Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Curried Black Beans and Rice

Naturally, with this being the first day of Lent, I decided to try my hand at making a bean and rice recipe. Most of the recipes I saw called for cooking the beans with a ham bone or flavouring the beans with bacon. I thought, well why not try to invent my own rice and beans dish?

I decided to draw on my knowledge of Indian cuisine to make this dish. I was improvising as I went along, but used 2/3 of the "wet trinity" (garlic, onion but no ginger) and the so-called "dry trinity" (turmeric, cumin, and coriander powders). It actually turned out quite well, and ladling this over brown rice ... mmmmm. I'd say it made for a good Lenten meal. (And yes, it was my only meal. Let me copy one of Fr Roderick Vonhögen's Facebook status messages here:
Today is a day of fasting (only one full meal, 2 small meals if necessary, no snacking) and abstinence (no meat) for all Catholics.
Naturally, there are exemptions that exist to this ... which are easily found at other sources ...)

But enough of that. Here is my recipe.

250 g dried black beans
4 c water

Place beans in water. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for ca. 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let sit for an hour. (Alternatively, soak the beans overnight in 4 c of water.)

Drain the beans, and place in a pot with 4 c water. Set aside.

1 onion, diced
As much garlic as you can stand, minced. (I'd say no less than 2 cloves.)
1 tomato, diced
2 pcs dried chilli
2 pcs bay leaf
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp cumin
2 tsp coriander
Salt and chilli powder to taste

Put oil in pan and heat with dried chilli and bay leaf. (I used canola oil.) Don't let the spices burn. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until softened. Or, for a different flavour, heat over medium low heat until the onions are carmelised. (I did the latter.) Add the turmeric and fry for about 1 minute or so. Add the cumin and the coriander and then fry for another minute or so. Add a bit of water to make a thick paste. Then add the tomato and season to taste with salt and chilli powder. Let cook for about a minute or two.

Add this curried mixture to the pot with the beans in water. Cook until the beans are tender.

Adjust seasonings with salt, chilli powder, and lemon juice (to adjust for saltiness, heat, and tartness). Serve over rice.

If I had them on hand, I would have added 1 tsp garam masala at the end, as well as some fresh chopped coriander (cilantro) leaves. That would have added more flavour to this dish.

Recently in the TPP chatroom, we had a discussion about curry, and how some of the chatters weren't keen on curry. I thought it might be the turmeric they found off-putting. I find that if the turmeric is fried first for a minute or two, it mellows its flavour and the perception of eating something earthy or something like dirt is minimised to eliminated. At least, this is from my experience.

As far as cooking this dish is concerned - because of my very early morning, I ended up putting the pot on simmer after having added the onion/garlic/tomato mixture and letting it sit for 4 hours. I then took a nap, and by the time I woke up from my nap, the beans were ready. If you have a slow cooker, this dish would work perfectly there.

I'll definitely make this again, but this time, I'll make sure I have some coriander leaves at hand. Even having a few fresh Thai chillies would be lovely - mince that finely and add it with the tomato if you're going to use that.

Sorry, no pic!spam to share. I haven't a digital camera; otherwise I would have taken a picture of this dish.

25 February - Ash Wednesday

Lent is upon us - it is Ash Wednesday.

I participated in two services: first, a Service of Word and Imposition of Ashes at Immaculate Conception, and Holy Eucharist Rite II at St. Joseph's Episcopal Church.

I cantored the 7.00 am service at IC this morning. I was a bit disappointed that it was only a "prayer service" and not a Mass. I asked a few friends on Facebook about this phenomenon, and they said it wasn't unusual because in their areas, there was only one priest to cover anywhere between 5-7 parishes. Daily Masses don't even occur there any more because they don't have a priest around every day to celebrate those Masses. So in those situations, I could understand why such a prayer service would occur. But IC has three friars in residence! Surely, they could have celebrated a Mass at 7.00 am, even if it would be a "silent Mass" just in case people needed to get to work straight away!

Sigh. Here is the list. Any numbers you see come out of GIA's Gather Comprehensive 1994 (green cover).

