Let’s see how good your memory is … (or how quickly you can search the blog!) Do you remember when, in 2013, I played the complete Great Eighteen chorales of Bach, what was given out after the concert? The dates of the concerts were August 18 and 25, 2013, which may give you a clue… Read More Sweet memories
On all accounts, Sunday’s funeral service for Peter Rasmussen Hallock (Nov. 19, 1924-April 27, 2014) was a church musician’s dream: absolutely sublime and beautiful music (performed to perfection), outstanding homily, liturgical actions done with beauty and care, and a full-capacity crowd of people who loved Peter, the man and his music. All of the music… Read More A numinous sendoff
It’s less than 40 days away to my Bach Great Eighteen concerts on August 18 and 25. I am in “full court press” mode, a term I know from basketball but also an expression meaning “an all-out effort or offensive.” Since returning home from “vacation” I have had three practice sessions, and since I am on… Read More The countdown begins!
I meant to say something about the audience at the Boston Early Music Festival which we attended last week — and I wanted to tell you how extraordinarily quiet they were. Not one cell phone went off in the twenty-two concerts I attended, and never did I hear anyone even whispering during the performances. No… Read More The concert audience
Yesterday was a triple-header Sunday as I played three big services — two in the morning at St. Andrew’s Cathedral and one last night at St. Alban’s Chapel for Iolani School’s Baccalaureate. Except for the communion and postludes in the morning services, none of the hymns or any of the music was repeated. The 8:00… Read More A triple-header Sunday
1. Lit. to commit murder and not get punished for it. Don’t kill me! You can’t get away with murder! 2. Fig. to do something very bad and not get punished for it. That guy always gets away with murder—just because he’s cute. You will spoil your son if you let him get away with… Read More Getting away with murder
Tonight we invited Daniel Aune to come visit the Beckerath organ at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. He is the Director of Music and Organist at Christ Lutheran Church in Baltimore, Maryland and played the weekly noontime recital at St. Andrew’s Cathedral today. I unfortunately was unable to attend the concert, but Carl was there and said his playing was… Read More A Great Eighteen scholar comes to visit
St. Theresa . . . St. Christopher . . . St. Clement . . . St. Andrew. No, I’m not reciting a random list of saints — this is the list of churches for which I have been asked to substitute as organist since “retiring” last Christmas. Someone once said, “Organists never die; they just… Read More A litany of saints
Those of you who attended my celebration party on April 14th heard me extend an invitation to come back to the Lutheran Church of Honolulu on Sunday, August 18th and August 25th for Bach Masterworks: The Great Eighteen Chorales. Yep, I’ve officially set the date for presenting these great masterpieces, BWV 651-668 in a 2-concert Bach mini-series.… Read More What’s in a name?
I’ve been using two different editions to practice Bach’s Great Eighteen Chorales. Most of the pieces I learned years ago from the Widor-Schweitzer edition but for these last few months, I’ve practiced the music from the Bärenreiter score, which has the notes more spread out, resulting in a lot more page turns. But with my vision… Read More What’s in a page turn?