Miscellaneous Monday

This is my free-thought post. I originally thought of calling it my personal kvetching board, but it certainly won't have the same amount of venom as that I sometimes see at The Daily Tar Heel. And besides, I really only have one complaint in mind.

I was driving back from the post office, and I was driving behind one of the Duke University Transit buses. I was on Main Street, on the southern border of East Campus, and approaching the Campus Drive entrance. I noticed the bus slowing down, and I figured the driver would take that left turn onto Campus Drive. But did he give a signal? No! Not until he was in the process of turning did he finally put his turn signal on! That I found exceedingly irritating.

Okay, kvetch over. I had the interesting opportunity to watch a pair of podcasts being created this morning. Fr Roderick Vonhögen was uStreaming today whilst recording his podcasts. I came in as he was recording a podcast in Dutch. I never heard Dutch being spoken before, and I was fascinated. It's always neat to listen to other languages being spoken. Fr Roderick doesn't have an accent when he speaks English, or rather, he has a very slight accent that you'll have to listen hard for, and according to his website, he is fluent in six languages. It was fascinating to listen and watch him at work, and there was also real-time chat going on in the side as well with a very interesting group of people. One fellow was in the Netherlands, where Fr Roderick is based, then there was the "displaced Floridian" currently living in Northern Japan, whingeing on about the cold ... we were privy to the technical problems Fr Roderick was experiencing whilst uploading his Dutch podcast ... and then I watched him record his Daily Breakfast podcast. It was so cool that we helped him title his podcast, which he eventually called "Holy Snow, Batman!" (Barb in Nebraska gave the initial idea.) It was the coolest thing.

I first heard of Fr Roderick because of his Secrets of Harry Potter podcasts. So for me it was a special treat to be able to see him at work. He stopped the live stream after he successfully uploaded the Daily Breakfast podcast and announced he was going to figure out what he wanted for dinner.

Here's an Only in the South observation: I admit I had a craving for a Cook Out Tray this afternoon. What did I notice on the cup? "God Bless America" and a bible verse, Proverbs 1:7 - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction fools despise." I've not seen anything like it before.

In the meantime ... I was happy to receive a parcel in my mailbox - ten copies of a lovely Christmas piece called "How Sweet is Love", with words taken from a ca. 16th century Dutch carol, and set to music by Michael Paget. I'm working my choir through this piece, which I believe we'll do for both the Christmas Eve service, as well as for Lessons and Carols, which we'll have for the First Sunday after Christmas (28 December).

I'm getting more involved with the Filipino community here. A Filipino Franciscan priest, Fr Julian, arrived in the Triangle during the summer, having been assigned his first parish (he was recently ordained a priest), and he is injecting a lot of new energy and ideas into the minds of the Filipino community here. We've been meeting regularly to plan the Simbang Gabi Mass that will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church at 7.00 pm, December 19. In the past, we've had this Mass early in the morning, 5.30 am, but this year, we decided on an evening Mass, so it will truly be Simbang Gabi (literally, "Night Mass"). As in the past, I was asked to plan the music and the liturgy for this Mass. I'll post the line-up we'll use for this Mass when the time gets closer, but I am hoping that the choir will be able to pick up the new pieces. Well, maybe not so new; I'm proposing the Hontiveros setting of the Magnificat for Offertory, mainly because the Gospel appointed for that day will be the Angel Gabriel delivering his message to Mary that she will deliver a child.

Oh, oops. I just nipped over to the USCCB website for the Readings/Psalms/etc. and just realised Gabriel was delivering a different message to Zechariah, husband of Elizabeth (who is Mary's cousin), with that message being Elizabeth, who was barren for a long time, would be carrying a son (John the Baptist). Oops.

Oh well. I admit that I imposed my will here. In the past, the choir had sung "O tahimik na daigdig" (Silent Night in Tagalog) for Offertory, and my feeling was, we really should not be singing Christmas carols whilst still in Advent. Well, I still think the Magnificat would be a good choice for Offertory. Of course, some of my Liturgical Music snob friends might disagree with me. Such is life.

So I'm going to sit here and finish up the minutes from our last Simbang Gabi planning meeting so I can upload it to our group page ... and then answer some of the questions that popped up in my mailbox. Yes, my voice is still not completely back, but at least it is getting better. So thanks to my Facebook friends for all your get-well wishes. I am hoping to get my singing voice back soon. I really miss singing Compline.

Peace and love to all ...

The Nudder Meme

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

This meme was stolen from JunoMagic via a most interesting blog called Sunday Stealing. They "steal" all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere.

So here is the meme. Feel free to steal this from me.