7.00 am Service of the Word: Ash Wednesday
Opening Hymn: 382, Again, we keep this solemn fast (OLD 100TH)
Psalm: Psalm 51 (Guimont)
Gospel Acclamation: 160-A, Mass of Creation (Haugen)
Hymn During Imposition of Ashes: 383, Parce Domine (Mode I with Tonus Peregrinus)
Postlude: O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sünde groß (BWV 622; J.S. Bach)

I told the organist that I would love her forever if she would play O Mensch, bewein' as postlude. :)


Next: a joint service between St. Joseph's Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Centre at Duke University. As usual, the numbers are out of The Hymnal 1982.

Ash Wednesday: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Psalm: Psalm 103 (recited)
Psalm during Imposition of Ashes: Psalm 51 (recited)
Off: 142 Lord who throughout these forty days (ST. FLAVIAN)
Sanctus: S-114 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-158 Missa de Sancta Maria Magdalena (Willan)
Communion Hymn: WLP 825, Bless the Lord (Taizé)
Re: 149 Eternal Lord of love, behold your Church (OLD 124TH)

For the first time in a long time, the choir processed and recessed. We may end up doing that for the rest of Lent, and from now on. But we'll have to discuss that with the choir. I received positive feedback on that end.

Have a Blessed Lent, everyone!

Catholic Carnival # 213 - Shrove Tuesday Edition

Catholic Carnival 213 is up and running at Sanctus Christopher. The post I provided was my post on Fr Seraphim Beshoner's request to the listeners of his Catholic Under the Hood podcast to reflect on What God is doing in our life now. Go check out this carnival - Christopher dedicated it to Catholic writers, and included a nice smattering of texts and quotes from some well-known (and not-so-well-known) Catholic writers whilst interspersing the variety of interesting posts he received from the Catholic blogosphere.

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.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Pancakes and Compline = WIN

Earlier tonight, the Episcopal Centre at Duke University hosted a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, followed by a chanted Compline at St Joseph's Episcopal Church. The pancake supper was wonderful, and we had a good crowd turn up to enjoy pancakes, eggs, sausage, and bacon. Many thanks to the students who cooked, especially Laura, Anne, and Meg. (And if there are others, please let me know and I'll add their names here.) And of course, thanks to Karen for putting it all together.

Afterward, we had sung Compline in the church. Before I go on, special thanks to my friends from the Compline Choir at Chapel of the Cross for coming by and helping us lead the people in this service: James, Lewis, and Charlotte. I would also like to thank George, Chris, and Fred for lending their voices to this effort. We received a lot of compliments with pleas for another sung Compline service in the future.

As for the service: it followed the David Hurd setting that we've been using at Chapel of the Cross. We chanted to Tone 8, Psalms 4 and 134. James chanted Jeremiah 14:9, 22, also to Tone 8. The Hymn was "To You before the close of day" (TE LUCIS ANTE TERMINUM, mode 8). The Nunc dimittis setting was by Ford, again to Tone 8. We ended the service with the Marian antiphon, Ave Regina Cælorum right after the Dismissal. This we chanted in English, however, and I ... well, I suppose "translated" is the only word that is popping up in my head at the moment, the neumes to modern music notation, using ABC Music Notation. It's not that difficult, once you get the hang of it.

All in all, it was a successful service. It was a nice way to end the day. My day will start early tomorrow morning - I will be cantoring the 7.00 am Mass at Immaculate Conception, thus returning the favour to a friend of mine who stepped in for me during the time I was beset by that three-month long laryngitis I was afflicted by last year.

So I shall end with one of the prayers from the Compline service as it seems quite appropriate now (and it's very much in my mind at the moment):

Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ, give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous, and all for your love’s sake. Amen.

Giving up Facebook for Lent?


I noticed that some of my friends and relatives are planning to give up Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and other social interaction networks for Lent. Some are planning to give up using the Internet during this time as well. Fr Roderick Vonhögen blogged on this, and provided a couple of useful links to those who are considering giving up these things for Lent. I suggest you give them a read and follow some of the tips given, particularly in the CNET article. Changing your photo to read something like "Giving Up Facebook for Lent" would probably be the most effective way of letting your f-list know you're fasting from Facebook as the status lines go away a week after you've set them. At least on Myspace, the status lines will stay until you change them.

