It was only a couple of weeks ago that I received a phone call from Nicholas Lee, Director of Music at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, asking me to play today’s two choral Eucharists in which Orlando Gibbons’ “This is the record of John,” was scheduled as the anthem. He had called me to ask whether I… Read More Someone was watching …
If ever there was a two-headed person with three hands, that was what we in a sold-out audience saw and heard at tonight’s stunning Hawaii Symphony Orchestra concert with JoAnn Falletta, conductor. It was absolutely phenomenal! That was my reaction to tonight’s concert with Lang Lang and his 15-year-old protégé, Maxim Lando—their ensemble was so… Read More Absolutely phenomenal!
I just finished playing my last gig for the Christmas season, Iolani School’s Winter Concert at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Even though I have officially “retired” from playing daily chapels at the school, John Alexander invited me to play the Cathedral organ for the opening and closing numbers for the concert — I guess because the instrument… Read More Concerts, oboes and organs
About a week ago, I got an email from Jason Anderson, about whom I’ve written posts as he is Peter Hallock’s successor as the director of the Compline Choir in Seattle. You may also remember that Jason was Peter’s biographer and wrote his doctoral dissertation on The Life and Works of Peter R. Hallock (b. 1924) at… Read More A virtual interview
Apparently the graphic designer for the Oahu Choral Society Bach program and postcards, doesn’t know what BWV stands for when used after the title of a Bach work. It was consistently listed as BMV 232 throughout, so I was trying to figure out that instead of “Bach Werk-Verzeichnis (BWV), maybe he/she thought the concert was… Read More Ear worm Bach II
Aside from a chair falling over in between movements, last night’s opening performance of Bach’s monumental Mass in B Minor was perfect in every way. Maestro Carl Crosier set the pace with a grand opening Kyrie followed by a series of fast, joyful choruses contrasted with expressive solos and duets. The final Dona nobis pacem… Read More A new high
In the last few days, the buzz in the local media has been full of stories about the Symphony Exploratory Committee — a group of business professionals dedicated to the belief that having symphonic music in Hawaii is critical to its artistic and economic vitality. Just yesterday, it was announced that the SEC has… Read More Bach Chamber Orchestra