Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to all!

I had an enjoyable evening. Read all about it here.

Now I'm thawing out and relaxing a bit. It's hard to believe that the last two months of the year are upon us. 2008, where have you gone?

And now as we're on the eve of All Saints' Day, I also want to take a moment to remember those who have gone before me. First and foremost: please remember the mother of Daniel P., who passed away yesterday. Also too, please remember Eve Carson, who will have celebrated her 23rd birthday 19th November, Ruth Ellen Nice, Mary Roger Brennan, Procer Francisco, Norma Francisco, Ricardo Francisco, and my grandparents Juan and Ceferina Yalong, and my uncle Aurelio Yalong. Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Comfort Food! Arroz Caldong Manok

It's getting colder out there.

It's a reminder that Fall is here and Winter is knocking on the door. So I was in a comfort food mood today. Using what I had on hand, I was able to whip up a nice pot of Arroz Caldo. They had a nice sale on chicken breasts at Kroger the other day, so that also went into the arroz caldo.

Here is what I put into it.

1 medium onion, diced
5 cloves garlic. (I ♥ garlic. If you're not so keen on it, reduce, but put no less than 2 cloves.)
ca. 1/2 inch piece of ginger, cut into fine matchsticks
2 chicken breasts, skinless and boneless, cut into bite-sized chunks
ca. 8 cups water
ca. 2 cups brown rice
patis, to taste. (I put in 1 tbsp.)
Freshly ground pepper, to taste.

Heat a large enough pot with oil and sauté the onions, garlic, and ginger until the onions are translucent. (I actually did this over medium low heat and let it sit there and sweat whilst cutting up other things.) Add the chicken and stir-fry until the chicken turns opaque. Add the rice and stir until the rice is coated. (I used brown rice because that's what I happened to have on hand. The best rice for this, IMHO, is the Calrose rice, or any other medium-grained rice, although in the past, I've also used Jasmine rice successfully.) Add the water gradually whilst stirring. Cover and let simmer until the rice is cooked.

I just put the whole thing on low and let the pot do its magic. Once done, serve into bowls and add kalamansi juice or lemon juice to taste. Also add patis or salt and pepper to adjust for taste. Optional: garnish with sliced green onion (the green bits only) and toasted garlic pieces.

I've also made up an onion-free batch for my friends, one of whom claims that she loves onions, but onions don't love her. They have a pair of kalamansi trees (which I hope they've brought inside their spacious sun room as we've started to have some frosty mornings here), so we'll be able to enjoy fresh kalamansi juice with our arroz caldo.

One other comment, concerning the rice. Because I used brown rice, I increased the rice:water ratio to 1:4. I believe a 1:3 ratio should be sufficient if you're using white rice. But this is one thing you would have to experiment with when doing this on your own.

IMHO, the most characteristic flavour of Filipino style arroz caldo is the ginger/patis/kalamansi juice combination.

Enjoy!

And if you make this, let me know what you think by leaving a comment in the combox (or if you're reading this on Facebook or on LiveJournal, leave me a comment there as well).

26 October - Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 25

Here are my usual lists.

First of all: due to Parents' Weekend at Duke University, I had to ask a friend to sub for me at St. Joseph's Episcopal Church. I will list the music I had planned for the 10.30 am service.

The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost: Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Pro: 450, All hail the power of Jesus' Name! (CORONATION)
Song of Praise: S-236 (Benedictus es, Domine; J. Rutter)
Psalm: Psalm 90 (Guimont)
Seq: Gather Comprehensive 669, Will you let me be your servant (The Servant Song)
Off: 680, O God our help in ages past (ST. ANNE)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-167, The disciples knew the Lord Jesus (M. Martens; Mode 6)
Comm: If Ye Love Me (T. Tallis)
Re: 551, Rise up, ye saints of God! (FESTAL SONG)

While I'm thinking of it - I suppose my embedding experiment from last week didn't work out all that well. The Quicktime player came up whilst using Internet Destroyer, but not when using Firefox. Are there any HTML-fluent readers out there who could give me some insight as to why? Please leave me a comment in the combox if you've any ideas.

The Episcopal Centre at Duke University had their service at 10.00 am, where parents of the usual crowd were invited. As I mentioned earlier, last weekend was Parents' Weekend at Duke.

Here is the musical line-up for that service.

The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost: Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Prelude: If Ye Love Me (T. Tallis. I played the choir parts on the 8' stop on the little 3-stop Holtkamp that lives in the chapel.)
Pro: 450, All hail the power of Jesus' Name! (CORONATION)
Gloria: S-278 (Mathias)
Psalm: Ps 90, recited
Seq: 517, How lovely is thy dwelling place (BROTHER JAMES' AIR)
Off: 680, O God our help in ages past (ST. ANNE)
Sanctus: S-128 (Mathias)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Communion Hymn: WLP 831, Ubi Caritas (Taizé)
Re: 551, Rise up, ye saints of God! (FESTAL SONG)
Postlude: Fuge fur Orgel manualiter (D. Ponder)

Compline at Chapel of the Cross.

