Many of you readers (hundreds, in fact) attended the Honolulu performances of Bach’s monumental Mass in B minor, in May 2011. Those concerts were dubbed Carl Crosier’s “swan song,” his last concerts as the cantor of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. There were many stars those two nights, but one clearly stood out — that… Read More Bragle and Bach
Those of you who attended the Mass in B Minor performances at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu in May 2011 (and there were hundreds of you!) surely will not forget the heart-stopping and “time standing still” performance by mezzo-soprano, Meg Bragle and her poignant rendition of the “Agnus Dei.” For many listeners, her performance was… Read More Happy memories
Last night was the final event of the BachFest Leipzig 2012–the great Mass in B-minor performed by the English Concert. It was obvious that this was a very familiar and beloved piece to many in the audience. The man sitting next to us “conducted” the whole piece throughout and mouthed all the words to the… Read More The greatest work ever
This morning we made plans to join alto Meg Bragle for breakfast and came upon a SEA of people wearing black and gold jerseys at the T-stop. The Boston Bruins ice hockey team won the Stanley Cup last Wednesday and the city was going to celebrate with a big parade downtown today. It was a… Read More A great day for Boston
One of the really great things about attending the Boston Early Music Festival is the sometimes chance meetings we have with people with whom we have made music. Two nights ago we were coming out of Jordan Hall from a concert and walked by an outdoor cafe. There was Richard Savino, theorbo player from our… Read More Chance encounters of the close kind
Thirty-two years ago, Carl and I moved from an apartment to a townhouse and elicited the help of friends to help us move. In exchange for their assistance in moving boxes and furniture, I think we took everybody out for pizza or something like that. I think I overheard someone say, “I’ll never help musicians… Read More Digging out from under
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for summer! Today we celebrated Ascension Day (transferred) and then next week is Pentecost, our last choral Sunday of the season. And then the choir is off for the next six weeks. For the last several years, Carol Langner has mounted a large world map on the… Read More The end is in sight
One of the traditions we have in the Crosier household is that we always have guests sign our guest book. We actually started the book at our wedding 34 years ago and we’re now on volume 5! When someone comes to dinner or is a houseguest or comes to play a recital or sing in… Read More The Guest Book
Dear Bach B minor Choristers, I hope you are all still feeling the “glow” after spending an incredible week of preparation and two performances (three if you count Wednesday night) of this truly great masterwork. As I told the people who attended the luncheon on Sunday, the choral singing you did in the B minor… Read More Open Letter to the Bach B-Minor Choir
We are continuing to receive notes of thanks and accolades for our two performances of Bach’s Mass in B Minor last weekend. And I must admit I still have some of those choruses running through my head! I believe that phenomenon is called an “earworm.” It’s when a melody gets stuck in your brain, replays… Read More Still abuzz about Bach