Read Fr Roderick's post here. I'd be interested to know your thoughts on this trend. This will be cross-posted to my LJ, and will get posted automagically to my Facebook page.

BTW - I won't be giving up Facebook or blogging for Lent. I generally put my music lists on my blog, and Facebook became a tool in my work. As far as I'm concerned, being able to connect with old friends was the bonus.

22 February - Last Sunday after Epiphany

Goodness, is it really the Last Sunday after Epiphany / 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time already??? Ash Wednesday is just around the corner ... like, tomorrow as I write this!!! Where has the time gone?

Here are my usual lists.

My turn for cantoring came up at Immaculate Conception. Any numbers you see come out of GIA's Gather Comprehensive 1994 (green cover).

Sunday 7.45 am Mass: 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Opening Hymn: 506, Immortal, invisible, God only wise (ST DENIO)
Psalm: 50, Psalm 41, (Guimont)
Gospel Acclamation: 262, Joyful Alleluia (H Hughes)
Offertory: 533, All creatures of our God and King (LASST UNS ERFREUEN)
Sanctus, Mem. Accl., Amen, Agnus Dei: 228-232, Community Mass (R Proulx)
Communion: Organist voluntary
Closing Hymn: 590, We walk by faith (SHANTI)

I believe voluntaries the organist played were by Buxtehude and Bach, but I didn't catch exactly what she played.


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

Last Sunday After Epiphany: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Prelude in g minor (attr. J.S. Bach)
Pro: 410, Praise my soul, the king of heaven (LAUDA ANIMA)
Gloria: S-278 (W. Mathias)
Psalm: Psalm 50 (Ford)
Seq: 129, Christ upon the mountain peak (MOWSLEY)
Off: 460, Alleluia! sing to Jesus! (HYFRYDOL)
Sanctus: S-128 (W. Mathias)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-165 (W. Mathias)
Communion Motet: Tu solus qui facis mirabilia (Josquin Desprez)
Re: 137, O wondrous type! O vision fair (WAREHAM)
Postlude: Fugue in g minor (attr. Bach)

I'm so proud of my choir. They pulled off this piece! It is not an easy piece, but they worked hard on it, and it turned out nicely. I received compliments from people on the wonderful job the choir did.

Unfortunately, one of our members was not able to join us due to a death in the family. Condolences to the Brines for their loss.


Episcopal Centre at Duke University

Last Sunday After Epiphany: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Fantasia in G Major and Allegro in G Major (CPE Bach)
Pro: 410, Praise my soul, the king of heaven (LAUDA ANIMA)
Gloria: S-280 (R. Powell)
Psalm: Psalm 50 (recited)
Seq: 129, Christ upon the mountain peak (MOWSLEY)
Off: 460, Alleluia! sing to Jesus! (HYFRYDOL)
Sanctus: S-125 (Community Mass; Proulx)
Comm: 134, O Light of Light, Love given birth (JESU DULCIS MEMORIA, plainsong Mode 2)
Re: 137, O wondrous type! O vision fair (WAREHAM)
Postlude: Alternate harmonisation of Wareham (Rawsthorne)

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

Here are our little additions:

O nata lux (Thomas Tallis)
Psalm 91 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: O Light of Light, Love given birth (JESU DULCIS MEMORIA, plainsong Mode 2)
Nunc Dimittis from Short Service (O. Gibbons)
Ave Regina Cælorum (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Josquin Desprez)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus.

David, God bless his heart, improvised on three themes, two of which the majority figured out: Jesu dulcis memoria and Lauridsen's beautiful choral setting of O Nata Lux. The third theme: Shine, Jesus, Shine. It was subtle, but I recognised it. So when I approached him, asking him, "You did not include Shine, Jesus, Shine in your improv, did you?" His response: "Shhhhh! How did you know that?"

*giggle snort* I don't know whether to be amazed or relieved that this lot had not heard of that song. But this led to an interesting conversation on themes that David and Van Quinn had improvised on over the years, including the theme from the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the theme from the Mickey Mouse Club, a song from Black Sabbath (but I didn't recognise it when David hummed it. Others did, and they were ROTFL). A friend of mine, who is an organist in the Pittsburgh area, improvised on the Pittsburgh Steelers' fight song, but he didn't exactly get away with it - he claimed that everyone in the congregation recognised it straight away!