We've been using the Order for Compline, as set by David Hurd.

Here are our little additions:

O Lord, the maker (at ca. 5m 10s; William Mundy)
Psalms 4 and 134 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: Christ, mighty Saviour (CHRISTE, LUX MUNDI, plainsong Mode 7)
Nunc Dimittis from Short Service (O. Gibbons)
Salve Regina (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Robert Parsons)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen - Van Quinn does listen to you. He told the choir last week that someone had requested a change in the Nunc Dimittis. We had sung the Willan setting ever since I can remember ... so then he handed out the Gibbons setting, and after a couple of run-throughs, he decided we would be ready enough to sing it that evening. And sing it, we did.

It is such a pleasure to be singing with such a talented group! ♥♥

Glorious singing from Gloriæ Dei Cantores

Gloriæ Dei Cantores, a choir based in Orleans, MA, performed a stunningly beautiful concert as part of the Concerts at St Stephen's series. I was blown away by the beautiful sound they made. They sang Gregorian chant, music of the Russian Orthodox Church, Anglican chant, but also performed Sacred Music from such composers as Daniel Pinkham, Ned Rorem, Samuel Adler, Ingolf Dahl, and Frank Martin. I regret having missed some of the pieces due to helping with setting up of the post-concert reception (I am on the board of the Concerts of St Stephen's series), but the pieces I was there for left me speechless. The director, Elizabeth Patterson, has a very interesting style, and it seemed every finger of each hand was doing something. It became clear to me she was shaping phrases as opposed to strictly keeping time, and she had total control over the choir. It was amazing to see.

They performed with Gabriel V, a brass ensemble who is a frequent collaborator with GDC.

Here is the program.

Transfiguration Fanfare (Seagull Seven; performed by Gabriel Brass)

Quicumque Christum quæritis (Gregorian Chant)
Venite comedite (William Byrd)
O sacrum convivium (Thomas Tallis)
O lux beata Trinitas (Byrd)
Jubilate Deo (Richard Dering)

Canzona from Three Pieces for Brass Quintet, Timpani, and Organ (Richard Hillert; performed by Gabriel V; James Jordan, organ)

Hvalite imia Gospodne (Pavel Chesnokov)
Angel vopiyashe (Pytor Tchaikovsky)
Three selections from All-Night Vigil (Sergei Rachmaninoff)

• Priidite, poklonimsia
• Nïne otpushchayeshï (Br. Richard Cragg, tenor)
• Blagosloven yesi (Br. Richard Cragg, tenor)

Psalm 56 (Anglican Chant; S. Alcock)
Thou Hast Turned My Laments Into Dancing (Daniel Pinkham)
Thou Hast Loved Righteousness (Pinkham)
Shout the Glad Tidings (Ned Rorem)
A Psalm Trilogy (Samuel Adler)

• Psalm 84
• Psalm 42
• Psalm 113

Psalm 23 (Anglican Chant; C. Hylton Stewart)

Music for Brass Instruments: Chorale Fantasy on "Christ Lay in the Bonds of Death" (Ingolf Dahl; performed by Gabriel V)

Music for Double Choir (Frank Martin)

• Kyrie
• Gloria
• Credo
• Sanctus
• Agnus Dei

Inaugural Recital on the Goodson Chapel Organ

The always abfab David Arcus presented the Inaugural Recital on the Goodson Chapel Organ at Duke Divinity School last Friday, 24 October. He gave a nice program that highlighted the features of the organ.

First of all, click here for the stoplist for the Richards, Fowkes & Co Opus 16. It is a lovely instrument, and I'd love to have a go on it sometime.

Here is the program.

Georg Böhm: Præludium in C Major
David Arcus: Variations on SIMPLE GIFTS
César Franck: Prière, Op. 20
Olivier Messiaen: Communion: Birds and Springs of Water (from Messe de la Pentecôte)
Felix Mendelssohn: Sonata No. 5 in D Major, Op. 65

• Andante
• Andante con moto
• Allegro maestoso

Johann Sebastian Bach: Fantasy and Fugue in g minor, BWV 542
Charles-Marie Widor:

• Andante sostenuto (from Symphonie gothique, Op. 70)
• Finale (from Symphonie No. 6, Op. 42)

Improvisation on a submitted theme

• Lauda anima
• Sine nomine
• Lobe den Herren

David is well-known for his improvisations, and he solicited hymntunes from the audience. He asked for three hymntunes, and those were the three he chose. I actually thought of giving him one of the cheesiest choices from the United Methodist hymnals that were in the chairs, but then considering how close to All Saints' Day we are, I was in the mood for some Sine Nomine. And David certainly did not disappoint.

