Jacob Reed, organ

Jacob Reed, organist, is an eleventh-grade student at East Chapel Hill High School and studies organ with Dr. Van Quinn, organist/choirmaster at Chapel of the Cross.

He gave a wonderful organ recital earlier this afternoon. It's hard to believe he's only been studying the organ since July 2009. He's a musical genius, as far as I'm concerned. I'm sure he'll go far if he chooses to make the organ his career.

Here is his program.

Fantasy and Fugue in g minor (BWV 542)—J. S. Bach (1685–1750)

Organ Sonata Nº 3 in A, Op. 65, Nº 3—F. Mendelssohn (1809–1847)
I. Con moto maestoso
II. Andante tranquillo

Trois Pièces pour Grand Orgue (1881): I. Fantaisie in A major, M. 35—C. Franck (1822–1890)

Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H, S.260—F. Liszt (1811–1886)

Yay for young pianists!

I'm sitting in the parlor at Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill, waiting for Compline. (I was here for an organ recital, whose program I'll post here shortly.) I decided to stick around here to get some work done. (I have the laptop with me.)

The EYC usually have a Sunday evening program after the 5:15 pm service which includes dinner. I noticed that a young boy, I'd estimate to be no older than 8 or 9, sat down at the very-out-of-tune baby grand piano and started to play pieces from memory. He's really good! He also has excellent posture and technique at the keyboard. I hope he continues his lessons at the piano. If he's this good now, I can only imagine how good he'll be a few years from now.

Going back to the reason why I'm hanging out here in the first place... I listened to a young (11th grade) organist play a recital today. Wow. That's all I can say. He played some "big" pieces, and he managed them well. He's very talented, and if I recall correctly, he's only been playing the organ for at least the last 2+ years. He also plays the piano and the cello.

I'll post his program in the next post.

RIP, Erna Dorn (1928-2011)

To many, Erna was the "Hug Lady". She always had a hug and a smile for everyone. She even handed out "Hug Cards", redeemable for the next time she'd see you.

I first met Erna and her husband, Louis, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. We were singing in an Evensong for the Epiphany. I still remember after the service, Louis approached me and started to speak to me in a language I thought was French. So I asked him, "Répétez s’il vous plaît?" He did, but in a language I realised was not French but Tagalog! So we proceeded to have a conversation, he speaking in Tagalog, and me responding in English. People around us were astounded: how were we communicating?

I later learned they spent 21 years in the Philippines as missionaries before returning to the United States in the 1970s. They referred to their time in the Philippines as their '21-year honeymoon."

We saw each other from time to time over the years. They eventually left Durham for the Chicago area to be closer to one of their children, especially after the health problems Louis experienced. I know their children probably felt better about having them nearby.

I had received a phone call a couple of days ago, informing me that Erna had passed away. It was sudden; she and Louis had finished having their supper, and then Erna said she wasn't feeling well. It was a blessing that she was taken so quickly, and that she didn't suffer.

I'll miss you, Erna. I'll miss your smile, your hugs, and your stories. Rest in peace.

Condolences also to Louis, as well as to their children and grandchildren and other family members and friends.

Click here to read the obituary.

Tongue Twisters!

This morning, I was hanging out in Mikey Bustos' uStream chatroom while getting some work done. The chatters, a lot of who were in the Philippines, were trying to encourage Mikey to speak in Tagalog continuously for at least 2 minutes. I thought, oh, my, that is a tall order. (Mikey is a Canadian-born Filipino.)

At least, I know if someone were to ask me to do that, I'd be tongue-tied. Being an American-born Filipino, I at least can understand Tagalog when I hear it spoken (all bets are off with the other Filipino languages... Mr. Bisdak, you know exactly what I mean!) but ask me to speak it, and I freeze. I tell my cousins and my friends, "Maliit na kahon ang Tagalog ko." It's my broken Tagalog way of telling them my Tagalog vocabulary is so small, it fits in a small box ("My Tagalog 'box' is small"). If I'm around Tagalog speakers (and I insist they speak Tagalog around me), one might even hear some Tagalog escape my lips.

