The first event of the morning for me was Choral Matins in Grace Cathedral. You must know that this whole convention was about choices — in addition to Matins, you could also elect to go to an African-American worship service in a Baptist church or an organ and violin concert by a Chinese organist. There… Read More Last day of the convention
Perhaps you saw the recent 60 Minutes segment about Alma Deutscher, the 12-year old musical prodigy, who was just bursting with music in her head. Just this afternoon, I decided to take a break from folding 300 napkins for my condo’s upcoming Christmas party, and turned on my Apple TV. I’m used to watching 60 Minutes… Read More How can music be so beautiful?
This morning we visited five historic churches in Philadelphia, some dating as early as 1761. The first three took place in Roman Catholic parishes, although in the first church, services are only held a few times a year. Organist Matthew Glandorf did an outstanding job on the 1892 Hook & Hastings organ at Holy Trinity… Read More Beautiful historic churches in Philadelphia
Yesterday was Day Four at the Organ Historical Society and we again went to six musical events starting with an outstanding recital by Monica Czausz at the Wesley United Methodist Church. She had just won the AGO/Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists in Fort Worth, TX and gotten home at 1 am this morning. And here she played… Read More Day Four at OHS 2015
Guess what — Pentecost 2015 will mark the 40th Anniversary of the Beckerath organ at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu! I can’t believe it, yes, I was there forty years ago at the dedication of this organ. (No, I didn’t play — I only came to listen.) It was absolutely crazy — more than 600… Read More Upcoming 40th Anniversary!
Over the weekend, my husband and I looked in vain all over our apartment for the Christmas carol books. You see, Carl is out playing the piano for St. Andrew’s Priory’s Home for the Holidays fundraiser tonight, and they asked him to play Christmas carols as entertainment. “You mean you actually need the music?” I asked… Read More Playing by ear
Today is the Solemn Requiem for Gerre Hancock, formerly organist and choirmaster of St. Thomas Church in New York City for over thirty years. One tribute said, “He was one of the greatest church musicians of our time and inspired generations of musicians who worked with and admired him.” He was such a giant in the field… Read More A giant in church music