And I feel so incredibly spoiled because I have the happy opportunity to listen to his improvisations every Sunday after Compline. He truly is a treasure.

Uncovering a Treasure

This afternoon, I decided to sit down and plan out Advent and Christmas. I know, I'm starting late, probably should have done this at least a couple of months ago.

As I was looking over hymns, carols, and other anthems, one of the Altar Guild ladies approached me and told me about a stack of unsorted music in a small room on the second floor of the Parish Hall. So curious me decided to go have a look.

What a treasure! One of my predecessors (not my immediate one, but I'm not sure how long ago he was there) composed music and left that wonderful musical legacy in unsorted files. I think he may have also been an orchestra conductor as well as there were quite a few conductor's scores of pieces, both secular and sacred amongst the files.

There were also heaps and heaps of copies of octavos and other music sheets that may have been given as samples - kind of like a "try before you buy" type of thing. So now I felt quite overwhelmed - so much music, and unfortunately, you only get 4 weeks of Advent and a day or two for Christmas.

At St. Joseph's, we'll be celebrating a Christmas Lessons and Carols for the First Sunday After Christmas (28 December). So, depending upon how many choir members will be in town that Sunday, that gives more possibilities for good Christmas anthems.

I wasn't all that happy about all the photocopies I found, however. I will definitely sift through what's up there, and if the photocopied music looks like something worthwhile, I'll see about ordering actual copies of that music to add to the choral library. As for the sample pieces - there are heaps and heaps of those, so I'll also sift through those, and hoping they're not out of print, order enough copies of those to add to the choral library.

And then with that, my Choral Library Wish List. I'll also add this to the sidebar as well. These will be books and anthologies I'd love to add to the choral library.

In no particular order:

• Oxford Book of Tudor Anthems
• Oxford Book of Flexible Anthems
• Carols for Choirs 1
• Carols for Choirs 2
• Carols for Choirs 3

I'm sure there are more. My wish list will expand as I think up of more titles.

Ukoy!

I had an ukoy craving last night, so I made it. The recipe I will provide below should make 12. Note that this recipe is vegan. Actually, this recipe is more accurately considered "ovo" – it is still considered vegetarian as long as you don't include the bagoong referenced below.

2 eggs, beaten
1 c corn starch
1 tsp salt or to taste
pepper, to taste

Beat the eggs, then add in gradually the corn starch and the salt and pepper.

Optional: Add in 1 tsp atchuete extract or 2 drops red, 3 drops yellow food colouring. This gives the ukoy its distinctive orange colour that the traditional addition of shrimp liquor generally gives it.

16 oz bean sprouts
1/3 c green onions, chopped

Add the veggies gradually until incorporated.

I also added 1 tsp bagoong alamang. Note if you add this, your ukoy will no longer be vegan vegetarian as bagoong is based on shrimp.

Heat oil in pan and then drop the batter by ca. 1/4 c increments. Fry until golden brown. Allow to drain on paper towels.

Best when enjoyed freshly fried. I like having this with a dipping sauce: 2:1 vinegar:soya sauce, with a smashed garlic or two. This dipping sauce also works well with lumpia and pan-fried dumplings.

19 October - 23rd Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 24

I don't have an excuse. These lists are quite late.

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played my usual 10.30 am service. As usual, numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

The Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost: Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Prelude: Ornament of Grace (Bernard Wayne Sanders; Daniel Ponder, clarinet)
Pro: 423, Immortal, invisible, God only wise (ST. DENIO)
Song of Praise: S-236 (Benedictus es, Domine; J. Rutter)
Psalm: Psalm 99 (Barrett)
Seq: 596, Judge eternal, throned in splendor (KOMM, O KOMM, DU GEIST DES LEBENS)
Off: The Lord Bless You and Keep You (Peter Lutkin)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-167, The disciples knew the Lord Jesus (M. Martens; Mode 6)
Comm: 684, O for a closer walk with God (CAITHNESS)
Re: 544, Jesus will reign, where'er the sun (DUKE STREET)
Postlude: In dir ist Freude (BWV 615; J.S. Bach)

If I've done this right, you should be able to hear the music Daniel and I played as prelude in the player below. (Erm ... well, that is assuming you have Quicktime installed on your computer.)


<bgsound src="http://www.cph.org/multimedia/music/singles/full/977288.mp3" loop="1">

This past Sunday was designated by the American Guild of Organists as an International Day of Celebration, celebrating Organ Spectacular as a focal point for the 2008-2009 International Year of the Organ. My nod to this event was to play the Sanders piece, which won first place in the AGO Organ and Instrument Composition Competition.

We did our first choral anthem since Easter: the Lutkin piece listed above at Offertory. I decided to have Daniel conduct it in my stead. He is a third-year Music student at UNC Chapel Hill (shh, we won't tell those Blue Devils who frequent the church that detail :) ). The choir did wonderfully, singing the piece a cappella, and they responded to Daniel quite nicely. They'll be singing Tallis' If Ye Love Me this Sunday, and I am sure they will do just fine.

