Weeping Willow. Book 1, Chapter 22 of 23.

Chapter 22

Willow couldn’t help herself. She just had to laugh.

“I’ll say the same thing that the Head said when he suggested we add ‘Danse Macabre’ in May. That man!!! He’s not a person one would tell that he’s wrong, so we’ll just have to go with the flow. It will be a powerful concert, though. I’ll have to go to the Cathedral to rehearse before the show. I could perfect it here on our organ, but there are more options on theirs.”

“That will be all right. I think that he just likes hearing you play.”

“What if I said that I couldn’t do it?”

“Too late. It’s already up on the two websites. Dates, times and prices. It will be released to the media tomorrow, and the Head has arranged for you to miss a class if they want to interview you.”

Gina came over as he left.

“What was that about?”

“Oh, just a slight variation of the show. The Bishop has decided that I’m playing the Bach ‘Toccata’ before the Beethoven ‘Ninth’, I think that he was miffed that his organ didn’t star in the main event.”

“That will be fantastic. How are you going to work it?”

“Rehearse on the chapel organ with Reg Edwards, then have a session on the big one before the show. I suppose that the teachers have already written up the dates. Anyway, we’ll get some time to sort out the pop concert and the party. Hold on, I’ve got an idea.”

She went over to where the teachers were talking.

“Excuse me, but can I make a suggestion?”

“Certainly, Willow. What is it.”

“Why can’t we put one of the second team clarinet players in my seat, and I just concentrate on the organ. That means, if Mister Edwards will stay late, I can work on my opening in the chapel, instead of having to make extra time.”

“Excellent idea. I’ll talk to him in the morning and let you know at lunch. Are you sure that you want to give up the chance of being part of the orchestra for the ‘Ninth’?”

“I am part of the orchestra, sir. I just played it twice. It’s not as if I’m unreplaceable.”

“We’ll let you know tomorrow.”

Willow went and picked up her clarinet and the two girls followed the others out of the theatre. She had Geoff’s number on her phone and called him to say that the band would be rehearsing the next week. On the way home, they discussed the way that their final month of the term had been arranged, with Gina mentioning that there would be exams as well.

Wednesday, at lunch, Miss Russell came to their table and told Willow that her idea would be followed, and for her to go to the chapel after the last lesson. When she arrived there, she found Reg Edwards at the organ, playing some Bach. She put her bag down and he stopped playing.

“Willow Rose, church organist to the stars! We have a lot to show you, things that you need to know to make your ‘Toccata’ sparkle. Come and sit down and we will start.”

He got off the seat and she went and sat at the keyboard.

“I want you to play the piece but stop when I tap you on the shoulder. I’ll then show you a stop or a setting that enhances the music. Firstly, we will go through the process of setting the second set of keys to another octave and talking through the whole composition to discover when it’s better. Although you can now play it on one keyboard, two is better.”

For some time, Willow ‘spoke’ the composition, note by note, and he showed her where she could make changes. It was her first time in really pulling apart some music and tracing the bones underneath. When she did play, it was a much better sound, and easier as well. Instead of having to move her hands further along the keys, she could just play the other set. When she ended the ‘Fugue’, she looked at Reg.

“So, everyone has been telling me how good I am, yet I was sounding like a beginner.”

“Just the opposite, Willow. You have been playing the organ like a piano, and that is hard to do. What we have worked on will let you have the room to add things of your own as you play. You’ve seen the number of stops and the four keyboards in the Cathedral. Now, you’ll have time to experiment, if you get the chance.”

She played the ‘Toccata and Fugue’ again, now able to sit more upright without any difference to the music.

“You realise that I should have bought a waterfall keyboard for home use.”

“Your Yamaha has an input for a second keyboard. It doesn’t cost a lot because all you get are the keys. The alterations are made with the original controls. All you need as an extra is a different stand.”

“What about the four keyboards at the Cathedral?”

“I’ll come with you and show you tricks with those. We’ll organise a visit before you have a proper rehearsal with the orchestra there.”

At the end of the session, she went and joined Gina to go and wait for Maisie. They compared notes as they waited. When she was home, she turned on her computer and researched plug-in keyboards and different stands.

That weekend, it was her turn at the church, now knowing a lot more than before. The hymn playing didn’t sound any different but was less work. The arrival and departure music had an extra feeling, though. She spent a lot of her weekend researching dance music and creating a file of numbers for the party at the club. She spoke to Malcolm, and they agreed that the party would replace the sing-along in December.

That weekend also saw a change at home. A truck arrived on Saturday morning with dismantled crates on, and her father spent the weekend re-assembling them into a rudimentary shed, then covered it with a tarpaulin. Now they had somewhere to put all the items from the spare room and an invitation was extended to Wendy’s parents.

