This is the week that was . . . sigh. Five different choirs in at least as many days! Last night (Tuesday), I had a late rehearsal with the Honolulu Handbell Ensemble at St. Theresa’s, which is performing with the Hawaii Sacred Choir on Saturday. Then this afternoon, I was at home working on a… Read More Five Choirs in Five Days!
A few weeks ago, we went into an art gallery at Aloha Tower Marketplace and I saw an especially striking and memorable painting. The artist depicted scenes in which real people are “shadowed” by important figures in their history. I remember one particular painting in which there is a young child with her teacher at… Read More Mr. Regnal Hall, 1926-2010
Today a number of people at church mentioned that they had seen my name in yesterday’s newspaper. In a story about the newly-formed Hawaii Sacred Choir, I was listed as the organist for this group which will debut next Saturday, December 11th, in their 3pm concert at St. Theresa’s Cathedral. Yes, it’s true, and I… Read More The Part Time Church Musician
After a super busy weekend filled with rehearsals and the TONS of music we did for Advent I and Advent Procession, “The Great ‘O’ Antiphons,” (plus Thanksgiving thrown in there), this week has no extra rehearsals or concerts and is somewhat of a relief. I say only, somewhat, because I finally got around to doing the… Read More The calm before the storm
You would think, after doing Advent Procession of Lessons and Carols for thirty-six years in a row (I know that previously we said this was the 35th, but in actuality, it was the 36th), that we would have learned certain important lessons. But Sunday night, they came home to roost. The lessons we learned were:… Read More Advent Lessons Learned
I forgot to mention that in addition to the four pieces of Peter Hallock that the choir is singing at 10:30 am on the First Sunday of Advent, and the seven pieces of “The Great ‘O’ Antiphons,” at 7:30 pm, there is yet ANOTHER Hallock piece we are doing on Sunday night—”Behold, a mighty Prophet.”… Read More Behold, a mighty Prophet
Today is Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday of the year! Last night, the Lutheran Church of Honolulu and our Episcopal neighbors at St. Clement’s had a joint service as has been our custom for a number of years. We alternate venues so last night was St. Clement’s turn to host. That means the clergy… Read More It’s Thanksgiving
It’s Thanksgiving week, which means that LCH choir rehearsal is moved to Tuesday, because even if God made Thursdays for choir practice, Thanksgiving always takes precedence! Dress rehearsal for Advent Procession is always the Saturday before, which means we have two rehearsals this week. On the back of the “O” Antiphon bulletin, it says that… Read More The Great “O” Antiphons
I just typed Sunday’s bulletin, the one for the First Sunday in Advent, and we are singing four pieces by composer Peter Hallock in the service! The four compositions will include The Advent Litany, Psalm 122, the Gospel Acclamation (“Show us your mercy, O Lord”) and the anthem, “The Dawning” on a poem by Henry… Read More Hallock in Hawaii
When I was in college, my theory teacher used to have a saying about church organists and their weekly preparation of preludes, postludes, hymns and other incidental music, “like grinding out sausages every week.” This week my sausage-grinding has taken me more work than usual, and I’ve had to “woodshed” several pieces of music. The… Read More The musical art of woodshedding