[UPDATE] By now, the whole world has heard about the devastating wildfires on the island of Maui, here in Hawaii, and the horrific fires which have completely flattened the historic town of Lahaina, with 93 persons confirmed dead and nearly 3,000 buildings destroyed. Among those buildings lost was Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, a parish of… Read More RIP Beckerath organ in Maui
A few days ago, I received an email from my friend and former organist duet partner, Jieun Kim Newland. Hi Kathy, A good friend of mine, Russell Weismann is visiting Honolulu. He and I studied together at ISM (Institute of Sacred Music). He is a fabulous organist and is teaching at Georgetown University. Russ is also… Read More Distinguished visitor
Hans-Ulrich Erbslöh, who first came to Hawaii nearly 50 years ago to install the Beckerath organ, is back in town, along with his assistant, Bernd Becker, to service the two organs in the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, in addition to the J. W. Walker organ at St. Christopher’s Kailua; the Beckerath organ at Holy Innocents,… Read More The German organbuilders are here!
The latest bulletin board in the courtyard of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu focuses on the history of the music program with special focus on the Rudolf von Beckerath organ and organ concerts which have been held at the church since 1975. You may or may not know that Carol Langner, whom I call the… Read More Queen of the Bulletin Boards
I am in Washington as I write this … it’s the morning of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral and the Lutheran Church of Honolulu’s chosen candidate for Director of Music and Organist has just announced it on Facebook: Sometimes, life is very clear that it is time to move on. This felt right and a new opportunity… Read More Moving on
Congratulations to you and Jieun on a magnificent finale to your organ week! Not only was the music beautiful, it is amazing how the two of you can stay so perfectly in synch throughout long periods of complex music. (Ian Capps) Thank you for all your work preparing the concert last evening. I was struck with… Read More Zimbelcam?
This morning Katelyn Emerson and I woke up early to get ready for a class she was going to be teaching at nearby St. Andrew’s Schools—a demonstration of the Aeolian-Skinner organ at St. Andrew’s Cathedral for the girls in the Lower School Choir. You’ll know from my previous posts that the organ is in bad… Read More Ambassador for the organ
Just about eleven years ago, I wrote this post on March 26, 2011: … it was in 1971 that the church decided to commit itself to a music program that would make LCH a center for sacred music and a venue for classical music concerts. It was then that the decision to purchase the Beckerath… Read More A turning point
In the last few days, this post on the Facebook Organists Association page has generated a lot of comments: Here are some of the comments: John Gouwens The best-endowed, wealthiest churches I know never came close to paying that! Sheer insanity!! Irmengard Jennings On what planet does an organist earn this much?! Walter Greenwood Of… Read More In your dreams!
Let me tell you —It’s been a rough week! I’m writing this in the lobby of United Airlines at Honolulu International Airport as I wait for my flight to Seattle. I have always been a lousy sleeper but this week takes the cake. The pseudo-jet lag is like when I’ve just come back from Europe,… Read More Sleepless in Honolulu