Wendy went off to a furniture store and arranged for a bedroom suite to be delivered the following Saturday morning. She also went on-line and ordered two tickets for the Friday pop concert, and four for the Saturday, when her parents would be with them. She also ordered four tickets for the Cathedral concert. She knew that her parents would be happy to sight-see during the week. They had been invited to stay until the New Year, and she started to stock up with packets and tins to see them through.

The following week was busy for Willow and Gina. On Tuesday Willow played the organ in the morning service, now using both keyboards. Gina had the rehearsal with the orchestra in the afternoon, while Reg Edwards took Willow into Coventry City and the Cathedral. There, she was given better understanding of the organ and played the ‘Toccata and Fugue’ twice, before being taken back to the school in time to be picked up with Gina.

Wednesday, when they went to the theatre, the orchestra set-up had been removed, and the stage now had the amplifiers, drums, and two Yamahas on stage. There were lads putting the seating back in place, without any space for dancing.

“Looks as if we have a full house, Friday.”

“Actually, Geoff, we have a full house on Saturday as well. Miss Russell told me, at lunch, that they could have started a third show.”

“Is that right, Gina? So, we’ll be playing the show to three thousand over the two shows, that’s insane!”

The five boys got up on the stage, while the others sat in the body of the hall. Willow went and sat at a mixing desk to monitor the sound levels, with Mister Jamieson manning the slides.

The first half of the show was as good as ever, then they swapped over, with Brent and his friends taking their place, while Alec stood with his flute and the girls took their places at the keyboards. Willow saw that the one that she was to use now had a plug-in second tier. She experimented with the switching and then declared herself ready and playing her intro to ‘Dawn’.

They had the voice multipliers, and the sound was better than they had been able to produce in the confines of the rehearsal room. As she played, she could see several teachers, not wanting to go home, standing with the Head. They worked through the set, and she saw Maisie come in to listen. She smiled as she saw them all swaying as they played ‘Nights’.

When they finished, they turned off the equipment and made ready to go home. Reg was still there and spoke to Willow.

“What did you think of the addition?”

“It was great, was it new?”

“The Head approved it Monday. I think that she wants you to get totally immersed in being a concert organist, considering what you’ll be doing in a weeks’ time. It was a drop in the ocean, considering what this show is going to make for the school. She said that there will be another thousand copies of the CD, and five hundred of the DVD, for sale at the show. I believe that the Cathedral has sold half the tickets for the Friday and is close to being sold out for Saturday. A little bird told me that the BBC will be recording both nights for the classic music station.”

“That’s ---- amazing?”

“That’s the power of a renowned venue and an interesting pre-Christmas offering. If he’s anything, the Bishop is a canny showman.”

On Thursday, the classes were more revision than teaching, with the exams coming up in a week. The girls needed to concentrate on the academic side of schooling, for a change. Friday was the last music lesson for the year, and they watched the video of the first half of the show, then discussed how songs of pain had become entertainment. Wendy took the girls home, where they had quick meals, and changed for their show. The outfits were to be the same as the previous show, the blue dresses, with the boys in black slacks and blue shirts.

The Roses picked up Maisie and Gina in the company car to go back to the school. When they arrived, it was busy. They parked and the adults went through the ticketed entry, while Gina and Willow went backstage, to find the rest of both bands tuning up together. While they waited, Willow sat with Alec.

“Are your parents coming to see you?”

“Dad’s here tonight, and Mum’s bringing me tomorrow, if he deems the show worthy of her attention.”

“That’s harsh.”

“It’s better than I expected. I thought that they may just refuse to let me be here.”

A stagehand popped his head in and said it was five minutes to the start. Blue Two stood in line to give Blue One hi-fives as they left to set up. Alec and Willow followed, with Brent and Gina behind them, to stand in the wings and see the sort of audience they would have. Tonight, the Head did the honours of welcoming everyone and introduce ‘Blue One, and a set of Blues music!’ The two couples looked out through the curtains, to see a full house, with a lot of their schoolfriends with their parents. Zara was in the front row and smiling at Geoff as he played. Jim had become fluid on the keyboard. Willow glanced over at Gina, to see her standing with Brent behind her, hands on her hips and his head on her hair. She smiled and then felt Alec copy the action. She leaned back into him and relived their times together.

As the set neared its end, the two couples went back to the room and interrupted the guys’ discussion on whether United or City were the better team. When the others had played the encore, the curtains were closed and they came down, put their instruments in the cases, then left to mingle. They all had seats saved for them for the second half.

