Stream of consciousness diary with Iraneus

“For how stands the case, for instance, if we endeavor to explain the cause of the rising of the Nile? We may say a great deal, plausible or otherwise on the subject; but what is true, sure, and incontrovertible regarding it, belongs only to God. Then, again, the...

Music and words and theosophy

When we descry the liminal space between music and words, we find ourselves observing the brackish waters of gutturals. The groans and utterances that words can’t express come bubbling to the surface of the crucible of our emotional life in piquant vowels that...
‘Tis Love, All Love

‘Tis Love, All Love

Gazing on thee I feel, I know Green stalks burst forth, and bright flowers grow, And living shapes upon my bosom move: Music is in the sea and air, Winged clouds soar here and there, Dark with the rain new buds are dreaming of: ‘Tis love, all love! Percy Bysshe...

Some thoughts on “thoughts and prayers”

Jabberers I RISE out of my depths with my language. You rise out of your depths with your language. Two tongues from the depths, Alike only as a yellow cat and a green parrot are alike, Fling their staccato tantalizations Into a wildcat jabber Over a gossamer web of...
Do you get how to Carnegie Hall?

Do you get how to Carnegie Hall?

At the beginning of March, I had the chance to play at Carnegie Hall for the first time. I have had music that I’ve written performed there before, but I’ve never been there when it happened. I’ve also never been playing on the concert. The old saw...
Bach, Beauty, and a new Rilke translation

Bach, Beauty, and a new Rilke translation

On Tuesday’s in Holy Week, I usually present a half-hour program of music. This year, it’s Bach’s Partita No. 2 on the harpsichord. I wrote the following essay for the program. It includes a new translation I made of Rilke’s “Archaic...
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...