Do you know what a “palindrome” is? It’s a word or phrase that reads the same backwards or forwards. Some single word examples are redivider, deified, civic, radar, level, rotor, kayak, reviver, racecar, redder, madam, and refer. Here are some famous palindromic phrases: Eva, Can I Stab Bats In A Cave? A Man, A Plan,… Read More Madam, I’m Adam
In my last post, “A leap of faith,” I wrote about the beginnings of our Annual Organ Concert series, and how it all started with the concert with Paul Jacobs in 2006. Since then we have hosted twelve more annual organ concerts of “rising stars” — you can see a list of the artists here.… Read More Meet Adam Pajan
Fourteen years ago, our Hawai’i Chapter of the American Guild of Organists took a leap of faith when it decided to present organist Paul Jacobs for a concert. I had been absolutely wowed by Paul’s performance at St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City and vowed to have him come to Hawaii for a concert.… Read More A leap of faith
Are you sure you didn’t mean Buxtehude’s Passacaglia in D minor? Everyone knows Bach’s monumental Passacaglia is in C minor — in fact I know the piece so well because I played it on my master’s recital. So yesterday when I went to Dan Werning‘s organ recital at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church yesterday, my ears perked… Read More Bach’s Passacaglia in D minor?!
Today I filled in for organist Gloria Faltstrom at Waiokeola Congregational Church. When I came to practice last Tuesday, I was given enlarged photocopies of the hymns. Smaller versions were also printed in the Sunday bulletin which I picked up this morning before the service. The last hymn was not familiar to me—at least I… Read More Familiarity breeds … confusion!
The term “bespoke” is not widely known in the U.S. — in fact the first time I heard the word was last summer when I was with my friend, Joan Ishibashi, former Hawaii resident who now lives in London. This week I had to use the word “bespoke” in a Google search, as in “bespoke… Read More Bespoke
Yesterday I was sent a recording of a simple melody which was written by a former student who asked me to transcribe it. What is transcribing music? In music, transcription can mean notating a piece or a sound which was previously unnotated, as, for example, an improvised jazz solo. … Transcription may also mean rewriting a piece of music, either… Read More Transcribing music by ear
“The sackbuts are coming!” is a post I wrote back in 2015 and should tell you everything you need to know about the early trombone. That’s when I wrote: The sack . . . what? Is that kind of a joke? Can you imagine your kid coming home from school and saying, “Mom and dad,… Read More The sackbuts are coming … Round 3!
The term “Executive Time” has been in the news a lot lately, and I’m afraid I’ve been a victim of the retirement blues—with nothing to do! My “retirement” consisted of a daily 2 mile walk, doing crossword and sudoku puzzles, working on my Spanish, teaching organ lessons, but a lot of binge-watching television. I felt… Read More No more retirement blues!
Over the past six months or so, my sleeping-waking schedule has changed. I’ve found myself staying up late (11:30 pm or after) binge-watching my favorite TV shows on Acorn TV: Doc Martin, 800 Words, Foyle’s War, A Place to Call Home, Midsomer’s Murders and lately, Where the Heart is. Since I usually don’t have appointments… Read More Play something—quick!