Howard Don Small - Stories and Reminiscences III
August 2, 2007
from Marsha Cusulos
I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams being able to sing with
such a wonderful group and enjoy the friendship of so many as I did in my
years at St. Mark's. Don cared so much about having us learn the music
but also that we understood the history and context of what we were
singing. This was truly an experience that changed my life.
from Marsha Cusulos
I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams being able to sing with
such a wonderful group and enjoy the friendship of so many as I did in my
years at St. Mark's. Don cared so much about having us learn the music
but also that we understood the history and context of what we were
singing. This was truly an experience that changed my life.
August 2, 2007
from Susan Druck
As I reflect on the past (almost 20) years.... I think of Don as a person
who literally changed my life! Where would I be today if Don hadn't hired
me at St. Mark's that summer of 1988. What he did was transforming. It
opened a whole new world for me. I can't tell you how enriched my life
has been because of meeting and knowing Don Small. The wonderful,
wonderful friends and the exemplary music making... the list goes on and
on. Thank you dear Don.
from Susan Druck
As I reflect on the past (almost 20) years.... I think of Don as a person
who literally changed my life! Where would I be today if Don hadn't hired
me at St. Mark's that summer of 1988. What he did was transforming. It
opened a whole new world for me. I can't tell you how enriched my life
has been because of meeting and knowing Don Small. The wonderful,
wonderful friends and the exemplary music making... the list goes on and
on. Thank you dear Don.
 | |  | |  | |  |
| Go forth into the world in peace. Be of good courage; Hold fast that which is good; Render to no one evil for evil; Strengthen the fainthearted; Support the weak; Help the afflicted; Honour all; Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. |
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August 6, 2007
from Jean Mornard
I will miss Don. I will miss the quiet presence who greeted me so politely
at his house whenever I beat Emma there for my lesson and I will miss
seeing his stately progress down the sidewalk with Angel cavorting on the
other end of the leash. And I really miss him for Emma’s sake. One of
my favorite Don stories happened long before I began studying with
Emma, though. Don played for our wedding twenty years ago. That, in
and of itself, wasn’t remarkable—he played for countless St. Mark’s
weddings; however, we had chosen the Trumpet Voluntary and Let the
Bright Seraphim with trumpet obligato as part of our wedding music,
which would have been fine if our trumpeter had shown up. Don told me
later that he didn’t have the trumpet music for the Trumpet Voluntary (he
didn’t think he’d need it) so he played it from memory. He grumbled
about missing notes, but I thought it was perfect.
Don, those choirs of angels aren’t going to know what hit ‘em!
Requiescat in pace.
from Jean Mornard
I will miss Don. I will miss the quiet presence who greeted me so politely
at his house whenever I beat Emma there for my lesson and I will miss
seeing his stately progress down the sidewalk with Angel cavorting on the
other end of the leash. And I really miss him for Emma’s sake. One of
my favorite Don stories happened long before I began studying with
Emma, though. Don played for our wedding twenty years ago. That, in
and of itself, wasn’t remarkable—he played for countless St. Mark’s
weddings; however, we had chosen the Trumpet Voluntary and Let the
Bright Seraphim with trumpet obligato as part of our wedding music,
which would have been fine if our trumpeter had shown up. Don told me
later that he didn’t have the trumpet music for the Trumpet Voluntary (he
didn’t think he’d need it) so he played it from memory. He grumbled
about missing notes, but I thought it was perfect.
Don, those choirs of angels aren’t going to know what hit ‘em!
Requiescat in pace.
August 6, 2007
from Mary Yurick Bennett
Writing is not one of my best attributes, but put me in a room full of people
and I can't shut up!
I will miss Don's cheerful smile and his welcoming presence. My
memories of Don and singing with St. Mark's are endless. I can only
echo what has already been said, Don was an exquisite musician, a
wonderful teacher and a true friend. His honesty kept us humble and his
smiles encouraged us to make wonderful music for him.
Of course, my fondest memories were of our choir retreats and parties.
We never went hungry, that's for sure! And there was always fun to be
had. Hours of rehearsing leading to hours of skits, fun and friendship,
who had it better? I never found another group that had its own Rowdy
Committee! We always tried to put a smile on Don's face, Don's memory
will always bring a smile to my heart.
from Mary Yurick Bennett
Writing is not one of my best attributes, but put me in a room full of people
and I can't shut up!
I will miss Don's cheerful smile and his welcoming presence. My
memories of Don and singing with St. Mark's are endless. I can only
echo what has already been said, Don was an exquisite musician, a
wonderful teacher and a true friend. His honesty kept us humble and his
smiles encouraged us to make wonderful music for him.
Of course, my fondest memories were of our choir retreats and parties.
