It was at St. Mark’s All Saints Day service on Friday night when I heard the news. Oh, I expected and heard the name of Jeff Lilley, the long-time pastor of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, who died suddenly on October 13th just before the service. But what was a total shock was hearing the… Read More RIP Mother Jodene
It was bad enough that the total flying time from Honolulu to London was 15 hours, plus a 2-1/2 hour layover in San Francisco. On Thursday morning, I got up at 5:00 am to be ready for a morning flight to SFO, and arrived the next day about 1:00 pm London time—watching two movies and… Read More Sleepless in the U.K.
It seems like it’s been ages ago, but way back on December 4, 2021, I got a text message: Dan’s live concert beginning 7:30. Dan will be [in] the first 4 songs with his choir. Then there was a link to the University of Oregon’s Chamber Choir and University Singers concert. Unfortunately, the link to… Read More The next generation
Once in a while the secular world gets a peek into the world of church music … and that happens whenever there is a state funeral. Today the world got a peek into the best of Anglican church music at the funeral of Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II for 73 years. I understand… Read More Once in a while
Today is Easter Day 2021, and we took a step towards normalcy. Oh, this doesn’t mean I played for church as normal as I didn’t play a single note on the organ today, since I recorded my organ voluntaries and the hymns over two weeks ago! What seemed almost “normal” was to see my long-time… Read More A step towards normal?!
Even though Easter is not until April 4, this morning I recorded the music for Easter—trumpeter Russell Ishida and I are joining forces to perform John Stanley’s Trumpet Voluntary, three verses of EASTER HYMN with a descant on the last verse by Dale Wood, and a trumpet and organ arrangement of Rigaudon by Andre Campra.… Read More Early Easter?!
I’m always excited when I find musical or other special answers in the newspaper crossword puzzle which I have been doing daily for the last fifteen years or so. In the past I have found words like ORGAN, ORGANIST, BACH and even CROSIER. Today’s clue was “Sang _______; without accompaniment” and the answer was A… Read More The perils of singing “a cappella”
This afternoon I am enjoying a virtual performance by the early music choral ensembles, Stile Antico, presented by the Boston Early Music Festival. Stile Antico is one of the world’s finest vocal ensembles, renowned for vibrant and expressive performances of music from the Renaissance. The concert was posted on the Boston Early Music Festival website… Read More All in the family
I never knew that my post about Lady Gaga’s performance of the National Anthem at President Biden’s inauguration would have received so many comments! Many people absolutely loved the mixed meter version of this song, and Lady Gaga’s interpretation of it, and others absolutely hated it! Here is a sampling of some of the comments… Read More Self-expression or a corporate creed?
The national anthem of the United States was on display today at the inauguration of Joseph R. Biden Jr., the 46th President of the country. Notoriously difficult to sing, the anthem has an unusually wide range of an octave and a half, and is usually pitched in the key of B-flat, with the lowest note… Read More The national anthem like no other