The Nudder Meme

1. Who did you spend at least two hours with today?

Erm. Well, I could have answered this question more easily yesterday. As for today - if I'm feeling up to it, I'll be spending that much amount of time with members of the Central NC chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

2. What do you look forward to most in the next six weeks?

Advent and Christmas. I'm being a little ambitious as far as programming music for my choir is concerned. I'm sure they will be up to the challenge. :)

3. Who was the last person you called?

Despite my lack of voice, Mike H., dealing with AGO-related items.

4. What were you doing at 12am last night?

Trying to sleep. Fortunately (or unfortunately), a Muse decided to visit me whilst I was trying to sleep. You can read the results of that visit here.

5. Are your parents married/divorced?

They are married, 40 years as of 12 October.

6. When did you last see your mom?

It's been too long.

7. What are you wearing right now?

A black UCSD sweatshirt, and black trousers.

8. Where is your favorite place to be?

Any church that has a really nice pipe organ that I can play.

9. Where is your least favorite place to be?

Stuck in traffic jams.

10. Where would you go if you could go anywhere?

Hmmmm. I would not mind going back to Manila to visit with relatives. But I'd love to go back to Spain so I could explore more properly than I did the last time I was there.

11. Where do you think you'll be in 10 years?

Hmmm. To answer this, let me quote my favourite actor, Alan Rickman: "I've never been able to plan my life. I just lurch from indecision to indecision. It's just a matter of the next sandpit to climb into."

12. What was the last thing that really made you laugh?

I'm watching Fr Roderick Vonhögen via his uStream. He is funny, and there is real-time chat going on at the same time.

13. What cities/towns/villages have you lived in?

Hmmm. Charleston, SC; San Diego, CA; Long Beach, CA; Waltham, MA; Worcester, MA; Durham, NC. All in the USA.

14. Are you a social person?

I'm not the most gregarious person in the world. I'm more of an introvert.

15. Do you sleep alone?

For the moment.

2 November - All Saints' Day (transferred)

These lists come quite late because I've been sick. (Those of you who have been following my Facebook page have probably had enough of my whingeing.)

Here are my usual lists.

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

All Saints' Day: Reaffirmation of Baptism and Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Prelude: Selections from Missa Oecumenica (R. Proulx)*
Pro: 287, For all the saints (SINE NOMINE)
Psalm: Psalm 34 (Barrett)
Seq: 440, Blessed Jesus, at thy word (LIEBSTER JESU)
Off: 618, Ye watchers and ye holy ones (LASST UNS ERFREUEN)
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: 560, Remember your servants, Lord (BEATITUDES)
Re: 557, Rejoice, ye pure in heart! (VINEYARD HAVEN)
Postlude: For All the Saints (W. Held)

* I'm doing it again - the sort of "subliminal" planting of music into peoples' brains. I am planning to introduce Proulx' Missa Oecumenica for the service music for Advent. Hopefully by the time we get to the First Sunday of Advent, the people will have the tune in their minds. I'm not worried about the Sanctus, which has the tune based on 560 from the hymnal (BEATITUDES, based on Russian Orthodox chant), but hopefully they'll have the tune for the Trisagion and the Agnus Dei in mind (based on Archangelsky's tune). Variations on this theme will be my prelude music for the next four Sundays.

The Episcopal Centre at Duke University

All Saints' Day: Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Prelude: Selections from Missa Oecumenica (R. Proulx)
Pro: 287, For all the saints (SINE NOMINE)
Gloria: S-278 (Mathias)
Psalm: Ps 78, recited
Seq: 440, Blessed Jesus, at thy word (LIEBSTER JESU)
Off: 618, Ye watchers and ye holy ones (LASST UNS ERFREUEN)
Sanctus: S-128 (Mathias)
Lord's Prayer: chanted (S-119 in Hymnal 1982)
Comm: 560, Remember your servants, Lord (BEATITUDES)
Re: 557, Rejoice, ye pure in heart! (VINEYARD HAVEN)
Postlude: For All the Saints (W. Held; modified so I could play it on the little one-manual, 3-stop Holtkamp that lives in the Episcopal Centre)

Compline at Chapel of the Cross.

I had to get the list from one of my fellow Compline choristers as I had a sore throat and didn't have much of a singing voice. Many thanks to Ali C. for providing the list.

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

Here are our little additions:

Lord, for thy tender mercy's sake (R. Farrant)
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)
Salve Regina (Marian antiphon right after the Dismissal)
Ave Maria (Tomas Luis de Victoria)
Organ Voluntary by the abfab David Arcus.

Thanks again, Ali! As of this writing, the sore throat is getting better (thanks to ibuprofen and saline gargles) but laryngitis has set in, so I, in all likelihood, will probably not be singing this Sunday's Compline service either. But I will endeavour to get the music for this Sunday so I can report it in this space, as usual ... with a little help from my friends.

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!"