Q&A: How to practice “Figure humaine” by Francis Poulenc

An excellent question! The first thing that popped into my head was, “However you can!” Perhaps the rest of this post will be more helpful. The piece Poulenc‘s “Figure humaine” is an unaccompanied choral work for double chorus, scored SSATBB. The parts often divide, at times into 14 parts. There is no published piano reduction. [...]

NEWS FLASH: Pianists have lungs, too!

Do you play an instrument upon which you can produce sound without breathing? If you answered “Yes,” I beg to differ! Listen to the sound. Does it have life? Direction? A core? Does it mean something? Rationale Two students come to mind whose approaches to the piano are relevant to the subject of breath. One, [...]

10 Best Songs About Prison

What would you add to this list?

Q&A: How do you get your congregation to sing?

Some suggestions about hymn-playing.

2 ways to involve the congregation

Encouraging the congregation to go past its usual boundaries.

Phlegm!

Until now, I thought phlegm bothered only singers.

Working with the choir and congregation for the 1st time

My first Sunday in my new Director of Music position was January 29th.  To get started, the choir came early so we could talk about what we wanted to do together. And it was the choir’s suggestion! On February 5th, this past Sunday, the choir sang during the service. We had a brief rehearsal, which [...]

Last weekend’s Met broadcast

 The best opera broadcast was on the radio last Saturday from 1:00-5:00 p.m.  Bellini’s Norma, was followed by some Donizetti with Roberta Peters and Carlo Bergonzi. The Norma recording was from 1970 ~ Joan Sutherland‘s Met debut and Marilyn Horne‘s first Met Broadcast.  The cast also included Carlo Bergonzi and Cesare Siepi. (Saying “also included” [...]

This audience can sing!

How asking the audience to participate breaks through off-putting formality in a concert.

Marilyn Horne Interview

While I am recuperating from the flu bug that’s going around, I thought you might like to see this interview of Marilyn Horne at WQXR’s web site. New post will be up soon, promise!