Well. Lent starts tomorrow. For the whole of Lent, at St Joseph's there will be no postlude whilst at the Episcopal Centre, there will be no Opening Hymn, although I could play a quiet prelude. Happy Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday, etc. ...

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Cheese Plate, Revisited

Some time back, I was tasked with putting together a cheese plate for a post-concert reception. I have been asked to put another together.

Here are the cheeses I chose:

Robusto, a Dutch cheese aged ca. 9 months
Black Diamond Cheddar cheese, aged ca. 5 years
Le Petit Brie, from France
Gorgonzola Piccante (the Blue Cheese)
Old Chatham Nancy's Camembert (made with sheep and cow's milk)

I hope they'll suit. Because of my Sunday afternoon committments, I can't make the concert (Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle) but I'm sure it will be a good one.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Alert? Carolina

(Image from the Daily Tar Heel's Opinion Page - cartoon by Alex Lee)

Well. Sunday's bomb threat was apparently a threat to one of the professors on campus. The perp wanted to try to take out as many people as possible. But to what end? The professor wasn't even on campus when the perp made his/her threat.

Stupid, stupid people.

Read more here.

Note: click on the picture to read the "fine print" on the depicted mobile phone's screen.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

What is God doing in my life now?

Fr Seraphim Beshoner, the man behind Catholic Under the Hood, came up with the idea to dedicate 18 February as "What Is God Doing In My Life Right Now Day".




His description:
Invitation to join in spending the day in reflection upon God's activity in your life whether that be that year, month, week, day, hour, minute, or second. And an invitation to share that via Facebook, Twitter, Plurk, etc status updates throughout the day.
It's not a bad idea actually - it's a good excuse to sit back and reflect on all the blessings God has bestowed unto us.

I am thankful that despite these hard economic times that I am relatively healthy and have a good group of friends and family to support me. I've been helping an organist friend of mine with his job search, and as I'm doing that, I have the pleasure to get to know better a delightful person. He is very talented and also has a very deep faith in God, and I can't help but pray that he is able to find a place where his talent and other gifts are acknowledged and appreciated.

I see pictures of my young nephews and niece back in San Diego, and think how thankful I am that they are here in the world. I'm sure they will make their marks in the world when they grow up. They've got the best parents in the world in my brother and sister-in-law.

Even though I haven't seen my family, both immediate and extended for quite a while, I am thankful that there are there in spirit, if not in body. I know they are just a phone call or an email away.

There are many things to be thankful for ... so take a moment and reflect on it. This can be done at any time. I know when I go to sleep, I thank God for the day that passed, and when I wake up, I thank God for the day to come.

15 February - Sixth Sunday After Epiphany

Here are my usual lists.

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

Sixth Sunday After Epiphany: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Prelude in F Major (attr. J.S. Bach)
Pro: Gather Comprehensive 753, All Are Welcome (TWO OAKS)
Gloria: S-278 (W. Mathias)
Psalm: Psalm 30 (Barrett)
Seq: 546, Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve (SIROË)
Off: 135, Songs of thankfulness and praise (SALZBURG)
Sanctus: S-128 (W. Mathias)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-165 (W. Mathias)
Communion Motet: Hide not thou thy face (Farrant)
Communion Hymn: 697, My God, accept my heart this day (SONG 67)
Re: 493, O for a thousand tongues to sing (AZMON)
Postlude: Fugue in F Major (attr. Bach)

Yes, I know - some of you who know me will immediately question why I programmed what I did for the Opening Song. (I won't call it a hymn because it isn't one.) Rhonda gave a nice explanation of it. Haugen's song "All Are Welcome" was sung by the bishops at the 2008 Lambeth Conference that took place last July. However, many saw it as hypocritical because despite aspiring to welcome all, Bishop Gene Robinson was excluded from this conference. (My paraphrasing of what I've researched.) Rhonda put it elegantly when she said welcoming all is something we aspire to, but we are still a ways from truly stating that "All Are Welcome". I know at St Joseph's, one can question this with regards to the Homeless Ministry. Do we truly welcome all, whether they be members from the church community or the homeless person on the street?

