The Artsy Honker – Page 4 – Adventures in faithful musicianship

Musical Hat Draw: “Stars”

Byartsyhonker September 1, 2017 2 Comments

Welcome to the inaugural, experimental, Musical Hat Draw! For this round, the theme is “stars”. If you have a favourite poem about stars that you’ve always wanted to hear set to music, or if you’ve written about stars and wonder what your poem might sound like sung, the Musical Hat Draw is for you. How it works: From today until midnight BST on 11th September, you can send me text...

Winter Stars

Byartsyhonker August 31, 2017 1 Comment

It's not winter yet! But here's a winter poem, by Sara Teasdale, which I've set to music: I went out at night alone; The young blood flowing beyond the sea Seemed to have drenched my spirit’s wings— I bore my sorrow heavily. But when I lifted up my head From shadows shaken on the snow, I saw Orion in the east Burn steadily as long ago. From windows in my father’s house, Dreaming my dreams...

Double Chant in E minor

Byartsyhonker July 31, 2017 1 Comment

I've just spent a week singing Evensong in Lincoln Cathedral, with the guest choir for the week: the Cathedral Singers of Ontario. We had a lovely welcome from the cathedral and indeed the city of Lincoln had much to offer, without being overwhelming. I always enjoy singing with CSO, and learn a lot. In addition, my mother is here to visit from Canada, and we have been having some time catching...

Finsbury Park

Byartsyhonker July 7, 2017 0 Comments

This text by the Revd Ally Barrett was written shortly after the Orlando shooting in 2016, and then drawn to my attention again in 2017 after the Manchester attack. And since then there have been more terrorist attacks. I've called it "Finsbury Park" because the attack on the mosque there was in the news while I was writing this, and because there wasn't already a hymn tune of that name in the...

Round Me Falls the Night

Byartsyhonker May 31, 2017 0 Comments

I've long enjoyed William Romanis's hymn text, "Round Me Falls the Night" -- so I decided to set it as an anthem. Originally I used TTBB voicing, but on balance, I like the SATB version better. I think it could be just the thing for a quieter Evensong service, or for Compline. Robot clarionets: PDF Round Me Falls the Night SATB Round me falls the night; Saviour, be my Light: Through the hours in...

Sleep Songs: Wordless Lullabies for the Sleepless

Byartsyhonker April 5, 2017 0 Comments

Would you like to be sung to sleep? Or, if sleep really is unattainable, how about some soothing, calming music, music without words, to listen to while you are awake? Megan Ihnen is commissioning over 25 composers, including yours truly, to compose wordless lulllabies for the sleepless, which she will then record. I'm very pleased to be involved. I saw her quote-tweet Shaya Lyon, who said, "On...

O Sweet and Blessed Country

Byartsyhonker March 30, 2017 0 Comments

Another short piece, really just an SATB setting (with some light divisi) of one verse of a hymn, Jerusalem the Golden (not to be confused with Yerushalayim Shel Zahav, which is also beautiful). But it's a verse which is often changed in modern hymnals, which I think a great shame: O sweet and blessèd country, Shall I ever see thy face? O sweet and blessèd country, Shall I ever win thy grace?...

Waving

Byartsyhonker March 18, 2017 3 Comments

The past week has been a little less silly than some, but still busy. The West Gallery course at Benslow last weekend was great fun, but hard work: we really could have done with another four or six singers, which would have resulted in me singing less and being able to pay more attention to conducting clearly; at times, I felt like I was a bit "wave arms around until music stops" rather than...

Catching up with myself

Byartsyhonker March 10, 2017 0 Comments

I often find myself very tired when I come back from Aberdeen, and my most recent trip was no exception. I've also been very busy with composing projects: a setting of 'O Nata Lux' for a workshop in Aberdeen later this month, a few things for various competitions, oh, and trying to get to grips with the whole PhD thing. This week has been mainly about preparing for the West Gallery course at...

Art House: a hymn for Easter

Byartsyhonker March 7, 2017 1 Comment

I know, I know, it isn't Easter yet, we've only just started Lent, and it's probably too late for most people to use this hymn this year. But I liked the text, by Ally Barrett, very much: Life comes to an upper room,  breaking through the fear and gloom;  walls and door-locks are no bar:  Jesus meets us where we are.  Life dispels the doubt of grief  bringing hope and new belief;...