Out of the blue, yesterday, I received an email from a young organist in France, whose name is Eric Cordé, the organist at Dol-de-Bretagne Cathedrale in Brittany. He apparently is doing research on local organists and came across the name of “Jack Norman,” who after some investigation, determined that it was my first organ teacher,… Read More Out of the blue
After my huge weekend (three big services: a 90-minute double funeral on Saturday, a service at Nuuanu Congregational and a Solemn Mass at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church) I wanted to let you know that I was given a special “honoraria” from the parish of St. Mark’s—a five-strand pikake leí! (In addition to a check, of… Read More Five-strand pikake lei!
The countdown has now begun on all the work I need to do before playing the next Early Music Hawaii concert on September 17 — the Polish Renaissance, with music by composers I have no idea how to pronounce (or even type!) Here is the list of composers whose works will be performed: Marcin Leopolita… Read More All those itty bitty numbers!
People probably don’t know that I was once a Major League Baseball fan in my childhood and I faithfully listened to all the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball games with broadcaster Vin Scully who recently passed away. In baseball, a doubleheader is a set of two games played between the same two teams on the same day. Historically,… Read More Double or triple doubleheader?
Do you remember Blue Light Specials at K-Mart? Here’s a description to refresh your memory: Kmart® is a discount department store best known for its iconic blue light special sales gimmick, consisting of surprise announcements when price-cuts were offered for a limited time on specific merchandise. At the beginning of each random sales blitz, the phrase “Attention Kmart® shoppers…”… Read More Attention, K-Mart Shoppers… !
I learned a new word today: Deux-olingo, which describes someone who is trying to learn two languages at once. I learned the word from one of the latest blogs on the Duolingo app, https://blog.duolingo.com/how-to-learn-multiple-languages/. Go ahead and click the link, you’ll find it most interesting! It’s only been about three weeks now, but I’ve spent… Read More Deux-olingo
When last week the Lutheran Church of Honolulu brought a candidate to Hawaii to audition for the job of Music Director and Organist, I thought back to the three church jobs I’ve had since moving here: Church of the Holy Nativity, 1973-1976Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1978-2012Nuuanu Congregational Church, 2020-present Would you believe that I never… Read More The organist’s audition
The following is the text of Scott Fikse’s farewell address to the congregation. I was secretly thrilled that he included my name! I give thanks to God for leading me and Marcus on a path that brought us to all of you. I’ve told this story to many of you, but when Marcus graduated from… Read More Scott’s farewell
Normally when you hear the term “blockbuster” it’s in connection with a movie, or a show, usually done in the summertime. For example, a Google search for “blockbuster” turns up this: Who’d ever think you would call a church service a “blockbuster?” But “blockbuster” is exactly how I’d describe Scott Fikse’s last service today as… Read More Blockbuster!
Tonight was the dress rehearsal for choir, orchestra and soloists for Scott Fikse’s last service at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu and if I had to sum it up, I would say it was full of glorious exuberance! Dress rehearsals at church, though, are a little different from those you might experience for an opera… Read More Glorious exuberance!