"All Are Welcome" was also the central theme of the 193rd Annual Diocesan Convention in Winston-Salem, NC. Each parish was requested to program the song at least once this year. So it was fit in for the 6th Sunday after Epiphany.

Speaking of which, it was also programmed as a sermon response at the Episcopal Centre at Duke University; however, it was delayed since we had a last-minute sub preside over the service due to sudden illness.

Sixth Sunday After Epiphany: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Improvisation on Wer nur den lieben Gott
Pro: 135, Songs of thankfulness and praise (SALZBURG)
Gloria: S-280 (R. Powell)
Psalm: Psalm 30 (recited)
Seq: 635, If thou but trust in God to guide thee (WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT)
Off: 546, Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve (SIROË)
Sanctus: S-125 (Community Mass; Proulx)
Comm: WLP 827, O Lord, hear my prayer (Taizé)
Re: 493, O for a thousand tongues to sing (AZMON)


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

Here are our little additions:

O nata lux (Thomas Tallis)
Psalms 91 & 134 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: Christ, mighty Saviour (CHRISTE, LUX MUNDI, plainsong Mode 7)
Nunc Dimittis from Short Service (O. Gibbons)
Ave Regina Cælorum (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Josquin Desprez)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus.

Monday, February 16, 2009

What is the point?

Last night, as we were leaving the church after the Compline service ended, some of the students started going on about staying away from the Pit and the Davis Library because those areas had been evacuated.

"Evacuated?"

"Yeah, apparently there was a bomb threat and they evacuated that entire area."

Mind you, this was a bit past 10.00 pm when all of this was going on. I asked a couple of students, who had their cell phones out, if they received any text messages from the university. Much to my surprise, they said no.

This made no sense whatsoever. Every time I change my ONYEN (UNC password), I get to a screen asking me if I want to register my cell phone number to receive text messages as part of the Alert Carolina program. As I don't have a cell phone or any phone that can receive text messages, I opted out of that.

But one would think that for incidents like this, students should have received a text message, informing them of what was going on at that part of campus. I also checked my School of Medicine email account, to where I would have received any university-wide messages, and there I received no messages related to the bomb threat.

I checked the Daily Tar Heel this morning, and there was indeed a story that stated someone called in a bomb threat a little before 9.00 pm last night. Interestingly enough, someone stated in the comments section that a parent had heard breaking news of a bomb threat from a news station in Greensboro, rang up the child to ask what was going on, and the child couldn't say honestly what was going on because of the lack of information!

Rumours were going around, like someone had a gun on campus and started shooting at people.

Honestly, if you're going to set up such an alert service, you would think it would be used for a situation like this, especially if an entire area on campus was evacuated due to a safety threat.

/end rant

Thursday, February 12, 2009

8 February - Fifth Sunday After Epiphany

Here are my usual lists.

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

Fifth Sunday After Epiphany: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: All Are Welcome (M. Haugen)
Pro: 401, The God of Abraham praise (LEONI)
Gloria: S-278 (W. Mathias)
Psalm: Psalm 147 (Ford, Mode 8)
Seq: 529, In Christ there is no East or West (McKEE)
Off: 423, Immortal, invisible, God only wise (ST. DENIO)
Sanctus: S-128 (W. Mathias)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-165 (W. Mathias)
Communion: Gather Comprehensive 611, On Eagle's Wings (M. Joncas)
Re: 411, O bless the Lord, my soul! (ST THOMAS (Williams))
Postlude: Prelude and Fugue in B-flat Major (attr. Bach)

It was actually my intention to play the Prelude in B-flat Major for prelude and the Fugue for the postlude. However, because we're going to be singing Haugen's "All Are Welcome" as the Opening Hymn next Sunday, I decided to play that several times through as prelude so the people will be able to have it in their ears. Why do this? The central theme of the 193rd convention was “All Are Welcome”. The parishes in the diocese were asked to program Haugen's song at least once this year. So we'll do our parts at both St Joseph's and the Episcopal Centre next Sunday.

Speaking of the Episcopal Centre at Duke University ...