The Episcopal Centre at Duke University had their first service since returning from Fall Break. This was a joint service with the Lutheran Campus Ministry. The Rev. William Dahl joined us, and the Rev. Craig Kocher, Associate Dean of Duke Chapel and Director of Religious Life was the preacher.

The Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost: Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Prelude: Voluntary in e minor: Allegro (Op. 7, No. 7; J. Stanley)
Pro: 423, Immortal, invisible, God only wise (ST. DENIO)
Gloria: S-278 (Mathias)
Psalm: Ps 99, recited
Seq: 596, Judge eternal, throned in splendor (KOMM, O KOMM, DU GEIST DES LEBENS)
Off: 304, I come with joy to meet my Lord (LAND OF REST)
Sanctus: S-128 (Mathias)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Communion Hymn: WLP 831, Ubi Caritas (Taizé)
Re: 544, Jesus will reign, where'er the sun (DUKE STREET)
Postlude: Largo Staccato from Voluntary IX (Op. 7; J. Stanley)


Compline at Chapel of the Cross.

We've been using the Order for Compline, as set by David Hurd.

Here are our little additions:

O Lord, the maker (at ca. 5m 10s; William Mundy)
Psalms 4 and 134 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: To you before the close of day (TE LUCIS ANTE TERMINUM, plainsong Mode 8)
Nunc Dimittis with Faux-bourdons (H. Willan)
Salve Regina (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Josquin Desprez)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus.

I think we're getting more comfortable with the Mundy. It really is a lovely piece.

Iberian Organ Music from the Golden Age

Duke University Organist Robert Parkins presented a program of early Iberian Organ Music last Sunday, October 19. In addition to presenting this most interesting program, a slideshow of paintings that are on exhibit at the Nasher Museum's exhibition El Greco to Velázquez: Art during the Reign of Philip II.

This concert program will list not only the pieces Dr. Parkins played, but the pieces of art that were exhibited alongside those pieces. It was a wonderful program and complimented the paintings very well. Naturally, this recital took place on the Brombaugh Organ.

Music	Art
Antonio de Cabezón: Tiento III (I° tono) Magnificat de 4° tono (7 versos)	Francisco Ribalta: The Ecstasy of St. Francis of Assisi: The Vision of the Musical Angel Juan Sánchez Cotán: Virgin of the Immaculate Conception Eugenio Cajés: Nativity Luis Tristán: Adoration of the Shepherds Juan van der Hamen y León: Still Life: Plate with Bacon, Bread, and Wine Pedro Orrente: Jacomb Conjuring Laban's Sheep El Greco: Fray Hortensio Félix Paravicino El Greco: The Vision of Saint John
Francisco Peraza: Medio registro alto, I° tono	El Greco: St. Martin and the Beggar
Pedro de Araújo: Obra de I° sobre a Salve [regina]	Luis Tristán: Crucified Christ with the Virgin and St. John
Diogo da Conceição: Tento de meio registo alto de 2° tom	Juan Pantoja de la Cruz: King Philip III of Spain
Sebastián Aguilera de Heredia: Tiento de 4° tono de falsas	El Greco: St. Francis Venerating the Crucifix
Francisco Correa de Arauxo: Tiento [34] de medio registro de baxón (I° tono) Tiento [16] de 4° tono (a modo de canción) Discurso [55] de medio registro de dos baxones	El Greco: Portrait of an Ecclesiastic Jusepe de Ribera: Sense of Taste Diego Velázquez: Luis de Góngora y Argote
Pablo Bruna: Tiento de 2° tono sobre la letanía de la Virgen Pange lingua de 5° tono Tiento de primer tono de mano derecha y en medio a dos tiples	Diego Velázquez: The Immaculate Conception Vicente Carducho: Christ at Calvary Peter Paul Rubens: The Duke of Lerma

It's Fair Time Again!

It's that time of the year again: the NC State Fair is scheduled to start tomorrow afternoon. Despite the nation's economic downturn, I believe the organisers are optimistic that people will still turn up for fun and food.

I will again be part of an exhibit sponsored by the North Carolina Section of the American Chemical Society. This year, we will be a part of a new exhibit, Green NC. You can imagine how overjoyed the organisers were since this particular exhibit suits us very well.

I'll be there on the 16th October from 3.00 pm - 5.00 pm, 17th October from 9.00 am - 1.00 pm, and again on 23rd October from 9.00 am - 1.00 pm. If you're in the area, come on down and say hi. Oh, and you can also participate in a Scavenger Hunt to reveal the top 10 eco-friendly things that you can do to have a positive, sustainable impact on your environment, then receive a reusable grocery bag or tie-dye T-shirt as a prize.

I hope to see you there!

40 years ago yesterday ...

... my parents were married in the Philippines. Yesterday they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in San Diego. May they have many more years to come ...

