Henning's Headquarters

[Karl Henning]

Cor, and they're on Facebook. Yes!

[Cato]

Well, the 12 May program looks mighty toothsome!

White Nights would have fit in nicely with such a Russian program!   So maybe something similar for next season!

[Karl Henning]

I found his email especially intriguing, as I thought he was considering only the string pastorale . . . but he wrote: White Nights (in some portion) stays on my list.  The possibility that more may be called for is tantalizing!

[Karl Henning]

Okay: production seems officially to have resumed a nice swing, with Thoreau in Concord Jail, Annabel Lee, and now Misapprehension all in the can, in quite brisk order.

What do I need to wrap up in shortish order?

   
• The Organ Sonata (no definite performance date, but once it's done, at least one of my organist friends will work it up)
• The Mystic Trumpeter, for 8 October
• The Credo (no immediate prospect for performance, esp. as it is one of the movements of the Mass which will not be considered suitable for use at the Unitarian FCB;  but I've got so much of it composed already, it were ridiculous not to wrap it up

My thinking, then, is that once I chop these three items out, I shall resume work on White Nights, and in turn get that long-term how about it? off my desk.

There is the likelihood that I have a quartet to compose for the 15 Apr 2014 concert;  but I consider it thoroughly possible to finish the ballet, and then address the quartet.

What after that?  Probably a Gloria . . . .

[Cato]

I have had the great opportunity to follow Karl's construction of the work for clarinet choir Misapprehension and to listen to a synthesizer's realization.

First of all, I was struck by the unsettling way the work conveys the idea, the emotions connected to "misapprehension."  Clusters right at the beginning tell us we are entering a world where things have gone wrong, and a two-voiced theme, which (I told Karl) strikes me as Bruckner-Meets-Expressionist-Schoenberg announces a grand misgiving.

The work also hit me structurally as a musical Möbius strip in various ways: one returns to things heard earlier, but not exactly: for the simplest example, if you are able to check the score, compare the last bar with the first bar.  And the "clockworks" sections are brilliant!

Perhaps the most uncanny effect will be hear to the difficult emotions portrayed when one has had a Misapprehension in the smooth voices of a clarinet choir, a grand contradiction which, if Alma Mahler is to be believed, would have delighted Arnold Schoenberg!

[TheGSMoeller]

I have had the great opportunity to follow Karl's construction of the work for clarinet choir Misapprehension and to listen to a synthesizer's realization.

First of all, I was struck by the unsettling way the work conveys the idea, the emotions connected to "misapprehension."  Clusters right at the beginning tell us we are entering a world where things have gone wrong, and a two-voiced theme, which (I told Karl) strikes me as Bruckner-Meets-Expressionist-Schoenberg announces a grand misgiving.

The work also hit me structurally as a musical Möbius strip in various ways: one returns to things heard earlier, but not exactly: for the simplest example, if you are able to check the score, compare the last bar with the first bar.  And the "clockworks" sections are brilliant!

Perhaps the most uncanny effect will be hear to the difficult emotions portrayed when one has had a Misapprehension in the smooth voices of a clarinet choir, a grand contradiction which, if Alma Mahler is to be believed, would have delighted Arnold Schoenberg!

Very nice description, Cato. I listened to it this morning along with the score. Quite an experience for sure. I love the interaction between the clarinets around bar 67, the way they dance around each other.

[North Star]

Excellent work here, Karl!  And a very good description from Cato. Love the timbres of the clarinet ensemble.

[Karl Henning]

Kiitos!

[Karl Henning]

Almost a month later, I am finally listening to the audio from the King's Chapel recital.  It's right in downtown Boston during lunchtime, so it's rather a noisy venue (and I have only my shoestring HMMCU). Also, I cannot pretend that I wish I were playing better . . . and in the event (probably a bit over-concerned at the need for the concert to end so that the audience might return to work in a timely manner) I rather 'rushed' the piece: this inaugural performance clocks in at just under 20 minutes.

Still, I feel that this account of Thoreau in Concord Jail can probably be made public.

[Karl Henning]

And now, addressing the 'audio backlog' . . . finally getting around to preparing audio from the 17 April 2012 concert.

And I see on the HMMCU a file betokening yet another concert, earlier still . . . .

[Karl Henning]

The 'plan' for the recording of Thoreau in Concord Jail is to do up a sort of video, and post it to YouTube.  Will see if I cannot get that done sometime to-day.

[Karl Henning]

Atonal Honking: It's Back!

I crack myself up sometimes . . . .

[madaboutmahler]

Karl, listening to Misapprehension at the moment, and I absolutely love it! Fantastic writing. I particularly love all those staccato parts, and the angry conversations between the clarinets!

Great piece - performance soon?

[Karl Henning]

Thanks, Daniel!  Not sure when there will be a performance, I am still waiting on word from the director.

[Karl Henning]

Puttering away at movement two . . . .

[Karl Henning]

.

http://www.youtube.com/v/iDY7Dc41vL0

[TheGSMoeller]

.

http://www.youtube.com/v/iDY7Dc41vL0

Great atmosphere. I love a piece that is not afraid to take its time when making a statement.

And you're an excellent clarinetist.

[ibanezmonster]

.

I liked it!
A lot of it actually reminded me of The Bend of Time, or perhaps a more "substantial" version of Feldman.
The ascending scale passage around 2'17"... that's so similar sounding to a passage in The Bend of Time. Almost the same exact intervals, notes (non-octave thing going on, it seems)... if it rubbed off on you at all, that would be an honor. 

[Karl Henning]

Thanks, gents!

(Greg, I should go back and compare to your Bend of Time . . . .)

[Karl Henning]

Hm. At times, even I can make something of a point, I suppose.