Henning's Headquarters

Started by BachQ, April 07, 2007, 12:21:26 PM

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Mirror Image

Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on June 01, 2021, 08:09:58 PM
Assembling a text from both The Dharma Bums and Mexico City Blues, John.

8) Sounds like this will a fascinating work. Good luck!

Karl Henning

Well, here is something mildly amusing I did this evening: today I learnt of a call for orchestral scores. As the call said they would consider pieces for string orchestra as well, I felt that I wanted to submit the string choir version of Misapprehension. Why not, right?  The call specifies that the piece should be 6 - 12 minutes in length.  The mp3 of Misapprehension runs 5:58.  Not wanting to submit the piece such that it was just possible they'd disqualify a piece whose MIDI realization falls just shy of 6' (which would be stupid, right? Because any actual performance would "breathe" and run longer— I inserted three mm. in the middle, so that the new running time of the mp3 is 6:06.

Curious? Here's the result.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

TheGSMoeller

Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on June 03, 2021, 06:05:54 PM
Well, here is something mildly amusing I did this evening: today I learnt of a call for orchestral scores. As the call said they would consider pieces for string orchestra as well, I felt that I wanted to submit the string choir version of Misapprehension. Why not, right?  The call specifies that the piece should be 6 - 12 minutes in length.  The mp3 of Misapprehension runs 5:58.  Not wanting to submit the piece such that it was just possible they'd disqualify a piece whose MIDI realization falls just shy of 6' (which would be stupid, right? Because any actual performance would "breathe" and run longer— I inserted three mm. in the middle, so that the new running time of the mp3 is 6:06.

Curious? Here's the result.

Bravo, Karl, sounds great! And I would love to hear that performed by a live string ensemble, I know you'll keep us all informed. 

Karl Henning

Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Karl Henning

Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on March 25, 2021, 01:16:14 PM
I think I have finished The Heart (the PDF of the score is too large a file to attach.

At last, I've made a start on The Lungs ... albeit only the 15-second percussion intro.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Karl Henning

Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Karl Henning

#8346
Finally back to work on The Lungs. I've reached the one-minute mark.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Cato

I have been increasingly fascinated by the Ivesian roots of this work, from the concept itself to the sound-world of the symphony, which is not something Charles Ives would necessarily have composed, but is something whose embrace of expressive dissonance he would have blessed! 

While reviewing the symphony quickly, I kept thinking of "Waldo," the backward-looking critic created by Ives whom he intends on shocking continuously with his dissonant enterprises: "Take your dissonance like a man!"  This is not to say that Karl's symphony is constantly looking to shock the listener, but rather wants the listeners to expand their aural horizons and hear what the dissonance expresses, rather than worrying about the dissonance itself.

Two quick examples from the Second Movement (The Heart): the marvelous motto theme is punctuated several times by a rather growling chord not born of traditional harmony (bars 13, 20, and 28-29), and then one hears 4 flutes and bass clarinet in a "hymn from a different universe" in bars 34-36.  To the careful listener who has accepted the nature of the piece from the beginning, what these things can evoke transcends their dissonant character, i.e. the musical conjuring of emotion will suppress the impulse to shake a fist at a non-traditional harmonization.  There is a great beauty in surrendering to the composer's Klangwelt and experiencing, so to speak, the Physics of Another Universe.
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

Karl Henning

Quote from: Cato on June 14, 2021, 03:03:03 PM
I have been increasingly fascinated by the Ivesian roots of this work, from the concept itself to the sound-world of the symphony, which is not something Charles Ives would necessarily have composed, but is something whose embrace of expressive dissonance he would have blessed! 

While reviewing the symphony quickly, I kept thinking of "Waldo," the backward-looking critic created by Ives whom he intends on shocking continuously with his dissonant enterprises: "Take your dissonance like a man!"  This is not to say that Karl's symphony is constantly looking to shock the listener, but rather wants the listeners to expand their aural horizons and hear what the dissonance expresses, rather than worrying about the dissonance itself.

Two quick examples from the Second Movement (The Heart): the marvelous motto theme is punctuated several times by a rather growling chord not born of traditional harmony (bars 13, 20, and 28-29), and then one hears 4 flutes and bass clarinet in a "hymn from a different universe" in bars 34-36.  To the careful listener who has accepted the nature of the piece from the beginning, what these things can evoke transcends their dissonant character, i.e. the musical conjuring of emotion will suppress the impulse to shake a fist at a non-traditional harmonization.  There is a great beauty in surrendering to the composer's Klangwelt and experiencing, so to speak, the Physics of Another Universe.

Warm thanks, sir! When I had coffee with my clarinetist friend (a member of the group "for whom" I am writing it—if the MD ever returns my messages) he did not say that he found it forbidding, only a challenge.  He also said, "The style and vigor of your symphony makes me think of Hindemith" ("I mean that as a compliment," he added, though that is indeed how I took it.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Karl Henning

#8349
Pushing along ....
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Karl Henning

#8350
I have decided (I don't think this is a new decision) that my target duration for the Lungs is 6'30" which wil make for the entire Symphony running somewhere in the 26-28' range.  Nearing the halfway point.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Karl Henning

#8351
Half done, and I'm taking the night off.  Tomorrow is a no-composition day, too: PT.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Karl Henning

I believe I have finished The Lungs.  Not sure how it happened (I don't recall having much trouble with the first two movements) but the score needs serious typographic clean-up.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

aligreto

Good news, Karl. I assume that you are happy with it?

Karl Henning

Quote from: aligreto on June 26, 2021, 02:20:13 AM
Good news, Karl. I assume that you are happy with it?

I'm in my (usually relatively brief) stage of "Is there anything which wants adjustment?" but overall I am very happy with it, indeed, Fergus, thanks!
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

krummholz

Would love to hear even a demo of this, Karl.

Karl Henning

Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

krummholz

Received and listened to... though only once so far. I'll need to listen again before commenting much, but right off I really like the use of percussion and the lyrical wind theme that emerges later on. The MIDI rendering makes it difficult to discern which instruments were intended in many places... but that can't really be helped unless you have something like NotePerformer.

I gather this is one movement of a symphony?

Karl Henning

Quote from: krummholz on June 26, 2021, 06:59:48 PM
Received and listened to... though only once so far. I'll need to listen again before commenting much, but right off I really like the use of percussion and the lyrical wind theme that emerges later on. The MIDI rendering makes it difficult to discern which instruments were intended in many places... but that can't really be helped unless you have something like NotePerformer.

I gather this is one movement of a symphony?

It is.  These are the first two:

https://www.youtube.com/v/HAK0BwHRTxM

https://www.youtube.com/v/egru61LZWTc
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

aligreto

Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on June 26, 2021, 06:36:04 AM
I'm in my (usually relatively brief) stage of "Is there anything which wants adjustment?" but overall I am very happy with it, indeed, Fergus, thanks!

Good to know Karl. It is an exciting piece. There is not much, if anything, that requires tweaking but then you composer guys are sometimes known to be a tad temperamental and finiky ;D