Fifth Sunday After Epiphany: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: All Are Welcome (M. Haugen)
Pro: 401, The God of Abraham praise (LEONI)
Gloria: S-280 (R. Powell)
Psalm: Psalm 147 (recited)
Seq: 529, In Christ there is no East or West (McKEE)
Off: 423, Immortal, invisible, God only wise (ST. DENIO)
Sanctus: S-125 (Community Mass; Proulx)
Comm: WLP 825, Bless the Lord (Taizé)
Re: 411, O bless the Lord, my soul! (ST THOMAS (Williams))
Postlude: All Are Welcome (M. Haugen)

These students got a heavy dose of "All Are Welcome". We'll see how well they sing it next Sunday afternoon. At ECDU, it will be sung as a response to the sermon.


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

Here are our little additions:

O nata lux (Thomas Tallis)
Psalms 4 & 31 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: Christ, mighty Saviour (CHRISTE, LUX MUNDI, plainsong Mode 7)
In manus tuas (Sheppard; sung in addition to "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit ...)
Nunc Dimittis from Short Service (O. Gibbons)
Ave Regina Cælorum (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Josquin Desprez)
Organ Voluntary by the equally abfab Van Quinn.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Organ Encounters

Those of you know know me in RL know that I've been honing my creative writing skills, thanks to being involved with the Harry Potter FanFiction fandom. For the past three weeks, my Saturday evenings have been taken up by the ladies in Petulant Poetess Chat Room. Person A issues a prompt to Person B. Person B answers the prompt with a ficlet of no longer than 1000 words. The results are then posted to The Petulant Poetess under the category Potter Place Fun.

Karelia issued the following prompt to me: Lucius visits a cathedral and is enchanted by the sound of an organ playing. I answered with a ficlet called Resonance, where Severus Snape takes Lucius Malfoy to Église Saint-Sulpice to listen to Daniel Roth (well, it's implied it is Mr Roth) play Messiaen's final Toccata from La Nativité, Dieu Parmi Nous on the famous Cavaillé-Coll organ.

This morning, I received a lovely email from one of the readers. She is the mother of an aspiring organist. Her teen-aged son is also legally blind. She worries that her son may have a difficult time breaking through the 'glass ceiling' of others' prejudice that a blind musician cannot be a virtuoso, but takes heart in the fact that there are some famous blind organists such as Jean Langlais and Louis Vierne. Naturally, my response was to recommend she contact her local chapter of the American Guild of Organists. (What kind of a Chapter Officer would I be if I were not to recommend the AGO to anyone who is interested in the organ and organ music? ;-) )

Also too, whilst in the chat room, there was much squee going on when the ladies realised I was subjecting Malfoy to Messiaen. To be honest, I had no idea Messiaen had quite a following. It was a nice feeling. :)

I'd say interest in the organ is alive and well. Well, I suppose we just have to lead people to it, and the attraction to the King of Instruments will (hopefully) take care of itself.

Am I being naively optimistic here? Frankly speaking, I certainly hope not. (At least, not being naive is concerned.) I'd like to think that there will be more young people wanting to take up the organ so that when the current generation of organists leave us, there will be a new generation of organists waiting in the wings.

Friday, February 6, 2009

6 February – Saint Paul Miki and companions, martyrs


St Paul Miki and companions martyrs
St Jude's Parish & Shrine, Vancouver BC
6 February 2009, 19:30 (first Friday Mass)

Missa de Angelis
Entrance: BFW* 423/424 vv 1–2
Psalm: BFW 428 vv 1–3, 7–9
Offertory: Versus IV-Toni (A de Cabezón, 1510–1566)
Communion: Voluntary II from Ten Voluntaries for Organ, op VI (J Stanley, 1712–1786)
Postlude: BWV 556 Präludium F-Dur

* By Flowing Waters. I believe that both entrance antiphon & psalm are from the Common of Martyrs.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Cheesy Potato Soup

I got this recipe from my friend Allen. He says he can't imagine Epiphany without this soup. As far as I'm concerned, it's a good hearty soup that's comforting when the weather outside is frightful.

Give this one a go. If you want to make this vegetarian, omit the bacon and sauté the onions and the celery in olive oil. Note that because there is cheese here, this would be considered lacto but not vegan.

