Category Archives: Music Ministry

First Mondays: Advent Organ Chorales • Dec. 7 at 7:00 pm

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The Beckerath organThe art of hymn introductions was perfected in Germany, where the “chorale prelude” was developed by Johann Sebastian Bach and other north German composers. The chorale prelude is a relatively short setting for organ that is intended to introduce the hymn tune to the congregation. This concert will feature a wide variety of Advent chorale preludes by international composers from Germany, France, Norway, and the United States: Bach, Johann Pachelbel, Hugo Distler, Marcel Dupré, Egil Hovland, Gerald Near and Paul Manz. A quartet will sing the hymns immediately following each chorale prelude.

The concert features Katherine Crosier, organist, with a quartet made up of Naomi Barrett, soprano, Sarah Young, alto, Bowe Souza, tenor, and Jeremy Wong, bass.

The concert will be livestreamed December 7 at 7:00 pm and then archived on the LCH Facebook page.

The First Mondays 2020–2021 Concert Series





Help Make “First Mondays” a Success by Becoming a Sponsor

Your tax-deductible donations make it possible for us to offer these free concerts to the community. Please consider a donation by sending a check (payable to “Lutheran Church of Honolulu”) to the church at 1730 Punahou Street, Honolulu HI 96822 or using the button to the right to make a secure donation via PayPal. Mahalo for your support.

November “First Mondays” Concert • Nov. 23 at 7:00 pm

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two pianos graphicThe concert originally scheduled to open the series in September has been rescheduled for November 23. In honor of our newly-acquired Estonia grand piano, Taevamuusika (Estonian for music of the heavens) will feature pianists Maika‘i Nash and Mark Wong as they share a concert of works for two pianos. They will be joined by special guest soprano Martina Bingham. Tune in for this livestream concert, exploring themes of the cosmos, featuring selections from Holst’s suite The Planets, as well as a virtuosic 4-hands Star Wars fantasy.

The concert will Livestreamed on the LCH Facebook Page.

46th Annual Advent Procession • Nov. 29, 7:30 pm

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advent graphicLutheran Church of Honolulu’s Advent Procession has been a Hawai‘i tradition since 1975. We come to the end of Kingdomtide (Time after Pentecost) and begin a new liturgical cycle with a service that melds music and word. This year we’ve adapted our service for the livestream setting as we offer The O Antiphons by Peter Hallock, invoking ancient titles of Christ through choral music. If one looks at the first letter of each antiphon in Latin — Emmanuel, Rex, Oriens, Clavis, Radix, Adonai, and Sapientia — it spells the Latin phrase ero cras, which translates, “Tomorrow, I will come.”

Join us as we begin a new liturgical year and carry on a beloved Hawai‘i tradition. Livestreaming at facebook.com/LCHwelcome.

Compline Livestreams November 1 & 15 at 7:30 pm

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prayer graphicWe warmly invite all people in all places of faith and life to Compline. Offered on the first and third Sundays of each month, this beautiful candle-lit service is a meditative experience of a cappella singing and chanting to commemorate the day’s end. This month, November 1 will feature Women’s Compline. November 15 compline will be led by members of the LCH Men’s Schola. Musical selections include Gregorian chant, Taizé chant, Renaissance polyphony, and more.

Access to the LCH public Facebook page at facebook.com/LCHwelcome or by using the link on the bottom of any page on the LCH website.

In Luther’s Words: A Reformation Concert • Thurs., Oct. 29, 7:00 pm

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Luther graphicMartin Luther believed that music holds a special place in our lives by connecting us to the Divine in profound ways. His own hymn texts and compositions have inspired composers for generations whose works are now inescapably connected to our rich Lutheran heritage.

