Tag Archives: Hillcrest Church

First Mother’s Day since my mother passed away

Posted on May 12, 2025 by barczablog

I played the organ at Hillcrest Church Sunday, substituting for David Warrack. It was Mother’s Day, the first Mother’s Day since my mom passed away. I played one of her favourite melodies as the Offertory. Ack Värmeland du sköna is … Continue reading →

Posted in My mother, Opera, Personal ruminations & essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Remembrance Day lessons from Mr Bull and Barkley

Posted on November 12, 2023 by barczablog

I played the organ at Hillcrest Church last Sunday. Some years All Saints (November 1st) and Remembrance Day (November 11th) get separate commemorations. In 2023 Remembrance Day (Nov 11th) falls on a Saturday, making it logical to combine the All … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Performing The Lord’s Prayer

Posted on March 10, 2022 by barczablog

Lent in 2022 is becoming darker, war casting a horrific shadow over our fortunate prosperity on this side of the world. I treat gratitude as a kind of sacrament, the foundation of everything; we begin with recognition that we are … Continue reading →

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Missing church

Posted on January 1, 2022 by barczablog

The last thing I posted had the word “missing” in the title. A few days ago I wrote a rambly thing as I thought about a canceled show and one of its canceled performers, pushed off the stage by contagious … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, domestic & wild, Books & Literature, Cinema, video & DVDs, My mother, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Evangelist Season

Posted on December 9, 2013 by barczablog

One has to be careful with metaphors.  We use them without safety nets or training wheels, which is to say, they’re a kind of figurative language that’s riskier than simile,  those constructions where the relationships in the signification are spelled … Continue reading →

Posted in Dance, theatre & musicals, Personal ruminations & essays, Spirituality & Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I am not my voice

Posted on September 19, 2012 by barczablog

I tried to run away myself To run away and wrestle with my ego—Joni Mitchell One can imagine, somewhere between selfless slavery and imperial command, a middle way.  There’s a place one can imagine in the tao of the performer, … Continue reading →

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