Henning's Headquarters

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

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Karl Henning

What I think I'm realizing is that ... when I had finished the fifth on the set, and having had no response from most of the dedicatees (or others to  whom I'd sent them, I lost all motivation to carry on. Then, during Lent of last year, my eye chancing upon "What Wondrous Love Is This," and learning that Gigi Mitchell-Velasco was newly appointed at First Church in Boston (where I have some history) I thought I'd go ahead and write another. So there's a sense in which the tune  "What Wondrous Love Is This" is responsible for keeping the project alive.
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: Karl Henning on April 05, 2023, 05:47:08 PMThe present piece (Opus 169 № 8) is based on the tune "Hamburg," and has been stalled for at least a couple of months.
The idea behind the Opus 169 set is a number of short pieces written as musical thank-yous to organists in the Boston area who have been supportive of my work. In most cases I pretty much picked a tune out of a figurative hat, but in the case of № 8, there's a sense in which I let the dedicatee choose. Jack Russell was the instructor for my class's first-year Music Theory course, and also director of the Wooster Chorus, a group which continues to tour every Spring Break as a kind of cultural ambassador from the College. At the end of the year of Theory we had individual appointments, and after the business of the appointment was done, Jack asked me my plan, which at the time was just to major in Clarinet Performance. He explained to me the advantage (or even, in hindsight, necessity) of versatility and encouraged me to consider a double major ... Composition was one suggestion, and I took to it directly.
So, fast forward to the present: Jack has served as Music Director of the Episcopal parish in Hamilton, Mass. (not far from Danvers, where I serve the Methodist parish.) I'd reached out to him a couple of times by phone, so we've been in loose touch. In the first year of the Pandemic, which in effect shut our church down for Lent and Easter of '20, Jack's church had a live stream for a light-staffed Good Friday service, in which a baritone soloist sang "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" (to the tune Hamburg) ... so that's why I employed this tune in the Op. 169  № 8. This morning I gave him a call, and "warned" him that I would be sending him the piece.
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

To my very great surprise and my undeniable pleasure, Carson Cooman has prepared a recording of the Op. 169 № 8 within 24 hours of receipt:

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

This is pretty exciting in a small way: my friend David Bohn found some typographical noise and asked for a refreshed № 7
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

Luke

Quote from: Karl Henning on April 06, 2023, 12:03:34 PMTo my very great surprise and my undeniable pleasure, Carson Cooman has prepared a recording of the Op. 169 № 8 within 24 hours of receipt:



I love this, Karl. The soundworld is so clean and pure, harmonies beautifully unforced, intriguing but without insisting on itself. Very touching. Kudos!!

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

DavidW

Quote from: Karl Henning on April 06, 2023, 12:03:34 PMTo my very great surprise and my undeniable pleasure, Carson Cooman has prepared a recording of the Op. 169 № 8 within 24 hours of receipt:



I've queued this up to listen later.  I want it to be a time in which I'm not feeling like I'm drowning in work, so as to be fully receptive.

Pohjolas Daughter

Quote from: DavidW on April 07, 2023, 06:12:13 AMI've queued this up to listen later.  I want it to be a time in which I'm not feeling like I'm drowning in work, so as to be fully receptive.
Same here; a fair bit of housework to be followed by raking, etc.  It's cool and not very sunny out, so another reason to drag my heals--re getting outside that is (not about listening to Karl's music!).

And keep your nose above water David!

PD
Pohjolas Daughter

Karl Henning

And, before today's PT, I pushed out some more Paperwork.
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: Karl Henning on April 07, 2023, 07:08:27 AMAnd, before today's PT, I pushed out some more Paperwork.
Still have not decided if I will actually bring the opening material back, or just tease 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

Quote from: Karl Henning on April 07, 2023, 07:15:56 AMStill have not decided if I will actually bring the opening material back, or just tease it.
The latter, it appears. Allowing for tweaks/finishing, I believe it's pretty much done. And the process overall has been more like myself.
I've also set up the Sibelius file for the Op. 169 № 9. I'm feeling so good about composing again, I'm not ruffled at all by the disappointingly slender ASCAP royalties which came in this very morn. Heck, it's money that's come in from music.
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

DavidW

Quote from: DavidW on April 07, 2023, 06:12:13 AMI've queued this up to listen later.  I want it to be a time in which I'm not feeling like I'm drowning in work, so as to be fully receptive.

As you used to say Karl, that was below the green lemon.

Karl Henning

Quote from: DavidW on April 08, 2023, 06:34:28 PMAs you used to say Karl, that was below the green lemon.


(* chortle *)
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

Luke

Quote from: DavidW on April 08, 2023, 06:34:28 PMAs you used to say Karl, that was below the green lemon.


You're right! That was Karl! I'd forgotten where I'd picked that one up from. I just know that my kids think I'm weird when I say it.... ;D   8)

DavidW

btw is the emoticon Cato approved? ;D

Karl Henning

Quote from: DavidW on April 09, 2023, 07:10:58 AMbtw is the emoticon Cato approved? ;D
I have no official ruling yet, but I expect approval!
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

Pohjolas Daughter

Quote from: DavidW on April 08, 2023, 06:34:28 PMAs you used to say Karl, that was below the green lemon.

Quote from: Karl Henning on April 08, 2023, 06:59:39 PM(* chortle *)
Um, pardon, but what the heck does that phrase mean?

PD
Pohjolas Daughter

JBS

Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on April 09, 2023, 07:42:22 AMUm, pardon, but what the heck does that phrase mean?

PD

Sub-lime.

[Speaking as a person who once asked the same question]

Hollywood Beach Broadwalk

Pohjolas Daughter

Quote from: JBS on April 09, 2023, 07:55:27 AMSub-lime.

[Speaking as a person who once asked the same question]
Oh, booooo! lol  :)

And thanks!

PD
Pohjolas Daughter