As you notice, it has been a while again. I've been doing things - projects. Landscape history study guide, genealogy, reading, living!
The news is that I will be playing a Christmas Eve program at the Sto Nino Basilica in Cebu. It is a beautiful, historic church, visited by tourists and people every day. They have a newly restored German organ (a year ago), two manuals, and I am looking forward to working my feet again on a real pedal board, not just on a few tabs like on the old Spanish organs here in Bohol. So if you are in the area, please come!
I also spent a couple hours on the tracker organ at the Cathedral in Cebu, built by Diego Cera Organguilders in Las Pinas about 10 or 15 years ago. What a wonderful experience! I hope to do a program there sometime, too!
I can't tell you the time of the program yet, and it may include a little choral work from a local group, but it is before the big Christmas Eve service! So I'm excited about that!
I hope you have had a good 2011. Rod
Friday, September 30, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
New Youtube Movies
Dear Friends,
Well, since there aren't too many of you yet, and little wonder since I haven't written anything since August, I want to let you know that I've finally gotten around to taping a few pieces on the Baclayon and Loay organs. And I'm in the process of uploading them to youtube/rodgis44.
They will include: Pange linguas by Bermudo and Aquilera de Heredia; A Tiento by Bruna; An Obra by Anon; Pasquini "Sonata"; Susanne van Sold Manuscript selections; and Antonio Valente. I think about 3 are now uploaded. But with my slow connection it takes a while, and with a computer that keeps wanting to shut off (grrrrrrr), well...
That explains some of my silence. Plus, the organs were only recently tuned for recording sessions with Guy Bovet on the restored Spanish organs in the Philippines. I look forward to those recordings!
So I hope you are all well!
Rod
Well, since there aren't too many of you yet, and little wonder since I haven't written anything since August, I want to let you know that I've finally gotten around to taping a few pieces on the Baclayon and Loay organs. And I'm in the process of uploading them to youtube/rodgis44.
They will include: Pange linguas by Bermudo and Aquilera de Heredia; A Tiento by Bruna; An Obra by Anon; Pasquini "Sonata"; Susanne van Sold Manuscript selections; and Antonio Valente. I think about 3 are now uploaded. But with my slow connection it takes a while, and with a computer that keeps wanting to shut off (grrrrrrr), well...
That explains some of my silence. Plus, the organs were only recently tuned for recording sessions with Guy Bovet on the restored Spanish organs in the Philippines. I look forward to those recordings!
So I hope you are all well!
Rod
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Practicing
Eee gads, it's been three months. Mostly of waiting to get a faster internet connection! Well, we have it, except that sending a movie to youtube takes about an hour for a five-minute movie.
But then, I have no plans of putting my practice sessions on youtube!
But I am practicing! My digital piano is here, and I've been going, once or twice a week to Baclayon and Loay to practice on the organs there. And I've also had to write out and learn the service music for a mass, which I play once a month. That mass is in Visayan, so it's interesting. I took a video of a service, which helped, and worked with the regular organist, who helped me a lot. I can't say our styles have anything in common, but that is another issue.
And soon I will be playing for the once-a-month Latin mass. So, you see, I do have something to do once in a while.
But, most exciting for me, is that I'm planning two Christmas programs of mostly different music. So the boxes of music I brought have been searched. Interesting how the old Spanish composers didn't title anything much for Christmas. The Classical French, of course, wrote their Noels, thank God, and the Germans used their chorales, but the Spanish just wrote pieces. Or I don't have the right books!
So I've put together two programs which include some German, some Italian, some French, some contemporary English/American, and combined with a choir which will sing a couple pieces and the chorales I will play, I am hoping to keep the attention of the audiences! I noticed that the people in "another" town near didn't know what silence during music means!
In fact, I've downloaded 4 short clips from Guy Bovet's recital in March in Loboc, with his permission, of course. I keep meaning to make the hour treck up there, as it is a lovely organ, too, but somehow my energy hasn't been sufficient.
You can go to www.youtube.com/rodgis44 and find them. There are other movies there, too, so just look for the right ones in my collection.
I've learned to play with the horizontal reeds in Baclayon, as some of them are finicky! What I mean is, I've learned how to get some of the stubborn ones to speak! Will I need to do that before I play a piece in a recital? Will the organs actually get tuned?
I'll keep in touch and eventually I will probably send a few clips from the recitals, too.
If you have any posts you would be interested in being included here, please let me know. I know some of you have lots going on and some of you must have interesting stories from the recent conventions in the US. What about you European and Asian organists?
I'd love your sending information about your upcoming recitals! We could have a page here for upcoming recitals!
Remember, practice makes perfect!