My Tito Paeng used to tell me if I were to spend 6 months to a year in the Philippines, I would be able to speak the language, especially since it's in my brain already. Maybe he's right.

Anyway... one of the chatters put a Tagalog tongue twister in chat and dared Mikey to say it with his trademark Filipino accent. I don't think he ever tried it.

I had a look at it, and I thought, "Neat!" Of course, I know of the English tongue twisters (Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers; she sold seashells by the seashore, etc.) but I had never heard of the Tagalog ones, so naturally, I was intrigued.

Pitongpu't pitong puting tupa. (Seventy-seven white sheep.)
Pitongpu't pitong butong puting patani. (Seventy-seven white bean seeds.)
Minikaniko ni Moniko ang makina ng manika ni Monika. (Moniko fixed Monika's mechanical doll.)
Butiki, bituka, butika (Lizard, intestine, drugstore)
Bababa ka ba? Bababa din ako! (Are you going down? I am also going down!)
Ang relo ni Leroy Rolex. (Leroy's watch is a Rolex.)
Usong usong isang isang salu-salong nagsisi-usyosohan ang mga aso sa asosasyon sa Ascuzena. (The dogs are busy sharing and talking at a dog association in Ascuzena.)
Kakakanan lang sa kangkungan sa may kakahuyan si Ken Ken habang kumakain ng kakaibang kakanin kahapon. (Yesterday, Ken Ken just turned left to go to the swamp near the woods while eating a weird ricecake.)

I'm sure there are others. If you can think of others, let me know. Oh, and have fun saying these. ;)

Happy Veterans Day!

To all those who serve or have served in the military: thank you very much for your service! I, for one, am very appreciative of the sacrifices you make in order to defend us.

I have relatives who have served: my father, uncle, and brother are Navy veterans. I have friends who are currently serving in the Air Force, Army, Marines, and Navy. (You know who you are... I'm afraid if I try to name all of you, I'll forget someone.) Thanks again for your service! Blessings be upon you all. ♥

Stream of Consciousness

Oh, yes. NaBloPoMo. To be honest, if it weren't for that, I probably wouldn't have written a post today. I am still playing catch-up and have fallen behind, behind, behind.

Admittedly, I've had a lot on my mind lately. Despite it all, work still needs to get done. So I soldier on.

I'm glad to hear of friends who have arrived safely at their destinations, whether it be near or far, home or away. I'm glad to hear of friends who are on the mend from one illness or another.

I'm glad to honour friends and family who have served in the military. It is because of their willingness to serve this country that we are able to do the things we do. There is an old saying, "Freedom isn't free." How very true that is.

Happy birthday to the U.S. Marines!

I know I'm far behind in this department, but I just finished planning hymns and choir anthems for Advent. I still have to do Christmas and Epiphany, but that will happen soon. Really soon.

Last thought. Ari, Denise, Jim, and I recorded a new episode of Secrets of Harry Potter last night. It should be a good episode. I just spent the past hour listening to the episode (I need to get a better microphone...) and writing up the show notes. I really enjoy doing this show with these people. It's like getting together with old friends over tea and debating our favourite topic whilst lightly teasing each other.

I'll close this post by embedding a YouTube video of one of the most recognisable pieces of music to come from the Harry Potter series: John Williams' "Hedwig's Theme."

Until next time... pax vobiscum.

Gratefulness

I received a phone call this morning from one of the delightful residents of Carol Woods. He had asked me if I could make myself available to play the bi-monthly Eucharist service there this Sunday if the person who will play it is somehow "unavailable." I said I'll do it if pressed, but that I'd prefer not to. (Actually, there is an organ recital I want to go to that afternoon, which was why I had made myself unavailable.)

The real point for me making this post on this topic: he concluded the call by telling me that he, as well as the other residents, really appreciate my playing, and that it has made such a huge difference in their worship. They're always happy to see me and are grateful that I make myself available to them whenever I can.

And it is something I enjoy doing. So actually, I am grateful to them for allowing me the opportunity to share my music and my time with them.

Doing my civic duty...

