Henning's Headquarters

[Karl Henning]

The new-&-improved horn part does all that we wish, it plays quite smoothly now.  One more practice session, and this will be ready;  we're fixin' to include it on one or more of the 9^th Ear events in March.

[jochanaan]

The new-&-improved horn part does all that we wish, it plays quite smoothly now.  One more practice session, and this will be ready;  we're fixin' to include it on one or more of the 9^th Ear events in March.

[Cato]

Recently I told Karl about another reaction to his song From the Pit of a Cave in the Cloud.

A colleague at my school finally had some time to follow the score and listen to the recording of From the Pit: she found it "really eerie" at times and "really matched the professor's personality."  She especially liked the ending, which, again, in my opinion also, is a masterful touch.

[Karl Henning]

Slept until nine o'clock this morning!  Feel great . . . beautiful out, so a walk is the second order of business (after this tropical breakfast of Brazilian roast coffee and banana).

The latest news, which is as yet only networking, is that Peter in San Diego (he who commissioned the Three Things That Begin With "C") has struck up an acquaintance with, not exactly a new music ensemble, but I guess new chamber music program curators, Art of Élan.

The mission of Art of Élan is to enrich the cultural life of San Diego by presenting exciting and exceptional chamber music concerts to the general public, simultaneously educating and exposing diverse audiences to classical music through innovative programming, the commissioning of new works, unique performance venues and personal connections with concertgoers.

Peter has spoken to a co-founder about my music, and there is interest . . . as she plays violin, I suggested sending her Plotting (y is the new x).  As ever, we shall see.

[Karl Henning]

Just sent the Op.129 to a fellow composer-conductor in Australia, on the chance that he knows a suitably fearless singer.

[Karl Henning]

Frankly, I was ready to goof off a bit:

http://www.youtube.com/v/B6xeqrcavUQ

On my walk around the pond this afternoon (yes, later than "planned") I decided on the next of the Rogue Glosses, and JS Bach is implicated . . . .

[Cato]

Just sent the Op.129 to a fellow composer-conductor in Australia, on the chance that he knows a suitably fearless singer.

Fearless, that's it! 

[Karl Henning]

Fearless, that's it! 

Redemption?

[Cato]

Redemption?

  "A chance for redemption, that's it!"

[Karl Henning]

Will try to manage a recording of the handbells rehearsing Pat-A-Pan after church.

[Karl Henning]

Will try to manage a recording of the handbells rehearsing Pat-A-Pan after church.

Too may absences to make a rehearsal at all practical this week.

[Karl Henning]

This evening, at long last, Ivan Moody and I shall meet up!  I'm taking him to dinner.

[Karl Henning]

Excellent Triad rehearsal last night.  Because of my recent indisposition, last night was only the third time I have rehearsed Shar Ki Ri — and was the only time of the three that I had all my lady singers!  Our pianist was absent, but we had a more-than-competent stand-in, in Julian Bryson.  Our work last night was very good;  of course, given the circumstances, this was only now the rehearsal in which some of the singers twigged just where in the piece they need to hammer down in their personal prep/practice time.  But then, of course, these are all excellent singers, and they'll have it all in tip top condition for the dress rehearsal this coming Monday evening.

[Karl Henning]

Lovely visit with Vanya.  Topics ranged from we're composers; we're not "just choral composers" . . . to the peculiarities of the brass world . . . to the existence of people who are poor composers, but whose work sells very well . . . to, well, almost anything.

I did tell him the story of the Naxos CD of Jack Gallagher's Symphony № 2.  Vanya actually succeeds in earning quite a bit via commissions, at times sufficient to make his living, only year by year there is volatility.  He's here for a conference, as both composer and musicologist, and he's invited me to a concert in Cambridge Friday, where he will introduce me to a colleague or two.

[North Star]

Coincidentally, I just listened to Moody's music (Words of the Angel - beautiful) for the first time  a couple of days ago.

[Karl Henning]

He does beautiful work, Karlo.

[Karl Henning]

The adaptation was partly a matter of altering articulations &c. so that they should be idiomatic to strings;  partly a matter of recasting lines (since Clarinet 3 might play lower than Violin 3 might, and Clarinet 11 higher than Violoncello 1, &c.);  partly a matter of rethinking for a string ensemble (where might they play con sordino, &c.);  and finally some places where I could reinforce lower voices . . . arguably also a matter of rethinking for strings.

https://www.youtube.com/v/yCYUN9zjhlg

[jochanaan]

https://www.youtube.com/v/yCYUN9zjhlg

Delightful!

[Karl Henning]

Thank you, indeed!

[Karl Henning]

No good reason why this was not up on YouTube sooner:

https://www.youtube.com/v/7a7pFvJhfuc