News, February 2008
As I begin a new year, things are looking up. As I mentioned in October, the regular organist and choir director for the 9:00 mass at St. Augustine’s, Bob Boulanger, has gone into semi-retirement, and he has appointed me his successor as organist. The choir continues to sing, now under the direction of longtime choir member Joe Murray. As a result of this new position, I no longer work for Uwe Liefländer.
In addition, I have a new organist position that could last three months. Norman St. Louis, a friend of Bob’s and a church musician himself, has hired me to play for three choir practices beginning February 4--and just the practices, since he knows I’m already tied up on Sunday mornings at St. Augustine’s and St. Elizabeth’s. In fact, he was responsible for getting me the job at St. Elizabeth’s in the first place.
Meanwhile, I’m starting to gear up for my first Toronto-area gig in nearly twenty years. A couple of good friends of mine in Mississauga are getting married on May 10, and they want me to play the organ for their wedding. I’ve already started working on a MIDI file of a song they want me to perform at it, Kipp Lennon's "Suspension", the theme from the late 1970s TV series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
My computer-based recording arsenal is starting to take shape. I bought the new computer on New Year’s Eve, and already I’m starting to learn how to use the Live Lite software that came with my multi-track audio card. I’m thinking of buying a few USB-based MIDI interfaces so that I have more flexibility in MIDI sound selection. The way I have things set up now, I can only access a maximum of sixteen sounds at once. The way I intend to set things up, I could theoretically access up to forty-two!
I’m starting to gain a greater exposure to European pop, thanks to a friend in Essen, Germany by the name of Ralf Waldvogel. He has introduced me to Rosenstolz and Anja Krabbe, and will soon be sending me a compilation of material from a plethora of European artists. As a result, you may soon see something of a shift in the range of European repertoire that I play. Stay tuned!
In addition, I have a new organist position that could last three months. Norman St. Louis, a friend of Bob’s and a church musician himself, has hired me to play for three choir practices beginning February 4--and just the practices, since he knows I’m already tied up on Sunday mornings at St. Augustine’s and St. Elizabeth’s. In fact, he was responsible for getting me the job at St. Elizabeth’s in the first place.
Meanwhile, I’m starting to gear up for my first Toronto-area gig in nearly twenty years. A couple of good friends of mine in Mississauga are getting married on May 10, and they want me to play the organ for their wedding. I’ve already started working on a MIDI file of a song they want me to perform at it, Kipp Lennon's "Suspension", the theme from the late 1970s TV series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
My computer-based recording arsenal is starting to take shape. I bought the new computer on New Year’s Eve, and already I’m starting to learn how to use the Live Lite software that came with my multi-track audio card. I’m thinking of buying a few USB-based MIDI interfaces so that I have more flexibility in MIDI sound selection. The way I have things set up now, I can only access a maximum of sixteen sounds at once. The way I intend to set things up, I could theoretically access up to forty-two!
I’m starting to gain a greater exposure to European pop, thanks to a friend in Essen, Germany by the name of Ralf Waldvogel. He has introduced me to Rosenstolz and Anja Krabbe, and will soon be sending me a compilation of material from a plethora of European artists. As a result, you may soon see something of a shift in the range of European repertoire that I play. Stay tuned!
posted by Jamie at 3:35 p.m.
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