For the last couple of days, we have hosted Hans-Ulrich Erbsloeh and his wife, Christiane from Hamburg, Germany. We were trying to remember how many times Hans has visited Hawaii, and figured it was well over ten times. You see, Hans’ first visit was as the “apprentice” for organbuilder Rudolf von Beckerath when the LCH… Read More Memories of “The Boss”
This Sunday, the LCH Choir will be singing anthems by British composers Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) and Gerald Finzi (1901-1956). You probably know Britten for his “Ceremony of Carols” which we have done at Christmas with women’s voices and harp. At LCH we do a lot of unaccompanied choral music, so Britten’s “Hymn to St. Columba”… Read More Britten and Finzi
At yesterday’s All Saints Sunday service, my young student, Christopher L. played “Toccata in D minor (Dorian), BWV 538” for the postlude, and he and I, as well as members of the 10:30 congregation felt the thrill of victory! What a stunning performance Christopher gave — rock-steady rhythm, nearly 100% note accuracy, and complete with… Read More The thrill of victory
This All Saints Sunday, as we remember those who have died, two of the pieces I’m playing are especially associated with funerals: Vor deinen Thron (Before thy throne I now appear) by Johann Sebastian Bach and the Swedish hymntune Tryggare kan ingen vara (Children of the heavenly father). I’m embedding a video of the Bach… Read More Music for the end
In addition to this blog, the Lutheran Church of Honolulu also has a FaceBook page to connect with its members and friends. Some readers of this blog, however, are not FaceBook users and wouldn’t ordinarily see all the pictures and news that is posted here. So I’m going to share some of the photos that… Read More Post-Vespers Thanks
Today, November 1st, is All Saints Day, but at LCH we will move the feast to Sunday, November 6th, making it All Saints Sunday. Last week, Miguel Felipe and I did a switcheroo for the 8 am service. When I would have normally played the Hymn Mass for Reformation, Miguel played piano for the Alleluia… Read More Wood, Dupré and Bach for All Saints
“I thought I wasn’t going to have to open the Poki Lot anymore!” sighed Carl Crosier as we drove into the church’s secondary parking lot last Sunday and found it locked. Peter Hallock often told us that if he had a nickel for every time he opened and closed St. Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle, he would… Read More Second fiddle
Today is Reformation and assistant choirmaster Allen Bauchle was honored at all services, 8:00 am, 10:30 am and tonight’s Vespers. Miguel Felipe said that in the two months that he’s been on board, Allen has been an invaluable asset behind the scenes — talented and hard-working in so many respects — but also had great… Read More Allen’s Day
In the last post, I listed all the music that the Lutheran Church of Honolulu will be performing at the Choral Vespers service this Sunday night at 7:30 pm. Now I would like to tell you all about the music that is being done on Sunday morning at the 10:30 service. The organ music will… Read More Reformation Sunday 2011
This coming Sunday evening, October 30th, is the Eve of Reformation, when the Lutheran Church of Honolulu Choir and Bach Chamber Orchestra will present a concerted vespers. Most people around LCH would refer to it as Bach Vespers, even though other composers will be represented. It will be a service, in that scripture will be… Read More Concerted vespers