Vrystaat Confessions

Tag: organist

  • Methodist Organ Grinders

    Methodist Organ Grinders

    I often say My Mom Mary played the organ in the Harrismith Methodist Church for a hundred years and I had to go to church twice every Sunday for all those years and more.

    I exaggerate.

    Her predecessor, Uncle Wright Liddell actually played for longer than she did, and he was the organist for sixty three years. I’m not sure how long Mom was. A guess: Uncle Wright died in 1967, so it was before that that he pulled Mary aside and said I want you to take over from me. So if Mary played and sang from ’67 to ’97 it was thirty years. I must ask her.

    Here’s Uncle Wright when he was little – out at Witsieshoek at a wedding. He’s the liddellest Liddell seated on the steps front right.

    The pic is from the lovely story of the Cronjes of Witsieshoek. Mom always spoke of Corrie and Len Cronje. Corrie’s daughter Liz Groves-Finnie has written the family story. If you want to read it, write to her at lizfinnie@gmail.com – she’ll tell you where you can read it.

    ~~oo0oo~~

  • Chopin Mom Used to Play – Nocturne E Flat Major Op.9 No.2

    Chopin Mom Used to Play – Nocturne E Flat Major Op.9 No.2

    No.6 of Mom’s Chopin repetoire – played at night on the Bentley upright while we lay in bed listening down the other end of the long passage. Sometimes she would practice her hymns for Sundays – she played the organ at the Harrismith Methodist church for a hundred-odd years – sister Sheila christened her ‘Mary Methodist’ cos o’ that. Other times were not as classical, nor as holy – that would be when friends gathered round the piano full of smoke and booze and belted out popular tunes with various degrees of talent.

    Thanks again to the pianist standing in for Mary now that she’s 91 and can no longer read her sheet music. She still plays, but only her favourite popular tunes ‘off by heart.’

    In the comments Sheila informs me it was a Venning – probably mischievous Barbara – who first christened her Mary Methodist. Well, it stuck!

    ~~oo0oo~~