New Journeys

Today is a special day because my writing partner, Lindsay Baker, embarked on a two-month research/music education trip to Ghana. It has always been a dream of hers to go to Africa and I am thrilled for her to have this opportunity.

Last night when I was saying "Bon voyage!" I couldn't help but feel a little sad because I will really miss her even though I am excited about her adventures ahead. It feels so strange to know that she won't be popping in through my front door after working at Eastman so that we can get to work on one of our projects. (The list is long.)

For the next two months while she is gone, my projects are solo and I have to admit that Iam not accustomed to that. With that realization, I recognize today as a new day and realize that a new journey awaits me too ... not as exciting as an African adventure, but when I think about it, there is still a lot to keep me busy ... and happy and fulfilled as a creative artist.

Here's what's on tap:

1. SSAA composition of "When I Go Fishin'"
June 1st is a deadline for an SSAA original choral work. The criteria for the work is a light-hearted song about fishing. I have been working on the poem for about a month, and posted the poem on my facebook page. I'll post it below ...

2. SATB arrangements of the "Mass for the Living" and orchestrations.
This is the project I started this year and recorded in March for the Sacred Arts Foundation Sacred Music Competition. I am fulfilling the promise to write a Mass in honor of my mother. (She died ten years ago.) Nancia D'Alimonte will be programming it for the December 11th Concert with the NIH Philharmonic in Washington, D.C.

3. Film scoring school in Seattle, WA.
I will be doing an 'Intensive' with Hummie Mann. One of my dreams is to score a movie.

Hopefully, I will be so busy I won't notice that I am lonely ... but then again, maybe everyone really does need that time alone like the poem described ...

WHEN I GO FISHIN’


Oh! Let me grab my fishin’ pole
and skedaddle to the fishin’ hole.
The sun's already risen
and the birds are calling me.

I'm puttin' on my lucky hat
and leavin' a note where I’ll be at ...
with tackle box and lunch,
I like it quite a bunch
when I go fishin’.

I’ll feed the fish a tasty treat--
maggots, worms or bugs to eat
and if they do not take the bait
then I will sit and wait .... and wait … and wait

I’ll find the perfect skipping stone ...
plop, plop, plop, plop, plop ...
take a nap, or be alone ...

Oh! Let me grab my fishing pole
and skedaddle to the fishing hole.
The sun's already risen
and the birds are calling me.

I’m puttin' on my lucky hat
and leavin’ a note where I’ll be at ...
in my favorite spot.
Don’t care if it’s hot
when I go fishin’.

When I’m sitting by the pond
it's like I’ve waved a magic wand
and like a song from yesterday
my troubles start to fade away.

When peace of mind is what I’ve got
then why should I care if i catch a lot?

Oh! Let me grab my fishing pole
and skedaddle to the fishing hole ...
The sun's already risen
and the birds are calling me.

I'm puttin' on my lucky hat
and leavin' a note where I’ll be at ...
I love the way I feel
with my rod and reel--
when I go fishin’!!

Working on the Website - A World of Possibility

 

Today has been a lot of fun! The pictures in the collage are only a few scenes from my life as a composer/playwright. They include Lindsay working in the libary, an evening after seeing "Kung Fu Panda" with my daughter, working in my office ... and an opening night ...

I have been experimenting with building collages and slideshows from all the tools that google makes available. I was thrilled when I was able to post two slide shows to our "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE" website.

Seven years ago, Lindsay and I embarked on a three-week journey that changed our lives forever. We each packed our backpacks with Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" and proceeded to visit all the places mentioned in the novel and all the places where Jane Austen wrote it.

As a result, we were inspired beyond our wildest imaginations to create our musical. Today we have a beautiful show that is ready for the world.

Some of our pictures from that monumental trip are on the website. It was a joyful process to gather the information and transport it to the web ... and in the process, to transport myself to a wonderful place I experienced.

Ah!! The possibilities!