In a recent email, Miguel Felipe reminded me that this Sunday will be his first hymn mass. For as long as I’ve been at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu (or, at least as long as I can remember!) I have played the organ on the fourth and fifth Sundays of the month at the 8… Read More The Hymn Mass
We’re gearing up for our next concert, an all-Mozart program on October 1st and 2nd, and it reminded me of how much we rely upon volunteers in our program. At the beginning of this week, the classy Mozart postcards, which Miguel Felipe so quickly designed — arrived, setting in motion the next series of actions.… Read More Valuable volunteer
Last Sunday at both morning services, a rite of installation was held to welcome Miguel Felipe as the Director of Music and Liturgy. That means that after the sermon, there was a short series of questions asked of the candidate, similar to other rites (such as baptism or confirmation): Our Lord Jesus, who came among… Read More A new director, a new rite
Worshippers at the 10:30 service at LCH will probably recognize the name Bruce Bengtson from the Sunday bulletins. This Sunday the choir will be singing another of his Alleluias (Gospel Acclamation). Bruce has been organist and director of music at Luther Memorial Church in Madison, Wisconsin since 1978. We met Bruce over twenty years ago… Read More Our friend Bruce
Today at both 8:00 and 10:30 am services, Dr. Felipe Miguel will be installed as the Director of Music and Liturgy at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. In honor of his installation, a reception will be held after both services. As people enter the courtyard, they won’t help but notice Carol Langner’s bulletin board devoted… Read More Miguel is official
This Sunday the LCH Choir will be singing two motets by the Spanish Renaissance composer, Francisco Guerrero, 1527-1599, “Simile est regnum caelorum” and “Caro mea vere est cibus.” For the prelude, communion and postlude, I will be playing organ music by Italian composer Girolamo Frescobaldi, 1583-1643. Both men were considered to be child prodigies in their… Read More Child wonders
Last night at choir rehearsal, we practiced Mozart’s “Venite populi,” which will close out our all-Mozart Konzert, Oct. 1 and 2. The last time we sang this was actually under the direction of Sir David Willcocks, perhaps one of the most famous choral conductors in the world. Here’s a little information for you: He was… Read More Down memory lane with Mozart
Yesterday I sent out the press releases on the first Abendmusiken concert of the season, The Mozart Konzert, scheduled for Saturday, October 1st at 7:30 pm and repeated on Sunday, October 2nd at 4:00 pm. Miguel Felipe designed this concert’s very sophisticated and classy postcard. This will be a concert of Firsts: it will be… Read More The Mozart Konzert
Imagine Carl Crosier’s surprise when he picked up the phone yesterday morning and heard the Lutheran Church of Honolulu choir singing “Happy Birthday” to him! Now in his second week of “retirement” from the position of Cantor, he has been attending St. Theresa’s Co-Cathedral on Saturday nights, leaving Sunday mornings free for a two-hour walk… Read More Special birthday surprise
Ten years ago today members of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu gathered at the church to grieve the senseless loss of life and console one another after an unspeakable tragedy. It may have been the only service in its long history to not have music of any kind — no organ music, no choral music,… Read More Remembrances of September 11, 2001