A collection of photography and exploration focusing on Upstate South Carolina and beyond.
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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” »
Last night I officially met the Fourth Presbyterian choir and had my first rehearsal with them. I don’t start until October 9, but the Wednesday before that is supposed to be a celebration of the tenure of Dr. Kyser, and it would have been awkward for me to follow that with a rehearsal.
Came up with a couple of good titles for Country and Western songs today.. "It’s Just Thursday and I need it to be Friday Night" "Your Love’s a Tornado and My Heart’s a Mobile Home" …although I can’t really claim that second one. Of course, with brilliant titles like these, I just had to do … Read More “Never could get the hang of Thursdays” »
Monday night there was a call waiting for me from Fourth Presbyterian in Greenville. My good friend and colleague, Dr. Ramon Kyser, is retiring, and I was asked about taking the interim Minster of Music position. The call did not surprise me – I’ve worked closely with Dr. Kyser over the years, as well as … Read More “Picking up the baton” »
Yesterday we learned of the passing of Robert Moog, physicist, musician, and inventor of the Moog Synthesizer. Moog had brain cancer, and died at his home in Asheville, NC.
After watching the Fantastic Four and drawing the inevitable comparisons with The Incredibles, I got to thinking about the really cool soundtrack for the Incredibles. It seemed the perfect addition to my “cool music” collection, so I set off in search of a copy. It took some doing, but I did finally found a copy.
Since I hadn’t spent money on music in awhile, I decided to drop by Horizon Records. My targets were some kind of complilation by the Rat Pack and the new CD by The Duhks, plus whatever else interesting I might find. Tonight I scored big time – with two wonderful CDs that offer a new … Read More “A New Twist on Some Old Tunes” »
This weekend the Greenville Chorale and the Greenville Symphony Orchestra performed Mendelssohn’s Elijah as part of the Artisphere Festival. It was a moving, impressive performance, and garnered a rave review from Ann Hicks in the Greenville News. The only real problem was with turn-out — the Peace Center looked empty. Not that the concert was … Read More “What the Audience Never Hears” »
There was a very specific demographic at the Handlebar Thursday night. These were products of the Eighties – who came of age drinking microbrews, and listening to public radio shows such as Prairie Home Companion and Thistle & Shamrock. They are the type most likely to support environmental causes, vote Democrat, and go contra-dancing. Laura … Read More “Maundy Thursday with the Battlefield Band” »
Last night I performed in one of the most difficult concerts of my career. The Children’s Hospital of Greenville holds an annual service in memorial to those children who have died in the hospital in the past year. This year the Greenville Chorale Chamber Ensemble was invited to sing. The service consists of a half-hour video … Read More “Kindertotenlieder” »