We invite you to tune in for a special livestream concert featuring music of the Reformation. Martina Bingham (soprano), Sarah Lambert Connelly (mezzo-soprano), Tomás Romas (tenor), and Scott Fikse (bass-baritone) will perform works by composers who set some of Luther’s most famous texts to music. The cornerstone piece of the evening will be Mendelssohn’s rarely heard setting of Aus Tiefer Not Schrei’ ich zu dir (Out of the depths I cry to you), a choral motet organized into 5 beautifully unique movements. The quartet is joined by virtuoso keyboardist Maika‘i Nash, who will play what he describes as two of his “bucketlist” piano works—transcriptions of notable gems of the instrumental repertoire by J. S. Bach.

The concert will livestream on the LCH Facebook page at 7:00 pm on Thursday, October 29. Download the concert program booklet.



A suggested donation of $10 may be made by mail (Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1730 Punahu Street, Honolulu, HI 96822) or via PayPal using the link to the right.

Program

  1. Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist: Michael Praetorius (1571–1621)
  2. Partita for Violin No. 3 in E major, bwv 1006: J. S. Bach (1685–1750), arr. Rachmaninov
  3. Aus tiefer Not schrei’ ich zu dir, Op. 23: Felix Mendelssohn (1809–1847)
  4. Organ Sonata No. 4, bwv 528, II. Andante: Bach, transc. Stradal
  5. Ein Feste Burg: Johann Walter (1496–1570)

Midweek Vespers • August 13 & 27

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Midweek Vespers in Honor of Nurses

Thursday, August 13, 7:00 pm • live-stream on the LCH Facebook page

prayer graphicOn this day, the church remembers two self-sacrificing nurses, Florence Nightingale and Clara Maass, renewers of society. At a time when our medical professionals are giving of themselves at the front lines of a pandemic, we offer this service of thanksgiving for the work of nurses everywhere. A solo quartet featuring Naomi Barrett (soprano), Sarah Connelly (alto), Scott Fikse (bass), and Tomas Ramos (tenor) will offer music by beloved British composers Ralph Vaughan Williams, Charles Wood, and Derek Healey.

St. Bartholomew graphicVespers for the Feast of St. Bartholomew

Thursday, August 27, 7:00 pm • live-stream on the LCH Facebook page

Bartholomew (who many believe is referred to as “Nathanael” in John’s Gospel) was one of the first disciples called to “come and see,” and he is present on the shore of the Sea of Tiberius when the risen Christ invites his friends to “come and have breakfast” (John 21:12). Join us for a special vespers in honor of St. Bartholomew, featuring music of the great British composers Charles Wood, Robert Ramsey, and Herbert Howells. Organist Mark Wong and Director of Music and Liturgy Scott Fikse are joined by Sarah Connelly (alto), Tomás Ramos (tenor), and Naomi Barrett (soprano).

Midweek Vespers • July 9 & 23

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Our weekday vespers continue in July with two special services. Join us on the second and fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm in services featuring guest musicians from our local choral and orchestral community.

Assurance in God’s Presence

Thursday, July 9 • 7:00 pm

This evening’s service focuses on the comforting text of Psalm 63 and the promise of God’s love and eternal changelessness. As we navigate the day-to-day changes of our current world, the church stands ready to grow and adapt to whatever the future holds through God’s grace. Music will be provided by Naomi Barrett (soprano), Carrie Staiger (alto), Benjamin Sobel (tenor), and Scott Fikse (bass) accompanied by Mark Wong and guest violinist Duane Padilla.

Vespers for the Feast of Mary Magdalene

Thursday, July 23 • 7:00 pm

“She, while Apostles shrank, could dangers brave, / Last at His cross and earliest at His grave.”—E. S. Barrett (1786–1820)

There are few figures in the Bible with as much legend and lore surrounding them as Mary Magdalene, but it’s clear from the Gospels that she was one of the most devoted followers of Jesus. Join us for a special vespers with a reflection by Pastor Jeff Lilley. Music will include selections by French composers Gounod and Massanet offered by Georgine Stark (soprano), Sarah Connelly (alto), Tomás Ramos (tenor), and Scott Fikse (bass) accompanied by organist Mark Wong and violinist Darel Stark.