1/2 lb bacon, diced
1/3 c celery, chopped
1/3 c onion, chopped
4 c potatoes, peeled and diced
3 c chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian)
2 c milk (better if allowed to warm up to room temperature)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
dash paprika
2 c cheddar cheese, grated

In a large pot, brown the bacon until crisp and the oil is rendered. Add the celery and onion and sauté until softened. Remove from pan and set aside.

In the same pot, add the potatoes and chicken broth and cook until potatoes are tender and falling apart. This will make it easier to mash the potatoes in the broth. Use either a potato masher or a hand blender for this purpose.

Add the bacon, celery, and onion mixture, as well as the spices to the potato mixture. Add the milk whilst stirring. Heat until hot.

Shortly before serving, add the cheese and stir until melted.

Serves 8.

Note: I did not add any salt because there was plenty of salt from the bacon and the cheese. In addition, I increased the pepper (using freshly ground pepper) and put in a couple of dashes of paprika.

If I had a digital camera, I'd take a picture of this lovely soup. Enjoy!

2 February - The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ


Last night, I sang with the Parish Choir at Chapel of the Cross. I've sung this particular service several times over the past few years ... and it's as beautiful as I've always remembered it. I'm just going to list the music we've done here, but we've generally started the service in the courtyard, with everyone holding candles in their hands. We process into a darkened church, led by crucifer, acolytes, and thurifer. (It was a Solemn Eucharist Rite II, so the incense was present.) Most of the beginning of the service was chanted a cappella. After the Gloria was chanted and the Collect of the Day prayed, the candles were extinguished and the lights turned on. There was plenty of chanting - the Gospel was chanted by the deacon, as were the appropriate responses before and after. The Nicene Creed was also chanted in a monotone. The Prayers of the People were also chanted, as were the responses for The Peace, the Sursum Corda, and the Eucharistic Prayer before the Sanctus. The Dismissal was also chanted as well. It was nice to hear all of that. After the Post-Communion Prayer, as the choir was singing the Arcadelt setting of Ave Maria, the lights were extinguished and the candles re-lit. As the Recessional Hymn was sung, everyone recessed out in the same way we processed in - darkened church, everyone holding the lit candles in their hands.

Here is the music, minus the chanted parts of the service that I had already indicated above.

Candlemas: The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple: Procession and Solemn Eucharist Rite II
Nunc dimittis (Mode VIII)
Hymn in Procession: Creator of the stars of night (CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM)
Magnus Dominus (Psalm 48:1-2, 10-13; Mode I)
Gloria in excelsis (Mode VIII)
Psalm: Ps 84:1-6 (Simplified Anglican Chant; setting unknown)
Sequence Hymn: O Zion, open wide thy gates (EDMONTON)
Offertory: How beautiful are the feet of him (G. F. Handel)
Sanctus: Deutsche Messe (F. Schubert; adapt. R. Proulx)
Lord's Prayer: As found in S-119 in The Hymnal 1982, chanted a cappella
Communion Hymn: Virgin born, we bow before thee (PSALM 86)
Motet during the Lighting of the Candles: Ave Maria (J. Arcadelt)
Hymn in Procession: Angels from the realms of glory (REGENT SQUARE)
Postlude: Fuga sopra il Magnificat (J. S. Bach)

And the people are instructed to carry the Light of Christ out into the world.

The Organist-Choirmaster was Dr Wylie S Quinn III, and the Parish Choir, assisted by four current and past members of the Senior Choir, served as the service choir.

(Note: the picture above was "borrowed" from the Belarusian School of Icon Painting. Author unknown; Wooden board, egg tempura, 149.5 x 94 x 3 cm)

Monday, February 2, 2009

1 February - Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Here are my usual lists.

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

Fourth Sunday After Epiphany: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Prelude in d minor (attr. J.S. Bach)
Pro: 569, God the Omnipotent! King, who ordainest (RUSSIA)
Gloria: S-278 (W. Mathias)
Psalm: Psalm 111 (Barrett)
Seq: 567, Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old (ST. MATTHEW)
Off: Gather Comprehensive 726, Make me a channel of your peace (PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS)
Sanctus: S-128 (W. Mathias)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-165 (W. Mathias)
Communion Motet: Jesus Christ the Apple Tree (arr. A. Bullard)
Re: 535, Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim (PADERBORN)
Postlude: Fugue in d minor (attr. Bach)


The Episcopal Centre at Duke University.

