June already?

15 05 2024

The middle of May is not too early to plan your arts social calendar.

We have these lined up to attend and enjoy: 

The Windward Choral Society’s concert “Birds, Beasts & Bugs,” 4 to 5:30 p.m., June 2, 2024, at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 148 Makawao Street, Kailua, Oʻahu.

“Collage and Clay” art show, June 5-28, 2024, The ARTS at Marks Garage gallery, 1159 Nuuanu Ave. at Pauahi street. Regular gallery hours are 12 to 5 pm daily.

Opening reception, 5 to 8 pm, June 7, 2024. Closing reception, 5 to 8 pm, June 28, 2024.

Hand-dyed tissue-paper collage, 22” x 28”, by Rebekah Luke

I have six hand-dyed tissue-paper collages in this group exhibit.

Maybe I’ll see you?! Be well.

~Rebekah

 


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Art & music for December 2023

15 11 2023

Greetings, studio fans ~

A couple of community offerings where my “work” is represented are on the calendar for next month on Oʻahu:

One is an art show at ARTS at Marks Garage, corner of Nuuanu avenue and Pauahi street, for most of December. I can meet you at the First Friday evening reception there, too.

The other is the Windward Choral Society’s “Home for the Holidays” winter concert at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Kailua, 148 Makawao St., Kailua. I’m singing! More details in the accompanying images:


Holiday blessings, and be well!

~Rebekah


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Palehua

5 11 2023



In choir, the Windward Choral Society, we are rehearsing “Palehua,” a mele (song) composed by Amy Hanaialiʻi Gilliom and Willie Kahaialiʻi. Yesterday we took a field trip to that place high above Makakilo on Oʻahu. It was an example of the lengths (and heights!) our director Susan McCreary Duprey will go to have the choristers absorb the music.

For most of us who live on the Windward side of the island, Palehua is a long car ride away, and because parking is tight at the cabin site, we carpooled in three shifts. In the afternoon we had perfect weather—not too hot or too cold and no rain. What a great view of the Waianaʻe Coast including Pokaʻi Bay and northward to Mount Kaʻala, too.

Many thanks to choir president Pat for driving and to ridemates Katie and Gail for keeping it lively. And, oh yes, we did sing some numbers!

 

 Keep on singing, and be well!

~Rebekah


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Oh, joy! Earworms for days

12 06 2023

The sanctuary of Kawaiahaʻo Church filled with concert goers yesterday to hear “Jubilate Deo,” a choral and symphonic work composed by Dan Forrest, and performed by the Windward Choral Society and symphony musicians under the direction  of Susan McCreary Duprey. What an honor and a pleasure!
The lyrics, after Psalm 100 in the Bible, for each of seven movements, are in a different language, that is, our chorus sang in seven different languages. It’s not a long piece—50 minutes—and our director prides herself in concluding on the dot. I think she was a minute early in rehearsal!

In rehearsal

Because of my bad back, I sang seated from a chair behind the brass section. Sometimes I couldn’t hear myself. A friend quipped, ”At least you weren’t in front of the brass!” Ahaha, that’s for sure! This was my view, looking toward the back of the church toward the pipe organ.

I’m glad I remembered to ask Dan Forrest to sign my score!

Composer Dan Forrest and Rebekah Luke (Alto 2). Photo by Peter Krape)

“Omnis terra, jubilate, omnis terra, laudate, Omnis terra, jubilate Deo!”

“Sing for joy, dance in gladness, shout for joy, all the earth!”

”Alleluia!”

Be well, everyone, and keep singing!

~ Rebekah


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Art, music & letters rewind

2 03 2023

The National League of American Pen Women (NLAPW) is a club for women who work professionally as fine artists, writers, and composers. What they have in common is the blank page to start.

When I was a reporter for The Honolulu Advertiser, during and after college, noted and respected writer Gwenfread Allen introduced me to the Honolulu Branch of NLAPW that held regular monthly meetings I enjoyed. Fine, but what I really enjoyed was meeting the Arts members. I wanted to be like them, and that’s what inspired me to take oil painting lessons from the now late Gloria Foss, followed by tissue-paper dying and collage-making workshops by Susan Rogers-Aregger, who has also passed. Currently I have an inventory of paintings and collages. The most recently completed collage “Crater View” has been juried into “Ultra III” at Pauahi Tower, 2nd  Floor Lobby, on exhibit from March 12 through May 11.

