My first church position...well...

Roswell Mill

I don't go back that far in Roswell...

Canton Street in Historic Roswell today

But I remember when this was Gene and Gabes the Lodge Italian Restaurant and it was originally the Masonic Lodge in 1870. And I remember being told that there was a movie theatre in that block as well. There was also Feckoury's store, Doris' barbershop... and the sheriff's office....oh no, that was in Mayberry.

Barber shop?

This is where I got my hair cut. It's just down the sidewalk from the previous picture. And Coke was a nickel from the machine! With all of us, Roswell has changed.

But I promised something about my first church position. Of course my first church position was volunteer! I was the pianist for children's church at Roswell Presbyterian Church and the method was "stump the pianist." There was no pre-selected list of songs or Order of Worship. The leader, Miz Mac, took song/hymn requests and I played them, mostly by heart. Trial by fire. I was about twelve.

Roswell Youth Day Parade - Presbyterian Church Float

Of course, like many other young organists-to-be I would take any gig I could get. Here I am atop the Roswell Presbyterian Church Youth Day Parade float pumping away on the church's old reed organ!

The Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America purchased the property at the corner of Elkins Road and Alpharetta Highway from my grandmother for the site of their new church in 1973. That church was called Cross of Life. Folklore has it that Grandma sold the property to a church so no liquor store could be built nearby.

Grandma's house. Church was to the left.

My first paying position was summer substitute organist at Cross of Life, I was fourteen. It was practically on our property - I could walk to work! (We lived next door to Grandma)

The organ was a Baldwin spinet. It had two half keyboards and thirteen short pedals. Not the grandest of beginnings but there you have it. 

Baldwin Spinet Organ

In the late 80's the church sold the building and property (in a sweet deal) to a developer and moved around the corner to Hembree Road. By the way, no more Baldwin spinet, there is a two manual Moeller pipe organ in the current Sanctuary. 

Next time...my first brush with the Methodists.

Organ Studies in High School

In the 10th grade I began organ studies with William Weaver. Lessons were in his home on his mechanical action pipe organ built by the Dutch organ builder Flentrop. (See picture below)

Mr. Weaver trained at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he became quite an expert on the Method of Organ Playing by Harold Gleason. The book's author was the chair of the organ department at Eastman.  

Before studying with Mr. Weaver I was trained using the Complete Organ Method by John Stainer. The big difference between the methods is their approach to keyboard technique, both for the manuals (hands) and the pedals (hoofs). I had a lot to unlearn.

Mr. Weaver often said all I really needed was a self-correcting pedal board!

Mom drove me to most lessons and sat on the sofa reading a book, knitting, (giggling?) and sipping coffee for those very influential lessons.

In addition to being a fine organist and teacher, Mr. Weaver was an artist. He was a weaver, did needle point, and mosaics. The home was full of his artwork.

Flentrop Organ in home of Bill Weaver and Doug Johnson
Special thanks to Dr. Johnson for sharing this picture with me.

This is a terrific picture of Doug Johnson, Bill Weaver's husband of 50+ years, on the bench of the Flentrop in their living room. It's a guess, but knowing that Mr. Weaver was a weaver, I assume he created the rug in this shot as well. 

If you've gotten an email from me it was probably signed "Simple Village Organist." I stole that title from Mr. Weaver. I like to think that I am carrying on a tradition that to me means "organist without attitude."

For the first masterclass I ever played in (age 15), I rode the bus down to Georgia State University concert hall with Mr. Weaver. I played a movement of a  Suite for Organ by Cleambault, and the clinician was Robert Glasgow. Mr. Weaver introduced me as the Fireman from Roswell, G-A. Some things you just never forget.

GSU Kopleff Recital Hall
Moeller Pipe Organ (3 manuals)
Not sure where the console is!

Next post I will talk about my beginnings as a church organist and choir director.