This month we’re featuring Chimera, a new recording out on Albany Records, performed by the Scott/Garrison Duo, and featuring music by ECS composer John David Earnest, among others. Earnest’s pieces open and close this recording, starting with his Chimera Waltzes for flute, bass flute, clarinet, and piano, and closing with Serenade and Dance for clarinet andContinue reading “Chimera | Featured Recording”
Category Archives: Featured
Martin Luther King Jr. | A Sermon From the Mountain
Remembering Dr. King by turning to composer Alice Parker’s tribute, A Sermon From the Mountain. This work for chorus, solo baritone, strings, guitar, percussion, and organ takes a six-movement form. Composer Alice Parker writes: A Sermon From the Mountain is a tribute to the slain leader of the non-violent movement in this country. It wasContinue reading “Martin Luther King Jr. | A Sermon From the Mountain”
Beauty, Truth, and Insight through Song: Interview with Juliana Hall
This month we’re featuring American art song composer Juliana Hall (b. 1958). A prolific and highly-regarded composer of vocal music, her songs have been described as “brilliant” (Washington Post), “beguiling” (Times of London), and “the most genuinely moving music of the afternoon” (Boston Globe). The NATS Journal of Singing wrote that “Hall’s text setting isContinue reading “Beauty, Truth, and Insight through Song: Interview with Juliana Hall”
“It is important for us music ministers to remember why we do what we do.”
An introduction to Paul Westermeyer’s Church Musicians: Reflections on Their Call, Craft, History, and Challenges by Kelly Dobbs-Mickus Have you ever met Paul Westermeyer? As I was reading his book Church Musicians: Reflections on Their Call, Craft, History, and Challenges, I recognized the direct but impactful style of his discourse from the many times IContinue reading ““It is important for us music ministers to remember why we do what we do.””
Getting into the Christmas Spirit with The Snow Lay on the Ground
Everyone has their favorite Christmas album. Whether it’s Bing Crosby, Mariah Carey, The Nutcracker Suite, or Messiah, those winter traditions like decorating a tree, sitting by a fire, and baking cookies, just don’t feel the same without the right music in the background. This year we have enjoyed listening to the 2016 Arsis release, TheContinue reading “Getting into the Christmas Spirit with The Snow Lay on the Ground”
Featured Recording: Allen Shawn – Piano Works / Julia Bartha
For this month’s Featured Recording, we turn to composer Allen Shawn. Recorded in Hannover in 2013, Julia Bartha takes us through five of Shawn’s multi-movement works for piano in the Coviello Classics release, titled Allen Shawn: Piano Works–Julia Bartha, Piano. Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times writes: “This recent recording offers an immersion intoContinue reading “Featured Recording: Allen Shawn – Piano Works / Julia Bartha”
John David Earnest: ECS Composer of the Month
“A joyful, demanding, arduous task…” Words from John David Earnest on the work of a composer. Describe life as a composer. I write music because I’m compelled to do so: it’s a joyful, demanding, arduous task, and the spiritual satisfaction is often profound. Describe your compositional style. What most inspires your music? It’s difficult toContinue reading “John David Earnest: ECS Composer of the Month”
Susan LaBarr: Choral Composer of the Month
“Counterpoint is not scary.” Getting to know composer Susan LaBarr and how she works. How did you get involved with music, and when did you begin composing? I have sung in choirs and played the piano since I was little. I’m fortunate that my parents were always very supportive of my music, and there wasContinue reading “Susan LaBarr: Choral Composer of the Month”
Robert Lau: Keyboard Composer of the Month
“Erase the notes you don’t need.” Robert Lau talks to us about life as a composer. How did you get involved with music, and what drew you to composing? I began violin lessons at the age of seven. Interest in other instruments soon followed, so that by my high school years I played violin inContinue reading “Robert Lau: Keyboard Composer of the Month”
Robert Hobby: Keyboard & Choral Composer of the Month
Robert A. Hobby, born 1962, currently serves as Director of Music for Trinity English Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his responsibilities include playing for many of the worship services, overseeing the graded choral program, and managing the concerts the church offers. Numerous activities during his tenure include Trinity Church establishing a choral series withContinue reading “Robert Hobby: Keyboard & Choral Composer of the Month”
In Tune blog 