Written on April 16, 2014 for Chris Barletta and the Women’s Choir of Gateway High School in Kissimmee, Florida, with an expected first performance in May 2014. The students selected a poem by Emily Dickinson as the text that they wanted me to set for them. The Chariot begins “Because I Could Not Stop for Death” and is a somber piece that suggested a chromatic language to me. While there is four-part divisi, the piece remains homophonic and there are many passages in only two parts. The choir is supported by the piano with a brief unaccompanied passage. A video of the first performance can be seen here.
Holy Redeemer will hold its Lenten Penance service this evening. As mentioned for the previous Secret Concert, this will be over one hour of quiet reflective improvisations on seasonal themes as people go to individual confession. The service begins at 7pm, and I expect to start playing solo instrumental music around 7:30pm.
As outlined in the first Secret Concert posting, this will be an extended time of musical reflection on the themes of the season. Most of the music will be improvised, though some repertoire may also be included. The Penance service will begin at 7pm with music starting approximately 7:30 as people begin to go to individual confession.
This past week I was able to attend the RSCM Tulsa Course with Malcolm Archer as director and Bruce Neswick as organ instructor. It was a wonderful week of music making which included the following partial repertoire list:
- Missa omnes sancti – Malcolm Archer
- Rejoice in the Lamb – Benjamin Britten
- Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in A – Stanford
Included as part of the week’s activities was a talent show on Saturday evening. After deciding to perform a piano duet with another participant, I offered to write a piece for us to play. In addition to themes from the pieces listed above, I included a musical rendition of the name of our conductor for the week: M-A-L-C-O-L-M A-R-C-H-E-R. I was a little concerned about meeting the deadline with so little free time in between and after rehearsals, but I think the piece was clearly a success, especially for all those who recognized the theme citations. The video below was recorded on my iPhone. Enjoy!
Trumpet Recital by William Luckett
Wm. Glenn Osborne, piano and organ
Complete repertoire list available here.
The Lenten Penance service is on the calendar for this Thursday. As mentioned for the previous Secret Concert, this will be over one hour of quiet reflective improvisations on seasonal themes as people go to individual confession.
Event Description:
Trumpet Recital by William Luckett
Wm. Glenn Osborne, piano and organ
INTERMISSION
Event Date
04/09/2013
Event Time
7:30 pm
Event Venue
First Presbyterian Church of Maitland341 North Orlando AvenueMaitland, FL 32751
Event Description:
Usually twice a year (Advent and Lent), I play background music during the sacrament of reconciliation at the parish where I serve as music minister. While at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, I had a few fans, usually choir members, who would stick around until the end of confessions just to listen to me play.
Because I end up playing for almost an hour, it occurred to me that is basically a concert performance. There will be no applause and all of the music will remain subdued. Most of the time, I improvise on familiar seasonal melodies, though I usually have a small stack of repertoire on hand to play when my mind needs a break from the prolonged restrained improvising. All are welcome to attend. The service will start at 7pm with a Liturgy of the Word with the “concert” starting when everyone is dismissed to go to individual confession, probably around 7:30.
Event Date
12/13/2012
Event Time
7:00 pm
Event Venue
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
1603 N. Thacker Ave. Kissimmee, FL 34741
This psalm setting was commissioned by Elsa Heckman for the music ministry of Our Lady of Grace in Palm Bay, FL on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the parish. In discussing with Elsa that kind of composition she wanted for the event, we decided that an upbeat Gospel style setting would be most appealing for the occasion and the congregation. The two recordings below are from a live performances at Holy Cross in Orlando in 2011.
1. Listen now - Morning Mass
2. Listen now - Afternoon Mass
A Christmas carol for young voices (SAT) with lyrics by John Dalles. Based on the familiar tune HOLY MANNA. The audio below was generated by the Finale music notation program.
1. Listen now
