Henning's Headquarters

Karl Henning · June 17, 2023, 04:32:40 PM

Had a nice catch-up phone call with Robert Jan August (formerly the M.D. of First Church in Boston.) In his new position he's made me welcome to send him more Henningmusick, including indeed pieces which would not have been suited to or practical for FCB.

Karl Henning · June 20, 2023, 06:48:58 AM

Had a very musical chat with my driver this morning. Turns out that his mother-in-law is an organist, so I'll send her a couple of pieces.

Pohjolas Daughter · June 20, 2023, 06:55:02 AM

Quote from: Karl Henning on June 20, 2023, 06:48:58 AMHad a very musical chat with my driver this morning. Turns out that his mother-in-law is an organist, so I'll send her a couple of pieces.

Cool!

PD

Karl Henning · June 20, 2023, 04:39:03 PM

Sundown

Karl Henning · June 27, 2023, 11:58:28 AM

I'm inching sideways towards composing again. I've made a small start on a new flute duet for Orlando Cela and his partner, Wei Zhao, Music for the Un-Hip Hop.

Karl Henning · June 28, 2023, 07:51:49 AM

In today's news: "Painting by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt sells for $108M, breaking the record for artwork sold at auction in Europe."
Worth reflecting on the fact that none of that money (bupkis) benefits the artist.

Pohjolas Daughter · June 28, 2023, 07:57:09 AM

Quote from: Karl Henning on June 28, 2023, 07:51:49 AMIn today's news: "Painting by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt sells for $108M, breaking the record for artwork sold at auction in Europe."
Worth reflecting on the fact that none of that money (bupkis) benefits the artist.

I get it.

PD

Pohjolas Daughter · June 28, 2023, 09:16:51 AM

Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on June 28, 2023, 07:57:09 AMI get it.

PD

So, do your best to know your own worth and things like copyright laws, maybe (in the cases of painters, etc.), could you write into the sales an agreement about something like keeping the reproduction rites to the work? Just a thought.

PD

Karl Henning · June 28, 2023, 11:48:18 AM

Got out for some air, exchanging DVDs at the Library

Karl Henning · July 12, 2023, 03:45:23 PM

At odd intervals, I've chipped away at the next organ solo piece. I worked on it a bit today. Not sure I like it, really, and I may just need to throw it out and start afresh. Today is also the second time I've worked on the new flute duet. It's still only a start, but (unlike the organ piece) I feel it's going well. My goal at present is just to do even just a smidge of composing daily. Kind of like old times.

relm1 · July 12, 2023, 04:12:12 PM

Quote from: Karl Henning on July 12, 2023, 03:45:23 PMAt odd intervals, I've chipped away at the next organ solo piece. I worked on it a bit today. Not sure I like it, really, and I may just need to throw it out and start afresh. Today is also the second time I've worked on the new flute duet. It's still only a start, but (unlike the organ piece) I feel it's going well. My goal at present is just to do even just a smidge of composing daily. Kind of like old times.

Don't throw anything away! Sometimes years later you revisit an idea and see there is something there worth flushing out that didn't seem apparent earlier. I am sometimes surprised when I hear something I did years before and didn't care for but seems to hold my interest in unexpected ways now. Yes, for sure good to keep chipping away at the granite day by day to eventually reveal the sculpture within. It's a muscle.

Karl Henning · July 13, 2023, 12:47:08 PM

Quote from: Karl Henning on July 12, 2023, 03:45:23 PMAt odd intervals, I've chipped away at the next organ solo piece. I worked on it a bit today. Not sure I like it, really, and I may just need to throw it out and start afresh. Today is also the second time I've worked on the new flute duet. It's still only a start, but (unlike the organ piece) I feel it's going well. My goal at present is just to do even just a smidge of composing daily. Kind of like old times.

True to my resolve, I did a little work on the organ piece today. I suppose my earlier dissatisfaction was not so much with the material as it was not knowing where I was going, and wondering if, in fact, I was going nowhere. For the present, I've suppressed what a friend has cited as "Impostor Syndrome," and I entertain the hypothesis that the piece is workable/redeemable. Tomorrow is my weekly PT session, so if I do no composing tomorrow, I don't consider it a failure.

Cato · July 13, 2023, 01:23:05 PM

Quote from: Karl Henning on July 12, 2023, 03:45:23 PMAt odd intervals, I've chipped away at the next organ solo piece. I worked on it a bit today. Not sure I like it, really, and I may just need to throw it out and start afresh. Today is also the second time I've worked on the new flute duet. It's still only a start, but (unlike the organ piece) I feel it's going well. My goal at present is just to do even just a smidge of composing daily. Kind of like old times.

An excellent start for the energetic piece: bars 18 ff. are particularly earworthy!

Karl Henning · July 13, 2023, 07:48:59 PM

Quote from: Cato on July 13, 2023, 01:23:05 PMAn excellent start for the energetic piece: bars 18 ff. are particularly earworthy!

Thank 'ee!

Karl Henning · July 15, 2023, 11:48:21 AM

Not quite a minute long, just yet.

Karl Henning · July 15, 2023, 03:51:36 PM

Quote from: Karl Henning on July 13, 2023, 12:47:08 PMTrue to my resolve, I did a little work on the organ piece today. I suppose my earlier dissatisfaction was not so much with the material as it was not knowing where I was going, and wondering if, in fact, I was going nowhere. For the present, I've suppressed what a friend has cited as "Impostor Syndrome," and I entertain the hypothesis that the piece is workable/redeemable. Tomorrow is my weekly PT session, so if I do no composing tomorrow, I don't consider it a failure.

I've been dickering with the organ piece this evening. Not done working at it today. There's a slender (5%) chance I finish it today. I'll be perfectly happy if I dock it in condition that I can sew it up tomorrow. Will report.

Karl Henning · July 15, 2023, 06:24:54 PM

Quote from: Karl Henning on July 15, 2023, 03:51:36 PMI've been dickering with the organ piece this evening. Not done working at it today. There's a slender (5%) chance I finish it today. I'll be perfectly happy if I dock it in condition that I can sew it up tomorrow. Will report.

It may indeed be done now. I'll let it cure overnight.

Karl Henning · July 16, 2023, 10:25:09 AM

I do think 'tis done.

Karl Henning · July 16, 2023, 10:26:27 AM

The flute duo has crept past the one-minute mark.

Karl Henning · July 17, 2023, 10:21:44 AM

Back from the dentist, and I worked some more on the duo. Wil work a bit more later, so I'll hold off on posting a refreshed score for now.

Yesterday I did make a threadbare start on the final of the Op. 169 organ pieces, for Eric Mazonson. He requested an old revival tent hymn, "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel's veins, right at the intersection of Christ's redemptive sacrifice and arthouse gore. It's one of a number of hymns which crop up in Ives' music here and there. Really all I've done so far is create the Sibelius file and plug in the initial anacrusis. The hymn's character makes for a good challenge for me, it's so different from almost every other hymn I've cannibalized for the Op. 169. I may figure it out as I keep at work on the Un-Hip Hop.