This is my last week in Honolulu before embarking on my summer travel. I had one last gig this morning—substituting for Gloria Faltstrom, organist at Waiokeola Congregational Church, and home to the Heissler tracker organ. Waiokeola is also the parish church of a former student of mine, Andrew Moore, the grandson of Bud Klein, the… Read More Boston on the brain!
Last night at Orvis Auditorium, the start of internationally-acclaimed baritone Matthias Goerne‘s recital was delayed for forty minutes! We were given the explanation that the accompanist, Alexander Schmalcz, wanted to have a few notes on the piano “fixed,” and that the technician was at dinner in Restaurant Row. Of course this led us to question… Read More People cheered …!
You wouldn’t ordinarily laugh during a classical concert, but a lot of people couldn’t help themselves last Saturday night at the “Think Outside the Bach” concert. It came during Michal Nowicki‘s reading of PDQ Bach’s biography (in his beautifully accented English), who is described by PDQ’s creator, Peter Schickele as “the son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Anna… Read More You wouldn’t ordinarily laugh …
Sometime ago I came up with the idea that filling in for another organist was akin to cooking in someone else’s kitchen! You know what to do, you just don’t know where anything is, or how things work — like one of the most important things to figure out is how to turn the organ… Read More In someone else’s kitchen
For some reason, the viola has become a butt of many jokes. According to Wikipedia: Viola jokes are jokes directed towards violas and viola players. Viola jokes are thought to have originated in the 18th century, when viola parts were often simple and thus amenable to untalented musicians. Some examples: Pity the poor violist. Except… Read More Not a viola joke
I may have mentioned once or twice (!) that I come from a musical family. My mother won a piano in a music competition when she was in high school and had to make the hard decision to choose between music or going to medical school (she became a pediatrician but went back to playing… Read More Music runs in families
One of the first things I teach my young students is what to do after your piece is finished: Press the CANCEL button! That is to prevent any “oopsies!” if you touch a key by mistake. But, in spite of all my good intentions, at the end of the opening number (Hallelujah Chorus) from last… Read More Caught up in the moment
This story caught my eye this morning: From APNews: (click the link to read the complete story) The Handel & Haydn Society performs its rendition of Mozart’s “Masonic Funeral” at Symphony Hall in Boston. Photo: Chris Petre-Baumer/Handel & Haydn Society via AP Orchestra searching for child who charmed crowd with ‘wow!’ By WILLIAM J. KOLE… Read More Innocent joy
This coming Friday night, I’ll be accompanying the Iolani School Chorus and Hokulea Singers in their spring concert under director John Alexander. The opening work is the famous “Hallelujah” Chorus by George Frideric Handel, which you’re more likely to hear at Christmas rather than in Eastertide. I recommend you read “The Glorious History of Handel’s… Read More Messiah at Easter
Composer Peter Hallock’s earthly life came to an end, and it was fitting that I participated in a quarterly meeting of the Peter R. Hallock Institute today by videoconference. Facebook reminded me of this anniversary by posting this photo to my news feed. The photo of Peter Hallock and Carl Crosier was actually taken nine… Read More Five years ago today