The following post in the Facebook Organists Association page elicited many responses: Anthony Williams wrote: I have a question for the church musicians. Are you using brass for Easter? Usually, we have a brass quartet, however, with the pandemic we are deciding tonight whether or not to use brass. Any thoughts or suggestions would be… Read More Brass on Easter?
My absolute favorite moment of Fritz Fritschel’s memorial service came when we sang the Hymn of the Day, the tune BRYN CALFARIA, sung to Fritz’s text. The hymn is a Welsh tune written by William Owen and was supposedly written by Owen on a piece of slate while on his way to work at the… Read More Bryn Calfaria and Deep River
That’s what Iolani School teacher Lisa Preston posted about Joey Fala’s concert last night. “It was positively glorious! What a treat to hear this; if you’re not a fan of organ music, he’d convert you for sure. I was his class adviser for six years, and now he’s all grown up and the rock star… Read More The rock star of the organ world!
I am a hopeless political junkie and we are once again in one of my favorite news cycles —a presidential campaign. I just love the debates, the polls, and the talk shows. And of course there’s a lot of talk about blue states and red states, liberals and conservatives, progressives and establishment. But this weekend, blue and red will… Read More Blue and red
“I hate this piece!” That’s what one of my organ students told me at her lesson yesterday, not just once, but several times.”I hate this piece! It’s just so hard!” Yes, this is a difficult piece for an organist to play, but one of those “must learn, must do” pieces for organists, since so many… Read More “Hallelujah” Chorus
I recently overheard someone was looking forward to hearing the upcoming Duruflé Requiem but wasn’t so excited about hearing a new work by American composer Frank Ferko (born 1950) which is on the first half of the program. This person was perhaps thinking of the stereotype of “modern music” which is highly dissonant, with no… Read More Not bug music!
You remember the legend of Sisyphus, don’t you?Sisyphus was a bad king whose punishment for his deceitfulness was to push a huge boulder up a hill, only to see it roll back to the bottom again. I had recalled this Greek myth in a prior post about playing Jeremiah Clarke’s Trumpet Voluntary over and over and over… Read More Bridging the Centuries
Father William Kunisch was kind enough to send me the text of his funeral sermon for Carl Crosier, and I am happy to share it with you here. Homily for Carl Crosier’s Funeral Mass What makes a person leave everything they have, everything they know, everything familiar to them and set out on a new… Read More A life of faith and music
On Sunday we entertained our first guests, er, they entertained us since my husband, Carl Crosier, was released to hospice care in our home. It was The Stark Family, who put on a most enjoyable mini-concert with all four members of the family either singing or playing. I must tell you, it was really great to hear… Read More At home mini-concert
In the last few days, we have received scores of emails, text messages, cards and letters from colleagues, former choristers, friends and family from all over the country as my husband, Carl Crosier, enters hospice care. We would like to express our thanks that we travel not alone — but with the prayers, love and support… Read More With grateful hearts