Franz Schubert. Antonín Leopold Dvořák. Sergei Rachmaninoff. Three romantics whose lives spanned 150 years of tumultuous European history and whose music forms the backbone of the upcoming concert on Saturday 7 May at 2 pm in the beautifully named Sakharov Hall of Holy Trinity-St Nicholas Church in East St Kilda. I’m delighted to be sharing […]

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Dieterich Buxtehude (1637 – 1707) was famous for many reasons. Foremost he was extraordinary organist, which is why I’m planning to explore his works this coming Lent. In preparation, I thought I I’d do some reading and share a bit of Dieterich’s history and context. While there was a lot of great information from which […]

Read more "In defense of Buxtehude’s daughter"

Your favorite hymns, including Christmas carols (which have already started to play on high rotation in shops and shopping malls), are probably around 200 years old. Which places them smack bang at the height of the Victorian colonial expansion era.  I think the death and reporting of the funeral of QEII shone a spotlight on […]

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Inheriting a talented choir as a newly appointed Music Director in a suburban parish, sounds like a dream come true. And it is, in many ways.  But finding ways to challenge and excite experienced choristers can put the pressure on you. Here are a few of my reflections as we commence rehearsals for our biggest […]

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Girolamo Alessandro Frescobaldi (1583-1643) is a well-known figure in western classical music of the early baroque and honoured as one of the ‘fathers of Italian music’ on his tombstone. He was a master of the keyboard, philosopher of music, as well as prolific, inventive and innovative composer, and generous teacher and mentor. He held perhaps […]

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I have wanted to perform these works by the modern composer Nico Muhly (b. 1981) for some time now. The O Antiphons have a special and specific role in preperation for Christmas. Seven songs for seven nights before Christmas Eve. The Antiphons form the Latin acrostic ‘Ero cras’ meaning ‘Tomorrow I will be’, these antiphons […]

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“All the air things wear that build this world of Wales”, is a quote from Gerard Manly Hopkins picked up from Jan Morris last and latest book, Alligorizings. The featured image here is of the new organ console from Virtual Pipe Organs Australia – http://www.virtualpipeorgan.com.au/. Travel seems the ultimate luxury in these covid-ridden days. Even […]

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For some reason the music of Juan Cabanilles (1644–1712) hit a chord with me, in that strange post/mid-covid opening up of Victoria (Australia) during Lent 2021. I think it was the expressive virtuosity of his music, littered as it is with references to the past mystery of modes, and the deeply personal, that compelled me […]

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Ave Generosa is the latest release by Margaret Rizza and is a must have for music lovers, church goers, choir members and church music directors everywhere. It’s been a rough year around the world, with many of us missing our usual musical and spiritual outlets. If you’ve been feeling the same way then Ave Generosa might […]

Read more "The mystic in the music, a CD review"

I love this picture in the hallway of St. Peter’s Parish Centre, where I am Musical Director and organist. Hallways are often used for rushing from one place to another, usually to the loos which are at the end of our hallway. This picture always slows me down. The reflection of the sky in the […]

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