If you’re reading this, then you know I write a blog. It’s not my whole life; mostly I try to keep it upbeat. I’ve written about a lot of things, and if you scroll way way down, you’ll come to a search box. Plug in a topic and be surprised. I write a travel blog, too, “Popo Goes Abroad,” accessed from the menu bar.

As for music, I’m not composing nor arranging, but I really enjoy  my part as a chorister in the Windward Choral Society. The choir is currently rehearsing “Jubilate Deo” composed by Dan Forrest. We are scheduled to perform this major work—seven movements in seven different languages—at 4 pm, June 11, 2023, at Kawaiahaʻo Church in Honolulu. Susan McCreary Duprey is the artistic director. Please mark your calendar!

Windward Choral Society

Be well.

~ Rebekah

 


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My choral (and) conducting gurus

28 01 2020

Mark Hayes with me and Rev. Danette Kong in the pink lei

This past weekend I attended a three-day choral music workshop by well-known pianist-composer Mark Hayes. Keawalaʻi Congregational Church at Mākena, Maui, founded in 1832, was the venue.

My takeaway, literally, was a folio of sacred and secular music and a series of published articles on how to improvise at the piano. I later found all of the “Improv Notes” on the www.markhayes.com website. One can download them for free.

I am reminded of other times in Honolulu and at Cannon Beach, OR, when I was fortunate as a chorister to sing under the baton of Rodney Eichenberger who is associated with Florida State University. He has coined the motto “what they see is what they get.” I found a Facebook page named “The Rodney Eichenberger Cult.” Indeed, he has a following!

I mined the internet and found “The Life and Philosophy of Choral Conductor Rodney Eichenberger, Including a Detailed Analysis and Application of His Conductor-Singer Gestures” by Adam Jonathan Con. The preview of the book at books.google.com is a fine description.

I’m now inspired to sing in a spring concert with my group, the Windward Choral Society, this February 9, at 4 pm, at St. John Vianney Parish in Kailua, Oahu. We will be singing African-American, spiritual, and gospel numbers. Susan McCreary Duprey directs.

The best part of the weekend on Maui was meeting up with my cousins Rev. Danette Kong, who is the music director at Keawalaʻi Congregational Church, and Steven Lum and Prince Steven who came from Oahu and joined us at this beautiful spot.

Looking toward East Maui from Mākena

Keawalaʻi Congregational Church

L to r: cousins Steven, Prince, Rebekah, and Danette

~ Rebekah


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Music of the Christmas season

12 12 2019

Christmas music is getting me into the spirit, and I’d like to share the experiences with you.

• Come early for a seat to hear the 100-voice choir I sing in, the Windward Choral Society, at 4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 15, at St. John Vianney Church at 920 Keola Drive in Kailua, Oahu.

“For a Breath of  Ecstasy” composed by Michael John Trotta with lyrics by Sara Teasdale will be under the baton of Artistic Director Susan McCreary Duprey and accompanied by Pianist Thomas Yee, Organist Jieun Newland, and other talented instrumentalists from around the island.

Open to the public. Freewill donations accepted.

Other choral works include repertoire from Argentina, Canada, France, Japan, America (to include an early American Shaker tune and a piece in Hebrew), South Africa, and Hawaiʻi.

• This Friday, our granddaughters will perform in the Le Jardin Academy student Christmas programs on campus.

• On Saturday evening, the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus at Kawaiahaʻo Church in Honolulu is offering up Christmas tunes starting 7 p.m. Admission free.

• Prior to the above evening event, I’ll be helping out the Windward Choral Society at Barnes & Nobel bookstore in a fundraiser for the choir. Just make a purchase and mention WCS to the cashier.

• In a members-and-guests only event, a music program will follow the  Christmas Dinner at Kaneohe Yacht Club. We’re piggybacking on this occasion with another couple to celebrate Darling Husband’s birthday.

• Washington Place, the Governor’s official mansion, has our name on a guest list. So fancy.

• And into the new year is a three-day workshop on Maui led by well-known visiting composer Mark Hayes.

Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou! Happy New Year! Yahoo!

~ Rebekah

 


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