Tonight Carl and I hosted a reception for the patrons of the Bach B-Minor Mass and the Abendmusiken Concerts—individuals and organizations who have given contributions of $1,000 or more. I guess it was Carl who came up with the name “Bach Crest Circle.” Five years ago, Carl said he would have fixed all the food… Read More Bach Crest Circle
Those were Carl’s words at the end of tonight’s dress rehearsal for the Bach Mass in B Minor. Tonight was the first time we went straight through the piece, from beginning to end, and did not stop except where we will have an intermission in the concert. Carl got so excited, though, in the final… Read More We did it!
Those were Carl’s words after the rehearsal with the orchestra tonight. “The orchestra is finally responding to me, and is getting into the style.” Tonight we worked primarily on Part II, beginning with the Credo. Everything seemed a little easier tonight. Even the sopranos popped their high Bs with ease. Carl said, “There are… Read More “Finally settling in”
I mentioned in yesterday’s post that Noe Tanigawa had interviewed Carl Crosier and recorded part of the orchestra rehearsal last night for a “sound bite.” The story will air on Hawaii Public Radio on Friday, May 13th. Turn on your radio on Friday to: 88.1 FM Friday 7:30am and 4:30pm, or 89.3 FM between 8-9 and… Read More Thank you, Hawaii Public Radio!
We didn’t get home last night until 11 pm from transforming the church into a concert hall, so it was pretty hard getting up this morning at our usual 5 am. We had to make one more airport run to pick up bass David Newman, who flew in from Washington, DC. Carl has contracted David… Read More David Newman and the first orchestra rehearsal
On Sunday after the 10:30 am service, we began the transformation of the church into a concert hall. The first step was to bring the extra platforms down from over the Board Room, and to move the continuo organ off the elevated floor. Yes, that means I will not be playing the big organ and… Read More Bach Week begins
Our historic performances of Bach’s Mass in B Minor are only a week away, and I thought I’d give you some instructions and explain our personalized system of ticketing. First of all, I would like to encourage everyone to arrive early so that you’re not looking for parking at the last moment. We are asking… Read More Your program is your ticket
I found an interesting article today, on the health benefits of singing in a choir. The article was written by a health educator and a music professor, and is called “Choral Singing Beneficial for Body and Soul.” It was published by the England’s Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health. “Singers reported… Read More Music IS medicine
“You guys need a break from Bach!” our friends Michael Kleinschmidt and Marc Aubertin said to us last night while having dinner at our condo. Carl thinks he first met Michael while he was the assistant organist to Gerre Hancock at St. Thomas on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Michael then moved to Boston,… Read More A break from Bach
Carl asked this question of the choristers after tonight’s rehearsal. “Are you ready to meet the orchestra next week?” Everyone shook their heads together, “NOOOO!” What was scheduled to be the last choral rehearsal before meeting the orchestra on Monday is going to turn out to be the “next to the last” rehearsal. We will… Read More “Are you ready?”