Henning's Headquarters

[Karl Henning]

The arrangement of the New Year's Carol is a matter of some urgency (must get it done tonight, so I can print it off and bring to choir rehearsal tomorrow evening).  The important thing (which makes a little more work, of course) is that I want the arrangement to be clear of any copyright infringement from the start, so I want to devise my own harmonization/accompaniment.  On the plus side, it means that it should be simpler, and thus something less likely to provoke complaint from the accompanist.

[Karl Henning]

Done ('twill serve).

[Karl Henning]

The organ part falls squarely within the musical practice which my old friend Peter Bloom wrily calls "contextual orchestration." Even so, I know the organist is going to complain tonight.

For the official Op.142 N° 2, I'll add another flourish in the right hand, here and there. When I may catch my breath, I may do that in time to send the enhanced score to Paul and to Mark Engelhardt.

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[Cato]

The organ part falls squarely within the musical practice which my old friend Peter Bloom wrily calls "contextual orchestration." Even so, I know the organist is going to complain tonight.

Organists are always complaining about something, even if the work is composed by a master organist!

[Karl Henning]

Organists are always complaining about something, even if the work is composed by a master organist!

This one has a rare talent for complaint, even among organists  0:)

[Karl Henning]

A new thought for the 24 March concert is:  although Thomas doesn't think much of the piano at the Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church (and I am not saying he is at all wrong), I've written him to ask if he's available that Friday evening, and if he'd be game to play the piano version of just what everyone was expecting.

Things Like Bliss . . . I am keen to play this for an audience, and that was the driver behind the harp/harpsichord arrangement idea.  But I wonder if that is not better as an idea, than as practice.  Practice!  How shall we rehearse?  Either Alastair has to bring his harpsichord to Mary Jane's, or Mary Jane needs to bring her harp to Alastair's.  Either way, it's a schlep.  Probably, I need to re-think that . . . .

[Karl Henning]

Organists are always complaining about something, even if the work is composed by a master organist!

Just for the record, she did complain, but it was much the milder sort.

This time 

[ahinton]

Organists are always complaining about something, even if the work is composed by a master organist!

Really? I've  never heard Kevin Bowyer complain that Sorabji's three organ symphonies are not difficult enough...

[Karl Henning]

Really? I've  never heard Kevin Bowyer complaint that Sorabji's three organ symphonies are not difficult enough...

It may be that he is careful not to complain in your hearing . . .

Separately:  On Monday, 28 November at 12:00 noon (Eastern) Gandalf ("None shall pass who have not rehearsed properly") will interview me (Karl Henning) on WJFF 90.5FM Radio in Jeffersonville, New York. The interview, which will include generous excerpts of Henningmusick, will live-stream at http://www.wjffradio.org/ . . . so there is no geographic barrier to listening in.

I affirm that no journalists have leaked any of the interview questions to me, as yet.

[Karl Henning]

Harpsichordist Alastair Thompson is available that day, and game.  And we shall see if harpist Mary Jane Rupert is on board (Peter is going to warmly encourage her).  Still waiting for definite word on the venue.

More than one factor contributes here (to my mind the most practical is, in order to rehearse, either Mary Jane needs to schlep a harp, or Alastair needs to schlep a harpsichord . . . so schlepping to either right or left), but this arrangement of Things Like Bliss will not work for this concert.  Trying to find a guitarist, since gtr/hpschd should work satisfactorily.

[Karl Henning]

What music to include?

So far I am thinking:

Out in the Sun
Agnus Dei
Contemplating the Irrepressible
Plotting (y is the new x)
Alleluia in D
Nicodemus brings myrrh and aloes for the burial of the Christ

As I roll my sleeves up to get an actual playlist together . . .

1. In one of our conversations, "Gandalf" (cannot help using inverted commas, there) even said that more than an hour's music would be good.  I rather like that.

2. I should like to fold in From the Pit... (it's a good and impressive piece, I think;  it will be some publicity for the author of the text;  and it's also a thank-you to Lux Nova for, basically, bringing any Henningmusick into the pipeline which sees a performance) The Problem:  Since I do not have audio for the complete performance, I copied the audio from the video, which is (in short) inadequate . . . levels are flattened, and the text is all but lost.  Solution:  There is no reason for me to get hung up, for these purposes, on A Complete Performance.  So now I have a context in which the fact that my recording device gave out half way, is no gross inconvenience—we have a good representative excerpt;  and the recording is clean.  (Lord willin' and the creek don't rise, we'll get sharp audio of an even better take come March.)

3. There are a number of tracks which I had first hoped to include (the Alleluia in D, Nicodemus..., &c.) which as I listen to them close and hard, the audio is just not clean enough.  And for a radio broadcast, sonic hygiene is paramount.

