15 years ago, I was hired to play violin for a wedding about 9 months in advance. I didn't hear more from anyone, forgot about it actually, and then one day I get a call from the bride that the wedding is in two weeks, and can I find a trumpeter too? I get my good friend Tom D. for the job. We both need to rehearse with the organist, but the organist is hard to get a hold of, and when we finally do, the only possible rehearsal time is 1-1/2 hours before the wedding itself. Good enough. But we discover this organist really doesn't sight-read well. He can't even read the accompaniment to Air on the G string. Tom and I had brought a rousing Charpentier overture for violin, trumpet and keyboard and some other noble music for prelude. But the organist said it was too much for him, and just me and Tom should handle the prelude ourselves. To think of what a glorious opportunity we were missing here made me sad, and the organist noticed my face. He said, "Oh, don't worry, it will all be over in a couple of hours!" and he meant it. I thought, "Great. How would the bride feel if she heard that?!"
The service went well. He was competent with the mass, which was the main focus of the ceremony, and Tom and I did our parts valiantly and gave more than anyone would have expected, so it was win-win-win for everyone except me and Tom.
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