Blogging for the MCE: Evidence of Compositional Activity

Before I trot out the evidence that I have, in fact, been writing music for the MCE as well as reading the newspaper and then blogging about it, there's just one more quote I would like to share with you that relates to yesterday's topic (integrity of musical idea versus the practical concerns of performability).

Of course I did and do maintain that it is possible to keep your authentic voice while still writing music that is performable.

Wuorinen's distinction is not quite the same—he writes about the difference between entertainment and art. Here's the quote:

"In any medium, entertainment is that which we can receive and enjoy passively, without effort, without our putting anything into the experience. Art is that which requires some initial effort from the receiver, after which the experience received may indeed be entertaining, but also transcending as well. Art is like nuclear fusion: you have to put something into it to get it started, but you get more out of it in the end than what you put in. Entertainment is its own reward, and generally doesn't last."

Charles Wuorinen, b. 1938

Oh no, I just allowed this blog to mention transcendence, which can be rather a large ideal to live up to. Let's do an about-face and talk about something more mundane, like music engraving. Here's what happens when I import a preliminary version of the first two pages of the new MCE piece into this space ... this is page 1:

Yes, it's tiny. I apologize. I did select "large" when asked to choose image size, and I got what you see above. I then tried to drag the edges of the box to make it larger, but then everything got blurry ... so if you want to see what's going on, and you're really, really obsessive compulsive, you may have to print this entry out and blow it up on a photocopier. I'm sorry. Seriously.

Note that this is in no way a final version, but I thought you might enjoy seeing what happens when I sit in Starbucks for a couple hours typing in notes and telling Finale how much I loathe Times New Roman and begging it to put everything in Pristina or Garamond instead ... we now have the template for this piece, and a few measures of what will be a recurring motif, and all sorts of good things. Let me know your thoughts, questions, and other comments of note!

Here's page 2, comprising three measures of cheerful compound melody:

Blogging for the MCE, and quiz with reward

The first blog. I. Have. Ever. Written.

Please read and leave comments about carol texts! :-)


So Tom and Dave and I head to the one diner in all of Manhattan that plays no background music (Morning Star, on 9th, not far from Columbus Circle; I give thanks for their existence at least once a week b/c silence on this island is usually a nonstarter) and we talk about how better to make this commission (a piece for the Manhattan Choral Ensemble's winter/holiday/it's-got-plenty-of-Xmas-music-on-it concert) more interactive. Other composers who've worked with the MCE have done many creative things, such as writing music based on members' answers to questions like "What's on your iPod?" I'm not sure I can reconcile the breadth of answers I would get if I did that—this is a ridiculously smart and curious group of singers, after all—with writing what will be, in the end, a fresh set of carols, compatible with holiday concert programming.


So I am really really really relieved when Tom and Dave tell me that what they would really like me to do is start a blog.


Well, what they said is that they would like me to share the process of composing with the group, and since I'd rather write than be interviewed for a podcast, with all the ums and ahs and ohs that might entail, a blog's definitely the way to go.


Sooooooo ...


To complete this project, I need to do a bunch of things, not necessarily in the following order:

-select texts

-think of thematic links

-make sure that texts provide variety in the types of music they generate (i.e., we don't want 5 uptempo numbers OR 5 slow but exquisite ones)

-decide whether I am still writing this for harp and chorus, or for some other instrument and chorus, or a cappella

-make up some melodies that go with some of the texts (by randomly singing, or by imagining notes in my head, or by sketching out twelve-tone rows while riding the A train)

-make up some evocative chord progressions (usually done at the piano, she confesses with a tinge of guilt)


That's enough to start with. Hmm. I should of course also post a few of the texts I am considering, for your consideration too! Do write back and let me know what you think. I will buy a beer for the first person who correctly tells me the thematic link among the following texts:




Text #1




Omnes gentes plaudite,

I saw many birds sitting on a tree;

They took their flight and flew away,

With, Ego dixi, have good day!

Many white feathers hath the pie --

I may no more sing, my lips are so dry.

Many white feathers hath the swan --

The more that I drink, the less I can.

Lay sticks on the fire, well may it burn;1

Give us once to drink ere away we turn.2




Notes:

1. Text: wyl mot is brenne.

2. Text: ere we gon henne.

Rickert gives the following translations:

Omnes gentes plaudite is translated as "All ye nations, rejoice."

Ego dixi is translated as "I have said."




Text #2





Bring us in good ale, and bring us in good ale;

For our Blessed Lady's sake, bring us in good ale.



1. Bring us in no brown bread, for that is made of bran,

Nor bring us in no white bread, there therein is no game;

But bring us in good ale.



2. Bring us in no beef, for there is many bones,

But bring us in good ale, for that goes down at once;

And bring us in good ale.



3. Bring us in no bacon, for that is passing fat,

But bring us in good ale, and give us enough of that;

And bring us in good ale.



4. Bring us in no mutton, for that is often lean,

Nor bring us in no tripes, for they be seldom clean;

And bring us in good ale.



5. Bring us in no eggs, for there are many shells,

But bring us in good ale, and give us nothing else;

And bring us in good ale.



6. Bring us in no butter, for therein are many hairs;

Nor bring us in no pig's flesh, for that will make us boars;

And bring us in good ale.



7. Bring us in no puddings, for therein is all God's good;

Nor bring us in no venison, for that is not for our blood;

And bring us in good ale.



8. Bring us in no capon's flesh, for that is often dear;

Nor bring us in no duck's flesh, for they slobber in the mere;

And bring us in good ale.





Text #3:





Wassail, wassail, wassail, sing we

In worship of Christ’s nativity.



1. Now joy be to the Trinity,

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

That one God is in Trinity,

Father of heaven, of mightes most.



2. And joy to the Virgin pure

That ever kept her undefiled

Grounded in grace, in heart full sure,

And bare a child as maiden mild.



3. Bethlehem and the star so shen,

That shone three kinges for to guide,

Bear witness of this maiden clean;

The kinges three offered that tide.



4. And shepherds heard, as written is,

The joyful song that there was sung:

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS!

With angel’s voice it was out rung.



5. Now joy be to the blessful child,

And joy be to his mother dear;

Joy we all of that maiden mild,

And joy have they that make good cheer.



Wassail, wassail, wassail, sing we

In worship of Christ’s nativity.





That's all for tonight! Have fun; I look forward to seeing you again soon.