Rod
August, 2010
But then, I have no plans of putting my practice sessions on youtube!
But I am practicing! My digital piano is here, and I've been going, once or twice a week to Baclayon and Loay to practice on the organs there. And I've also had to write out and learn the service music for a mass, which I play once a month. That mass is in Visayan, so it's interesting. I took a video of a service, which helped, and worked with the regular organist, who helped me a lot. I can't say our styles have anything in common, but that is another issue.
And soon I will be playing for the once-a-month Latin mass. So, you see, I do have something to do once in a while.
But, most exciting for me, is that I'm planning two Christmas programs of mostly different music. So the boxes of music I brought have been searched. Interesting how the old Spanish composers didn't title anything much for Christmas. The Classical French, of course, wrote their Noels, thank God, and the Germans used their chorales, but the Spanish just wrote pieces. Or I don't have the right books!
So I've put together two programs which include some German, some Italian, some French, some contemporary English/American, and combined with a choir which will sing a couple pieces and the chorales I will play, I am hoping to keep the attention of the audiences! I noticed that the people in "another" town near didn't know what silence during music means!
In fact, I've downloaded 4 short clips from Guy Bovet's recital in March in Loboc, with his permission, of course. I keep meaning to make the hour treck up there, as it is a lovely organ, too, but somehow my energy hasn't been sufficient.
You can go to www.youtube.com/rodgis44 and find them. There are other movies there, too, so just look for the right ones in my collection.
I've learned to play with the horizontal reeds in Baclayon, as some of them are finicky! What I mean is, I've learned how to get some of the stubborn ones to speak! Will I need to do that before I play a piece in a recital? Will the organs actually get tuned?
I'll keep in touch and eventually I will probably send a few clips from the recitals, too.
If you have any posts you would be interested in being included here, please let me know. I know some of you have lots going on and some of you must have interesting stories from the recent conventions in the US. What about you European and Asian organists?
I'd love your sending information about your upcoming recitals! We could have a page here for upcoming recitals!
Remember, practice makes perfect!
Rod
August, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Performing and Friends
There is an issue I'd like to just throw out there about performers and their friends. This is something that always bugged me when I would perform. The issue is this: After months of preparation and hard work, and friends promising they'd be there, it is a real bummer when they don't show! As a performer, it is especially important to have our family and closest friends understand at least what we've put our heart and soul into. And they can only do that by being there at the BIG event, and for most solo performers who do only one performance of something, it IS a BIG EVENT, emotially and artistically. Most of us at this level need some reinforcement and support, because much of our work in learning the music or dance, or whatever--trying so hard to perfect it (mostly in solitude) and finally presenting it-- is the only public face all of our work will have. So it takes over our life for a time!
So, if you have performer friends, please try your best to support them, and not just in words and empty promises! There, I've said it! I hope you will gratefully accept the next invitation you have and be there for them! They need that more than they'll ever say, and, believe me, it will fill their hearts with joy to have you there!
I can't tell you how many times I felt some devastation, when friends who said they would be there, found some reason not to be! And I know I am not alone here! I suppose the let-down is because we're exposing our souls and making ourselves so vulnerable in that act of performing. Is part of it also, due to the solitude of preparation, that there is no way to express what we love so much to our closest friends, and so we naturally want to let them into the intimate world that has enveloped us for so long? As a solo performer all you want to do is move someone as you have been moved. So if they are not present you feel terribly rejected because no one has accepted your invitation into your private world. Get it? Even if the outcome is not great, or you hate the medium, they still need you there, with your gratitude that they have put so much of themselves into this work.
Recently I attended an organ recital here at one of the large churches. The church was filled and full of so much excitement that at some moments you could barely hear the music! Well, that's another cultural issue, I guess! And none of them knew the organist. I am sure that there are not many cultural presentations there, so anything presented is pretty special. And I know for a fact that there were a lot of people on lots of committees who helped sponsor and organize the event, as I met many afterward. So a recital here is a big deal. The interesting thing is how little some listened, and not just little kids! I was shocked that a nun close to me was talking most of the time! What do they teach them in the convent these days? I joke, of course!
So, if you have performer friends, please try your best to support them, and not just in words and empty promises! There, I've said it! I hope you will gratefully accept the next invitation you have and be there for them! They need that more than they'll ever say, and, believe me, it will fill their hearts with joy to have you there!
