It’s Holy Week — the busiest week of the year for church musicians. My late husband, Carl Crosier, used to call this “Holy H— Week,” because in addition to conducting nine services of music during the week, typing a complicated bulletin containing all the services and music of the Triduum, rehearsing the brass and choir… Read More The Holy Week marathon begins
2017 would have been one of those years—when Tax Day collides with Easter. This year Easter is April 16th, and the deadline for filing 2016 tax returns is April 18. Which brings up the question “Why is Tax Day April 18?” instead of the traditional deadline of April 15th? The regular tax return filing deadline… Read More One of those years
It’s Good Friday, the day of the crucifixion, and traditionally a day of penitence. My colleagues all over the world are putting in extra rehearsal hours for the Triduum services (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil) and extra Easter services. I can’t help but remember that for my late husband Carl and myself, it was… Read More Memories of Holy Weeks past
Last night was Maundy Thursday, and I played the organ at Sacred Heart Church, just two blocks away from the Lutheran Church of Honolulu where I had spent 35 Maundy Thursdays. It well could have been 2,000 miles away in terms of musical style — well, more like 2,000 years away. During the footwashing rite, I must have played at… Read More Maundy Thursday gift
There were twenty-two (count ’em!) pieces of music in tonight’s Maundy Thursday service, and there would have been twenty-three had the footwashing not been so efficient. We unfortunately had to cut “Ubi caritas” by Maurice Duruflé because no more music was needed during the footwashing rite. Here is the repertoire: Organ Prelude: O Lamm Gottes… Read More Maundy Thursday marathon
In Pastor Jeff’s message in the April issue of The Heart Beat, LCH’s monthly parish newsletter, he described the services of the Triduum, the “Three Days” celebrated by Christians all over the world in anticipation of Easter. That means we’ll be singing services on Maundy Thursday (April 5th), Good Friday (April 6th) and Easter Vigil… Read More Holy Week Math: 3+1 = 5
Today is Maundy Thursday, the beginning of our four-day marathon (The Three Days plus Easter Day). The choir will meet tonight for rehearsal at 6:15, followed by the service at 7:30 pm. For some reason, it doesn’t seem like it will be so horrendous this year. I guess it’s because this is probably the first… Read More The marathon begins