Last night, the First Mondays Chamber Concerts at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu scheduled “A Festival of Carols in Brass.” At the intermission, there was supposed to be a carol sing-along, with Barry Wenger at the organ. However, early yesterday morning, I received this text message from Barry: Here was my answer: I spent the… Read More To the rescue!
I had planned to be away for this Diamond Jubilee birthday, so I booked a trip to Japan, to be able to take in the Bach Collegium Japan concert. As it turned out, however, I returned last Monday, several days before my actual birthday because I didn’t want to be gone longer than a week.… Read More Prehistoric!
A well crafted program that was executed masterfully. A priceless performance. As the first concert of this season, this was probably the best concert that was presented in years. The program and quality of singers have vastly improved with depth and richness not heard in years. I believe that this is a good sign for… Read More Dedicated to Ian …
Last weekend was the 50th anniversary of the dedicatory concerts by McNeil Robinson at the Beckerath organ of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, which in itself is an auspicious occasion — but whatʻs REALLY SCARY is that I was there in person, fifty years ago! Yikes! There were two dedication concerts, but since so much… Read More Fifty years later
Ever since Easter, I have been beyond busy and have been juggling so many balls in the air that this is the first time in many weeks that I’m able to sit down and write this post. By far, the project that has consumed more than 60 hours (and counting!) of my time has been… Read More Beyond busy …
In last night’s memorial service for Pastor Jeff Lilley, following his sudden death, he was described by his son, Seth as: a pastor, a chef, a handyman, a woodworker, a sailor, a therapist, a painter, a musician, a protector, a bouncer when necessary, a driver, an EMT, a mechanic, an electrician, a plumber, a photographer,… Read More Larger than life
Yesterday, the Lutheran Church of Honolulu (my former parish), posted this on their Facebook page: Many people were in shock and grieving, even those outside of the LCH family. These are some of the comments as shared on Facebook: I am shocked and in grief at the sudden passing of pastor and friend Jeff Lilley… Read More Grieving
No question, the performances at organists’ conventions are the best of the best, AND these performers are at the top of their game. We heard two of best this afternoon, Ken Cowan from Rice University and Peter Sykes from Juilliard and Boston University. Ken Cowan played a gorgeous E. M. Skinner organ (1925/1928) at Trinity… Read More Connections
“It’s what musicians do.” That’s what Marie Lickwar said on Wednesday night, when I was at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, my former parish, along with scores of others. It was a benefit concert for the victims of the Maui wildfires, and was presented by jazz and classical musicians in addition to members of the… Read More Music for Maui
I think it was already Wednesday when I decided to have a dinner party Friday. That was last night, when I invited the German organ builders, Hans-Ulrich Erbslöh and Bernd Becker, along with Barry Wenger and Steve Hoover, plus Frank and Sue Haas, who are hosting Hans in their home in Kailua. Barry, as you… Read More Last minute dinner party