What A Large Organ

I love to cry at weddings,
How I love to cry at weddings
I walk into a chapel and get happily hysterical,
The ushers and attendants,
The family dependants,
I see them and I start to sniff,
Have you an extra handkerchief?
And all through the service
While the bride and groom look nervous
Tears of joy are streaming down my face.
I love to cry at weddings, anybody's wedding
Any time, anywhere, anyplace!

[from Sweet Charity - Dorothy Fields & Cy Coleman]

Particularly in glamorous ski resorts, like Morzine, where I played a gigantic organ for my friend’s wedding in June. It was a terrifying first, having never played an organ for actual live people at an actual wedding. I was told by the bride it was a little organ and the church was like normal church sized. I got there and it was enormous. It was an ancient, three manuals and pedals affair, with hundreds of pipes. Altogether, the thing was the size of a house. Incredible to play, but some pipes were out of tune. Once I got to grips with the stops and levers and things, it went really well, but the idea that I could totally ruin the biggest day of my friend’s life loomed solidly throughout. Thankfully I didn’t, and I think I’m up for some more playing of the merry organ in the future, it was a nice challenge.

On other fronts, The Puppy That Ate Christmas received a very warm response at the rehearsed read-through. Funded in part by the Arts Council, New Writing South and the New Vic Workshop, it was a brilliant opportunity to see the piece on its feet and find out what works and what doesn’t. Thanks to a brilliant cast, directed by the wonderful Ed Burnside, the musical came to life in a way none of us expected. The writer Andrew G Marshall and I have since been busy with a few re-writes and new music and the next step is to get these demoed and into workshop. Then on with a small development production, then when it’s finished probably a full pro run for Christmas 2010. It’s very exciting seeing your work performed by other people. Scary, but exciting.

I’ve just had a gander at the proposed track list for the next potential Disney Sing It release and holy-moly it’s brilliant! I can’t say any more or I’ll be in trouble but just name your favourite Disney animated movie and you’re on the right lines. Super exciting stuff.

Meanwhile, Jamm World has moved lock-stock to a new home on the coast. Having gone through the house-selling-buying hell we’ve finally come out the other side with a beautiful house right on the seafront on Telscombe Cliffs, just along from Brighton. Ripping it apart and renovating the whole thing top to bottom is of course taking all our time and money but it’ll be worth it in the end. This very morning, before work, I tore out a unit from the kitchen to make room for the dishwasher, tomorrow I’ll be plumbing in a sink upstairs, window man’s replacing three windows Sunday, plasterer Monday morning, plumber moving gas things Monday, sparky coming Tuesday for some rewiring, there’s a queue of tradesmen out the door. But once they’re done, each room will be a bit closer to being ready for decorating, and that’s the fun bit.

Also thinking of making a little addition to the family soon, one with paws and a waggily tail….

Tarra for now x