Today, November 8, is Election Day. I can honestly say I did my civic duty, having voted right after I got off work earlier this afternoon. There weren't many people at the polls, and I couldn't help but notice that by the time I had voted at around 5.45 pm, that particular polling station was visited by only 221 voters. (I was #222.) It's rather disappointing especially since too many people take the right to vote for granted. Once upon a time, people fought for the right to vote.

I am not the most political person in the world, but at least I know and appreciate the fact that these elections allow for my voice to be heard.

Love in a Bathroom Stall

I noticed this in a bathroom stall earlier this evening. It reminded me of the bathroom stalls I saw whilst in high school and college. Young girls declare to the world, "I love X!" or "NS and JP Together Forever."

Who knows if today, that is still the case? Or even if those scribblings are still on the walls of today. I just glanced at that on the toilet paper dispenser and thought, "Well, that's someone who has so much love in their heart, they had to declare it to the whole world."

It's not a bad thing to do. There can never be too much love in the world. It did put a smile on my face. It's been a very strange day today, and that youthful sentiment was just the pick-me-up I needed.

So thank you, anonymous writer, for spreading a little love, even in a bathroom stall in a restaurant in town. x

¡Hola, Tinola!

Those of you who are Facebook friends with me may have noticed that occasionally, I'll post Mikey Bustos' "Filipino Tutorial" YouTube videos on my wall.

(For a little background: Mikey is a Canadian-born Filipino, and he was seventh runner-up in the 2003 (initial) season of Canadian Idol. He became known to many outside of Canada, thanks to his "Filipino Tutorial" videos he posted on YouTube.)

Mikey just returned to Toronto from the Philippines, where he spent several days filming commercials for a Jack 'n Jill product called "Mang Juan Chicharron". Those commercials were just released today. It follows the same format Mikey has used for his Filipino tutorials.

I'll embed the YouTube videos below. I particularly liked the "Condiments" video. The first thing that popped into my mind after I finished rolling on the floor, laughing: "Kawawa naman si Frank!" (Poor Frank!)

Last word: it's people like Mikey who remind us how proud we are to be Pinoy. Maraming salamat, Mikey!

"Ate" (Elder sister, pronounced "Ah-te")


"Condiments"


"Gestures"


"Kain na!" ("Let's eat!")


Finally: a Filipino Tutorial, "Politeness"

Saturday Thoughts

It's been a busy day.

I started the day fighting for laundry machines and doing other house-type chores. Continuing work on the NC-ACS newsletter whilst listening to the hilarity that is Catholic Weekend followed. Father Roderick and Dave Handlos were also recording an episode of The Secrets of Tintin by doing a read-through of the first Tintin book, "Tintin in the Land of the Soviets". I came to the Tintin series pretty late, not having discovered them until I was a graduate student in Worcester, MA. I can't remember which of the Tintin books was the first I bought, but when I saw "Tintin in the Land of the Soviets" in a second-hand store, I snapped it up immediately. I'm glad I did... my version contains a page which originally appeared in Le Petit Vingtième No. 60 but was omitted for no apparent reason from the first edition in album form. And it's been fun re-reading through the Tintin adventures over the years.

So when I heard Fr. Roderick and Dave discussing "Tintin in the Land of the Soviets", I pulled out my book and followed along. I had no idea how quickly the time had passed. I really enjoyed that story when I first read it back then, and I really enjoyed listening to them discussing it on the podcast today.

Speaking of the podcast, please consider subscribing to the Secrets of Tintin podcast by clicking here for iTunes or click here for the Tintin feed. All of this makes me eager for the opening of the The Adventures of Tintin in the movie theatres on the 21st December. If you in Europe were lucky enough to have seen it already, don't tell me any details: I'd prefer not to be spoiled, tyvm.

Heh, and I thought I had nothing to talk about.

To continue: I went off to the funeral of one of the long-time area organists in Chapel Hill, Pearl Seymour. It was a lovely celebration of her life. Naturally, the fact that she was a devoted Carolina Tar Heels basketball fan was emphasized during peoples' reflections about her. That made me smile.

I'll post a music list for that service tomorrow.

