I’m now in my late-50s, and the romanticism of playing music in Europe is still yet to wear thin. As a kid, I often fantasized about seeing, hearing, and (mostly) playing the great and glorious organs of Europe. True confessions: American organs have rarely held the same appeal to me – except to the extent … Read more
Gdansk will surprise you. The historic center has been re-constituted to its Renaissance appearance (so that it is somewhat reminiscent off the great city of Amsterdam) even though it witnessed complete destruction in 1945. A 40-minute train ride south takes you to Pelplin – a rather insignificant village (from a tourist’s point of view) with … Read more
I keep oscillating back and forth about whether it’s better or worse to discover the secrets of French music in conditions of extreme heat. Having just played a concert at the cathedral of Montpellier, where the outside temperature was in the upper 90s, and the temperature at the organ was in the mid-80s, I went … Read more
While it seems very obvious to anyone who performs as a musician, either professionally or as an amateur, I don’t think that everyone else is aware of the vast difference between performing and practicing. Probably at least once each month, someone expresses shock that I – having made music professionally for forty years – need … Read more
It was truly a unique opportunity. A set of symphony concerts, in the regular subscription series, opening with 14 minutes of solo organ music. I can’t think of any time I’ve heard of that happening in a major concert hall in this country. When I was asked if I was available and interested in doing … Read more
Ten weeks ago I made music in the most famous, and ancient, musical space in the Christian world: King’s College, Cambridge. Sitting on the organ screen, I felt humbled to realize that it was constructed in celebration of the marriage of King Henry VIII to Ann Boleyn. Their initials are carved into the screen just … Read more
Life is about balance: work and play, arguments and lovemaking, taking in and giving back, the expansion of travel and the concentration of being at home. I try to live my life in such a way that these two poles are always in balance. As a consequence, I don’t believe that I would feel a … Read more
It is the common denominator among nearly all church organists that we go about our weekly routine hearing one thing in our head and another in our ears. Nowhere is this more true than congregational singing – be it hymns, parts of the Ordinary of the Mass, or Acclamations. I’ve just finished a week with … Read more