That organ music could be FUN?! Most people, unfortunately, associate organ music with the macabre, Phantom of the Opera, vampires dripping with blood, horror films and the like. Never in a million years would people think of music for the organ as cute or humorous. But that’s what tonight was all about, our Organists… Read More Whoever thought …
For the last week, my focus has been totally unmusical — I was in Burbank, California, attending the 50th anniversary of my high school graduation, the Class of 1968. As I was unwittingly a key member of the Reunion Committee, I was asked to give a short speech at the banquet—on two days’ notice! Fifty… Read More Switching gears
Guess I am getting a reputation for being a jet setter or a traveling gadabout because whenever I see people I haven’t seen in awhile, they ask the question, “Where are you traveling next?” Actually next week I am going to (gasp!) my 50th high school reunion! Yes, so now you can guess how old… Read More Remember the organist!
In his introduction to the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra concert, President Michael Titterton told us tonight would be “a life-changing experience!” You bet it was! I counted five standing ovations and five curtain calls! Tonight was American Guild of Organists (AGO) Night at the Symphony, with guest artist Cameron Carpenter. Listed in the program were Francis… Read More Five standing ovations and five curtain calls!
This weekend the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra is presenting organist Cameron Carpenter in two performances of the Poulenc “Concerto for Organ, Timpani & Strings” and the Saint-Säens “Symphony No. 3 ‘Organ.’” To my knowledge, it is the first time ever that the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra (or its predecessor, The Honolulu Symphony) has ever contracted an organist… Read More He ASKED for us!
Last week Tuesday (Sept. 11) I received the news that Whitney Thrall, retired piano professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, had died at age 96. My friend, Mark Russell, wrote this: Whitney passed away this afternoon very peacefully. It was the way he wanted to go. He didn’t wake up and just slowly… Read More Last one standing
If you had gone to the Early Music Hawaii concert Saturday night, you may have seen this little blurb in the program: Upcoming concert of interest to Early Music lovers: Organists 1-2-3: Music for One, Two and Three Organs. For the first time in Hawaii, concertgoers will have the rare opportunity to experience music for one,… Read More Shameless self-promotion!
Wh-a-a-t? I’m not on an organ tour anymore, where we typically visit three churches a day, but I’ve been chauffeuring my sister’s duo (The Braeded Chord) to various church venues for their gigs. On Thursday, they joined the jazz ensemble at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in a Jazz Vespers where The Rev. Diane Martinson, my… Read More Six churches in four days!
So observed Ian Capps at last night’s Early Music Hawaii concert, “Treasures of the French Baroque.” Here is the letter Ian wrote to last night’s performers: Congratulations, you did it again! Our faithful audience… was introduced to a completely new repertory and loved it. Not a soul left at the intermission, as far as I… Read More No one left at intermission!
Last Thursday, my sister, Doris Au MacDonald and her musical partner, Sharon Dennis, (aka The Braeded Chord) arrived for a 12-day concert tour in Hawaii. I can hardly believe that it has been ten years since their last tour here—it was at that time they introduced the Alleluia Mass setting of the communion service to the congregation… Read More The Braeded Chord in Hawaii week