This afternoon was Alcee Chriss’ phenomenal recital at Central Union Church, and all I could say about it is “Wow. Just Wow.” Calling him a virtuoso is woefully inadequate. Not only did he bring infinite colors to the tonal palette, his use of the organ and his jazzy improvisatory technique was so far beyond human… Read More Wow. Just Wow.
All of our rehearsals EXCEPT for the one with the University of Hawaii Chamber Singers have been completed and we are ready to go for Monday’s “Happy 337th Birthday, J. S. Bach” concert, March 21st at 7:00 pm at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. As it turned out, our planned rehearsal with the choir had… Read More Back to basics
I have to admit, I went to last night’s choral concert, “Hawai’i’s Choral Legacy” with a sense of obligation rather than just wanting to go. But I ended up completely impressed with both of the featured choral groups, The Purduettes from Purdue University and Na Wai, a local choir in residence at the University of… Read More A wall of sound
Yesterday was the halfway point, otherwise a Transition Day in our organ festival, “Celebrating the Pipe Organ in Hawaii.” It meant saying goodbye to Katelyn Emerson and her mom, Sue, as they flew to Lihue, Kaua‘i, for Katelyn’s upcoming concert at All Saints Episcopal Church, March 19. We then greeted Alcee Chriss and look forward… Read More Hello and goodbye
Those are the two words that came to mind as I was listening to Katelyn Emerson play her concert at Central Union Church this afternoon. Hers was an extremely elegant and sophisticated performance today, and the number of colors she got from the instrument was incredible, made possible by a huge quantity of piston changes… Read More Glorious elegance
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
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
I have an upcoming concert on March 21st that I’m spending a lot of my waking hours practicing for, and naturally, the program is all-Bach since March 21st is his 337th birthday. It’s the last concert in a weeklong festival celebrating the pipe organ in Hawaii, and I just sent off the brochure to the… Read More Best thing since sliced bread!
This photo which I posted on Facebook yesterday has already gotten over a hundred likes! The Hawaii Chapter AGO will be presenting a Mini Organ Festival from March 12-21, 2022. Featured will be Alcée Chriss and Katelyn Emerson playing the Rosales Organ at All Saints Kapa’a and the Aeolian-Skinner Organ at Central Union Church. In… Read More Mini Organ Festival
Carl decided to sleep in this morning so I came into Boston from Newton Centre all by myself. (You have to give me credit, as I am directionally-challenged!) One great perk of this American Guild of Organists convention is that in addition to the usual convention badge, convention book bag and convention program books (we… Read More Another day at the AGO Boston (marathon)