Right after the funeral, I went off to the NC Pinoy Choir practice in Raleigh. It was really nice to see the choir members once again. We're practicing for Christmas caroling, and we have some good music on tap.

So now I'm home, relaxing before heading off for a good rest before tomorrow's services. It's funny: I was thinking that I'll just go ahead and answer the writing prompt for November 1 since I thought I had absolutely nothing to say. How wrong I was. :)

I received requests to translate a post I made... I think it was yesterday... in Tagalog. I'll get around to that soon, but I'll put the translation in the comm box, as well as over on (the soon-to-be-disabled) Google Buzz.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and have a blessed Sunday! Oh, and for those of you in North America, please don't forget that our Summer Time ("Daylight Saving Time") ends tonight, and tomorrow, we go back to Winter Time ("Standard Time"). Luckily for me, my iDevices will do the work for me.

Besides... if the parishioners forget to turn their clocks back an hour, I'll just tell them to join me in the choir stalls and sing a few hymns and an anthem. :)

Two for the Price of One

Yesterday, I ended up obeying my earworm and posting Trololo YouTube videos. And yes, I was still whistling or singing the Trololo song today amidst all the people attending the 2011 Covenant Network conference at First Presbyterian.

I decided to answer two prompts with this one post. Here we go:

Thursday, November 3, 2011
Can you listen to music and write? What song did you hear today?

LOL! Well, considering the earworm going through my head for most of yesterday and today, I think the song title is obvious. Tro-lo-lo-lo-lo, lo-lo-lo, lo-lo-lo, ho-ho-ho-ho-ho... Tro-lo-lo-lo-lo, lo-lo-lo, lo-lo-lo, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

But yes, I can listen to music and write... but it depends on the type of music. I can't do it to pop or rock or any sort of "modern" type music. I can write to classical music, as long as they're instrumentals (chamber music or orchestral music). Opera? Nope. I'll want to listen carefully. Choral music? Not a chance. Same thing: I'll want to listen very carefully.

The exception to "writing to instrumental music" is organ music. I'll usually pay close attention to that... or just close my eyes and allow myself to be taken away by the music.

---

Friday, November 4, 2011
When you are writing, do you prefer to use a pen or a computer?

Definitely computer. Since I'm able to touch-type pretty quickly, it's easier for me to put my thoughts on virtual paper (typing it out) rather than writing it out. I've been known to bring the laptop to events where there is a speaker involved; I'm usually sitting there, typing away, taking notes whilst the speaker lectures.

There are times when it's nice to physically write words on paper, but I'll use a pencil, not a pen.

Unless I'm grading papers. Then I'll reach for a pen. Preferably in purple or green. :)

Sagot ng Pinoy

This is for the Tagalog speakers amongst you. I received this from a friend, and I thought I should pass it along. :)

Pinoys are really one of a kind... nagkakaintindihan naman din.



SAGOT NG PINOY

Ang Pinoy hindi tumama-tama ang sagot kahit maayos ang tanong...

Q: Kumain ka na ba?
... A: Busog pa ako.

Q: Saan kayo galing?
A: Lumabas lang kami sandali.

Q: Paano mo ginawa 'yan?
A: Madali lang.

Q: Bakit wala ka kahapon?
A: Absent ako.

Q: Anong oras na?
A: Maaga pa.

Q: Nasaan ka na ba?
A: Malapit na ako. Wait lang.

Q: Magkano ito?
A: Mura lang.

Q: Kilala mo ba sya?
A: Bakit?

At...

Q: Saan nyo gusto kumain?
A: Kayo...

Continuing on the Tro-lo-lo theme

Argh!!! It really is a very pervasive earworm! I've found myself tro-lo-lo-ing at random times throughout the day.

Of course, my so-called friends aren't any help. Here are a couple more YouTube videos to help further the earworm.

First: the obligatory Harry Potter video:



Next: Family Guy meets the Tro-lo-lo guy.



Thanks, guys. :P

Tro-lo-lo

I blame this entirely on Capt. Jeff. As he was driving from Kansas City to Atlanta, he released short videos of himself Tro-lo-lo-ing whilst driving.

