Well- in paradisum is finally finished, and has already been read-through and revised accordingly. (Revisions were fairly minor, thankfully). I’m so glad to have that piece done- I wrestled it for almost a year, and it just didn’t come easily. In the end, it’s 10 minutes (longer than I had planned), but I trust it’ll work well at its premiere in May (for the BJU Commencement audience of 7,000!)
Now- on to March events: First of all, we’re heading to the ACDA Southern Convention in Louisville, where Hinshaw will be exhibiting, and where the BJU Chorale will be performing Arise, Shine!, You Are The Music, and Oread Farewell.
Then, in the later part of March, the new Soundforth CD, King of Love, will be released. I’ve received permission to post one of the tracks from the CD BEFORE the actual release date (!!)- so I’ll have to choose between The King of Love My Shepherd Is, Hymn of Mercy, and Be Thou My Vision. Hmm…
Regardless, keep an eye out for that “teaser” track, right here, in a couple weeks! I’ll have much more to post about the CD, as well…and we’re also planning a site exclusively dedicated to promoting the CD, soon…
Meanwhile, I’m working hard on three things: Two commissioned church anthems that are due in March, and….TAXES. 
Scott Aniol and I have been chatting a bit the last couple days- and he’s put up a post that proposes a good solution to a current problem, here…
The first draft of in paradisum… is FINALLY completed….the BJU Symphonic Wind Band will read it through for the first time on Friday…
Last fall’s “ForrestFest” concert (BJU Chorale and Concert Choir performing an all-Forrest concert) will be broadcast on the South Carolina network of NPR stations, this coming Monday night (Feb 18), on the “Carolina Concerts” program, which runs from 8:00-10:00 PM.
Program information can be found here, and station/location information can be found here.
Mass choir rehearsal in HBU’s new theater…
Dr. John Yarrington and me, before the concert…
What can one say after a concert of all his works, performed by a total of 160+ singers, piano, organ, brass ensemble, and percussion ensemble, in a beautiful hall, attended by several hundred people (including the school’s Division I basketball team!) who publicly and privately offered great appreciation and encouragement?
Probably, something like, “The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad.”!
The concert tonight was a fabulous end to a fabulous week. Thank you, dear HBU friends and First Pres friends, for your fine and heart-felt singing. It’s been a rewarding week of collaboration, and I leave with many new friends.
I also got to meet with Michael Bryson, a fellow composer and BJU alumnus who I haven’t seen in quite some time. I’ll be adding his name to the fellow composer blogroll over on the right column, soon.
In the morning, we’re off on the long journey back to Greenville, with fond memories and warm thanks to all of our friends here. Until next time!
Things are in place for tomorrow’s concert, after a lengthy dress rehearsal tonight. The concert involves HBU’s Schola Cantorum, the HBU Singers, the Camerata (drawn from the Singers), and also John Yarrington’s Chancel Choir from First Presbyterian of Houston. The concert involves various church and concert works- a couple of highlights are the Three Nocturnes (great percussion players, and Schola is singing VERY well) and You Are The Music (which really seems to move listeners). The concert’s finale is probably the most memorable, though: 160+ voices singing Arise Shine, premiering the organ/brass/percussion version. Wow.
Another rewarding day today- first, I spent time with the Advanced Conducting class, pulling together all sorts of different facets of musicianship- i.e. stylistic analysis, critical analysis, turning a phrase, melodic contour, pitch collections, rhythmic subtleties, balancing metric feel vs. long-breathed line, and who knows what else- all these things, I propose, play a part in the informed decisions an interpreter (i.e. conductor, in the case of this morning’s class) must make, as they seek to look “beyond the page” to truly Making Music.
Then, I worked with Schola Cantorum on some of their pieces for Friday’s concert. I got to accompany (which I love doing), and we had some really wonderful music-making. The Nocturnes are coming together beautifully…and our collaboration on You Are The Music today resulted (after the last chord died away) in a choked-up Dr. John Yarrington- a response which I relish as one of the highest of compliments, and one of the surest signs of true music-making having taken place.
For those of you following my residency in Houston-
We’re having a great time! We’ve been a little sick, unfortunately, but it hasn’t prevented any of the week’s activities from proceeding as scheduled. It’s been a great couple days thus far of music-making. I’ve enjoyed everything from speaking in conducting classes, to working with several choirs, to a wonderful composers’ get-together, to addressing all of the music majors and answering questions.
HBU has a FABULOUS new performing arts center- we held a couple events today in their 300-seat chapel, which is just beautiful, and has a wonderful acoustic. Friday’s “Music of Dan Forrest” concert, though, will be in their theater, which seats over 1000, and is most impressive!
We’re having a wonderful time with both students and faculty alike- wonderful people and fine musicians. Wednesday and Thursday will continue with more rehearsals and classes, with the big dress rehearsal Thursday night- and then the big concert Friday night.
Friday’s concert includes: Holy and Hallelujah (from Words From Paradise), six of my church anthems, the Three Nocturnes, You Are The Music, and the premiere of the organ/brass/percussion version of Arise Shine- with a combined choir of nearly 200!
Well- after a two-day journey, a brief sidetrip to see the Gulf of Mexico, and viewing an amazing amount of swampland in southern Louisiana, we’re in Houston, and getting ready for our week here. Dr. John Yarrington is the director of the choral department at HBU, and is my host- we’re going to breakfast in the morning to discuss our plans and get organized.
Tomorrow’s schedule involves a choral conducting class, and a choir rehearsal or two, I think, as well as dinner with HBU Composition faculty and students- looking forward to it!
