“I have done a fair bit in my life so far. (No kidding, ed.) This is definitely the thing of which I am most proud.” We at Regent Records are delighted to release Sarah MacDonald's beautiful new recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations, recorded in Ely Cathedral on the Cathedral's own recent Steinway D. The Cathedral's... Continue Reading →
St. Paul's Cathedral, London, UK Guest Comment by Matthew LarkinSaturday, May 18, 2024 I have huge respect for Matthew Larkin. Our paths crossed briefly many years ago while he was director of music at St. John the Divine Church in Victoria BC. He is not only a brilliant musician who possesses a keen intellect which... Continue Reading →
A sermon preached by the Rev. Leighton Lee in St Mark’s, Niagara on the Lake on Sunday, March 31, 2024 Mozart’s Great C Minor Mass is one of the iconic unfinished masterworks in the canon of Western music. Yet even though it’s unfinished, it’s oddly complete, too. So I was dubious when I was invited... Continue Reading →
https://youtu.be/CYrB2elUjxM Truth be told, I didn’t want to go out to hear the McDades a couple of nights ago. I have grown accustomed to watching television after supper in our comfy downstairs TV room. Acting however on an invitation from professional musician friends we dutifully trundled down to the Frank Venables Theatre in Oliver BC,... Continue Reading →
Reprinted from Jordan Copp-Local Journalism Initiative Reporter-Coast Reporter (via Penticton NOW) BC bookstore uses music ties to aid suicide prevention A Gibsons bookstore named Reasons to Live has been raising money for suicide prevention. Last year, they raised over $60,000–more than their store earns in a year. For more than a decade, the owners of Reasons... Continue Reading →
Juno is an increasingly famous dog blogger. She has followers now from three continents, and a few from the Twilight Zone. Enjoy. Welcome to my personal stress-bucket diary. I know, I know; you see me prancing around and cannot imagine that stress is part of my four-pawed life. But apparently it is. Change it seems,... Continue Reading →
Definitely not a Valentine’s Day greetingA reflection for Ash Wednesday, Feb 14, 2024 They come in all shapes, colours, and sizes. They come as rolling cannisters drawn by a flexible tentacle, or as upright sticks with handles and a bag; they come as horizontal cylinders to be dragged across the floor. They are installed protruding... Continue Reading →
Rodney David Rhys Smith, 1945 – 2023A reflection by Ken Gray I told Rod many times, that when the time comes for his funeral —and if I am invited to officiate—that I get the last word! And so I did, as about seventy-five family and friends gathered at Sequoia Gardens in Victoria recently. They laughed,... Continue Reading →
Commemoration of St. Thomas of Canterbury, d. 29 December 1170 In a beautiful liturgy at Canterbury Cathedral, the mother church of the Anglican Communion, St. Thomas, Martyr was remembered as an inspiration to those who suffer for their faith in our own day. Historically, Thomas Becket, also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, served as... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 