At last night’s service, officiant John Bickel wrote this beautiful bidding prayer on the eve of the Feast of St. Mary (and Carl’s last Compline): God of Joy and Music: On this night we remember Mary the mother of Christ. Thou hast chosen a humble virgin to give birth to the Savior of the world.… Read More Bittersweet Compline
After dinner at the party last night, it was time for the choir to thank Carl for his inspiration and leadership at LCH for 38 years. Jean Geil, alto, wrote and sang verses in honor of our choir directors: (Tune: March of the Three Kings) Allen, our friend, deserves our praise today, About twenty years… Read More Kudos to Carl
This afternoon the choir had the first read-through on the Haydn “Lord Nelson Mass” which will be sung as the Ordinary for Carl Crosier’s last Sunday, August 21st. I was telling someone that when we heard it sung as the Ordinary as Christopher Robinson’s last Sunday at St. John’s, Cambridge, during most of the service… Read More Rehearsal, then Party!
Last night we invited Miguel Felipe and Aaron Gould to dinner and I am happy to report that we all hit it off smashingly well! In case you’re wondering what was on the menu, Carl cooked one of his “typical” dinners: rounds of pupus (including taro chips with mango salsa, stuffed lychees with ginger cream,… Read More The Aloha Spirit
Just about a year ago, I wrote a post about LCH’s first Compline Service, which happened on August 1, 1976. Well, today I’m going to invite you to Carl Crosier’s last Compline Service, which will happen this Sunday night, August 14 (yes, it’s the same day as the Midsummer Night’s Organ Concert — but that… Read More Carl’s last Compline
Next Sunday, August 14th at 4 pm, I’ll be participating in the 22nd Annual Midsummer Night’s Organ Concert at Central Union Church. I would have to guess that there have only been a couple of concerts which I’ve missed over the past 22 years, because I’ve been out of town. This concert is sponsored yearly… Read More 22nd Annual Midsummer Night’s Organ Concert
During last week’s Association of Lutheran Church Musicians conference, I can’t tell you how many people came up to Carl and said, “How’s retirement?” And Carl would answer, “I have three Sundays left!” It’s Sunday night as I write this, so that means it’s one down, and two more to go. The planning for The… Read More One down, two to go!
One of the most fascinating workshops I attended during the ALCM conference was titled, “The Changing Face of Music Publishing,” led by Mark Lawson of Morningstar Music Publishers. He began by telling us the “Way Things Were” ten years ago when he joined the company and contrasted it with the “Way Things Are” today. Ten… Read More Music in the Cloud
Yesterday we went to Bastyr University to hear a very entertaining concert by the Male Ensemble Northwest, a group of 14 men who sang a wide range of repertoire, from sacred to secular. They ended their program with a medley from classic TV themes, such as Gilligan’s Island, Petticoat Junction, the Brady Bunch and Car… Read More Long-Distance music making
I think one of the most enjoyable aspects of being in an organization like the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians is the fellowship with our colleagues—people in the same boat. We’ve been members since their first national conference in 1987, which coincidentally met in Seattle. I think I’ve been to something like 12 national and… Read More Old Home Week