Henning's Headquarters

VonStupp · April 09, 2023, 10:24:53 AM

Quote from: Karl Henning on April 06, 2023, 07:51:57 AMThe idea behind the Opus 169 set is a number of short pieces written as musical thank-yous to organists in the Boston area who have been supportive of my work.

Great to see you have recordings of these!

I found myself visiting family with an old drawbar and downloaded the 6-8 you posted for a quick runthrough on it while there was cooking, kite flying, and general Easter revelry. They would be great to use as communion meditations if I played church organ anymore.

Best wishes Karl!
VS

Karl Henning · April 09, 2023, 10:43:33 AM

Quote from: VonStupp on April 09, 2023, 10:24:53 AMGreat to see you have recordings of these!

I found myself visiting family with an old drawbar and downloaded the 6-8 you posted for a quick runthrough on it while there was cooking, kite flying, and general Easter revelry. They would be great to use as communion meditations if I played church organ anymore.

Best wishes Karl!
VS

Many thanks!

Karl Henning · April 09, 2023, 06:49:03 PM

Quote from: VonStupp on April 09, 2023, 10:24:53 AMGreat to see you have recordings of these!

And, you remind me: two years ago, Carson likewise took the time to prepare № 1:

Karl Henning · April 10, 2023, 06:53:10 AM

Time passes, you forget about a piece you wrote. Then, an occasion reminds you, you revisit the piece, and you find that you're glad to have written it:

Nicodemus Brings myrrh & aloes for the burial of the Christ, Op.85 № 4

https://soundcloud.com/karlhenning-1/nicodemus-brings-myrrh-aloes

Karl Henning · April 10, 2023, 08:18:30 AM

Quote from: Karl Henning on April 08, 2023, 02:49:58 PMAllowing for tweaks/finishing, I believe it's pretty much done. And the process overall has been more like myself.

I'll chip away at the editing today. I may not yet have explained the Italian Paperwork reference. My friend and fellow composer, Charles Turner, and wife are fixin' to repatriate to Italy, they were there for a few months, but now are back in the States waiting on the next step in the Italian bureaucratic choreography.

This morning I called my friend Peter Bloom, to whom I sent the piece in its present state, promising to send him parts when they're ready. He asked for permission to send it on to his colleague in the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, Dan Zupan. We concluded our call, and Peter set to his daily practice routine. I get a call from Peter, who (as he was practicing his scales) felt he had to share something with me. Dan's mother is Italian, and never relinquished her Italian citizenship. Dan himself, in the process of managing his mom's property, is in fact (also) Waiting on the Italian Paperwork. You can't make this up.

VonStupp · April 10, 2023, 04:02:19 PM

Quote from: Karl Henning on April 10, 2023, 06:53:10 AMTime passes, you forget about a piece you wrote. Then, an occasion reminds you, you revisit the piece, and you find that you're glad to have written it:

Nicodemus Brings myrrh & aloes for the burial of the Christ, Op.85 № 4

https://soundcloud.com/karlhenning-1/nicodemus-brings-myrrh-aloes

Beautiful, moody music; and well prepared by the performers.
VS

relm1 · April 10, 2023, 05:05:52 PM

Quote from: Karl Henning on April 10, 2023, 06:53:10 AMTime passes, you forget about a piece you wrote. Then, an occasion reminds you, you revisit the piece, and you find that you're glad to have written it:

Nicodemus Brings myrrh & aloes for the burial of the Christ, Op.85 № 4

https://soundcloud.com/karlhenning-1/nicodemus-brings-myrrh-aloes

I really enjoyed it! To me, I hear it symphonically.

Karl Henning · April 11, 2023, 06:07:50 AM

Cross-post:

My review of the Mitropoulos box.

The editor let "Lenny" stand, I note.

Karl Henning · April 11, 2023, 10:18:23 AM

In Boston today.

Pohjolas Daughter · April 11, 2023, 10:21:23 AM

Quote from: Karl Henning on April 11, 2023, 10:18:23 AMIn Boston today.

Oooh! And right by a bookstore! 😁

PD

Karl Henning · April 11, 2023, 10:24:11 AM

Quote from: Pohjolas Daughter on April 11, 2023, 10:21:23 AMOooh! And right by a bookstore! 😁

PD

I know! Nice to see that there are still some!

DavidW · April 12, 2023, 08:56:27 AM

Were you going to visit the Brattle?

Karl Henning · April 12, 2023, 09:00:48 AM

Quote from: DavidW on April 12, 2023, 08:56:27 AMWere you going to visit the Brattle?

I think I may, next week. I didn't browse yesterday, lest I be late for the concert at King's.

Karl Henning · April 12, 2023, 10:56:46 AM

Fresh from the barber's, so a bit less wild.

Cato · April 13, 2023, 08:30:15 AM

Quote from: Karl Henning on April 10, 2023, 06:53:10 AMTime passes, you forget about a piece you wrote. Then, an occasion reminds you, you revisit the piece, and you find that you're glad to have written it:

Nicodemus Brings myrrh & aloes for the burial of the Christ, Op.85 № 4

https://soundcloud.com/karlhenning-1/nicodemus-brings-myrrh-aloes

I thought I had commented about this, but apparently I did not hit "Post" - this is one of Karl's best works, right up there with Nuhro!

And while I am here, Karl sent me the finished duet called Waiting for the Italian Paperwork. I sent Karl these comments:

It struck me that it would be perfect for a chamber ballet! The back and forth is a perfect pas de deux and tells a story (of some sort!) extremely well.

It is jaunty, as I wrote earlier, as well as serious, mysterious, and most of all, it is elegant!

Maybe a local Pavlova and Nijinsky would be interested!

Karl Henning · April 13, 2023, 10:02:52 AM

Quote from: Cato on April 13, 2023, 08:30:15 AMI thought I had commented about this, but apparently I did not hit "Post" - this is one of Karl's best works, right up there with Nuhro!

And while I am here, Karl sent me the finished duet called Waiting for the Italian Paperwork. I sent Karl these comments:

It struck me that it would be perfect for a chamber ballet! The back and forth is a perfect pas de deux and tells a story (of some sort!) extremely well.

It is jaunty, as I wrote earlier, as well as serious, mysterious, and most of all, it is elegant!

Maybe a local Pavlova and Nijinsky would be interested!

Many thanks! The Italian Paperwork dedicatees responded:

QuoteThank you so much!! Will put together!

Best,
Paul and Greg

And, viz. the Op. 169 pieces, an old friend from Wooster writes:

QuoteThank you SO MUCH for your settings of these two hymns! I am going to love adding these to my repertoire, and will plan on using the DOWN AMPNEY one in the next couple of months. Your HAMBURG setting will work beautifully for me this summer (even though I missed the opportunity this past Holy Week) so even more thanks to you!
Cool that you know Michael Joseph - he played for some of our "Pipescreams Spooktacular" programs when I was in Concord!

Karl Henning · April 13, 2023, 05:04:57 PM

I more or less think this done. Interested to see how I feel about it in the morning.

Karl Henning · April 14, 2023, 08:08:18 PM

I was forming the overall idea for this piece while being driven to the recital. I just wanted to make a start.

Karl Henning · April 15, 2023, 08:52:25 AM

A number from Così fan tutte at the Memorial Service for George Epple, who was the genius behind the commission for The Young Lady Holding a Phone in Her Teeth. George passed away this past Christmas Eve.

Karl Henning · April 18, 2023, 07:06:58 AM

Quote from: Karl Henning on April 15, 2023, 08:52:25 AMA number from Così fan tutte at the Memorial Service for George Epple, who was the genius behind the commission for The Young Lady Holding a Phone in Her Teeth. George passed away this past Christmas Eve.

It was the first occasion I had to introduce myself to both the M.D. and organist. Of course I had to ask if they might look at my music, but I always try to keep my manner minimally impertinent. We shall see....