Henning's Headquarters

[Karl Henning]

Okay, the cellist for whom I wrote Nicodemus... will be playing it tomorrow evening, and advises me that there will be video.

And the piece has impressed her teacher, who has asked for more Henningmusick with cello . . . so there may be hope for It's all in your head (not that that's a bad place for everything to be) after all!

[Karl Henning]

Okay, the cellist for whom I wrote Nicodemus... will be playing it tomorrow evening, and advises me that there will be video.

There is video, and the dear has already sent!  But I shan't be able to look it over until this evening probably.

[Cato]

There is video, and the dear has already sent!  But I shan't be able to look it over until this evening probably.

Is a Karl Henning Cello Concerto gleaming in the future?

[Karl Henning]

Well, in theory, such a project is within reach (the cellist on Friday is wedded to a chap who conducts a regional orchestra).  Timing would be iffy and footing would be the key . . . for regional orchestras, especially, the m.d. must tread carefully with the proportion of new music . . . .

[Karl Henning]

An incremental step thither, perhaps: Kirstin has made me welcome to write a cello-&-piano piece for her.

[Gurn Blanston]

An incremental step thither, perhaps: Kirstin has made me welcome to write a cello-&-piano piece for her.

I would like to hear that!

[Ken B]

An incremental step thither, perhaps: Kirstin has made me welcome to write a cello-&-piano piece for her.

Write a concerto and then transcribe for piano and cello ... If she likes it you whip out the full score ... 

[Cato]

Write a concerto and then transcribe for piano and cello ... If she likes it you whip out the full score ... 

YES!   

Probably piano-four-hands or for two pianos: Karl will undoubtedly want to try nonuple counterpoint!   

[Karl Henning]

Call for scores (solo piano), which I found out about on Facebook. I've sent him Gaze Transfixt (the "Barbara Allan" variations).  (The call closes in July, I think . . . so I may not hear back anytime soon.)

[Karl Henning]

For the Bill Goodwin memorial concert, the brass will be able to take part!  The lower three-fifths of the quintet, anyway.  This morning I spoke with the quintet's liaison, and they are game for a trio from me;  and just now, I spoke with Geo. Bozeman (who is organizing the whole do, God bless him), and he knows to expect a brass trio in addition to the elegiac clarinet solo The Tower Room Is Empty (in memoriam Wm A. Goodwin).

I was thinking at first (the time being short) of adapting one of the trombone duo interludes from the Evening Service in D.  Maybe I shall still do that . . . or, since Leslie told me that the brass will not get together until next week, perhaps I shall write something entirely new.

[jochanaan]

Well, I am almost certainly going to have to "prune" away bells for the Welcome, Happy Morning! arrangement.  And I ought to learn to factor in time for this phase.  If all my ringers are on hand, we could manage it – but I am planning to use this for Easter Sunday, when I know that I shall be missing three of my handiest ringers...

Just don't call any dead ringers!

[Karl Henning]

There has been recruitment!  Which is just as well, as I've not really had any time to do a substitute arrangement.

And as for my singers non ringers . . . To my surprise and great pleasure, we were able to touch upon (and even, for the most part, to improve) all the music which we shall need to sing for the next four services, at last night's rehearsal.

[Karl Henning]

Well . . . a lot has been happening, should catch you up properly.

For the moment, the present state of the brass trio:

[Karl Henning]

I think the trio is done.

[Karl Henning]

Just spoke with the "leader" of the quintet . . . I did not consciously remember to do this, but I did intuitively write a generally low-ish horn part.  I had clean forgotten (it's just so long since I worked with this group) that their horn player does not like the higher register (hornists do, many of them, sort out as either "high horns" or "low horns").  So: Yes!  I believe I wrote a horn part that the player will not hate . . . .

[North Star]

So - no need for them to ask you to get down your high horns, then..  0:)

[Karl Henning]

The k a rl h e nn i ng Ensemble at King's Chapel today at 12:15

[Karl Henning]

An exceptionally good concert!  With the small exception of a key sticking on my B^b clarinet, which marred a couple of notes in the throat register (well, and it is high time overhaul the B^b).  Luckily for those two pieces (Charles's Angel duets) we got good rehearsal takes on Sunday, which the composer today told me are "fantastic."  (I think he meant it in the good way.)  My sticking key, though, did not much mar the pieces for the general audience.  The quartet (I see people walking around like trees)  went probably the best it ever has;  same for the trio (How to Tell) . . . and we will keep the pieces in practice for the 6 June concert.

[Karl Henning]

The trio:

http://www.youtube.com/v/OAp3w15ISl4

And the quartet:

http://www.youtube.com/v/E0_-CTvtSS8

[Cato]

Excellent performances and recordings!

Yay Team!  What was the audience like?