Assignment Earth

Dr. John Campbell died Wednesday, March 4, 2009 (my brother’s birthday).   At the time of this writing, tomorrow (March 7), will be the anniversary of John’s service last year.  And on this, the eve before, we are about to celebrate my brother’s 40th birthday at dinner.

John was a colleague of my Dad’s at Hardin Simmons, a professor of mine, and frequent collaborator on many a wedding and church service.  John Campbell was a great musician.   I have good memories, mostly of the performances we did together.

I remember during my piano proficiency Dr. Campbell asked me, “do you need to warm up before you start?” Copping a bit of an attitude (it was my second or third time taking the proficiency) I said,( probably a bit flippantly), “I don’t know how to warm up on piano”. To which he good naturedley said, ” Well, Who does really?”

I remember once he and I had to play “The Royal Fireworks” for a wedding.   The music was transcribed by the groom who was a bit haughty and snooty. Since he had played trumpet in high school he took on the task of picking and arranging the music himself.   He evidently didn’t know his rules of transposition very well as he transposed the organ part two steps down instead of trasnsposing my part part one step up.  We didn’t discover this until the night of the rehearsal.  While it was going through my head if I could work to that new key John closed his eyes, paused for just a moment, and said “I got it”, and reworked his part on the spot. That’s a pro.  That’s a gift.   That’s a musician.

There’s a reason my Dad really respected him so much. (My Dad could be a little snooty himself).

The above picture is at Hardin Simmons Logsdon Chapel during a Sunday morning service he and I played there.  Dr. Campbell and I also played the very first wedding held there, I think in ’91.  They didn’t even have a real organ at the time.  I think the bride requested something ridiculous like the Widor Toccata.  Yes, I think it was the ‘Widor’.  They had set up a, – not even full size keyboard, with no pedals for the involved pedal work that piece requires.  I remember him just shrugging his shoulders and going ahead best he could.  Two yrs later we both played the very first wedding there with the newly installed (real, and full size…pedals and all) organ. I take pride in both of those things and having done them with John Campbell.

I think of that, and him, every time I go to Abilene and drive past the chapel with that great window.

Here’s to John Campbell.   Here’s to my brother Michael’s 40th birthday.