The sack . . . what? Is that kind of a joke? Can you imagine your kid coming home from school and saying, “Mom and dad, I’m going to play the sackbut!” Someone even said, “What a dumb name for an instrument!” By now, many people have received the Early Music Hawaii postcard announcing the… Read More The sackbuts are coming!
Last night our Hawaii chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) had its Pau Hana Posaune, an informal pupu and cocktail party at a local restaurant. Now, a few definitions for you in case I’m using unfamiliar terms to you non-Hawaiians, non-organists. The term pau hana is a familiar one in Hawaii and means “the time… Read More Below the surface
I follow a number of blogs about music — one of my favorite is “The Bulletproof Musician” written by Dr. Noa Kageyama at the Juilliard School, on overcoming stage fright, practicing, and other articles about performance anxiety. Dr Kageyama started the violin while a toddler and performed with Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, the famous violin teacher. Read… Read More Adult beginners
I’ve been subbing for organist John Renke for Wednesday Evensong services which are held at 5:30 pm every week, and after last night’s service I must have looked like a drowned rat, because it is so incredibly hot in St. Andrew’s Cathedral at that time of day. Those of you who have experienced summer in Hawaii… Read More Sweaty musicians
People may find it surprising that my late husband Carl and I did not just go to concerts of Baroque and early music — in fact we enjoyed music of many other genres, especially music that was vastly different from our own repertoire. We especially liked attending all the ethnomusic programs at the University of… Read More Barbershop in church
Okay, I can just hear my late husband, Carl, saying: Kathy, why don’t you check these things instead of being in such a hurry?! You’re in too much of a rush and aren’t careful!” What I’m referring to was my last post about the All Saints Day memorial concert, November 1, 2015 at the Lutheran Church… Read More I can hear him now!
One year ago today, our attorney had brought over some papers for my husband, Carl Crosier, to sign, concerning the ownership of our companies. He had already been discharged from the hospital to home hospice care, following a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer eight months prior, and Carl was finalizing his estate plans. “I’ll sign… Read More One year ago today
A couple of days ago, the death of renowned choral conductor Kenneth Jennings (1925-2015) was announced. He was the third conductor of the St. Olaf Choir, which he led from 1968 until 1990. Here’s what Vaughn Ormseth wrote for MPR (Minnesota Public Radio) News: As someone privileged to sing under Dr. Jennings for three rigorous, unforgettable… Read More Out of the mouths of babes
I just finished the postcard for the upcoming Early Music Hawaii concert and thought I’d give you a sneak peek while it is at the printshop. Just in case you didn’t recognize the scene, it’s a drawing of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig. While this program will not have a single piece of Johann Sebastian Bach (whose… Read More Upcoming Surround Sound
Tributes to the organist/choirmaster John Scott, who died of a heart attack at age 59 on Wednesday, continue to pour in throughout the world. I especially liked the one by radio host Michael Barone which you can read in its entirety by clicking here. He remembers Scott’s extraordinary career and lasting legacy in this heartfelt tribute, which includes… Read More Another tragic organist story