Last night, I went to the Compline service at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, and after talking with director Scott Fikse afterwards, it seems that the “old” Compline is back! Well, at least it’s back on a once-a-month basis. There were so many familiar elements: the procession, the prayers, the chants, the final preces by… Read More “Old” Compline is back!
Did you know that the phrase, “warts and all,” is attributed to Oliver Cromwell, in his instructions to the portrait artist, Sir Peter Lely? According to the Free Dictionary, Cromwell ordered Lely “not to flatter him, but to paint him with any and all physicial imperfections . . . “warts and all.” Nowadays, when we… Read More Warts and all
Yesterday I have to admit that the period between 5:30 and 6:15 pm was pretty frantic. I actually had a relaxing day, as my only task was to find a piece of jewelry to wear to dress up my outfit. And I finally found it—an opal-esque pendant from Walmart that only cost $5! However it took… Read More Clavierübung—so many notes!
Tonight was the dress rehearsal for my Bach Clavierübung concert and I am happy to report there were no train wrecks—at least in my part! As you will see in the program, this body of Bach’s chorale preludes are among his most complex and technically demanding of all his organ works. Thirty-seven years ago, Carl Crosier… Read More No train wrecks!
As I was eating breakfast and scanning today’s newspaper, I was wondering whether there would be any notice of my organ concert on Sunday. And lest I had any doubt, when I turned to page 19 in the TGIF Entertainment section, there among ads for new cocktails, trick-or-treat cakes, all you can eat shabu shabu, free… Read More I was wondering … YOWSER!
Okay, I’m going out on a limb here—I am including two sing-along pieces at my Bach Clavierübung concert, this Sunday night, October 30th at 7:00 pm at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. What? You mean I have to sing at this concert? And in German?! Let me explain. I am presenting this wonderful collection of Bach’s… Read More Organ concert sing-along?
Yes, after four days away from Hawaii, I’m definitely back to work—practicing my Bach concert, of course, but I now have some added responsibilities. For the last two Tuesdays, I have been playing chapel services for the St. Andrew’s Schools. When John Renke resigned from St. Andrew’s Cathedral earlier in the month, he also resigned… Read More Bach to work!
I am sure that I have told you before that my siblings and I grew up without television. Oh, it was not because my parents were opposed to it—it was because our house was located in an area where television antennas would not have been able to pick up a signal, and this was in… Read More Family fun
As I get on the plane to Los Angeles tonight, I would like to answer any questions you may have about my upcoming Bach Clavierübung concert, which will be Sunday, October 30th at 7:00 pm at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. First of all, the time of the concert. Yes, I know that there is a… Read More In case you had questions…
During this election season, we’ve heard a lot about stamina and the endurance needed in a presidential candidate. Stamina and endurance are definitely what I need to get through my Bach concert next week! Especially when you consider all those thousands of sixteenth notes that I’ll be playing, I keep thinking of that famous quip in the… Read More An audience of one