Sonata for Flute and Piano

Sonata for Flute and Piano

I was back in Lincoln for a concert a while back, and I wondered over to the music building. I ducked my head into John Bailey’s office to say hello. John is a brilliant flutist and scholar and someone I’ve always admired. I first met him when I was a...

(Re)reading Justin Martyr

I’m reading some Justin Martyr again. He was the Father with the most unfortunate last name. (“What, mom?! I’m called Martyr, and I’m going to be a martyr?! I’ll be a laughing stock!” – Thanks Eddie Izzard.) To me, Justin has...
Re-visiting J.S. Bach’s Partita No. 2

Re-visiting J.S. Bach’s Partita No. 2

In the middle of Lent, I had the chance to re-visit J.S. Bach’s Partita No. 2 which I used as a prelude for our Palm Sunday service at St. Paul’s KCMO. It was a piece I had learned in my late teens, and I wanted to visit it again to see how much I had...
Iris Murdoch on Art

Iris Murdoch on Art

I’m still working my way through an Iris Murdoch reader. She has to be one of the clearest and most astute systematic thinkers of the 20th century. It’s just an amazing mind. This passage is lengthy, but worth the read. She has been sailing twixt the...
Playing Vox Balaenae

Playing Vox Balaenae

As an undergrad at the University of Tampa, I had the good fortune to have the Spectrum Contemporary Ensemble in residence and giving concerts each semester I was there. The ensemble was an ad hoc group led by percussionist Dave Coash and cellist Lowell Adams. Both...