WMV Music Web Log

Photos by Marilyn Banner from the Atlas program Sunday June 25:




Jodi Beder plays Michael Strand's "Afligido Tango"











Ben & Rhonda play Barnwell's "Song of the Exile" arranged by Charley Gerard










Brandon D. Johnson, poet

Ysaye Barnwell, composer











Ben Redwine, clarinet



Michael Strand, composer





Lawrence Moss, composer





Karyn Friedman, mezzo soprano
















Sonya Hayes, violin

Steve Tomlinson, trombone & Blair Goins, tuba











Rhonda, alto saxophone














Charlie Barnett, composer














Sonya Hayes plays Charlie Barnett's "Memphis TN"

Sonya Hayes, violin

Here is what our rehearsal really looks like; Karyn had Abe on her hip for the entire hour. (Marilyn read Winnie the Pooh to Bran in the back room).

Marilyn writes:
I attended some kind of art fair in Baltimore today. I am determined to find where my art work fits in the world. Actually I realized that I have no model for climbing or climbing over anyone. My family was into survival, not climbing. I am not interested in climbing. However, here it is: I recognize that I have a gift, and my interest is in giving my gift to the world.
Why the world seems to make that so hard - I haven't figured that out.
Two young (half my age) women who run alternative spaces in Baltimore told me today that if I would just make maybe 100 small encaustic pieces and propose an installation of them, well, maybe, just maybe, they would consider showing that. Or consider considering it.
I am confused. Or is it angry? I am not sure.
Another very lively woman is interested in my photographs of raw deer skin from 1988!
An energetic youngish man is interested in showing my encaustic work in his gallery. He is not selling similar work very well, but hey!
Onward.

We have a full roster for the September 12 concert! Rick Barber, assistant principal bassist in the NSO, has agreed to join the ensemble along with Claudia Chudacoff and June Huang, violins, Betty Hauck, viola, David Teie, cello (also NSO), and Ben Redwine, clarinet. Betty will drive down (again!) from New Hampshire. She also played in the last WMV Trout Quintet ensemble, in May of 2001, in the studio. An amazed audience of 68 people crowded the musicians practically to the stands for an unforgettable reading of this masterpiece. It's certainly time to do it again.

Also on the program: the great Brahms clarinet Quintet, Op. 115 and the premiere performance of Charley Gerard's "The 44 Faces of Funk" for clarinet, string quartet, bass, and piano. I am programming the Brahms only because it's one of my favorite pieces in the world, and I want to hear it played well, even though I don't play in it. The Gerard will be a complete gas.

The June 25 concert at the Atlas Performing Arts Center is next on the agenda - a very cool program, even more "eclectic" than last time. Today I am practising Michael Strand's "Tango Afligido", which has a hypnotic rolling beat and moves into some deep waters. Jodi Beder and I will begin rehearsals this week. I am making progress on the Jelly Roll Morton tune. It requires a different way of thinking, but it is going to be a lot of fun. And I am painstakingly notating Charlie Barnett's improvised variations on his "Memphis TN".

Karyn Friedman sent this photo of the Fauré Bonne Chanson ensemble (who took it?). Betty Hauck, viola, Carl Banner, piano, Karyn Friedman, mezzo soprano, June Huang, violin, Amy Leung, cello, Sally McLain, violin. With an ensemble this good, you don't need much rehearsal - we got two. Betty and I had an interesting discussion about the balance between working things out thoroughly and the risk of losing your edge. We didn't lose our edge.

Karyn Friedman sent some photos from the May 23 Ratner concert. Here is the ensemble for the Bach Cantata #82: Betty Hauck, viola, Carl Banner, piano, Rhonda Buckley, soprano saxophone, June Huang, violin, Sally McLain, violin, Amy Leung, cello, Gary Poster, bass. It was a very successful performance. A couple of novel aspects: soprano saxophone played oboe obbligato, and the pianist improvised the continuo part from bass and chords. Gary Poster was terrific. And we put it together with only one rehearsal.

Composer Mike Strand writes:

Dear Carl,

When Elara and I got back from Alabama late last night we were happy to see the positive reviews of the May 23rd concert! We thought it was a great concert, too!

I had to chuckle and also wince a little over the description of me as the "tango-obsessed Arlington composer". Tango music has helped me a lot in recent years to work through several losses involving various family members, as I have shared with you.

It might help the audience to introduce "Afligido" with the following words, spoken or printed in the program, if you think such would be appropriate. They might also help you and Jodi get into the feeling of the piece:

AFLIGIDO
(Bereaved, afflicted over the loss of a loved one)
by Mike Strand

You died so suddenly --
We didn't get a chance to say goodbye
to each other.

So unexpectedly --
I regret not tending and savoring more fully
our time together.

With such finality --
That the hope and faith you and I shared
deserted me.

I ask, "Why were you taken from me?"
Such a question leads me only
to despair.

For the composer, these feelings of loss would be expressed ideally through the voice of a bass singer, if only the voice had the needed range. The cello stands in for a bass singer with extended range, thus allowing fuller expression of those feelings.

And with such expression comes a lighter heart, one of the miracles of art and music!

Best regards,
Mike