COVID-19 Update

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Like many organizations throughout Hawai‘i, LCH continues to operate on a modified schedule in response to the covid-19 pandemic. Our primary concern is the safety and health of everyone using the campus. While groups are being allowed to return to campus, they are required to follow CDC, state, and local guidelines for social distancing and sanitization, as well as holding LCH harmless for any covid-19 related illness or injury. Here are some updates on recent developments at LCH:

  1. Worship
    1. The congregational council has directed that in-person Sunday worship be delayed until after August 31, 2020. Online streaming worship will continue.
    2. Limited in-person worship at midweek vespers may commence beginning in July. These services will be held in the courtyard observing all current recommendations for physical distancing and mask use.
    3. The worship committee has appointed a working group to develop a plan for return to in-person worship which will include policies and procedures.
  2. Office Hours—Staff continue to work from home with limited presence at the church office. Anne Sing monitors email daily from home and checks phone messages in the LCH office during twice weekly visits for necessary administrative tasks and supervision of contractors. We do continue to ask for your patience as some inquiries and requests may take longer to respond than usual. Carolyn Koehler keeps us up to date on billing and drafts check payments weekly. Pastor Jeff is in the office almost every day to assure campus security and maintenance. Scott Fikse is working mostly from home.
  3. Community Groups/Tenants: Some community groups have requested permission to begin meeting on the LCH Campus. The council is allowing some groups to return with very stringent guidelines.
    1. Western Presbyterian Church of Hawai‘i (WPCH) has begun in-person worship on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings. They are a very small group and are diligently following the guidelines set forth by the congregational council.
    2. Alcoholics Anonymous—one group initially asked to resume meeting at LCH, but due to leadership adjustments has had to postpone the resumption of meetings. They are cleared to begin as soon as they are ready.
    3. Habitat for Humanity has resumed limited use of their office.
    4. Christiansen Educators tutoring has resumed limited use of the campus.
    5. Organ lessons will be allowed to resume on a limited basis.

The Court of Weißenfels • Monday, March 2, 7:00 pm

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Schloss Neu-Augustusburg, the seat of the dukes of Saxony-WeißenfelsFor the next in our First Mondays concert series, we experience musical life at German courts during the eighteenth century.

This concert shows us a glimpse of Weißenfels—one of the most famous German courts of the time. George Frederic Handel began his musical training there, Johann Sebastian Bach received prestigious appointments there during his Liepzig years, and Johann Phillip Krieger served the court as Kapellmeister for nearly 45 years. Others passed through or lived in close proximity, including Schütz and Telemann.

This concert features Naomi Barrett, soprano; Melissa Walker, mezzo-soprano; Karol Nowicki, tenor; Scott Fikse, bass-baritone; and members of the Bach Chamber Orchestra

Selections to be performed include:

  1. Heilig, heilig, heilig ist der Herr by Johann Phillip Krieger (1649–1725)
  2. Träufelt, ihr Himmel von oben by Krieger
  3. Singe, Seele, Gott zum Preise, hwv 206, 9 German Arias by G. F Händel (1685–1759)
  4. Meine Seele hört im Sehen, hwv 207 from 9 German Arias by Händel
  5. Sonata in D Minor, Op. 2, No. 2 by Krieger
  6. Können nicht die roten Wangen, Zerreißet, zersprenget, zertrümmert die Gruft, bwv 205, by J. S. Bach (1685–1750)
  7. Lebe, Sonne dieser Erden, Was mir behagt, ist nur die muntre Jagd, bwv 208, by Bach

Pupus and non-alcoholic drinks will be served before the concert beginning at 6:30.

Free-will donations are welcome.

The 2019–20 series of First Monday Chamber Concerts is free, and all are welcome. Visit our First Mondays Chamber Concerts page for a listing of the concerts in the series and to learn how you can support these concerts.

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