I’ve been using two different editions to practice Bach’s Great Eighteen Chorales. Most of the pieces I learned years ago from the Widor-Schweitzer edition but for these last few months, I’ve practiced the music from the Bärenreiter score, which has the notes more spread out, resulting in a lot more page turns. But with my vision… Read More What’s in a page turn?
This morning our Iolani School Chaplain, the Rev. Daniel Leatherman (whose mom, by the way, studies organ with me) and I worked on configuring the school’s Virtual Organ which we use in the gymnasium for four All-School Chapels a year. It consists of two keyboards and a pedalboard and uses software called Hauptwerk on a… Read More The Virtual Organ and the Virtual Organist
A couple of weekends ago, when we were in the Los Angeles area, we used the GPS on my iPhone to give us directions from St. James Episcopal Church to a restaurant in Burbank where we wanted to eat. And so we found ourselves on Highland Avenue, and I said to my son, “Look! There’s… Read More A visit to the past
Yesterday I went early to St. Christopher’s to practice after our usual Saturday morning walk of 5 miles. Little did I realize I was going to have another workout — but this time on the J. W. Walker tracker organ! You see, the Walker is a completely mechanical organ, with not only mechanical key action… Read More Working out on the Walker
And with these words from my Iolani colleague, John Alexander (and former LCH pianist), came the news that our colleague and friend, John McCreary, passed from this earthly life to life with the angels, and is now conducting the heavenly choir. It was just this morning that my husband Carl was reminiscing about his first… Read More The strife is o’er
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb7nMNhtHKY?rel=0] Hans Fagius plays “O Lamm Gottes unschuldig.” Yesterday was Maundy Thursday, and my husband Carl said to me, “Hey, this is the first Maundy Thursday in 35 years that you have not played Bach’s O Lamm Gottes unschuldig.” I answered, “But I listened to Marie-Claire Alain’s performance of it in the car!” This… Read More O Lamm Gottes, BWV 656 (O Lamb of God)
So yesterday, I opened my email and found this message from the Lutheran Church of Honolulu: You may remember that when I announced that Christmas Day 2012 would be my last service, there was mention of a celebration party happening in January. Well — it’s going to be April 14th, and to be honest, it… Read More Time to party (finally!)
That is the message I texted to my former student, Joey Fala, when he directed me to the New York City chapter American Guild of Organists website where I saw this: Joey said that his local Eastern New York AGO chapter didn’t have enough applicants to hold a competition, but they were generous to give… Read More (Screams of delight!)
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG2oT89aclQ?rel=0&w=640&h=360] We decided to attend the Palm Sunday service at St. James Episcopal Church (also called “Saint James’ in the City”) on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles and not to our surprise, the service began outdoors in the school courtyard next door. Luckily, the weather was absolutely beautiful, cool and crisp. After the opening… Read More A Korean Palm Sunday procession
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA5bszpcbxM?rel=0] The ceremony began with a chant by the priest. This weekend we have been in Los Angeles, attending the wedding of our good friend, Joan Ishibashi to Kantila Vaghela, which has turned out to be a mini-reunion of LCH folks! Those of you who know Joan, however, will understand why it is that… Read More Mini-Reunion