Those of you who attended the Mass in B Minor performances at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu in May 2011 (and there were hundreds of you!) surely will not forget the heart-stopping and “time standing still” performance by mezzo-soprano, Meg Bragle and her poignant rendition of the “Agnus Dei.” For many listeners, her performance was… Read More Happy memories
Just this morning when I opened my email, I got a notification that today is Marcel Dupré‘s 126th birthday (May 3, 1886 – May 30, 1971) and it brought back memories of our trip to France, three years ago, and specifically, our visit to Meudon, Dupré’s home, where I had my organ lessons. You might… Read More Happy Birthday, Marcel Dupré!
Those of you who attended my celebration party on April 14th heard me extend an invitation to come back to the Lutheran Church of Honolulu on Sunday, August 18th and August 25th for Bach Masterworks: The Great Eighteen Chorales. Yep, I’ve officially set the date for presenting these great masterpieces, BWV 651-668 in a 2-concert Bach mini-series.… Read More What’s in a name?
I asked my Iolani School colleague, John Alexander, if he wouldn’t mind sharing his brilliant eulogy for John McCreary, and he was happy to oblige. So here it is in its entirety: HENH!!! That’s one of the things I’m going to miss most about John: that quirky way he had of greeting those he knew… Read More Sesquipedalian circumlocution
If a bomb had struck at St. Andrew’s Cathedral April 27th at 11:00 am, there would be no more church music in Honolulu! That is because every church musician in town was there to celebrate the life of Canon Organist Emeritus John McCreary. People were already starting to gather when I arrived at St. Andrew’s… Read More Celebration John McCreary
Today we laid Canon Organist Emeritus John McCreary to rest. The other day when I brought dinner to Betsy, his widow, she invited our houseguest, John Graham, and Carl and myself to the viewing and burial. (John was buried with a martini glass and an organ pipe!) John Graham, who is here to attend McCreary’s… Read More Pie Jesu
It was just about ten days ago that I found out that I was one of four organists who were asked to play the prelude for John McCreary’s funeral service. To say that I was flattered and honored is an understatement! John Renke, the Cathedral organist, asked what each of us wanted to play, and I… Read More Guessing . . . and groping
Last night we had dinner with Michael Kleinschmidt and Marc Aubertin. We were introduced to Michael many years ago at St. Thomas Church, New York City, where he was the Organ Scholar, then re-introduced in Boston when Michael was the Organist/Choirmaster of Trinity Church, Copley Square. It also happens that Marc sang with the Church of… Read More Kindred spirits
The last sentence of former student Joey Fala‘s letter which was read on Sunday at my 35-year celebration was this: I’m looking forward to seeing you in Boston this summer! Who would have guessed that just a day later, people around the world would have the city of Boston in their hearts and prayers? The horrific images of… Read More Boston . . . who knew?
Some people have asked that I share with you a poem by Fritz Fritschel, written for last Sunday’s celebration of my thirty-five years as Organist at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, so here it is: On a Day of Celebration Those little black marks on the page Neither move nor make sound, Lying dormant, locked… Read More Those little black marks!