12 October - 22nd Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 23

Here are my music lists, as usual.


St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played my usual 10.30 am service. As usual, numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost: Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Prelude: Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele (Op. 122, No. 5; J. Brahms)
Pro: 408, Sing praise to God who reigns above (MIT FREUDEN ZART)
Song of Praise: S-236 (Benedictus es, Domine; J. Rutter)
Psalm: Psalm 106 (Guimont)
Seq: 339, Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness (SCHMÜCKE DICH)
Off: 321, My God, thy table now is spread (ROCKINGHAM)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-167, The disciples knew the Lord Jesus (M. Martens; Mode 6)
Comm: 701, Jesus, all my gladness (JESU, MEINE FREUDE; with Variation 3 from J. Walther's setting of Jesu, meine Freude as introduction)
Re: 569, God, the Omnipotent! (RUSSIA)
Postlude: Jesu, meine Freude (BWV 611; J.S. Bach)

I received lots of compliments for the music after the service today. So I did a bit of an experiment - introducing a hymn with a chorale prelude. Van Quinn does that a lot, and during Communion, for some hymns he would also play variations in between each stanza. This seems to have gone over very well with this lot. During the Communion Procession, they'd have the melody of the hymn in their heads, and by the time we got to singing the hymn, I was able to hear the congregation singing this hymn well. That made me happy.

I've been teaching my choir some simple choral anthems, and our first one will be Lutkin's setting of The Lord bless you and keep you. I think they're picking this up quite nicely, and at our last rehearsal, it was really sounding lovely.

As Duke University was on Fall Break, there was no service at the Episcopal Centre at Duke University. They'll resume their regular service schedule next Sunday.

In the meantime, my turn came up at Chapel of the Cross for the late Sunday afternoon service. I knew they were following a different track than we were at St. Joseph's (Gospel-related track in the RCL, as opposed to the Semi-Continuous track) so somehow I had the feeling I might have to prepare different voluntary music.

The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost: Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Prelude: Grave from Voluntary VIII in C Major (from Fugues and Voluntaries (12) for organ or harpsichord; attr. G. F. Handel)
Pro: 24, The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended (ST. CLEMENT)
Psalm: Ps 23 (recited)
Seq: 487, Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life (THE CALL)
Off: 645, The King of love my shepherd is (ST. COLUMBA)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Comm: Voluntary in e minor: Adagio-Allegro (Op. 7, No. 7; John Stanley)
Re: 556, Rejoice, ye pure in heart! (MARION)
Postlude: Allegro from Voluntary VIII in C Major (from Fugues and Voluntaries (12) for organ or harpsichord; attr. Handel)

Although I've played the Stanley piece many times, I still had a few people approach me and ask me what that charming piece was I played for Communion. It really is a lovely piece.

Compline at Chapel of the Cross.

We've been using the Order for Compline, as set by David Hurd.

Here are our little additions:

O Lord, the maker (at ca. 5m 10s; William Mundy)
Psalms 31 and 134 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: Jesus, Redeemer of the world (JESU, NOSTRA REDEMPTIO, plainsong Mode 8)
In manus tuas (Sheppard; sung in addition to "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit ...)
Nunc Dimittis with Faux-bourdons (H. Willan)
Salve Regina (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Robert Parsons)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus.

David also directed and was the cantor in Van Quinn's absence. He was very patient with us, and we managed to produce a lovely sound under his direction. I love how he injects little historical tidbits about the renaissance-era music we're doing. It's almost like getting into the minds of the musicologists who studied and edited this music. Really fascinating.

The Entertainer - x4

H/T to Ryan L.

This is the Philadelphia Organ Quartet, playing Scott Joplin's The Entertainer, using only pedals. It gives the expression, "Look Ma, no hands!" a whole new meaning.

Organ Spectacular!

I'm working on something that I am hoping to present as a prelude for the 19th October, which coincides with the Organ Spectacular, an international day of celebration, and a focal point of the 2008-09 International Year of the Organ celebration. It's a lovely piece, and I worked through it with my friend Daniel, who will be playing the clarinet alongside. Bernard Wayne Sanders' Ornament of Grace won first place in the AGO Organ and Instrument Composition Competition.

Later that afternoon, and right before my afternoon service with the Episcopal Centre at Duke University, I'll be at Duke Chapel to attend an organ recital featuring Robert Parkins, who is the University Organist and Professor of the Practice of Music at Duke University. He will be performing on the Brombaugh organ with “Iberian Organ Music from the Golden Age.” Presented in conjunction with “El Greco to Velazquez: Art During the Reign of Philip III,” currently on view at the Nasher Museum of Art, his program will feature images of paintings from this remarkable exhibition. This recital will be performed in Memorial Chapel at 2:30 PM and again at 5:00 PM.

So all you organists out there - how are you going to be celebrating Organ Spectacular on the 19th October?

