From Adam Chan CHEK TV News Two pillars of the Victoria art scene are set to close down next month. Hermann’s Jazz Club and View Street Social will close their doors permanently on April 30, 2026. The Arts On View Society announced the upcoming closure on Thursday, saying the “difficult decision” came after extensive reviews... Continue Reading →
Wynton Marsalis just stepped down as the managing and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, which he founded nearly 40 years ago. He shares his thoughts on the state of democracy in the US presently using the craft he knows so well, Jazz, to illustrate his points. TRANSCRIPT (Generated; check against delivery) [Wynton Marsalis]... Continue Reading →
During my recent trip to Victoria caught up with my longtime friend, Curt Bergen. Curt and I have known each other for most of our adult lives. We first met while organ students of Ed Norman in the 1970s in Victoria. We met at an organ concert at the downtown St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church though... Continue Reading →
The music says it all. Enjoy, and please share. https://youtu.be/GDaPdpwA4Iw https://youtu.be/e3o5FIXoK84 Visit the takenote.ca HOME page for a colourful display of hundreds of other blogs which may interest or inspire you
A few days late, but a great history from Matthew Larkin, with thanks And today, I’m thinking of this guy, who died 150 years ago this date (January 22). John Bacchus Dykes: priest, organist, composer, tractarian: a composer of well over 250 hymn tunes, and an avid and determined ritualist who stood tall against his... Continue Reading →
Recently published in The Guardian [Ken Gray] Many of us organ students in the 1970s worked for Victoria BC Organ Builder, Hugo Spilker. Part of our duties involved visiting local churches with Hugo to hold console keys as he tuned the organ pipes in the loft. While some pipes are built of wood, a majority... Continue Reading →
Another in a series of short personal fictional stories about a mystery church with a quirky minister in an unnamed community, though not in a galaxy far away. Enjoy. Between the covers A face stares up at me from a large bowl of Bouillabaisse, a French seafood stew — the version before me with a... Continue Reading →
From Following Jesus: A life of faith in a postmodern world - on Facebook from where these images also appear. With thanks to Imelda Kedge for the link From Kurt at followingJesus.org I wrote this for US Thanksgiving in 2013 when our table included those born in the USA, Iraq, Korea, and Ethiopia. With Christians,... Continue Reading →
Feel free to complete the phrase above with the response: “Here followeth the anthem.” Since the Anglican Book of Common Prayer of 1549 the rubric welcomes and encourages musical creativity and ability in the public services of Morning and Evening Prayer. Visitors to Anglican cathedrals and larger parish churches throughout the Anglican Communion may find... Continue Reading →
On Sundays when I do not preach or preside locally I try to include something relevant to “future-church” themes. While my typical Sunday morning worship experience occurs in traditionally built and appointed historic buildings, utilizing a familiar liturgy with mostly traditional music, I gotta say that I often don’t feel nourished. For many reasons, I... Continue Reading →
Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 