extra support) during, starting from, for example, verse/chorus 2 or 3. Then the sax became an 'added instrument'.
Hope this helps! But all depends on what and how the current ensemble plays. And where/how you can 'add' sax.
Mike
PS. I'm an exclusive tenor player so I have no idea whether a tenor or alt (or both) fits in best with the repertoire.
(bottom of page)