5 October - 21st Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 22

Here are my music lists, as usual. This time around, I have four lists.

I cantored the Mass at Immaculate Conception. As usual, the numbers come out of GIA's Gather Comprehensive 1994 (green cover):

Sunday 7.45 am Mass: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gloria: 176 (Andrews)
Gospel Acclamation: 257, Alleluia 7 (Berthier). I fit the following verse to the tone indicated, minus Alleluia: "I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord, to go and bear fruit that will remain."
Sanctus, Mem. Accl., Amen, Agnus Dei: Mass of Light, with my "doctoring" of the Agnus Dei, essentially undoing the language faux-pas Haas inflicted upon it in the first place ...

Pro: 756, Morning has broken (BUNESSAN)
Psalm: 74, Psalm 80 (Guimont)
Off: 726, Make me a channel of your peace (S. Temple setting) - makes sense this would be programmed as close to St. Francis' feast day, especially considering the parish is staffed by Franciscan friars.
Comm: Organist's Voluntary
Re: 493, The works of the Lord are created in wisdom (KREMSER)

St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played my usual 10.30 am service. As usual, numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost: Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Prelude: Largo Staccato from Voluntary IX (Op. 7; J. Stanley)
Pro: 372, Praise to the living God (LEONI)
Song of Praise: S-236 (Benedictus es, Domine; J. Rutter)
Psalm: Psalm 19 (Guimont)
Seq: 458, My song is love unknown, vs. 1-2; 5 (LOVE UNKNOWN)
Off: 448, O love, how deep, how broad, how high (DEUS TUORUM MILITUM)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-167, The disciples knew the Lord Jesus (M. Martens; Mode 6)
Comm: WLP 827, O Lord, hear my pray'r (Taizé)
Re: 518, Christ is made the sure foundation (WESTMINSTER ABBEY)
Postlude: Vivace from Voluntary IX (Op. 7; Stanley)

Episcopal Centre at Duke University.

The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost: Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Prelude: Adagio from Voluntary V (Op. 7, J. Stanley)
Pro: 372, Praise to the living God (LEONI)
Gloria: S-280 (Powell)
Psalm: Ps 19, recited
Seq: 458, My song is love unknown, vs. 1-2; 5 (LOVE UNKNOWN)
Off: 448, O love, how deep, how broad, how high (DEUS TUORUM MILITUM)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Communion Hymn: WLP 827, O Lord, hear my pray'r (Taizé)
Re: 518, Christ is made the sure foundation (WESTMINSTER ABBEY)
Postlude: Improvisation on Westminster Abbey

Compline at Chapel of the Cross.

We've been using the Order for Compline, as set by David Hurd.

Here are our little additions:

O Lord, the maker (at ca. 5m 10s; William Mundy)
Psalm 91 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: To you before the close of day (TE LUCIS ANTE TERMINUM, plainsong Mode 8)
Nunc Dimittis with Faux-bourdons (H. Willan)
Salve Regina (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Josquin Desprez)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus.

Perhaps it's just as well I posted these lists today. Earlier today, I met a man who has been a regular at the Compline services. He brings his father to these services. He admitted that these services are the first his father has been to in at least 30 years. His father grew up in Greensboro, NC in the 1930s, and was turned off to church and religion as a whole as a result. The Compline services has brought him back. It made me feel very good when I heard this story. It really is nice to know that by singing this 30 minute service, we are making a difference in peoples' lives.

Catholic Carnival 193 at Living Catholicism

Catholic Carnival 193 is up and running at Living Catholicism. Jay titled this one "Life, Politics and Prayer".

My entry, which was the first in this version of the Carnival, was my rather long-winded recollection of a discussion amongst friends on what we found missing in our spiritual lives.

I've discerned that these Carnivals can only be as good as the entries you bring to the party. Please feel free to submit your thoughts to future Carnivals. A handy-dandy form may be found by clicking here. In addition, a list of past and future Carnivals may be obtained by clicking here.

Gas Woes

Considering the gas shortage we're experiencing here, The Powers That Be at the Triangle Transit decided to fight back with a sense of humour.

As I was driving back from Chapel Hill, I noticed a bus stating: "Dump the Pump! Ride the Bus!"

Something Missing

Last night, I was at a meeting with other central North Carolina-based Filipinos to discuss and plan Simbang Gabi. It was started approximately 7-8 years ago by a group of Filipino Catholics who yearned for this tradition from their homeland. It helped that a Filipino priest with the Missionhurst Missionaries, Fr. Mel Portula, was assigned to a parish in Eastern Wake County because then the Masses could be conducted in Tagalog, as is tradition (well, at least is tradition in the Tagalog-speaking areas of the Philippines. I would venture a guess that in other regions, the local language (e.g., Cebuano, Ilocano, Bicolano, etc.) would be used).

Well, enough of that history. (If you are curious to know more about Simbang Gabi, click on the link I provided above, or do a Google search on "simbang gabi".)

