First Sunday of Epiphany

Today is the first Sunday of Epiphany, the day on which the church celebrates Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptizer.

Recital songs

My voice studio, Jeffrey Richard Carter Studios LLC, held two different solo song recitals in December. The song list, in no particular order except to put the three Christmas pieces last:

Musings

I’ll start today with a story. As I’ve already written, I attended the noonday Sung Mass at St. Mary the Virgin, Times Square on Tuesday, the Feast of the Epiphany. Lingering for a few minutes after the service, I wrote in my journal, checked my agenda, looked at the subway map to determine my best

NYC: Chess

I am still processing what I witnessed Tuesday evening. CHESS. On Broadway once again. The lighting design and sound design is really exceptional. The stage design is very effective on the Imperial stage, making it look larger than it actually is. The breakout star is clearly Nicholas Christopher. He is magnificent in every respect. Conversely,

NYC part 2

Monday, January 5 — Today was NATS Winter Workshop day. That was the focus of my day, along with a bit of Swatch watch shopping. (Rubens was an outstanding store rep, and made my shopping experience fun.) I ate a bagel for breakfast, rode the bus and the subway, and walked 10K+ steps. (That’s after

Epiphany

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany. I will mark the day with morning prayer and midday Eucharist at Saint Mary the Virgin, Times Square. And a trip to The Cloisters to see religious art. UPDATE at 9AM local time: I read Morning and Evening Prayer every day, but there’s nothing like reading the Daily

NYC

I flew out on the first American Airlines flight Friday, January 2, en route to NYC and the NATS Winter Workshop, and of course some shows, and time with people I love. Friday, January 2 — I’ll be the minority voice.  Maybe Happy Ending is a slight little show, based on a wisp of an

Garden Glow

With dear friend Kenneth in town, the Garden Glow at Missouri Botanical Garden was on the docket. But first, set dinner at Sassafras, the Garden’s in-house restaurant. Sassafras: meh to mid. The salmon was tasty enough, but the broccoli was overcooked and the mash too wet. Garden Glow: kitschy. I went 11 years ago. I

Advent Antiphons

Advent is over for another season. But I wanted to share this rendition of my composition “Advent Antiphons” from St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Ladue. I was leading the choir that Advent IV Sunday. David Sinden played the Mander organ beautifully, with very sensitive registration. Start at 46:20 if the video does not automatically begin there.

Recap: December

December is all about expectation and preparation. And finality. December is an odd time of year. My heart and soul are in Advent: waiting, preparing, watching, listening, being intentional in silence as I prepare to again receive the King of Kings. But my brain is in juries and finals and decorations and recitals. And then