“Vinikour makes a concert an experience, in the very best sense of the word. His playing excites the ear.” (Christian Science Monitor) If you are a Hawaii Symphony subscriber, you know that harpsichordist and conductor, Jory Vinikour, is in Honolulu to perform movements from Handel Messiah and the Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 this weekend,… Read More Jory Vinikour, harpsichordist and conductor
This morning Ben and Jieun Newland took me to see Organ Mountains, near Las Cruces, New Mexico, declared a national Park only in 2014. Also called La Sierra de los Órganos, the rugged mountain range was so named because someone thought that the jagged peaks looked like organ pipes??? To us organists we couldn’t see… Read More Organ Mountains?
For some reason, I felt like saying this in Latin, “de profundis.” I feel like I’ve been to the abyss and back. However, it’s not because of any “sorrow or anguish” on my part. Why? On Tuesday I had my Covid booster shot and although I had been warned that some people were more deeply… Read More De profundis
It’s easy to categorize organists as natural multi-taskers. After all, in order to play a fugue, for example, you have to be able to play and hear every single voice phrased and articulated simultaneously. That means that you are hearing and playing at least four melodies at the same time, all starting at different time… Read More The perils of multi-tasking
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!
Yesterday I was getting ready to go practice at the church when I received an email from Mairi Manley, the Administrative Coordinator from Nu‘uanu Congregational Church: Hello Everyone-The medical team and Diaconate met last night. Due to the concern of the active Covid cases, hospitalizations, hospitals at or near maximum capacity, they have decided to… Read More Back to virtual reality
I have been so glued to my computer the last few days that today I feel like I’m coming up for air, finally a chance to breathe. Last night, I really knew I was overwhelmed with work when I realized it was 9:00 pm and I realize that I haven’t yet read the morning newspaper,… Read More Coming up for air
Tonight was the debut of a new duet partnership — myself with Scott Fikse, the director of Early Music Hawaii! Oh, we have collaborated in quite a few ways, with me playing the organ and he conducting, as we did as recently as last December when I played the Advent Organ Chorales concert (“Do you still… Read More A new duet partner!
We know that the pandemic has changed our lifestyles in many ways, but none so more as in our ways of worship and entertainment. Church services have gone virtual, as have all concerts, it seems. What made me sit up and take notice, though, was this recent Washington Post headline which read: “The pandemic forced… Read More Gamechanger
The last two Early Music Hawaii concerts have been virtual, meaning that a video was created of the performance and then posted at a specified time. As an audience member you received an email message with the link to open the file. Obviously someone was behind the scenes, creating the email link in it, and… Read More The new normal