After this most efficient meeting, facilitated ably by Fr. Julian Jagudilla, OFM, we participated in a house blessing (Fr. Julian blessed the nice new addition the Zaballeros made in their house) and then we enjoyed a late dinner/snack. (I can never say no to ginataan.)

I was chatting with a couple of people, and our discussion turned toward religion. Not surprisingly, when Fr. Julian was asking for a chairman for the Liturgy sub-committee, several in the room volunteered me for that job. They know that I've provided the Order of Worship for at least the last five Simbang Gabi. (By the way, we've only done one Mass within the nine days before Christmas; traditionally, it is a Novena of Masses, so there is traditionally an early morning Mass each of nine mornings, starting on 16 December, culminating with a Misa de Gallo the morning of Christmas Eve, 24 December.) Admittedly, my experience in helping to plan the liturgy with Fr. Mel came in very handy when I was applying for a church job of my own.

But I am digressing. (Actually, my whole post has been one huge digression from what I really wanted to talk about at this point. Hmmm. Will I need a beta for my blog posts? **snerk**)

Back to the interesting discussion I had with a couple of people. I told them I was the Organist/Choirmaster for an Episcopal church near Duke University. They were genuinely curious to know if it was considerably different from Catholic Masses. This was where I went into a discussion of Liturgical versus non-Liturgical churches. They found it interesting. One of them said she was raised Catholic (most Filipinos are, btw), but fell away from the Church for one reason or another. She married a non-Catholic, and described the wedding she had - it was Pentecostal, she thinks, and lasted for only 10 minutes. She said she felt something was missing. Her second marriage, also to a non-Catholic, occurred in the courthouse. Again, she felt something was missing. I told her that when my family went to one of my cousin's wedding, which took place in a Methodist church, they felt it was a rather incomplete service, like something was missing.

So the discussion turned more toward the services themselves. She couldn't quite pinpoint what was missing, but after her second husband died, she started going back to the Catholic Church and going to Mass once again. And then, she was able to articulate what was missing - the Real Presence that is Christ in the Eucharist. She realised she didn't experience that in the Pentecostal services she was attending with her husband. Oh, they seemed emotional enough when praying or preaching from the Bible, she said, but for her, that didn't seem enough.

It was when she started going to Mass again when she realised she found what she was looking for. She found comfort in the Liturgy of the Mass - essentially unchanging, routine - and felt like she was home as she approached to receive Communion. And from that point on, she went to Mass and even got involved with her parish.

Interestingly enough, I experienced something similar. I had fallen away from the Catholic Church after I finished high school. Yes, I went through CCD and the whole lot, which abruptly stopped after Confirmation. (Not that we ever took it seriously; it was rather a farce, just reading from the book whilst we were in the back of the classroom, doing book reports or math homework, etc.) Funny that everyone seemed to think I'd be a nun when I grew up. Anyway, I stopped going to Mass and muddled through my undergraduate education. It wasn't until I was well into my graduate studies that I gradually started going back to church. It helped that St. Peter's Church was right across the street, and that my roommate at the time was a devout Catholic who went every Sunday to Mass, and even tried to catch a Daily Mass when she wasn't in class.

It was Palm Sunday and I just "felt" like going to Mass that day. I remember going to a late Sunday afternoon Mass. After having ensured my work was done in the lab, I walked across campus and into the church. Somehow, everything felt right. I couldn't articulate what that feeling of rightness was. That feeling of rightness became even more intense as the Mass went on. At the end, the celebrant was standing outside the church, greeting people as they left. The priest (I wish I remembered his name) was very friendly and engaged me in conversation. I told him I was a graduate student in the Chemistry department at the university across the street, and he smiled, telling me that before he was in seminary, he too was a Chemistry student in his native Puerto Rico. I thought that was rather neat.

Needless to say, after that experience, I started going to Mass every Sunday. I felt like I had come home.

Which Ancient Language Are You?

This one was snagged from a variety of different people. I decided to give this a go. It's one of the more interesting quizzes out there. Give it a go ...

Your result for The Which Ancient Language Are You Test...

Linear B

You are Linear B. Even those who can follow you think you're all Greek to them. Which, after all, is true - Linear B being the first known text for written Greek. To most people, you're incomprehensible. But what do you care? You're tough, hard, long-enduring and have greater nobility than most. Naturally, you don't admit to borrowing extensively from your brother Linear A.

Take The Which Ancient Language Are You Test at HelloQuizzy

28 September - 20th Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 21

They are a little late, but here are my music lists, as usual.