We never went hungry, that's for sure! And there was always fun to be
had. Hours of rehearsing leading to hours of skits, fun and friendship,
who had it better? I never found another group that had its own Rowdy
Committee! We always tried to put a smile on Don's face, Don's memory
will always bring a smile to my heart.
| | | | | | |
August 16, 2007
from Mary Sicilia and Robin Haglund
Robin and I was very saddened to learn of Don’s death and flooded with
many, many wonderful memories. Don and I “shared” offices off the choir
room (he generously gave up an office off the choir room to me when I
arrived as Director of Education at St. Mark’s in 1985) and so he was
almost a daily presence in my life the entire time I was there. We traded
anecdotes, wry remarks (well, most of the wry remarks were his!), and
general chit chat. But my greatest memory of Don will ALWAYS be his
preparation for the congregational hymns prior to Sunday mornings. He
would play them through first on the piano just outside our offices, singing
ALL the verses (of course!) and then hie himself to the organ into the
cathedral to play them through again (singing all the verses, there, too).
No wonder they were so well-paced when we all sang them on Sundays.
In my mind’s eye after all these years (15!) and all the distance (1600+
miles) my inner image of St. Mark’s is a late (cold!) February afternoon,
the sun is setting in the West, and the deep, rich sound of “Hyfrydol” (with
all the stops pulled out) is wafting down the upper hallway connecting the
cathedral with the choir room, and Don is singing “Love Divine, All Love’s
Excelling” to a not-so-empty space.
from Mary Sicilia and Robin Haglund
Robin and I was very saddened to learn of Don’s death and flooded with
many, many wonderful memories. Don and I “shared” offices off the choir
room (he generously gave up an office off the choir room to me when I
arrived as Director of Education at St. Mark’s in 1985) and so he was
almost a daily presence in my life the entire time I was there. We traded
anecdotes, wry remarks (well, most of the wry remarks were his!), and
general chit chat. But my greatest memory of Don will ALWAYS be his
preparation for the congregational hymns prior to Sunday mornings. He
would play them through first on the piano just outside our offices, singing
ALL the verses (of course!) and then hie himself to the organ into the
cathedral to play them through again (singing all the verses, there, too).
No wonder they were so well-paced when we all sang them on Sundays.
In my mind’s eye after all these years (15!) and all the distance (1600+
miles) my inner image of St. Mark’s is a late (cold!) February afternoon,
the sun is setting in the West, and the deep, rich sound of “Hyfrydol” (with
all the stops pulled out) is wafting down the upper hallway connecting the
cathedral with the choir room, and Don is singing “Love Divine, All Love’s
Excelling” to a not-so-empty space.
August 17, 2007
from Linda Manlove
To Don and Emma:
You and Don have really been a mainstay for me these past years. It was
Don who inspired and kept my avid interest in Music History, you and Don
whose approval I always sought. It was Don who really made my
"history" come alive in the great works I sang with him. As I told him once,
I was able to perform every piece I had ever wanted to with him.
from Linda Manlove
To Don and Emma:
You and Don have really been a mainstay for me these past years. It was
Don who inspired and kept my avid interest in Music History, you and Don
whose approval I always sought. It was Don who really made my
"history" come alive in the great works I sang with him. As I told him once,
I was able to perform every piece I had ever wanted to with him.
September 23, 2007
from Bruce Palmborg (via Emma)
In the seemingly interminable cleanup of various papers, I came across
this note that appeared last fall (2006). Thought this would be a nice
addition to Don's web-site, mainly to let people know how the choir CDs
still impact lives of total strangers. I wrote to tell him of Don's death and
asked if I could put his note on the web-site and he very kindly said to use
whatever I needed.
Dear Canon Small,
Several years ago I received a copy of "A Little Church Music." I've always
enjoyed it. For perhaps the past 2 years I have had a copy in my CD player
in the truck. Usually I listen to it a few times each week. I am fascinated by
my reactions to the frequent playings. With each playing it is like hearing it
for the first time. Sometimes my eyes tear and at other times it is thrilling.
Thank you so very much for being in my life through that wonderful music.
With heartfelt gratitude, Bruce Palmborg
from Bruce Palmborg (via Emma)
In the seemingly interminable cleanup of various papers, I came across
this note that appeared last fall (2006). Thought this would be a nice
addition to Don's web-site, mainly to let people know how the choir CDs
still impact lives of total strangers. I wrote to tell him of Don's death and
asked if I could put his note on the web-site and he very kindly said to use
whatever I needed.
Dear Canon Small,
Several years ago I received a copy of "A Little Church Music." I've always
enjoyed it. For perhaps the past 2 years I have had a copy in my CD player
in the truck. Usually I listen to it a few times each week. I am fascinated by
my reactions to the frequent playings. With each playing it is like hearing it
for the first time. Sometimes my eyes tear and at other times it is thrilling.
Thank you so very much for being in my life through that wonderful music.
With heartfelt gratitude, Bruce Palmborg