A collection of photography and exploration focusing on Upstate South Carolina and beyond.
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I began this Lenten season with the sin of pride. Having missed Mardi Gras by spending it all day at a hospital with my father, I figured I was entitled to at least some leeway on Ash Wednesday. Fourth Presbyterian had a service this evening with Communion and the imposition of the ashes. During the … Read More “Ash Wednesday” »
I had actually typed this up and meant to post it Sunday, but never got around to it. Oh well… I love choral music. My preference is for smaller, intimate pieces, rather than the large orchestral works such as Mozart Requiem, Mendelssohn "Elijah", etc. I like doing the larger works, but nothing brings out the … Read More “Liebeslieder Ludicrous” »
Happy 250th Birthday, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! There have been many commemorations today, starting with Mozart’s Mass in C on XM Vox, and ending with several segments analyzing his music on NPR’s All Things Considered. The Greenville Symphony has plans for an all-Mozart concert Saturday evening. While I didn’t rush home and play several Mozart sonatas … Read More “Rock Me Amadeus” »
I think I’m finally getting my digital music library straightened out. I wasn’t sure I was going to like iTunes, but it’s growing on me, and I’m finding ways to organize my nearly 60 GB of audio files. Many of those files are duplicates, and though they are contained on one shared drive, they are … Read More “The Single Dilemma” »
When I first started working at First Presbyterian in Laurens I was single. As is typical for someone of that age, I enjoyed hanging out with my friends in Greenville. Sometimes we would have some late Saturday nights, so I would crash at my sister’s house and get up early enough on Sunday to make … Read More “The Hidden Choir” »
I really blew it this morning. The morning’s scripture was from the Book of Mark. And they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great glory….Watch, therefore – for you do not know when the master of the house wil come, in the evening, or at midnighht, or at cockcrow, or in … Read More “Advent Antonym” »
…at least, in a relative sense. I haven’t dropped to a four-day week – quite the contrary. With Chorale rehearsals Monday night, church staff meetings and planning Tuesday night, and choir rehearsal Wednesday night, I’ve started looking forward to obligation-free Thursday evenings. Last night I think I finally got beyond the choir’s comfort level and … Read More “Thursday is the New Friday” »
Saturday night marked the 45th Anniversary performance of the Greenville Chorale. For this occasion, the Chorale had commissioned a work by Mark Kilstofte. Mark is a colleague and fellow vocalist, in addition to being a world-renowned composer. His works are innovative and beautiful, but can be challenging to perform. The commissioned work, “Of Rivers Within”, is no exception. Also on the program was Ralph Vaughn William’s “Dona Nobis Pacem.”
First full choir rehearsal at Fourth on my own. Things went well, except… Sunday’s Anthem: "How Can I Keep from Singing?" Quaker hymn made famous by Enya. Today’s News from Florida: Choir refuses to stop singing and must be removed by authorities. The pastor of a Charlotte Harbor church had 16 church members booted from … Read More “Cosmic convergence” »
I tend not to be nervous on Sunday mornings. I figure what’s going to happen will happen. Wendesday evenings are another matter, as I worry about getting everything ready. Even with this being my first Sunday as choir director at Fourth Presbyterian, I wasn’t too nervous. Excited, yes, but not nervous. This, despite nightmares this … Read More “First @ Fourth” »