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 […]

Read more "Keeping hymns real and relevant"

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 […]

Read more "Easing our way to the Misa Tango"

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 […]

Read more "Frescobaldi: a brave new world of music"

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 […]

Read more "Tomorrow I will be"

“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 […]

Read more "“All the air things wear that build this world..”"

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 […]

Read more "Cabanilles and me: a journey"

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 […]

Read more "‘Instruments of reflection’"

I hope there are many reviews by community members of the new book Timeless On The Silk Road by Heather Ellis. For one thing it would mean that people are reading, which is always a good sign. And, for some more than others, it’s an opportunity to reflect on someone else’s life experience of HIV. […]

Read more "Timeless Travel, on the road with Heather and her TT"

As part of coursework for COMM1107 Assessment 01: Online Stakeholder Engagement According to my professional network on LinkedIn, Skills & Endorsement for social media number 50, well above other areas of professional expertise, such as Marketing/Advertising (38) and Public Relations (33). This doesn’t mean I am claiming to be an expert and I’m very grateful […]

Read more "My Social Media Confession"