Organists and Organ Playing

The countdown begins!

The cover of the Bach "Mass in B Minor" program.
The cover of the Bach "Mass in B Minor" program.

It’s less than two weeks until LCH’s upcoming performances of Bach’s “Mass in B Minor,” May 13 and 14, 7:30 pm. Here is a status report on what’s happening around the LCH campus:

1. The choir will resume rehearsals tomorrow night after having a “break” for Holy Week and Easter. We’ll see if everyone remembers what we learned a month ago! The rehearsal will start at 6:30 pm and will run until 8:45 pm.

2. A new volunteer sign-up sheet was out on the courtyard tables after each service yesterday, since the original ones got lost. We are thankful that an army of volunteers have signed up! However, we are still in need of

a. Ushers (to direct people to their assigned seating areas)
b. People willing to move pews on Saturday night after the last concert.
c. A homestay for one of our artists (3 nights only).

We may also still need volunteers at the Reservation/Will Call table. If you are able to help in any of these areas, please contact Carol Langner.

3. The 20-page program was sent to the printshop TODAY! What a relief! If all goes according to plan, we’ll have the finished booklets in hand by next Monday or Tuesday. If you went to our Monteverdi Vespers, you’ll note that we’ll be using a similar system—if you made a reservation, there will be a program with your name on it. We promise to keep the lines moving!

4. Carol Langner is preparing a bulletin board display, “Bach at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu,” with copies of old posters and old pictures. In case you’re itching to find out what Bach works have been performed, we have included a listing of the choral and instrumental works in the program booklet, from 1973 to 2011. You can see this amazing list by clicking here: BachWorks-LCH.

5. Carl was interviewed for a feature article in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser by journalist Steven Mark. I don’t know when the article will be published, but I  will provide you the link when it’s printed.

6. Noe Tanigawa of Hawaii Public Radio will be interviewing Carl for a radio spot and recording part of the rehearsal next week. When it is aired, I’ll let you know and will provide the online link.

Tickets in general seating areas are still available, by purchasing online at www.lchwelcome.org/music2010. I believe there are precious few Preferred Seats left so we may start a Waiting List — call the church office at 941-2566 for the latest information. Don’t worry, there really aren’t any “bad” seats at LCH. Unlike concert halls in Europe, we’re not going to put people behind pillars!

By the way, plan to arrive early. Parking will be readily available at 1819 Poki Street and at Punahou School, Lower Field (across the street). We will reserve parking in the lot directly behind the church for handicapped visitors. Because the pacing of the Mass is critical, it will be difficult to seat latecomers. Each half of the concert lasts approximately one hour.

It’s “pedal to the metal” time!