In last night’s memorial service for Pastor Jeff Lilley, following his sudden death, he was described by his son, Seth as: a pastor, a chef, a handyman, a woodworker, a sailor, a therapist, a painter, a musician, a protector, a bouncer when necessary, a driver, an EMT, a mechanic, an electrician, a plumber, a photographer,… Read More Larger than life
Yesterday, the Lutheran Church of Honolulu (my former parish), posted this on their Facebook page: Many people were in shock and grieving, even those outside of the LCH family. These are some of the comments as shared on Facebook: I am shocked and in grief at the sudden passing of pastor and friend Jeff Lilley… Read More Grieving
Bravi, tutti! This was the title of an email we performers received from Scott Fikse, director of Saturday’s “Baroque France” concert, and newly-appointed President for Early Music Hawaii. We were especially encouraged by the large and enthusiastic crowd that filled the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. Scott wrote: Congratulations to all of you on a splendid… Read More Bravi, tutti!
This weekend, within the space of 24 hours, I will have performed such a mixed bag of music, that my head is spinning! On Saturday morning, I’ll be practicing Gabriel Fauré’s Messe Basse (1881, rev. 1906) for treble voices, which will be sung at the ordinary for Sunday morning’s High Mass for “The Seven Sorrows… Read More A mixed bag … all within 24 hours!
The Early Music Hawaii concert, “Rome 1600,” is now over, and here are my thoughts: When I saw the words “Singers Circle” on the rehearsal schedule for our pre-concert warmup, I had no idea what it was, never having heard this term before. Most of us performers met in Isenberg Hall just prior to entering… Read More Singers Circle
Tonight was Early Music Hawaii’s dress rehearsal for tomorrow night’s concert: Rome 1600! The Glories of the Italian Baroque. The concert features the Early Music Hawaii Ensemble of Singers and Players, conducted by Scott Fikse. The great dramas of early Baroque Rome were the Oratorios—operatic illustrations of biblical stories, the lives of martyrs or principles… Read More Rome 1600—A grand spectacle!
As you may recall from my last post, last week I played for 5 church services. This week I have 5 evening rehearsals (4 for Early Music Hawaii and 1 for St. Mark’s). Tonight was the instrumental rehearsal for Early Music Hawaii. I am scheduled to teach 5 organ lessons this week. I will play… Read More Magic number 5!
“An embarrassment of riches” — that’s how Father Paul Lillie described the special Mass services at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church this month. No sooner had I returned to Hawaii from Greece last Friday, I was faced with a FIVE-service week: My usual three Sunday services: 9:00 am Nu‘uanu Congregational Church 11:00 am St. Mark’s Episcopal… Read More “An embarrassment of riches”
On Saturday, we received a text message from choirmaster Mike Dupre: Tomorrow is Laetare Sunday! Anyone want to wear Rose/pink tomorrow? According to Wikipedia, Laetare Sunday is the fourth Sunday in the season of Lent, in the Western Christian liturgical calendar. Traditionally, this Sunday has been a day of celebration within the austere period of Lent. This Sunday gets… Read More Laetare Sunday pink
Perhaps you are familiar with Michelangelo’s quote about sculpture: Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it. ”– Michelangelo Peter Hallock once told us that it is the same with music and poetry. It’s the poetry which dictates what the music will sound… Read More Music and sculpture