Blue Two went up to the stage to make sure everything was ready to go, then stood around with bottles of water while they waited for the audience to return. The only ones with any nerves were the three who had never played in public before. The other four soothed them, saying that it would be exactly the same as Wednesday afternoon.

They were in their places, and ready to go, when the Head came back on stage to introduce ‘Blue Two, to play songs of the Moody Blues. No-one, in this group, is yet fourteen, and exude so much talent. I give you Blue Two!’

As the curtains opened, Willow played the first notes of ‘Dawn’, and all their worries and fears evaporated as they saw a full house of expectant faces, waiting to be entertained. When they got to ‘Nights’, they had entranced the audience, who were swaying in their seats. The section with the flute and bass, near the end, was played to a crowd collectively holding their breath. As the final chord played the place erupted. They took the bows and then the Head came back on stage and beckoned for quiet.

“I do have an announcement to make. We still have a few CDs and DVDs to sell. Now, there are members of this band who will be appearing in a concert, next week, at the Cathedral. It will be a little different, with one of tonight’s organists playing the Bach ‘Toccata and Fugue’ on their organ, while the rest will be part of the Blue Coat Orchestra and playing the ‘Beethoven Ninth’, the ‘Choral’. It should be a memorable concert. Thank you for coming, and a safe journey home.”

She backed up as the curtains closed and went around to give every member of the band a hug, telling them that she was proud of them. They switched everything off, and the boys put their guitars in their cases. Then they went off to find their rides home, although that took a while as many wanted to talk to them about the show.

When Willow was able to leave, with her parents, she realised that she wasn’t as tired as usual, and kept up her part of the conversation as they drove.

…………………………………..

In a pub, not far from the school, Artie was waxing lyrical about what he and his partner had just seen.

“I tell you, Zac, those kids are a gold mine, treated properly. Both halves of that show was good enough to tour the country!”

He could have saved his breath. Zac was texting a friend of his who booked classical concerts. He was getting tired of ferrying drunk teenage bands around and was certainly not going to try and poach a bunch of thirteen-year-olds, no matter how good they were. He had been talking to his friend about joining him for months. This concert in the Cathedral would be a chance for him to show some class, for a change. He would get tickets, on-line, in the morning.

……………………………………………

On Saturday morning, Willow walked over to the church to check the hymns. The Reverend was there, sweeping, as usual.

“Good morning, young Willow. Smashing show last night, it brought back a lot of memories. I tried to get tickets for tonight, but it was all booked out. I did buy the DVD.”

“You’ll find that a little different. It has Gina on the organ for the blues, and the same band for both halves. We re-organised it since the DVD was shot.”

“Maisie told me, last night, that you’ll be playing here until into January. She’s taking Gina to the South of France for a holiday as soon as school breaks up.”

“That’s right. I have my grandparents staying with us. They’ll arrive this afternoon, hopefully after the bedroom suite is delivered. She will be in the Cathedral for the concert, and in the Club for the party, then off to the sun. I said that I would sit in to give her time to pack.”

“The hymns are on the organ. I’ll just potter around. I did manage to get some tickets for Friday night’s concert. It will be interesting to hear you on the organ.”

“We are all going in, by coach, on Thursday, to set up and do a single rehearsal. We’ve all been excused lessons for the day. It’s mainly revision so we won’t miss much. It’s hard to believe that I’ve only been in that school a term; so much has happened.”

She went up to the organ, started the fans, and played the intro and first verse of the hymns. When she switched off, she went back to the Reverend.

“What have you got planned for Christmas?”

“I’ve got time to advertise a carol session, if you want to play for it. The last Sunday before the Holy period. Then, we can do a big Christmas service, with hymns and carols. I’m in your hands, Willow. Say the word and I’ll fill the yuletide with things to sing about.”

“You have the word, Reverend. I’m not going anywhere.”

She walked home with a smile on her face. In all the hustle and bustle, there was a place of rest and quiet with walking distance. She had the idea that her grandparents will enjoy their stay.

At home, the suite had arrived and had been set up in the spare bedroom. She helped Wendy make up the bed with all new sheets and blankets, then helped Ashley collect up all the plastic and foam packaging to hide in the ‘shed’ until they could get rid of it. Her grandparents arrived after lunch and were settled in, with a lot of hugging and chatter. Willow joined in until she needed to get ready for the show, then went upstairs to shower and dress. When she arrived downstairs, her grandmother saw her earrings and necklace and smiled.

She was picked up by Maisie and Gina, and they went to the steakhouse for a quick meal before going to the school. Gina was excited to be in the second show and was starting to think about her holiday.

At the school, they went backstage and spoke to the others that had arrived. As Blue One was getting ready, Willow went and peeked through the curtain, seeing her parents and grandparents out there. She also saw the Bishop in the front row, with several of his team.