Wouldn't you know it: that melody is a very pervasive earworm! As I was working on assorted tasks at work, I found myself tro-lo-lo-ing. I'm surprised I haven't driven my colleagues mad already with the constant tro-lo-los.

So, Capt. Jeff, here's to you. I raise my glass of H₂O in your honour as we sing together with the Tro-lo-lo guy:

Hypothetical Last Meal

Yes, yes. It's NaBloPoMo. Remind me why I'm doing this again? :P

I know, I'm procrastinating right now. After starting the morning working on the TarHelium, running off to work to get the last of the All Saints' Sunday letters out the door and helping with pre-conference preparations, running off to the NC-ACS monthly e-board meetings (and twisting the arm of a high school chemistry teacher friend to attend) and then having a lovely meal at the 501 Diner with a good friend, I'm now sitting here, thinking I need to get on with some very overdue music planning.

But first, a little bit of blogging. I know I don't do it enough. Frankly speaking, with the type of blogging I do (really, more like parking my music lists from either worship services or concerts), it tends to get rather time-consuming. And don't even talk to me about updating the look of my blog. Maybe one of these days. I've seen some blogs powered by Blogger that look absolutely fabulous.

Perhaps that will be a task for another day.

Oh yes. Since I have absolutely nothing to say, I'll try to answer the Writing Prompt of the Day.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011
If you knew that whatever you ate next would be your last meal, what would you want it to be?

It would have to be my absolute favourite comfort food. I know, I've said in the past that if I were to have a plate full of pancit palabok for the rest of my life, I could die happy.

But really? Nothing hits the spot like Filipino arroz caldong manok. That would be like congee or a kind of soupy rice porridge to you non-Filipinos. The arroz caldo would have to be flavoured with ginger, green onion, a bit of kalamansi for acidity, and a touch of patis to balance the saltiness. For me, that is heaven in a bowl.

Click here for a recipe. In general, whenever I make this, I prefer to use bone-in chicken, but I think the day I had written this recipe, boneless chicken breasts were on sale in the supermarket, so I went with that.

1 November—Solemnity of All Saints

I went to the 7:00 p.m. bilingual Mass at Immaculate Conception Church. Any numbers you see come out of GIA's Gather Comprehensive 1994 (green cover) unless otherwise indicated. The service choir was Immaculate Conception's Parish Choir, under the direction of Angela Flynn.

Admittedly, I came in just as the Opening Hymn was announced, so if there was a prelude, I missed it.

Solemnity of All Saints
Opening Hymn: 442, Sing with All the Saints in Glory (HYMN TO JOY)
Gloria: Misa Luna, using the words from the new Roman Missal
Psalm: 34, Ps. 24 (K. Keil)
Gospel Acclamation: Festival Alleluia (Chepponis)
Offertory: Flor y Canto 481, Bienaventurados (Beatitudes: Matt. 5:3–12; L.C. Montgomery)
Sanctus, Memorial Acclamation, Amen, Agnus Dei: Misa Luna, using the words from the new Roman Missal
Communion: 796, Litany of the Saints (J.D. Becker)
Post-Communion Anthem: Pie Jesu (Fr. Ricky Manalo, CSP)
Recessional: 793, For All the Saints (SINE NOMINE)
Postlude: Wanting Memories (Y.M. Barnwell), sung by the choir

I will admit: I stopped attending bilingual Masses at IC years ago mainly because I didn't find the environment all that prayerful, and I generally left those Masses hugely underwhelmed. I ended up going today because I couldn't get up in time for the 7:00 am Mass (and it doesn't help that I went to bed at 3:30 am the night before). I wasn't sure what to expect from this Mass.

I'll admit: I was pleasantly surprised. The newest addition to IC's friars, Fr. Larry, is completely fluent in Spanish, and he was able to go between English and Spanish quite seamlessly. He is also an excellent homilist. In addition, I found this time around, the congregation was refreshingly more... well, shall we say, "solemn"? Part of the reason why I loathed the bilingual Masses of many years past was because I did not find the environment all that conducive to prayer. People were milling about, socializing with others, and it really didn't feel like you were about to participate in Mass. Today, the environment was different. Pleasantly so.

