The Sunday after Easter is sometimes referred to as Low Sunday. One website described it this way: The word “low” may serve to contrast it with the “high” festival of Easter on the preceding Sunday. Or, the word “low” may be a corruption of the Latin word laudes, the first word of a sequence used in… Read More The week after Easter
At Christmas time I stayed two nights on the island of Kauai, where I played a concert with the Kauai Chorale, under the leadership of Shane Morris Wise. I told you about my rude awakening at 3 am in the morning when roosters began crowing. Go back and read my post, “No paltry amount of… Read More As if on cue …
“Masterful.” That was my reaction at Sunday afternoon’s organ recital by James Kealey, the winner of the 2022 American Guild of Organists National Young Artists Competition in Organ Playing. James exploited the colors of the organ, and while sometimes the registrations were a bit boisterous, his playing kept me on the edge of my seat!… Read More “Masterful”
Prizewinning organist, James Kealey, is in Hawaii to present a couple of concerts for the Hawaii Chapter American Guild of Organists and was interviewed by Gene Schiller this morning at Hawaii Public Radio. James said that when he was growing up, he wanted to be an airline pilot, and even started studying geography in preparation… Read More James Kealey in Hawaii
Yesterday I woke up to a text on my phone that our dear friend, organist and harpist Nyle Hallman, had passed away. That was confirmed in a phone call with her daughter, Kathy Hallman, who was her mother’s constant companion, page turner and harp mover. We send our deepest condolences to the Hallman family at… Read More Rest in peace, Nyle
I am soooo sorry that we English speakers have such inadequate words to express ourselves! Maybe it would be better if I said it in Spanish instead! ¡GUAU GUAU GUAU! This afternoon was Caroline Robinson’s organ concert at Central Union Church and right off the bat she opened with a stunning performance of Anne Wilson’s… Read More Caroline. WOW WOW WOW!
It’s not often that there are organ recitals in Hawaii. The Hawaii Chapter of the American Guild of Organists sponsors one recitalist per year, and that person plays a concert in Honolulu and another concert on a neighbor island. But this week, there will be TWO organ recitals on Oahu! Tomorrow night, the new organist… Read More Organ concerts galore
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.
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