All through the weeks that Carol and Peter were preparing Music for the Un-Hip Hop for the concert Tuesday last at King’s Chapel, they repeatedly offered me two assurances. Firstly, that it isn’t easy and secondly, that they find it fun to play. This is the sweet spot: to write music which accomplished musicians will find a fair (not extreme) challenge, and which they find sufficiently rewarding to repay the effort to learn it. That alone was (so to say) music to mine ears, but atop that they encouraged me (again—more than once, so they were in earnest) to write two more pieces so that the Hop would be the first in a set of three. (In a delightful intstance of the Universe cooperating with itself, my publisher also likes the marketability prospects of a set of three.) Practically immediately upon returning home from Tuesday’s concert I set to work on Opus 178 № 2, A Dance Floor for the Introverted. And lo! I did complete it yesterday. Furthermore, both Carol and Peter like it already, And now, while I am deferring actual work upon the piece until tomorrow, I have decided on the title of the Opus 178 № 3—Janky Juke Joint.
A couple items in addition.
I have had very nice feedback from several listeners who have listened to Tuesday’s concert either live or since it was “finalized” on YouTube. So the Henningmusick audience groweth.
My old friend Greta Rosen is game to play bassoon in the Henning Ensemble, so our lower register choir is strengthening.
And my friend the superb clarinetist Todd Brunel has taken a great fancy to the Op. 197 Fantasia, so he will come play it with us. I believe this will require the addition of a bass clarinet part for Dan so that he not be bumped from the lineup.
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