So, this is my final (as I am thinking) playlist:

1.  Agnus Dei, Op.106 № 5.  Performance by Triad.  (4:45)
2.  Metamorphosis of Charles Turner's The Hebrew Children, Op.133 № 3.  Source performance by the HTUMC Handbell Choir.  (5:15)
3.  Out in the Sun, Op.88.  Performance by the University of Michigan Wind Ensemble, directed by Rodney Dorsey.  (15:10)
4.  Night of the Weeping Crocodiles, Op.16.  Performance by the k a rl h e nn i ng Ensemble.  (7:45)
5.  Moonrise, Op.84 (excerpt).  Performance by MidTown Brass Quintet.  (7:45)
6.  My Island Home, Op.115.  Performance by the Reinhardt University Percussion Ensemble, directed by Olivia Kieffer.  (5:30)
7.  From the Pit of a Cave in the Cloud, Op.129 (excerpt).  Performance by Barbara Hill Meyers & The k a rl h e nn i ng Ensemble.  (4:15)
8.  Suspension Bridge (In Dave's Shed): Sonata for Viola & Piano, Op.102, second movement.  Performance by (GMG's own) Dana Huyge & Carolyn Ray.  (12:30)
9.  Jazz for Nostalgic Squirrels, Op.117.  Performance by the 9^th Ear.  (4:45)
10.  Mistaken for the Sacred, Op.141.  Fixed media component.  (7:15)
11.  Castelo dos anjos, Op.90.  Performance by Tapestry.  (13:00)

Total duration of music:  ca. 1 hour 25'

[Karl Henning]

Good HTUMC choir rehearsal last night.  The two members of the Youth Choir who are the musical stars joined us, which was a charming addition to the sound.  One of the twain is the flutist, so last night felt like the first rehearsal in the home stretch toward the 11 Dec Christmas concert.

Separately, we are tantalizingly close to setting a date for the return of From the Pit of a Cave in the Cloud.  Other music I am considering for that program:  the Sound & Sight performance piece, and an alternate version of Mistaken for the Sacred with the winds from the Op.129.

Present thinking for 24 March:

From the Pit of a Cave in the Cloud, Op.129
Mistaken for the Sacred, Op.141a

just what everyone was expecting, Op.114b (cl/pf version)
Sound & Sight, Op.140

Which is probably a full program.

[Cato]

As I roll my sleeves up to get an actual playlist together . . .

1. In one of our conversations, "Gandalf" (cannot help using inverted commas, there) even said that more than an hour's music would be good.  I rather like that.

We agree! 

2. I should like to fold in From the Pit... (it's a good and impressive piece, I think;  it will be some publicity for the author of the text;  and it's also a thank-you to Lux Nova for, basically, bringing any Henningmusick into the pipeline which sees a performance)

More than good: a great and impressive piece! 

And thank you for the publicity!

So, this is my final (as I am thinking) playlist:

1.  Agnus Dei, Op.106 № 5.  Performance by Triad.  (4:45)
2.  Metamorphosis of Charles Turner's The Hebrew Children, Op.133 № 3.  Source performance by the HTUMC Handbell Choir.  (5:15)
3.  Out in the Sun, Op.88.  Performance by the University of Michigan Wind Ensemble, directed by Rodney Dorsey.  (15:10)
4.  Night of the Weeping Crocodiles, Op.16.  Performance by the k a rl h e nn i ng Ensemble.  (7:45)
5.  Moonrise, Op.84 (excerpt).  Performance by MidTown Brass Quintet.  (7:45)
6.  My Island Home, Op.115.  Performance by the Reinhardt University Percussion Ensemble, directed by Olivia Kieffer.  (5:30)
7.  From the Pit of a Cave in the Cloud, Op.129 (excerpt).  Performance by Barbara Hill Meyers & The k a rl h e nn i ng Ensemble.  (4:15)
8.  Suspension Bridge (In Dave's Shed): Sonata for Viola & Piano, Op.102, second movement.  Performance by (GMG's own) Dana Huyge & Carolyn Ray.  (12:30)
9.  Jazz for Nostalgic Squirrels, Op.117.  Performance by the 9^th Ear.  (4:45)
10.  Mistaken for the Sacred, Op.141.  Fixed media component.  (7:15)
11.  Castelo dos anjos, Op.90.  Performance by Tapestry.  (13:00)

Total duration of music:  ca. 1 hour 25'

I will be teaching after 12:30: will the interview be available later on demand?

[Karl Henning]

I'll reach out to the host, to see if they will archive and permalink the interview (not surprisingly, Lux Nova asked me about a permalink  0:) )

Separately, I've made a good start on the arrangement of In dulci jubilo which Dan Wagner commissioned (and what a good sport he is).  This will certainly be ready for delivery before I ship out for Jeffersonville 

[Cato]

I'll reach out to the host, to see if they will archive and permalink the interview (not surprisingly, Lux Nova asked me about a permalink  0:) )

Separately, I've made a good start on the arrangement of In dulci jubilo which Dan Wagner commissioned (and what a good sport he is).  This will certainly be ready for delivery before I ship out for Jeffersonville 

ii


The website shows that they will create a podcast for some things at least!

http://www.wjffradio.org/wjff/index.php?section=38

[Karl Henning]

I sent him an email message today, which I did not consider an intrusion, but will call tomorrow. At the least, I'll try to capture the audio ....

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[Karl Henning]

Okay, I have finished Dan's arrangement of In dulci jubilo:

[Karl Henning]

ii


The website shows that they will create a podcast for some things at least!

http://www.wjffradio.org/wjff/index.php?section=38

Mine host tells me the show will be recorded, and the result sent to me.  I'll be at the studio an hour ahead of the interview, so perhaps there is someone else to ask about the station itself hosting a podcast 

[Karl Henning]

Present thinking for 24 March:

From the Pit of a Cave in the Cloud, Op.129
Mistaken for the Sacred, Op.141a

just what everyone was expecting, Op.114b (cl/pf version)
Sound & Sight, Op.140

Which is probably a full program.

Thos Stumpf (our conductor-pianist in Triad) has confirmed for the Op.114b.

[Karl Henning]

Done ('twill serve).

I've expanded the organ accompaniment.  Which I was fixin' to do on my own account;  but which, when Susan appeared to complain about the minimal organ role, seemed indicated for the HTUMC concert, as well.