Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Bach, Britten and Butler

J. Melvin Butler, Canon Musician of St. Mark's Cathedral, Seattle, was the featured guest recitalist at a concert held at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. His program included: Prelude and Fugue in D major (J. S. Bach), Concerto del Sign. Torelli (J. G. Walther), In quiet joy (Mark Winges), Hymnus on Veni Creator (deGrigny), Missa Brevis (Britten) and Final from Symphony I (Vierne).

Mel Butler was joined by the trebles of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu in Britten's haunting "Missa Brevis," conducted by AGO member Carl Crosier.

J. Melvin Butler has taught organ improvisation and church music at the University of Washington. Also a professional violist, he performs regularly with the Onyx Chamber Players in Seattle. Prior to arriving in Seattle in 1991, he was for many years Organist/Choirmaster of the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Rochester, NY. During that time he was also Associate Professor of Church Music at the Eastman School of Music, a violist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and Music Director and Conductor of the Rochester Bach Festival Chorus. During the Vietnam era, he served his country as violist in the U. S. Navy String Quartet.

Clergy Appreciation Dinner



We met on November 16, 2009 for our annual Clergy Appreciation Dinner, held at Central Union Church. We were treated to a delightful concert by the Honolulu Boy Choir, followed by a catered lasagne and salad dinner. The dinner is an opportunity to say "thank you" between clergy and their organists/choirmasters.