Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-13
Learning the
Anthem

"say sill you play This solo part
over for me?" asked the tenor, as he
hastily threw off his hat and overcoat
and nlaced his music in front OF the
oreanisl. lust give me my pitch.
please. ;,
"lm sorry. but ] cant play it now,
rsnliad the organist. You're nearly
half an hour late and we've got to get
through all these hymns, besides the
anthem. You should have come ear
lier." He closed the music IN front
CT him.
"Grouch!" mutteri the tenor. as he
took the music and sat down with the
rest of the choir.
"Say" he whispered TO the soprano.
III We don't get Z new orsanist pretty
soon they'll have TO get Il new tenor.
I'm tired Of being sal upon by thac
fellow"
We'll. but you knew. We do have 10
practice .he anthem" said me so
orano land what's the use OF our SIT
ting here, listening 10 your SOLO. Wien
We might as well be getting real prac-
tice done"
! The tenor moved over nearer me
bass and muLtGred bis grievance.
Yes" agreed the bass. he sure Is
tha limit, WHY. | called him up the
other night aud asked him to cone out
and rlav over some OF my songs--lilst
little social call. yoll know. Well
he snapped cut that he charged 5" an
hour for accompanying people: lie
| bass ralaps+-l into bitter thoughts.
We'll. what did you expect" asked
tho >nnrano Did YOU think lie would
20 out simply TO practice win you. fof
| the mere pleasure 0f it? ID nave
| CHARGED Ten. assure you.
.Cnrne on. Dow. il you're going 10
practice" ordered the drsanlst brliiE.
| erenilv. Nov. follow ynnr music. ana
I all come IL on tI,- FIRST Deal. lie
| played the opening chords.
/ "lNbaI on rarih'a The matter?' ne
exclaimed. disgusltdIy. why don
! you come In? There are four beats
I and on the NTH every one or y""
come. IN, Now. try aGain. AMI see II
ruu can count -FOUR. AE"'n lie played
/ he chords.
"Oh. Just a minute" interrupted the
! soprano What Is my note? | never
/ can Yer the right p!lch. Hit ny note
when you play lhe opening "h"Fa
/ Iouder than tti. rest will :ru? she
! btained upon the orSanist.
"Now. ser here" exclaimed the or
canist. Il gave every one or you Il
copv 0f this tI!as Ia practice II
nnnir Yntt. AL nurhi TO knoM i Ills
note louder than another in the first
chord! no you suppose my playing
doesn't matter al all, just 50 YOU reo-
PIE do jus, 81 lil;la work aa you cam
| and he i1Tn,ad III The organ.
oh. we'll II Vun don't want 10 be
! obliging." The sopranos voice @as
/ acornlll
The bass ana the tenor laughed
Serves her right" said the TENOR. sot
to Voc. Tor siding with him IN the
| first place.
/ Now, one, Two. three. fonr. sing!
! counted th-: urSuiiiSL at the top or his
! lungs. Us he played The chords once
| more.
An awful crash OF voices rent the
/ air The organist flung ont his hands
! In diSn1ar. Now. what Is the mat
ter?" he Numbered.
Il believe thu! was my fault" MUIR
| mured The little COntraitO. Il was
/ thinking this was another anthem
| that kno@ By heart. ard started TO
| sing shat, don't believe know this
one. | wasn't here last Sunday. Yes.
you mailed ne copy. but didn't
have. time 10 90 over IT, Won't yon
please play my part over couple or
times? Then I'll know 1t. and Wen
gel along all right. All the others
know their parts" She stepped up to
the organ confidently.
1T is Mo~ ten minutes OF g. said
the organst. looking at his wtach.
Just fifty minutes OF our hour are up.
and at !:l1 have an engagement. DO
y6n SUPPOSE that | can w2sta the re-
manning ten minutes OH You. when
we've got this whole anthem TO learn!
You sit down and listen and the rest
OF ys, get busy now"
He Strengthened ont tbs music and
lifted lis hands 10 strike the first
chord
"Oh. Say, Wen never learn this one"
snld the bass. Lets try over one or
The old ones. and take this one up for
n.xt week. The people wont know
the difference. and wei murder this