Who remembers the Circuit Orchestra's? How good was yours?

In the days before 'simplification', the days of 3 day Circuit Assemblies (Fri evening plus Sat & Sun), when we used have catering departments that cooked and served up hot meals, we also used to have Circuit Orchestras.

I must say ours was pretty poor though, only matched by the lacklustre singing.

Eyeslice

(Bee in his bonnet since Mrs Eyeslice went to singing practice at local KH on Sunday evening)

My mom did all of that stuff. She played flute in DA's and played piano and organ at CA's. She was a real musician. I remember the musicians being pretty pissed that they were not allowed to do it anymore.

I remember orchestras at the districts, I think we only had a piano at the circuit.

Due to simplification it's now a kazoo.

Kazoo! Hahahahahaha! Yeah, that's about right.

Did somebody here post the other day that some districts still have an orchestra, it being kind of optional even now?  I remember the society actually ordering us to use the records back in the day - the first of the assembly rules crackdowns by the society.

Due to simplification it's now a kazoo.

lol. How about even more down market - paper and comb?

I remember the musicians being pretty pissed that they were not allowed to do it anymore.

Anything that smacks of having a good time has been banned by the kill-joys at the top.

I remember way back in the 60's they used to play "non-theocratic" songs, I remember them playing some songs from Broadway shows, and if I'm not mistaken, taking into account I was just a kid back then they played the song from My Fair Lady, "Get me to the CHURCH on Time" !!.  Once again, was just a kid then and I saw the movie and a lot of songs from the show are quite popular, but I definitely know that song when I hear it.

She was a real musician. I remember the musicians being pretty pissed that they were not allowed to do it anymore.

I can understand why they would be upset. What other opportunities would they have as a JW to display their musical ability? It's a religion that stifles any sort of creative expression, or artistic ability.

I'd love to hear a rendition of "We're Jehovah's Witnesses" on the kazoo.  I'm sure I've got one knocking around here somewhere....

IIRC, the reason was given that some of the orchestras were not so skilled, and this might turn off new people coming to the assembly.  Unity demanded everybody be equally vapid with those horrible records.

You are right - a lot of people put a LOT of effort into this (ours in Okla. City was really pretty decent back in the 60s) and they were very put out that they were tossed to the curb.

I am old enough to remember the Circuit Orchestra. I thought it was great.

I knew some people who played in it. The orchestra was a real bonding interest for them. Whether it would be judged good or bad, musically speaking, I really don't know, but was real live music ! - that has to be a million times better than anything on a c/d

Of course if you have a good thing, somebody will stop them doing it. The orchestra went the same way as the bacon rolls and fresh coffee - consigned to fond memories. Ours never played show tunes though...............

those horrible records

They were pretty bad.

And, I never really understood why we had orchestral recordings for assemblies and piano recordings for the KH - it wasn't that people were going to think that there was an actual orchestra at the assemblies.

I remember the orchestra.  A friend of mine played trumpet.  He wasn't so cool.

Another friend played bass guitar.  He was hella-cool. 

I'd love to hear a rendition of "We're Jehovah's Witnesses" on the kazoo.

How about 'Lazarus Lay Sleeping' - that would be a hoot.

Those records and cd's sounded muffled and canned. Nothing beat the real thing!

I remember playing my flute at the circuit assembly orchestra - it was a lot of fun. My oldest brother always played the oboe for years in the orchestra. The rest of us five kids were so pissed off because he got to stay in the house and practice all summer for the upcoming convention while we were out weeding the gardens. However, if my flute playing was any indicator of how talented the orchestra was, I would have to say they must have sounded pretty crappy

I remember those, I knew two members of the orchester very well, both extremely accomplished musicians (A guy Called Jim Burgess who played Bassoon and another Guy called Bev Wood who played violin).

Though the orchestra was not as refined as the music on the CDs, the orchestra at the assemblies and piano playing at the KH were more personal.  I enjoyed to personal music more than the recording. 

Don't recall circuit orchestras, but I have fuzzy memories of orchestras at district conventions.

I do recall we had a beautiful full-size concert grand piano at our assembly hall though. The same brother was assigned to play it all the time - he was quite good.

We also used to have, at the CAs, a brother stand on the stage, face the auditorium, and "direct" the audience in singing. He'd be up there waving his arms about like a perfect lunatic - didn't seem to help the quality of the singing, though.

We also used to have, at the CAs, a brother stand on the stage, face the auditorium, and "direct" the audience in singing. He'd be up there waving his arms about like a perfect lunatic - didn't seem to help the quality of the singing, though.

Hell yea...I remember that!  It always reminded me of a Bugs Bunny cartoon...where he slipped in place of the real conductor and put the poor opera singer through hell...

"Leopold....Leopold..."