I can't tell you how many times I felt some devastation, when friends who said they would be there, found some reason not to be! And I know I am not alone here! I suppose the let-down is because we're exposing our souls and making ourselves so vulnerable in that act of performing. Is part of it also, due to the solitude of preparation, that there is no way to express what we love so much to our closest friends, and so we naturally want to let them into the intimate world that has enveloped us for so long? As a solo performer all you want to do is move someone as you have been moved. So if they are not present you feel terribly rejected because no one has accepted your invitation into your private world. Get it? Even if the outcome is not great, or you hate the medium, they still need you there, with your gratitude that they have put so much of themselves into this work.
Recently I attended an organ recital here at one of the large churches. The church was filled and full of so much excitement that at some moments you could barely hear the music! Well, that's another cultural issue, I guess! And none of them knew the organist. I am sure that there are not many cultural presentations there, so anything presented is pretty special. And I know for a fact that there were a lot of people on lots of committees who helped sponsor and organize the event, as I met many afterward. So a recital here is a big deal. The interesting thing is how little some listened, and not just little kids! I was shocked that a nun close to me was talking most of the time! What do they teach them in the convent these days? I joke, of course!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Getting Settled
Dear Friends,
I've been here in Bohol now for almost 6 weeks and am waiting for my music to arrive, and for a faster connection so I can post for you and the world a couple youtube movies of a recital here by Guy Bovet that I attended in Loboc.
A huge, noisy crowd stayed for most of the hour and a half program (which also included a few pieces by the acclaimed Loboc Children's Choir). When I get the fast connection, I'll load it here for you to enjoy!
Meanwhile I wait for my music and things, anxious to get my fingers working again on a keyboard!
I hope you are all well, and if you have some news you would like to share here, please send it to me!
Rod
March 28, 2010
I've been here in Bohol now for almost 6 weeks and am waiting for my music to arrive, and for a faster connection so I can post for you and the world a couple youtube movies of a recital here by Guy Bovet that I attended in Loboc.
A huge, noisy crowd stayed for most of the hour and a half program (which also included a few pieces by the acclaimed Loboc Children's Choir). When I get the fast connection, I'll load it here for you to enjoy!
Meanwhile I wait for my music and things, anxious to get my fingers working again on a keyboard!
I hope you are all well, and if you have some news you would like to share here, please send it to me!
Rod
March 28, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
MOVING MADNESS
Dear Friends,
I've been very busy since Christmas preparing for my move to Bohol, in the Philippines. Going through a lifetime of "stuff" is not easy. Emotional, sometimes, maddening at others, but always work. Deciding what to take, what to dump, what to sell is a challenge.
I finally realized that I can take digital pictures of a lot of things (pictures, documents) that I want to remember, and then let go of the physical copies that would mean nothing to anyone else. That has been work (how many photo albums did I collect over the years?) but also an emotional trip down memory lane.
So has been selling off my collection of organ music with pedals! Thanks to all the organists who have helped me on my way! Of course I've saved all the manual works - especially the Spanish, since I'll be playing on the three restored Spanish organs there. (see my earlier blog entries)
You may not hear from me for a while. I expect to move in about two weeks, find a place to live, spend time with my Filipino family, then get settled. But then I'll have some things to talk about I am sure!
Rod
Almost February, '10
I've been very busy since Christmas preparing for my move to Bohol, in the Philippines. Going through a lifetime of "stuff" is not easy. Emotional, sometimes, maddening at others, but always work. Deciding what to take, what to dump, what to sell is a challenge.
I finally realized that I can take digital pictures of a lot of things (pictures, documents) that I want to remember, and then let go of the physical copies that would mean nothing to anyone else. That has been work (how many photo albums did I collect over the years?) but also an emotional trip down memory lane.
So has been selling off my collection of organ music with pedals! Thanks to all the organists who have helped me on my way! Of course I've saved all the manual works - especially the Spanish, since I'll be playing on the three restored Spanish organs there. (see my earlier blog entries)
You may not hear from me for a while. I expect to move in about two weeks, find a place to live, spend time with my Filipino family, then get settled. But then I'll have some things to talk about I am sure!
Rod
Almost February, '10
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas
Dear Readers,
I just played two masses on digital pianos, and while fun, it wasn't the same high as many of you are having tonight!
Just found this fun youTube video with pictures of many BIG organs, and want to share it with you for sheer fun!
I wish you all a great holiday, and now that Christmas is almost over, some good R & R, too! I hope to hear from you and receive some submissions for possible posts!
See you in 2010!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS5D0zunRr8&feature=related
I just played two masses on digital pianos, and while fun, it wasn't the same high as many of you are having tonight!
Just found this fun youTube video with pictures of many BIG organs, and want to share it with you for sheer fun!
I wish you all a great holiday, and now that Christmas is almost over, some good R & R, too! I hope to hear from you and receive some submissions for possible posts!
See you in 2010!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS5D0zunRr8&feature=related
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