Quick study Bach. There’s an oxymoron for you. Why, just recently I heard myself saying to a student, “You cannot cram Bach! It just doesn’t work!” That is, when I’ve heard people try to learn a work of Bach on short notice, more often than not, they panic and the performance falls apart. Believe me, unfortunately… Read More Quick study Bach
I guess it’s only in America that going to a concert and getting a program is a given. After all, the purpose of a concert program is to know what is coming next. It’s nice to read program notes about the music you’re hearing and knowing how many songs comprise a set is important to… Read More No programs? No problem!
“You love life in the fast lane, don’t you” was a text message I received from my sister last night as I was sitting in Neal Blaisdell Center Concert Hall, waiting for the Beethoven Ninth concert to begin. I had just gotten off the plane from 9 days on the mainland with my family in… Read More Life in the fast lane
It’s a musician’s worst nightmare… being in the middle of a concert and the lights go completely black! Yes, it happened in Kona last night, right after the Kona Choral Society had performed the Hallelujah Chorus, and we were in the middle of “Worthy is the lamb.” All of a sudden, the house lights started to… Read More …and then the lights went OUT!
Tonight was the dress rehearsal for my Bach Clavierübung concert and I am happy to report there were no train wrecks—at least in my part! As you will see in the program, this body of Bach’s chorale preludes are among his most complex and technically demanding of all his organ works. Thirty-seven years ago, Carl Crosier… Read More No train wrecks!
Monday night was Dana Marsh‘s first rehearsal conducting the Early Music Hawaii choir for its upcoming concert, “Spain & The New World,” which will take place on Saturday, September 24th at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu, at 7:30 pm. Poor Dana—he had been awake almost 24 hours in flying from New York to Hawaii, yet he still had the… Read More Toe-tapping music
Okay, I haven’t yet recovered from jet lag, but it’s now time to switch gears. From French music and organs, now I have to think “Spanish,” for the upcoming Early Music Hawaii concert, Saturday, September 24th. It’s a concert called Spain and the New World, and will feature the Early Music Hawaii choir and orchestra… Read More Switching gears
Was worth driving over hundred miles to hear an exquisite musical event. The interweaving voices and exceptional blend in a carpeted church was an experience of aural beauty. I’m still in awe of what you accomplished. I’m especially happy I didn’t have to get on a plane and go to Honolulu. (Bonnie C. Burke) Great concert! (Susan… Read More Early Music in Kona
We were just about ready to go on stage last night when Jeremy Wong took this picture of the Early Music Hawaii Chamber Singers. We were talking about next weekend when we will all travel to Kona on the Big Island to repeat our concert, Bridging the Centuries 2, and were comparing our arrival times. However, Ian Capps,… Read More Hilarity behind the scenes
Tonight was the dress rehearsal for tomorrow’s Early Music Hawaii concert called “Bridging the Centuries 2” which will be the debut of the Early Music Hawaii Chamber Singers. I must say that EMH has picked the cream of the crop of choral singers in Honolulu — every singer is a soloist in his or her… Read More The EMH Chamber Singers debut