The choir did very well, and Angela is an excellent choir director.

My only complaint: we were exhorted by Fr. Larry to participate in singing the Offertory song out of Flor y Canto. Admittedly, I found just having the words with no music available to me to be utterly useless. All I could do was listen and not sing. If only one of Angela's predecessors (and I will not say who because I know who it was) had the foresight to order the hardback Flor y Canto hymnal instead of opting for the cheap, paperback, throwaway, words-only version, it would have facilitated the participation of even the non-Latinos in the crowd because at least they would be able to make an effort at singing the song instead of staring at a bunch of words that makes no sense.

Okay, rant over.

Tomorrow is All Souls' Day. My friends and family in the Philippines are celebrating All Saints'/All Souls' by visiting departed loved ones in the cemetery. I'll remember mine here: Lolo Juan and Lola Ina, Papang, Tito El, Tita Edith, Tito Romy, Tita Norma, Tito Paeng, Tito Chito, and Procer Jr.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace. Amen.

31 October—All Hallows Eve

Celui qui croit en moi, fût-il mort, vivra (John 11:25). Plate 28, from George Rouault's Miserere 2 series. This was on the cover of the worship bulletin that was distributed to everyone before the beginning of the candlelit All Hallows Eve service at Duke Chapel on the evening of October 31.

As mentioned on the leaflet: "Tonight is the eve of All Saints' Day, the festival in the Church that recalls the faith and witness of the men and women who have come before us. The service celebrates our continuing communion with them, and memorializes the recently deceased. The early church followed the Jewish custom that a new day began at sundown; thus, feasts and festivals in the church were observed beginning on the night before. The night before All Saints (or All Hallows) became known as All Hallows Eve, or Hallowe'en."

Everyone gathered on the Chapel lawn before the service, huddled around a fire, which symbolized the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the saints and martyrs.

Here follows the list of music, as well as a list of testimonies about those gone before us. Numbers are out of the United Methodist Hymnal. I can tell you now: it was a very beautiful service, and I can see why it numbers amongst peoples' most favourite services that Duke Chapel offers. The service choir was the Duke Vespers Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Allan Friedman.

Choral Introit: Requiem: Introit—Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986)
Hymn: 90, Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (LASST UNS ERFREUEN)
Witness of the Saints: St. Anthony of Egypt (251-356)
Anthem: O Taste and See—Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Witness of the Saints: St. Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582)
Witness of the Saints: Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)
Anthem: Kyrie from Officium Defunctorum (Missa pro defunctis cum sex vocibus)—Tomás Luis de Victoria (1549-1611)
Witness of the Saints: Fr. João Bosco Bournier (1917-1976)
The Great Thanksgiving: Musical Setting D: 23, Holy, Holy, Holy; 24a, Christ has died...; 24b, Amen (Carlton R. Young)
Music During Distribution: Versa est in luctum—Alonso Lobo (c. 1555-1617)
Hymn: 709, Come, Let Us Join Our Friends Above (FOREST GREEN)
Postlude: Deuxième Esquisse, Op. 41, No. 1—Marcel Dupré (1886-1971)

Of course, I forgot to mention that the ab-fab David Arcus was the man behind the console, and his hymn-playing was spectacularly inspirational to me. And, of course, his playing of the Dupré was nothing short of amazing. It was a fitting end to a very moving service.

NaBloPoMo

So ask me why I'm doing this again. I figured it's a good way to encourage me not to neglect this blog as much as I've been doing so this year. :P

All Saints' Day

The Feast of All Saints honors the obscure as well as the famous—the saints each of us has known.

Would you like to know more about the saints? Paul Camarata has a wonderful podcast called the SaintCast. He hasn't had the chance to update it as much as he's done in the past, but it is still worth it to listen to past episodes. I'm still working my way up to his most recent episode myself.

Click here to listen to this SQPN-affiliated podcast.

Prayer for All Saints' Day:

May the light of Gospel men and women remind us that God is always with us no matter how far we wander away. Amen.