She ducked back down to the room as the Head came out on stage to introduce the first part of the show. She sipped water as they waited, then went up to the stage as the others came down. Tonight, Blue One was going to mingle during the break, and then leave. They had a group hug as the boys left the backstage area, then went up to make sure that their set was ready to go.

A couple of minutes before the start, they were all in position and a lot less stressed than last night. The Head came out on stage and made the introductions and then they were off again, into a Moody World. At the end of the nominal last song, there was calls for an encore, with several of the audience standing for them. Willow spoke.

“Thank you for coming along to hear Blue One and Blue Two tonight. Of course, we can’t end a Moody Blues concert without the best song of all. Feel free to sway all you like, and sing along if you want.”

She started the first notes of ‘Nights’, and they took it easily and smoothly to the end, with the flute and bass section bringing tears to her eyes. This was likely the last time Alec would be in a band with her, unless there was a drastic change. He had stayed diplomatically apart from her, so she thought that his mother was in the audience. When they ended the song, there were cheers and much applause, until the Head came back and announced the concert, next weekend.

After the curtains had closed, they turned everything off and went to mingle with anyone who had stayed. Her parents stood back as her grandmother engulfed her.

“You took me back to my youth, tonight. I felt as if I was watching the band at Yarmouth.”

As they stood there, the Head came over with the Bishop.

“Another tour de force, Willow and Gina. I’m glad that we didn’t have to wait until next year to see this show.”

“I agree, that was the best show of its type that I’ve seen in years. The two keyboards were masterful. You must be Gina, who doubles with Willow at the church.”

“I am, Bishop. Next weekend I’m just a lowly triangle player in the orchestra.”

“Everyone has their place, child, a grain of sand is only small, but many create a lovely beach. Now, introduce me.”

Wendy took over and introduced her parents to the Bishop, telling him that they had tickets to the Cathedral. After a bit of chat, he went off to circulate. The two girls were starting to droop, so they all left the school, Willow between her grandparents in the back seat of the company car.

“So, daughter of mine. When were you going to tell me that you’re of speaking terms with the Bishop of Coventry?”

Wendy laughed.

“It was all too recent to tell you, Mum. We had lunch with him last Sunday. Willow played the organ for the morning service and Evensong. We were at the Cathedral from before ten to nearly six. It was an interesting day. He took the service at our church, the week before. We go regularly, now that Willow is a regular organist there.”

Her mother looked at her granddaughter, who had her head on her shoulder and sleeping, quietly. Life, she thought, produced miracles, sometimes, and it had come up trumps in her grandchild.

Sunday morning, the five of them walked to the church as the bells started.

“This is such a nice village. Almost out of a TV series, without any murders.”

“And no mad clergymen, Mum.”

The Reverend was waiting outside and greeted them, being introduced as Willow slipped into the church to start playing. She had slept well, last night, safe in the knowledge that the shows had been a hit. Today was her time to relax and unwind. She watched the mirror as people arrived, grinning as she saw Christopher and Marie come in, to go up to Wendy and Ashley and sit with them in the pew. If her grandparents had been shocked to meet the Bishop, they may have difficulty in meeting a Baron.

The service was all as usual until Reverend Russell was about to leave. He turned to the congregation.

“Good people. It’s late notice, but, as you know, next Saturday week is the Christmas party in the Club. For those of you able to wake up on the Sunday, we will have a later service, followed by an afternoon of carol singing, with Willow leading us on the organ. I’ll post up Christmas service times by then.”

He then turned to leave, and Willow started playing as the bells started. When she went outside, there were still a few chatting, but the cold had driven most away. The Baron and his wife were talking to the Roses and Wendy’s parents. Willow managed to go to Gina.

“How are you, friend?”

“I was tired after the two shows but feel really good now. We did well, didn’t we?”

“We did very well. I expect that the school has made a good profit with two full houses and more discs sold. The next week should be interesting.”

“If it’s anything like last year, it will be exams and some off-time to revise. We will be having the last rehearsal in the theatre on Tuesday, and I believe that we will have a group to knock into shape for the party. At least we should have about four or five hours to get it right. If it doesn’t work, the two of us can hold the fort.”

“I’ve put together a list of numbers. I’ll give it to Mister Bamborough tomorrow morning to see how many the school has the sheet music for. That should give us a solid base for the party. Are you coming to the club this afternoon?”

“Yes. I’ll be in my oldest stuff and will grab a mask from our old COVID supplies. Mum told me that some of the church ladies have been there with brooms, mops, and vacuums, so it should be better.”

Marianne Gregory © 2025