To play a wedding? For the wedding of Joey Fala and Sarah Jones, there were FIVE! For the Prelude: “Allegretto” from Sonata IV in B-flat (Mendelssohn); “Schmücke dich, O liebe Seele,” BWV 654 (Bach); and Prelude and Fugue in C major, BWV 531 (Bach). For the Procession of the Bridesmaids: Sonata III, Andante tranquillo (Mendelssohn)… Read More How many organists does it take …
More than two weeks ago, when I went out shopping for an outfit to wear at Joey Fala’s wedding, I unfortunately had to look at my body in the mirror while trying on clothes. I was not happy with what I saw! In fact, I had gone to the doctor for a well body checkup… Read More Just a tablespoon, please!
It’s entirely typical for me to get lost when I am in another part of the world—in this case I am presently in Durham, North Carolina where I am here for the wedding of my former student, Joey Fala to Sarah Jones in Goodson Chapel at Duke University. Earlier in the day Joey had picked… Read More One hour to drive 3.2 miles!
While I was in Europe a month ago, I was contacted about the organ music library of long-time Hawaii Chapter American Guild of Organists member, Donald Matsumori who died on May 17, 2019. His family was trying to clear his house and some people suggested that I might have students who could make use of the organ… Read More Passing it on
When I was at the Orange County American Guild of Organists convention, I was intrigued by how my former student Joey Fala had pasted his copies of music into a large artist’s sketch pad. It was then possible to perform the entire concert without a page turner. By reducing the size of the music slightly,… Read More Paper engineering
When I was 17 and away in Paris, France to study with virtuoso, Marcel Dupré, I had only one focus—playing the organ. I quickly found a place to practice, L’Eglise Étranger, which gave me virtually unlimited practice time to learn the works of Bach, Dupré and Franck, which was what I was studying in those… Read More Like the old days
I left Los Angeles on the Fourth of July, just missing the first of two earthquakes by less than an hour! My shuttle picked me up at 5:45 am, and my flight took off at 9:00 am from LAX—and the first earthquake struck at 9:36 am. I understand from Fred Merchant that there was pandemonium… Read More Out in the nick of time!
The Hawai’i Chapter of the American Guild of Organists is pleased to sponsor Joseph Fala in his recital at the AGO 2019 West Region Convention. From the time he was in Elementary School, the Hawai’i Chapter has encouraged, supported, and loved him into being the musician he is today; and wish him every success for… Read More Standing ovation for Joey Fala!
You wouldn’t ordinarily laugh during a classical concert, but a lot of people couldn’t help themselves last Saturday night at the “Think Outside the Bach” concert. It came during Michal Nowicki‘s reading of PDQ Bach’s biography (in his beautifully accented English), who is described by PDQ’s creator, Peter Schickele as “the son of Johann Sebastian Bach and Anna… Read More You wouldn’t ordinarily laugh …
On my way to the Cathedral of the Christ of Light, I got a text from John Renke: The cathedral Rector had a massive heart attack after the Saturday evening mass and died last night. You’re coming to a very interesting Sunday here! I heard more of the story at the announcement to the parish… Read More A day at the Cathedral