
| Best Summer Wishes As summer gets in full swing, at least in the Northern Hempisphere, here's wishing everyone some time to rest and re-charge. Whether you are going to a music festival, the AGO Convention in Washington, or another excursion -- or just hanging out at home -- I hope you may enjoy the beauties of creation and the delights of music. I'll explore the Austrian countryside part of the time and prepare some interesting composition projects for the fall. Stay tuned... | Now For Something Completely Different Three months have flown since my last update. Where does the time go? In part, I have spent time to bring two bigger compositions to conclusion. The "Credo" of my mass goes back to 1991, but I never got it into the computer (all those words) or worked out the kinks. Now done, its 9 minutes 45 seconds of choir with strings/organ/both satisfy me and keep the original vision. Now I take a deep breath and wait to find out what others think. A few other sections are final, e.g. the "Sanctus & Benedictus" recorded by ERM in Prague last year and due out on CD in 2010. The other project, started last year is "A Few Plain Hints: William Walker's Words for Singers." It sets advice from the preface to "The Southern Harmony." At times quaint, practical or funny, eleven short excerpts add up to 25 minutes of fun for soloists, chorus and optional piano. Directors and teachers will find flexibility in performance so it should be easy to program and then choristers and audience may become curious about "Singing Billy" Walker and vocal instruction in 19th century America. Find the works under the "Compositions" tab and listen (only synthesized voices) and let me know your reaction! |