We are presently in Port Angeles, WA, Carl Crosier’s boyhood home during his formative years. In addition to driving past his family’s former house (which his father built and designed), we made a special effort to visit Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, which was key to Carl’s becoming a church musician. It so happened that Carl’s… Read More Roots
The Flentrop organ at St. Mark’s is Peter Hallock’s legacy. On Sunday morning we took Peter Hallock to St. Mark’s Cathedral where he had been the church musician for decades. No sooner had we walked in the door and we were besieged with people wanting to come up to greet him. Mel Butler, the organist… Read More Sunday at St. Mark’s
And even if you’re not, perhaps you would like to know about a special concert this Friday: The Sacred & the Avant-Garde Joey Fala, organist Friday, February 28 7:00 pm First United Presbyterian Church 1915 Fifth Avenue Troy, NY. 12180 Program: Te Deum (Jeanne Demessieux) Chant de paix (Jean Langlais) Litanies (Jehan Alain) Choral dorien… Read More If you are in New York
We are in Seattle mostly to visit family and friends, and were very excited to learn that we would be able to attend the performances of both Bach Passions (St. Matthew and St. John) on subsequent weekends. According to the program notes, conductor Ludovic Morlot wanted to present “the best version of the piece that can be done with… Read More Superb performance at Benaroya Hall
Yesterday we were in Tacoma, WA, and took in an all-Bach organ recital at Christ Episcopal Church, where we heard Tomoko Miyamoto from Ferris University in Yokohama, Japan, play selections from Bach’s Clavierübung III, the German organ mass. The tracker organ is by John Brombaugh and is in a lovely acoustic. We found out about the concert through… Read More Bach in Tacoma
Carl and I are in the Seattle area for the next two weeks visiting special friends, and of course, many are people whom we have met through our music. We are staying with our business partner, composer Peter Hallock, who at age 89 is still as sharp as a tack, but doesn’t get out as… Read More Reconnecting with Northwest friends
No, this time we’re not getting ready to perform Bach, this week we are getting ready to listen to Bach. Carl and I are in the Pacific Northwest visiting family and friends and have been listening to Gustav Leonhardt‘s recording of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion while we have been driving around in the car. On… Read More Getting ready for Bach
Ordinarily I refrain from identifying children in this blog, but when this girl’s parents posted this video to YouTube, I figured that it’s okay. (And I got specific permission as well.) The video is of eight-year-old Sophia Stark, daughter of violinist Darel Stark and soprano Georgine Stark, who won the Hawaii Stars Vocal Competition, Keiki Division, for… Read More Like mother, like daughter
Last night we attended LCH parishioner Mark Russell’s piano recital at the church, which began with a set of variations by local pianist Whitney Thrall (b. 1922). Whitney, my former colleague at the University of Hawaii, was in the audience and is remarkably sharp for being over 90 years old! The rest of the… Read More Colored Glass
“Bach is not for amateurs!” This was one of the first statements Carl made at his lecture yesterday for the Oahu Choral Society, held at the Kokokahi YWCA. The choir will be preparing Bach’s Mass in B Minor for a performance on May 16th, under the direction of Esther Yoo, and she invited Carl to… Read More Bach is not for amateurs!