This afternoon we had the final dress rehearsal with orchestra for the Haydn ‘Lord Nelson Mass,” the last major work Carl will conduct as Cantor of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. We started off by rehearsing the three hymns for tomorrow: Christ is made the sure foundation (sung to the tune EDEN CHURCH in a hymn concertato by Carl Crosier), Built on a rock (hymntune KIRKEN in a setting by Allen Bauchle) and My hope is built on nothing less (SOLID ROCK). As always, the hymns perfectly key in with the lessons — can you guess that the gospel is about Peter being the Rock (“and upon this rock I will build my church”)? We have Allen Bauchle to thank for orchestrating all these hymns, as well as writing a trumpet fanfare on the last verse of KIRKEN).
Carl was pleased with how the rehearsal went, although the orchestra and choir absolutely booms and resonates in an empty church. We have four violins, two violas, one cello, one bass, one bassoon, two trumpets, and timpani for the Haydn. In our room this orchestration is more than sufficient to fill the space. Vicki Gorman (soprano) and Guy Merola (tenor) are performing this work again which they last did with us in 1992, our very first Abendmusiken concert. Other soloists include Laurie Rubin (mezzo) and Keane Ishii, bass.
We rehearsed Peter Hallock’s “To the supreme being” for men’s voices (with oboe obbligato played by Scott Janusch) which will be done for the communion tomorrow. This anthem has been sung at Compline on a number of occasions, but I believe this is the first time we have done it with strings added to the organ and oboe accompaniment. (Carl just corrected me — it’s the 2nd time we’ve added strings — the first time was at Peter Hallock’s 80th birthday concert in 2004.)
Carol Langner put up a special bulletin board with pictures from the past (the photo of Carl leaving Seattle in 1972 to move to Hawaii, the Crosier wedding in 1977, my Bach organ recital in 1985, Carl and myself in front of the Bach statue in Leipzig, etc.) and ideas for Carl’s retirement years — spending time with family, traveling, practicing the fortepiano, working at St. Andrew’s Priory as the Chief Financial Officer, and of course, cooking and enjoying martinis!