Fourth Sunday After Epiphany: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Pro: 569, God the Omnipotent! King, who ordainest (RUSSIA)
Gloria: S-280 (R. Powell)
Psalm: Psalm 111 (recited)
Seq: 567, Thine arm, O Lord, in days of old (ST. MATTHEW)
Off: 339, Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness (SCHMÜCKE DICH)
Sanctus: S-125 (Community Mass; Proulx)
Comm: WLP 831, Ubi Caritas (Taizé)
Re: 535, Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim (PADERBORN)
Postlude: Alternate harmonisation of Paderborn (N. Rawsthorne)


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

Here are our little additions:

O nata lux (Thomas Tallis)
Psalm 91 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: Christ, mighty Saviour (CHRISTE, LUX MUNDI, plainsong Mode 7)
In manus tuas (Sheppard; sung in addition to "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit ...)
Nunc Dimittis from Short Service (O. Gibbons)
Alma Redemptoris Mater (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Robert Parsons)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus.

This will be the last week we chant Alma Redemptoris Mater because next week, we switch over to Ave Regina Cælorum. From the International Marian Research Institute in Dayton, Ohio:
Although many musical settings of the Ave Regina Cælorum abound, it is the least known antiphon as a prayer or as a popular hymn. As mentioned above the antiphon is sung in plainchant during the Lenten season. Mary, in all her dignity and loveliness, should walk this way with us. Even in the midst of her deepest sorrow, while she shares the destiny of her son, her dignity and her beauty is not crushed. She accompanies Christ--and us--through the painful periods of life. The antiphon reminds us to pray with Mary to the God of life, our living redeemer, Jesus Christ. He has won the final victory of life over death. She and we may share this victory.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

25 January - Third Sunday after Epiphany

Somehow, I knew I had forgotten something. Here are last week's music lists.

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

Third Sunday After Epiphany: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Praeludium in G Major (Op. 37, No. 2; F. Mendelssohn)
Pro: 408, Sing praise to God who reigns above (MIT FREUDEN ZART)
Gloria: S-278 (W. Mathias)
Psalm: Psalm 62 (Barrett)
Seq: 550, Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult (RESTORATION)
Off: 660, O Master, let me walk with thee (MARYTON)
Sanctus: S-128 (W. Mathias)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Agnus Dei: S-165 (W. Mathias)
Comm:Re: 537, Christ for the world we sing! (MOSCOW)
Postlude: Finale from Organ Sonata VI (Op. 65, No. 6; Mendelssohn)

Moving right along ... this next set, the music was nearly identical, with the exception of the Communion hymn.

The Episcopal Centre at Duke University.

Third Sunday After Epiphany: Holy Eucharist Rite II
Prelude: Improvisation on Georgetown
Pro: 408, Sing praise to God who reigns above (MIT FREUDEN ZART)
Gloria: S-280 (R. Powell)
Psalm: Psalm 62(recited)
Seq: 550, Jesus calls us; o'er the tumult (RESTORATION)
Off: 660, O Master, let me walk with thee (MARYTON)
Sanctus: S-125 (Community Mass; Proulx)
Comm: 661, They cast their nets in Galilee (GEORGETOWN)
Re: 537, Christ for the world we sing! (MOSCOW)
Postlude: Finale from Organ Sonata VI (Op. 65, No. 6; Mendelssohn)

Yes, I did *that* postlude. I just omitted the pedal part. It seemed a bit strange, but then again, who would know that something was missing?

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

Here are our little additions:

O nata lux (Thomas Tallis)
Psalm 4 and 134 (chanted to Tone 8)
Hymn: O Christ, you are both light and day (CHRISTE, QUI LUX ES ET DIES, plainsong Mode 2)
Nunc Dimittis from Short Service (O. Gibbons)
Alma Redemptoris Mater (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Robert Parsons)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus.