I was going to go to bed two hours ago….but instead, I spent most of that time hacking through a text with Tony Silvestri on Facebook chat. (No doubt, that’s how George and Ira Gershwin collaborated, right?) The good news is, we worked out the wrinkles and snags in what Tony called one of the most challenging projects he’s done, and we now have a Christmas text for A Basque Lullaby.
PS) It’s GORGEOUS. 
Congratulations to James Barnes, my dear friend, mentor, and doctoral teacher. He’s been commissioned by the Berlin Philharmonic! It doesn’t get any better than that!!! I’m SOOOOO excited for him!
I had fallen behind on maintaining some of the pages and listings on my website. I think things are updated now- especially the “New Music” tab (which is new), and the “current commissions” and “upcoming events” under “About Dan”.
PS) I also turned off Auto-Play on the audio player; but feel free to press play over there on the right if you want to hear sound files.
Check these out- South Dakota 2010 Senior Honor Choir, performing the Three Nocturnes superbly, with all the percussion (!)…and from memory. Impressive! Fabulous work by the choir under the outstanding direction of Dr. Kevin Fenton. (Kevin, someday we need to meet! )
Note especially the climactic section of the second movement, when all the choral and instrumental parts absolutely GLITTER. I LOVE IT!
Hmm. I’ve never heard 600 auditioned singers sing any of my pieces, conducted by anyone, let alone by Craig Arnold! But I wouldn’t mind hearing this in November! (Scroll down on the link to the choral audition section).
Since I’ve last posted on here, two more pieces have been completed:
St. Patrick’s Hymn, for chorus and orchestral winds/brass (Brahms Requiem instrumentation minus strings!). (Hinshaw Music 2012) It’ll be premiered October 23 by the Greenville Chorale (who commissioned it) and Greenville Symphony, at the Peace Center in downtown Greenville SC. Can’t wait!
I Know That My Redeemer Lives, for SATB chorus and piano 4-hands. (Beckenhorst Press, fall 2010). It’ll be premiered October 30 by the North Greenville University Concert Choir (who commissioned it), at their fall choral festival event.
Meanwhile, this week I’ll be off to two publisher conventions: Shawnee’s Music in the Mountains in East Stroudsburg, PA (Thursday night concert and Friday morning devotions and workshop), and Hinshaw’s Celebration (Friday night concert includes some of my music, and Saturday I’ll present a few pieces, I think). Looking forward to them!
