Henning's Headquarters

[Karl Henning]

Still thinking about this one.

[Cato]

Still thinking about this one.

The large chords played piano or pianissimo will sound very symbolic of winter, and the muted violins are an excellent touch.

How many tiny avocados are growing in this garden?   0:)

[Karl Henning]

Just the seven, I think.

[Karl Henning]

I think this may be done.

[Karl Henning]

And now the derivative arrangements for B^b Tenor and C Melody Saxophones.

[Karl Henning]

Started the piano adaptation of The Mysterious Fruit.

[Cato]

Started the piano adaptation of The Mysterious Fruit.

Wow!  Will the accompaniment be completely new, or...?

[Karl Henning]

Largely the same (and some of the wide "reach" which we needed to mitigate for the marimba will be restored).  A former fellow chorister who is now in Nashville is game to sing it, but probably cannot roust out a marimbist!

[Karl Henning]

It's official:  I've started work properly on the Sanctus.

[Cato]

It's official:  I've started work properly on the Sanctus.

Benedicat te et musicam tuam Dominus!   0:)

[Karl Henning]

Well, I have already discarded two ideas for the Sanctus.  Progress!

And the short time before the inauguration of The Mysterious Fruit has been made yet shorter by all this snow, so we are working on an abridged "first edition" . . . .

[jochanaan]

Kimi's comment on Boulez (Pli selon Pli), Feldman (For Philip Guston) and Carter (Boston Concerto): "This is SO COOL!"

My favourite, when she asked for Beethoven and I played some Tchaikovsky instead: "Dad, this is NOT Beethoven. This music is so nagging, and Beethoven never nags!"

I think I like your daughter.  And I've never met her!

[Karl Henning]

Well, I have already discarded two ideas for the Sanctus.  Progress!

And the short time before the inauguration of The Mysterious Fruit has been made yet shorter by all this snow, so we are working on an abridged "first edition" . . . .

I've started a fourth-ish attempt at the Sanctus;  have done with the abbreviated Fruit, and think I am done with the piano version, too.

[Karl Henning]

Huzzah!  I've got it, at last!

[Karl Henning]

Pianified Fruit!

[Karl Henning]

Huzzah!  I've got it, at last!

More progress ... overall, it is turning out "crunchier," more chromatic than I thought I had expected;  but, it also resonates with those aspects of the Credo, so it is well to have more of that angle represented in the Mass.

Edit :: old version deleted

[Cato]

Pianified Fruit!

If members have looked through the (original) marimba version, they will see that not much has changed for the piano.  And with good reason:  Karl has created a rather unsettling atmosphere with the spare accompaniment, intervals of open fifths, sixths, two and three octaves, etc.  The simplicity gives birth to its own mystery as a counterpart to the one described in the  text.  The piano/marimba part also acts like a cryptic chorus in an ancient Greek drama, who will comment on the action as it passes by the ear.  e.g. See Section U (bars 348 ff.) for how silence and a few spare notes can conjure forth a certain eeriness.

Karl has mentioned that the performers involved are very enthusiastic about what they hear: let us hope that we will have recordings of both versions this year!

More progress ... overall, it is turning out "crunchier," more chromatic than I thought I had expected;  but, it also resonates with those aspects of the Credo, so it is well to have more of that angle represented in the Mass.

Listening again to Gesualdo, I see!   

[Karl Henning]

Listening again to Gesualdo, I see!   

Actually, mostly Haydn and JSB . . . .

[Karl Henning]

That Wasn't Quite Expected Dept.

Moonrise will be premièred tomorrow at a new music concert in Atlanta. Details to follow ....

And there IS audio!  Stay tuned . . . .

[Karl Henning]

Although there is more (even in the pipeline at Lux Nova Press), Henningmusick is fairly well represented here: