Henning's Headquarters

[jochanaan]

...He and his wife (who is also a composer) will "show me the ropes" at the church tomorrow evening.

"Show you the ropes"?  "Area directly associated with the witch trials"?  I just hope those ropes aren't tied into nooses!!!

[Karl Henning]

I'm very careful just where I stick my neck out, I can tell you that, my dear! 

[Cato]

Oh! And here's a bit of near news I haven't mentioned yet.... so he must be in earnest about arranging to do an interview with your humble servant.

The Wheel of Fortune is turning in Karl's favor for sure!   0:)

And please be sure to have that tape machine hooked up to the microphones during the Oct. 8th Concert!   

"Tape machine?  What's that?"     (Courtesy of my 21st century students!)

[Karl Henning]

My dear friend and colleague Paul Cienniwa has notified the choir that I have accepted a choir director position, and that my last Sunday as a FCB chorister will be the 13^th.  One of the tenors immediately replied with this touching message:

Congrats/curses to you, Karl.

This is great/terrible news. We are all very happy/sad for you.  I wish you good luck/hope you slip on a banana peel at your new job.  You are awesome and will be missed at FCB.

[jochanaan]

I'm very careful just where I stick my neck out, I can tell you that, my dear! 

[Karl Henning]

Last night was my first official rehearsal with "my" choir as their Music Director.  (This is still a "phasing-in" period, as I am already obligated to sing at FCB for another two Sundays, the upright-&-professional notice period.  Technically, we may consider the phasing-in era to extend until mid-November, as I am traveling out of state the first week of that month.)  So I actually led only half the rehearsal, leaving Charles free to rehearse the choir in (e.g.) the anthems which they are to sing the 6^th and 13^th of October.

I am very excited and pleased, and the feeling appears to be mutual with the choir.  My feeling is, that I am not there "to make something" of them, but instead to find my way in leading them in the music which is no small part of their sense of identity.  In bringing to their church year music of my own, some delicacy is de rigueur, so that it is an organic, and entirely positive, process.  (Nuhro is never going to be in this group's repertory.)

My immediate idea was not a choral idea . . . using my Kremser Prelude for Thanksgiving, which strikes me as zero risk and all gain.  I think the Alleluia in D, probably the two-part Ur-text, will fly quite readily.  And this morning, I thought about that ol' O Gracious Light . . . .

[Karl Henning]

Rehearsed yesterday with Peter, both Après-mystère (sounds fun with picc., just wants a couple of minor adjustments) and the first two minutes of Zen on the Wing. The first two minutes, because that's all there was, yesterday. I promised him I'd finish it today; and I think I may have, this morning. A most fortunate composer am I, to have so reliable and so musical a friend.

[Karl Henning]

Succeeded in finishing Zen on the Wing, probably ca. 2:30pm; sent it via e-mail to Peter . . . and we rehearsed at 3:30.  Yesterday's rehearsal went swimmingly (by which I mean, very well) and I head over to his place after work today for our final rehearsal . . . which will get out early enough that I will have time to run through Irreplaceable Doodles five times this evening, which has to be enough.

Entirely psyched for tomorrow's concert.

[mn dave]

Are you recording it?

[Karl Henning]

Yes, must make sure the device is fully recharged.

May soon be time to get a fresh memory card, too . . . must have space enough for tomorrow's program.

[Karl Henning]

Why did I write Zen on the Wing as a did? Perhaps it was the Bacharach I had been listening to at roughly the same time . . . .

[mahler10th]

Zen on the Wing.  The title tells me I just know I'm going to like it.   

[Cato]

Zen on the Wing.  The title tells me I just know I'm going to like it.   

Rejected titles few people know about:

Zen on the Half Shell 

Zen on a Sesame-Seed Bun 

The Zenti Misfits  

A Cask of Zenfandel 

and the highly unsettling

Franny and Zenny 

[kishnevi]

Not to mention
Existentialism on the Wing

[Cato]

Rejected titles few people know about:

Zen on the Half Shell 

Zen on a Sesame-Seed Bun 

The Zenti Misfits  

A Cask of Zenfandel 

and the highly unsettling

Franny and Zenny 

Not to mention
Existentialism on the Wing

Oh, now you did it!  Other similar rejected titles:

Neoplatonism on the Wing 

Deconstructionism on the Wing   

and

Rascalism on the Wing 

[North Star]

You can use Bach-a-Rakh & Existentialism on the Bus Seat for free, too 

[mahler10th]

Zen is a wing with many feathers.
Aye, right, it sounded better when I thought it....   I must have written it on the wing.

[Karl Henning]

Rehearsal this evening with Peter went well, and I am freshly resolved to keep the clarinet in more consistent use. To that end, I've decided to play for the Prelude & Postlude of my inaugural service on 20 Oct. I've sent the Canzona and Gigue to the organist, and we'll read through them on Thursday after choir rehearsal.

[Karl Henning]

I've got my clarinets, my recording device (all charged up, and a card with ample space). In short, all dressed up, and ready for the show.

[Sergeant Rock]

I've got my clarinets, my recording device (all charged up, and a card with ample space). In short, all dressed up, and ready for the show.

Break a leg, Karl 

Sarge