I’ve been home for a week now, and fighting jet lag (as always); in fact, it’s 3:44 am and I’ve been awake for an hour. So I thought I may as well do something useful and tell you about something that happened on the way home. We only had one stop in San Francisco between London Heathrow and Honolulu, and as I found my seat on the leg to Honolulu, a man in my row asked me, “Is your name Kathy? Do you play early music?”

Apparently he has been a faithful attendee of Early Music Hawaii concerts from the beginning (from the time of the Monteverdi Vespers) and recognized me! We had a nice chat about early music and our upcoming season. Which is all kind of amazing, since I am usually part of the background, playing continuo and preparing brochures and programs. In fact designing this year’s season brochure was one of my first tasks when I got home.

This whole interchange was a total surprise, because usually when strangers talk to me, it’s because it’s something I’ve written on this blog! In fact, when we were in Gloucester, a man walked up to me and introduced himself as from Worcester Cathedral. He wanted to quote something from one of my blogs about the shortage of organists. Why, certainly, nothing of what I write is particularly brilliant, I just write about my own little world of organs and travel. I was just surprised to learn that fewer people are learning in the organ in England, of all places!

So this week I’ve been starting to work on the music for the first Early Music Hawaii concert, “The Golden Age of Spanish Culture.” In addition to accompanying the octet of singers, I am playing one solo piece, a set of variations on a psalm tone, by Antonio de Cabezón (1510-1566). For me, it’s really the first time I’m playing his music, which means there’s lots to learn about the style, type of organs available, etc. so that I can choose the right combination of stops.

I’m happy to announce that Scott Fikse will be returning to Hawaii to conduct this concert, and he’s been on top of it, arranging for singers and instrumentalists, and coordinating rehearsals. I jokingly said in an Early Music Hawaii board meeting, that maybe we should call this concert “Return of the Prodigal!” As you may remember, Scott is now pursuing graduate studies at the University of Washington but remains on the board of Early Music Hawaii.

You may also remember that for the next three weeks, I’m playing the organ at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church— and have to drive from Nuuanu Congregational Church after playing the 9:00 am service to hopefully get to St. Mark’s by 10:30 am. Father Paul Lillie will be there this morning, however, and told Mike Dupre, the choir director, that he will wait to start the service until I arrive!

Hopefully not a repeat of what happened a few weeks ago! (Go back and read my post “You know you’re late!” to read about the challenge of playing the organ for two different churches.)

Whew!