Last night was the Kauai Chorale Chamber Choir’s concert at Lihue Union Church, and as you can see, there was a good crowd despite it being a Thursday night. I would call this true dedication to choral music, the Kauai Chorale and to Morris Wise, their Director. The 15-voice ensemble sang from the balcony where… Read More True dedication
The day started out poorly, with me barely getting to the airport at the last minute, then whipping out my mobile boarding pass to show to the TSA agent, only to have him say, “This is for the WRONG airport!” You see, I had forgotten to delete the boarding pass from Sunday’s Kona to Honolulu… Read More Wrong airport! Wrong gate!
That was the title of a desperate email I sent to Tim Carney, director of the Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble, when I came to try out the organ in the Mystical Rose Oratory this afternoon. The morning started out innocently enough … I began the day with my usual morning walk, then as I was… Read More Houston, we have a problem!
I am now at the gate at Kona Airport, having just finished the performance of Handel Messiah with the Kona Choral Society. I had forgotten how many notes fly by in the course of even doing the Christmas portion, plus the “Worthy is the Lamb” and “Amen” choruses. I mean, by even blinking you risk… Read More A whole lotta notes!
Last night was the Organ Plus concert with Jieun Kim Newland and our fantastic instrumentalists: Charles Coldwell, Luke Reed, Darel Stark and Sara Ricer. I have to say that the audience was extraordinarily quiet and attentive. No one talked, no one’s phone went off, and no dogs barked! (As happened in last month’s First Monday… Read More One down, four to go!
When you met your significant other, did you have “a song,” that reminded you of each other? Maybe it was the music that you were both drawn to, or perhaps the text was especially meaningful. In the case of Carl Crosier and myself, ‘our song’ was the famed Albinoni (sic) “Adagio,” which we listened to… Read More Playing ‘Our Song’
It’s now five days before Thanksgiving and my frozen turkey is safely thawing in my refrigerator. I will be cooking this year and will have 8 people around the table. Once that is over, the Christmas season will be in full swing, and look out! I will be playing five concerts, four services (that I… Read More The PLUS in Organ PLUS+
St. Cecilia is the patron saint of music and her feast day is celebrated on November 22 by Catholic and Orthodox churches. While the details of her story may be apocryphal, her existence and martyrdom are considered a historical fact. She is said to have been beheaded with a sword. An early church, Santa Cecilia,… Read More On St. Cecilia’s Day
Readers of this blog know that for the past four years I have attended the marvelous Three Choirs Festival in England. In talking with scores of festival-goers I have come to find out that many are musicians in their own right, but that they come yearly to be inspired by the heavenly music, “the world’s… Read More Who knew what people do in real life?
Of all the occasions for which I play, the times when I play for funerals are the most personally enjoyable and most meaningful. I often like to find out about the deceased, and then choose music accordingly. There is no one music which “fits all,” and is appropriate for all funerals. By choosing the right… Read More The musician as comforter