For the last two weeks, I’ve been working on getting “my ducks in a row,” that is, taking care of my duties and responsibilities, and organizing my affairs… just in case. From the Grammarist: Get one’s ducks in a row and have one’s ducks in a row are American idioms, the origin of these phrases is murky. One… Read More Getting one’s ducks in a row
When I retired from my position as organist at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu at the end of 2012, I thought that for the first time since I was 15 (!) that I would have my Thursday nights back. You see, it was our good friend and business partner, Peter Hallock, who said, “God made… Read More A new generation
Seems like all we hear on the news is about COVID-19, the coronavirus which is spreading like wildfire and has affected over 80,000 people to date. Just yesterday, which was Ash Wednesday, I read Sarah Pulliam Bailey’s article on the Washington Post, “Sip from the common cup? On Ash Wednesday, coronavirus and the flu have… Read More Church culture and coronavirus
Lately it seems that my life is nothing but hosting one houseguest after another—my niece and nephew from Virginia are with me this weekend to attend a wedding in Honolulu. Already they represent (can you believe it!) my fourth set of houseguests since the 15th of January, and in a couple of weeks I’ll welcome… Read More Monica Czausz, concert organist
I’m going to be playing in the next First Mondays concert, March 2, at 7:00 pm at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, titled “The Court of Weissenfels,” which will feature music of the composers who worked there: Bach, Handel and Johann Philip Krieger (1649-1725). As you can see, the concert has an all-Star cast: I’m… Read More A day in Weissenfels
One of my tasks this weekend is to compile a list of all the foreign countries I’ve visited in the last ten years—it’s one of the questions on a visa application I’m filling out, in addition to answering whether I’ve ever been afflicted with a dangerous mental disorder, arrested or convicted for any offense, or… Read More Next stop, Russia!
”You mean, you would play your concert for only one or two people?” Indeed we would, and in fact, Jieun Kim Newland and I actually gave the Dueling Bach concert a total of five times (!) and luckily it has gotten easier each time. We did two run-throughs (in front of a few people) before… Read More Bach—the second time around
Much as I loved my little “box organ” from the workshop of Klaus Grüble which I purchased three years ago for my condo, I found it nigh impossible to play a significant part of the organ literature: music for three distinct voices or trios—music which necessitates two manuals and pedal. My baby organ has only… Read More Birch, cherry and plum
A number of people were not able to attend our January 18th concert, and since we put so much work into bringing the program to light (nearly a year’s worth of practice!) we have scheduled an ENCORE CONCERT this Saturday, February 1st at 3:00 pm at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1730 Punahou Street. Admission… Read More Dueling Bach -ENCORE!
Our “Dueling Bach” concert was a week ago, and I’m continuing to receive cards and emails thanking us for the experience. Dear Kathy – Last Saturday’s concert was superb — thank you. I loved the creativity of the arrangements and your comments. I particularly loved your partner’s tribute to you — well deserved, I’m sure… Read More Sheep may safely … baa, baa!