Bravi, tutti! This was the title of an email we performers received from Scott Fikse, director of Saturday’s “Baroque France” concert, and newly-appointed President for Early Music Hawaii. We were especially encouraged by the large and enthusiastic crowd that filled the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. Scott wrote: Congratulations to all of you on a splendid… Read More Bravi, tutti!
This weekend, Sophia Stark will be singing with the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra (HSO) in a concert featuring the music from Disney musicals. I believe the last post I wrote about Sophia was when she did a fundraiser for the HSO back in 2022 (“Sophia’s Night”) on her way to study at the Manhattan School of… Read More Amazing Sophia!
The Early Music Hawaii concert, “Rome 1600,” is now over, and here are my thoughts: When I saw the words “Singers Circle” on the rehearsal schedule for our pre-concert warmup, I had no idea what it was, never having heard this term before. Most of us performers met in Isenberg Hall just prior to entering… Read More Singers Circle
As you may recall from my last post, last week I played for 5 church services. This week I have 5 evening rehearsals (4 for Early Music Hawaii and 1 for St. Mark’s). Tonight was the instrumental rehearsal for Early Music Hawaii. I am scheduled to teach 5 organ lessons this week. I will play… Read More Magic number 5!
Maybe you, like I did, read the story in the Washington Post this morning, “On Martin Luther King Day, nine facts about him that may surprise you.” Of course, this is the fact that jumped out at me: His mother was also assassinated Just six years later, his mother, Alberta Williams King, was also assassinated.… Read More Martin Luther King Jr.’s mother
The night before last, I attended “Sophia’s Symphonic Send-off,” a fundraiser for the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, featuring Sophia Stark, the daughter of Darel and Georgine Stark, shortly before she travels to Tennessee for the national Miss Teen Volunteer American Pageant. In the fall, Sophia will also be attending Manhattan School of Music in New York… Read More Sophia’s night
Those eleven minutes of terror happened in tonight’s First Mondays concert, “La camera y la chiesa,” in which violinist Darel Stark and I played the “Violin Sonata in G minor” by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. I’m not even sure I took a breath during that work! The piece begins at about 33 minutes and 26… Read More 11 minutes of terror!
Question: How many people does it take to play a trio sonata? Answer: 4 Huh? I thought a trio meant 3! Nope! That’s because the bass line requires two players, in this case, a cello plus a keyboard instrument to fill out the harmonies (harpsichord or organ). Here’s what Brittanica says on the subject: Trio… Read More When 3=4
Yesterday the Early Music Hawaii board made the difficult decision to postpone the September 11th all-Josquin concert. Here is the message from Ian Capps, president of Early Music Hawaii: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT Dear Lovers of Early Music: Given the sudden and serious developments in COVID infections here and the uncertainty of whether gatherings will be further… Read More Blame the delta variant
In the last week, I have stepped up my practice for two concerts I’m playing soon. September 6, First Mondays Concert. “La Camera e la Chiesa”, 7:00 pm, Music by Antonio Lotti, J. S. Bach, Henry Purcell, C.P.E. Bach and Arcangelo Corelli. In addition to myself on organ and harpsichord, I will be joined by… Read More Every … single … note!