Henning's Headquarters

[Karl Henning]

. . . and 2 cl & alto cl.

Ah, I learn that more apt instead will be arrangement of These unlikely events for B^b soprano and E^b alto clarinets.

[Karl Henning]

For the Bill Goodwin memorial concert, the brass will be able to take part!  The lower three-fifths of the quintet, anyway.  This morning I spoke with the quintet's liaison, and they are game for a trio from me;  and just now, I spoke with Geo. Bozeman (who is organizing the whole do, God bless him), and he knows to expect a brass trio in addition to the elegiac clarinet solo . . . .

I can smile, now, reading this

[jochanaan]

Well, again, Karl: rehearsal letters, rehearsal letters, rehearsal letters . . . .

Very important, when it comes to a rehearsal!

[Karl Henning]

I know it!

[Karl Henning]

Very important, when it comes to a rehearsal!

And (while it turned out to be the only White Nights-related work I did last night), the rehearsal letters have been added!

[ -- jo, you playing in any trio formation these days? -- ]

The other work I did last night (light duties . . . I took a nap directly on arriving home after work;  and after a bite to eat, called it a fairly early night) was:

Arranging two of the five numbers of These unlikely events for B^b soprano cl and E^b alto cl.  I have not, perhaps, looked at these wee pieces for some three years, but on revisiting them last night, I am puzzled that none of the people I've sent them to have played them.  Sure, they're just little bagatelles, but damn it, they're good.

Arranging Le tombeau de W.A.G. for 2vn & va.  I sent the score and parts right away to the violist (also a conductor), and this morning I found a message he had sent after 11 o'clock last night: he was in rehearsal with his colleagues that evening, and says that they will read it through next Wednesday, and tape the proceedings.

[jochanaan]

...[ -- jo, you playing in any trio formation these days? -- ]...

Sadly, no.  Nearly all of my playing recently has been, shall we say, non-classical.  And while getting down and jamming is beautiful and fills a need in me, I miss the discipline of playing good chamber music such as yours!

[Karl Henning]

Thank you for reading the blog, by the way!

[Karl Henning]

Okay, some firm news, and some still-rather-speculative news:

Olivia (director of the Reinhardt Univ Perc Ensemble) has My Island Home slated for a fall concert.  (Greg, I'm talking to you.)  As soon as I get a date, I shall try to plan a trip to the southlands.

The First Church Choir are singing two services as part of the American Guild of Organists convention here in late-ish June, and will sing the piece I wrote for them, Love is the spirit of this church.  I am in touch with my publisher, as we encouraged to sell our music at the venue.

The speculative bit is: one of the singers from the New Bedford Symphony Chorus who sang the Alleluia in D at a pre-concert lecture has asked for Christmas music . . . I am trying to pitch Sweetest Ancient Cradle Song.  We shall see . . . .

[TheGSMoeller]

Okay, some firm news, and some still-rather-speculative news:

Olivia (director of the Reinhardt Univ Perc Ensemble) has My Island Home slated for a fall concert.  (Greg, I'm talking to you.)  As soon as I get a date, I shall try to plan a trip to the southlands.

This is great news, I've been waiting for a Henning showing. Sweet Tea and shrimp & grits are on me!

Although I'm a northerner at heart so perhaps black coffee, or tea, and a pastrami sandwich would be preferred. 

[Karl Henning]

I'm game to give the shrimp & grits a go!

[Cato]

Okay, some firm news, and some still-rather-speculative news:

Olivia (director of the Reinhardt Univ Perc Ensemble) has My Island Home slated for a fall concert.  (Greg, I'm talking to you.)  As soon as I get a date, I shall try to plan a trip to the southlands.

Great to see things are percolating!

I almost thought the Reinhardt ensemble connected to a certain microtonal composer    , until I saw that his name has a "-t" at the end.

[North Star]

Great to see things are percolating!

I guess you don't read the Urban Dictionary, Cato. 

[Cato]

I guess you don't read the Urban Dictionary, Cato. 

No, I guess not!   

[Karl Henning]

Curiously, it is "Christmas weekend" for me, as I do up Sibelius files of Sweetest Ancient Cradle Song, of my arrangement of God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen . . . and (perhaps) even the first ("big-band") of my settings of the Advent I Antiphon, I look from afar.


I don't know if it is nostalgia (I wrote the piece for Christmas 2002), or fond thoughts of the late Mr Goodwin, or the thought of the piece actually being performed again, or genuine merits of the music, but I find myself close to tears when reading some passages of the Op.67.

[Karl Henning]

Made it to p.58 of 89 (the old score), so very nearly two-thirds done.

Also got my 10,000 steps walked, and did the grocery shopping.  So, a fabulous day.

[Karl Henning]

Down to the last two pages of the Op.67!  And I have improved a seam or two, and let the tempo out for the coda, and here and there just plain plugged in some new material.

Even after I wrap up those two pages, though, I need to go back and finish adding in the timpani.

Must leave it until tomorrow.  So close!  No matter:  I am greatly pleased with the piece.

[Karl Henning]

Okay!  I think the full score (and Sibelius will make the preparation of a choral score relatively efficient) is done.  There is audio al que quiere . . . .

[Karl Henning]

The spirit is willing, but it's a passel of work, all the same.  I got Sweetest Ancient Cradle Song off to Katie.  I need another day or two (tomorrow being both a day at the office, and a 9^th Ear rehearsal afterwards) to finish, and add the optional timpani to, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.

[Karl Henning]

Okay!  I think the full score (and Sibelius will make the preparation of a choral score relatively efficient) is done.  There is audio al que quiere . . . .

Score was too large to attach here at GMG!

So I've broken it up into two . . . here are pp. 1-44.

[Karl Henning]

And pp. 45-87