Service #1: St. Joseph's Episcopal Church where I played my usual 10.30 am service. As usual, numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost: Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Prelude: I. Plein chant en Taille; II. Fugue sur jeux d'anches (from Messe pour les paroisses; F. Couperin)
Pro: 686, Come thou fount of every blessing (NETTLETON)
Song of Praise: S-236 (Benedictus es, Domine; J. Rutter)
Psalm: Psalm 78 (Guimont)
Seq: 339, Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness (SCHMÜCKE DICH)
Off: 679, Surely it is God who saves me (THOMAS MERTON)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Fraction Anthem: S-167, The disciples knew the Lord Jesus (M. Martens; Mode 6)
Comm: LEVAS II 115, Spirit of the living God (D. Iverson); Jesus, Name above all names (P. Cain; N. Hearn)
Re: 450, All hail the power of Jesus' Name! (CORONATION)
Postlude: Dialogue sur les trompettes, clarion, et tierces du Grand Clavier (from Messe pour les paroisses; Couperin)

Service #2: Episcopal Centre at Duke University.

The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost: Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Prelude: Adagio from Voluntary I (Op. 7, J. Stanley)
Pro: 410, Praise my soul, the King of heaven (LAUDA ANIMA)
Gloria: S-280 (Powell)
Psalm: Ps 78, recited
Seq: 339, Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness (SCHMÜCKE DICH)
Off: 679, Surely it is God who saves me (THOMAS MERTON)
Sanctus: S-125, Community Mass (Proulx)
Communion Hymn: WLP 827, O Lord, hear my pray'r (Taizé)
Re: 450, All hail the power of Jesus' Name! (CORONATION)
Postlude: Improvisation on Coronation

Service #3: Compline at Chapel of the Cross.

We've been using the Order for Compline, as set by David Hurd.

Here are our little additions:

Jesu dulcis memoria (Tomas Luis de Victoria)
Psalm 91 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: Christ, mighty Saviour (CHRISTE, LUX MUNDI, plainsong Mode 7)
Nunc Dimittis with Faux-bourdons (H. Willan)
Salve Regina (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Robert Parsons)
Organ Voluntary on INNISFREE FARM by the abfab David Arcus.

Ars Organi

Last Friday, 26 September, an organ concert to celebrate the life and artistry of Dr. Rudolph Kremer was presented by Dr. Robert Parris at Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill.

Dr. Kremer was the chairman of organ instruction, professor, and University Organist of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1964 to 1995. He was known as a compelling performer on organ and harpsichord, an accomplished scholar and composer, and a gifted teacher, who touched countelss lives during his career, including the recitalist, Dr. Parris.

Parris gave a very nice, and very fitting tribute to Kremer with his program. Even his notes (as well as the music he chose) were almost biographical in scope, hitting on the highlights of Kremer's career, in addition to giving the audience a taste of Kremer's artistry and personality.

With that, the program.

• From Il secondo libro di toccate, canzone ... 1637 (Girolamo Frescobaldi)
• Toccata prima
• Toccata settima


• Two works from the Leipzig Chorales (Johann Sebastian Bach)
• O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig (BWV 656)
• Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend (BWV 655)


• Prelude and Fugue in E-flat Major (BWV 552; Bach)


• Sonata for Organ (1968 - 1972; Rudolph Kremer)
• Moderately
• Slow
• Lively


• La Nativité (Jean Langlais)


• Sonata on the 94th Psalm (Julius Reubke)
• Grave
• Larghetto – Allegro
• Adagio
• Allegro

The Closest Book Meme

(Image borrowed from jaegamer over at LiveJournal. The meme sheep idea comes from my writing friend JunoMagic.)

This meme was stolen from zeegrindylows and JunoMagic.

• Grab the nearest book.
• Open the book to page 56.
• Find the fifth sentence.
• Post the text of the next two to five sentences in your journal along with these instructions.
• Don’t dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST.

Well, I highly doubt I would have been able to find anything that would have fulfilled the requirements of this meme from Episcopal Music Planning Guides, so I grabbed the next best thing that's not a hymnal or the Book of Common Prayer.

Sigh. It figures. I pull out a book of poetry, and the fifth sentence on page 56 bleeds on to page 57.

Here is it anyway.

A portion of Only Death by Pablo Neruda, translated to English by Donald D. Walsh

I know little, I am not well acquainted, I can scarcely see,
but I think that her song has the colour of moist violets,
of violets accustomed to the earth,
because the face of death is green,
and the gaze of death is green,
with the sharp dampness of a violet leaf
and its dark colour of exasperated winter.

But death also goes through the world dressed as a broom,
she licks the ground looking for corpses,
death is in the broom,
it is death's tongue looking for dead bodies,
it is death's needle looking for thread.

Death is in the cots:
in the slow mattresses, in the black blankets
she lives stretched out, and she suddenly blows:
she blows a dark sound that puffs out sheets,
and there are beds sailing to a port
where she is waiting, dressed as an admiral.

From: The Poetry of Pablo Neruda, Ed. Ilan Stavans, Farrar, Straus and Giroux: New York, 2003

I'm tagging anyone who reads this, either on LJ or on Blogger, as this is being posted at both places.