“Undimmed grief” is what composer Herbert Howells suffered when he and his wife suffered the loss of their son, Michael, aged nine, from polio. He wrote: I am completely frozen and all the sympathy and kindness in the world couldn’t help. Friends tried, but I knew I had to get something out of me that… Read More An English Farewell
Evensong is offered every day at the Three Choirs Festival and today’s service was sung by the (mixed) Worcester Cathedral Chamber Choir with director Stephen Shellard and organist Richard Cook. For this service, everyone sits in the chancel area, and I got a good view of the very energetic conductor. Two men who must have been… Read More Evensong; A Child of Our Time
Drum roll, please … Here is the video for fantastic Joey Fala at the Woolsey Hall organ at Yale University for his graduate organ recital! Here’s the program, with notes found on the internet: Edward Elgar, Pomp and Circumstance, March No. 4 in G Major, op. 39 This is a transcription of one of Elgar’s… Read More Joey Fala at Woolsey Hall
I saw the end of a beautiful and long tradition tonight—thank you, St. Andrew’s Choir and thank you, John Renke for your last Choral Evensong. You have been a blessing to this community. St. Andrew’s was one of the first places I knew here in Hawaii, and I have come back so many times for… Read More A beautiful farewell
Last night before the Joint Evensong with the combined St. Andrew’s Cathedral and Lutheran Church of Honolulu choirs, director Scott Fikse posted on Facebook: “Come hear two of the finest choirs in Hawaii combine forces for Evensong at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. 5:30pm.” As I listened to all those soaring sopranos and lush harmonies in the… Read More Glorious St. Paul’s Service
I am a hopeless political junkie and we are once again in one of my favorite news cycles —a presidential campaign. I just love the debates, the polls, and the talk shows. And of course there’s a lot of talk about blue states and red states, liberals and conservatives, progressives and establishment. But this weekend, blue and red will… Read More Blue and red
Last weekʻs Evensong at St. Andrewʻs Cathedral in memory of Carl Crosier was very well-attended and the Cathedral Choir seemed to outdo itself in the tribute to its former chorister. The Cathedral tower bells were rung continuously before the service. The following paragraph was in the program leaflet: Carl was Cantor at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu for… Read More Carlʻs evensong and epitaph
This is just a reminder that this coming Sunday, October 5th at 5:30 pm, Carl Crosier will be remembered at Evensong at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. He specifically requested that the Herbert Howells Gloucester service be sung. I am also posting John Renke’s remembrance of Carl here (written shortly after he died): Much has been and… Read More Evensong to remember Carl Crosier
One of my favorite choral anthems will be sung by the LCH Choir this week but unfortunately we’ll be in Bremerton, WA, celebrating the life of Carl’s stepfather, Edwin Runquist, who died last weekend. The anthem will be “The Lamb,” by contemporary British composer, John Tavener (b. 1944), and you can view a YouTube video… Read More The Lamb
Tonight was the rehearsal for the Joint Evensong with St. Andrew’s Cathedral Choir, and let me tell you, it’s going to be absolutely glorious! The service will be Sunday, April 3rd, at 5:30 pm in the Cathedral with Carl Crosier conducting and John Renke at the Aeolian-Skinner organ. The service will begin with Carl’s setting… Read More Howells’ St. Paul Service