Just about eleven years ago, I wrote this post on March 26, 2011: … it was in 1971 that the church decided to commit itself to a music program that would make LCH a center for sacred music and a venue for classical music concerts. It was then that the decision to purchase the Beckerath… Read More A turning point
In the last couple of days, I have learned of the death of two organists, one well-known and the other, perhaps not so well known, but both loved by colleagues and others in their communities. I will write about the second person in a separate post. Joyce Jones had a most distinguished career, and you… Read More Well done, good and faithful servant
HONOLULU – Gov. David Ige announced that the state is ending the travel quarantine and the Safe Travels Hawaiʻi program after the current emergency period ends on Mar. 25. Beginning at 12:01 am, Mar. 26, passengers arriving from domestic points of origin will not have to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a pre-travel… Read More Mask on, mask off
In the midst of preparations for “Celebrating the Pipe Organ in Hawaii,” there’s been another responsibility on my plate: to help publicize a special video presentation for Early Music Hawaii which begins THIS FRIDAY, March 4th and runs through March 11th, with a group called Calextone (ca-lek-sto-neh). The program is called “The Age of Bococcio’s… Read More Calextone is gorgeous!
It’s only ONE WEEK AWAY from the onslaught of our “Celebrating the Pipe Organ in Hawaii” festival, and I have just finished updating the Hawaii Chapter American Guild of Organists website with the artist programs and bios. We’ll be having an Executive Board meeting tomorrow where we’ll be putting the finishing touches on all the… Read More Help, I’m drowning!
Sometimes you just have to shut the world out. Just as I was leaving last night to play the Bach and Prayer service came the notice that Russia had invaded Ukraine. My words to myself were “Just think CALM. Focus on the music.” I hated to admit it, but my pulse was starting to race,… Read More But, but, but …
Tonight is the Bach and Prayer service, which occurs on the fourth Wednesday of the month. It only lasts a half hour, and at least half of it is the music of Bach. I’ll be playing three chorale preludes from Bach’s Leipzig collection, also called the Great Eighteen. This morning as I was on my… Read More Bach as comfort
In six days’ time, I will be playing the monthly Bach and Prayer service at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:00 pm. All the music I have chosen comes from Bach’s collection of extended chorale preludes, The Great Eighteen or Leipzig Chorales. You might remember that in 2013… Read More Throwback to 2013
This morning organist Katelyn Emerson posted her performance of Jeanne Demessieux’s “Te Deum” on Facebook, and what I immediately zoned into were the shoes that Katelyn was wearing: stilettos! Katelyn writes: A little video on the 101st birthday of Jeanne Demessieux: her complete Te deum, a portion of which I had a privilege to record… Read More Organists in stilettos
In the last few days, this post on the Facebook Organists Association page has generated a lot of comments: Here are some of the comments: John Gouwens The best-endowed, wealthiest churches I know never came close to paying that! Sheer insanity!! Irmengard Jennings On what planet does an organist earn this much?! Walter Greenwood Of… Read More In your dreams!