Don’t mind me—after studying Spanish intensively over the past three years, I’m afraid that I’m thinking in Spanish! “¡Qué raro!” means “how strange” or in my way of thinking, “how weird!” What I’m talking about was today’s service, dubbed Christmas in July. Apparently it’s a common occurrence in many United Church of Christ churches —… Read More ¡Qué raro!
“A previous commitment …” That’s what our former business partner, Peter Hallock used to call Thursday night choir rehearsals. “if you are invited to a dinner, or a party on a Thursday night, tell them you have a previous commitment.” For years, in fact, for decades, my Thursday nights were committed to rehearsing with the… Read More A previous commitment
It was a text conversation last week with concert organist Nathan Laube that has caused a diversion in my daily activities. You see, in booking our air reservations for our European trip, I mistakenly had us arrive one day earlier in Toulouse than the start of our GoAhead tour to France, Spain and Portugal. In… Read More Changing the channel
The hard fact about living in Hawaii is having to always say goodbye or aloha to people whom we have grown to treat like family. This summer I’ll have to say goodbye to several musicians—ALL of whom have studied organ with me. I’ve already said goodbye to my former student, Marie Wang, who was the… Read More Always saying ‘Goodbye’
When I haven’t seen people for awhile, generally they ask me two questions: “What are you working on?” “Where are you going on your next trip? Well, I’m glad you asked! I am pleased to tell you that Scott Fikse asked me to play the organ on his last Sunday at the Lutheran Church of… Read More Fingers crossed!
Today, Lynette Fisk posted the obituary for her husband of 48 years, Dale Fisk. I believe it was in 1976-1977 that Dale and Lynette spent a sabbatical year in Hawaii, where he joined the Compline Choir at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu and was active in our local chapter of the American Guild of Organists.… Read More Aloha, Dale Fisk
Yesterday on my monthly visit to the island of Kaua’i to teach organ students I met Noah Smith, the summer organ intern at All Saints Episcopal Church. Noah is here from May 29th to August 7th, primarily to play the Sunday 9:30 am services while the church’s Director of Music, Henry Adams Curtis, is on… Read More In his genes
This morning we checked out of the Neya Hotel and started to drive towards Fátima, stopping first at the University of Coimbra, which dates from 1290. The students still wear a traditional costume on special days—these particular students, however, are trying to earn a little money by selling pencils to tourists. By far, the biggest… Read More Coimbra and Alcobraça
If I had to choose one place to come back to again in Portugal, it would be Porto. We arrived yesterday afternoon and went out for a 45-minute boat ride on the Douro River, with cool, breezy winds brushing our faces and seeing picturesque buildings which could be reflected in the water, a gorgeous day,… Read More Glorious Porto
It’s Heinrich Schütz week and we’ve already had three rehearsals for Saturday’s concert, “From Venice to Dresden,” May 7 at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu at 7:30 pm. The concert is the last one for the season for Early Music Hawaii, and will be conducted by Scott Fikse. Singers include Honolulu’s finest early music performers,… Read More Miracles