by Kile Smith | Aug 22, 2008 | church music, hymn, Music Composition, New Compositions, new music
The story goes that Stalin wanted a national hymn written and asked Shostakovich, “Will three months be enough time?” and that the composer answered, “Five days will do.” This is how I heard it. Shostakovich didn’t get the job, but I’ve often recalled the story...
by Kile Smith | Jul 27, 2008 | CDs, Classical music, hymn, liturgical music, Lutheran, Music Composition, New Compositions, new music
What kept me up at night the most was knowing I had to produce, as in be Producer, the last two days. This week was the only time we could get everyone together, including Donald and others from Chicago and Atlanta, since so many are going from one summer festival to...
by Kile Smith | Jul 25, 2008 | CDs, Classical music, hymn, liturgical music, Lutheran, Music Composition, New Compositions, new music
The last day: After the intense final session with the choir, Thursday is for Piffaro alone, to get the last two instrumental sections done O süßer Herre Jesu Christ is a child-like chorale, set for the whole band on seven recorders, all imitative and inverted and...
by Kile Smith | Jul 25, 2008 | Classical music, hymn, liturgical music, Lutheran, Music Composition, New Compositions, new music
The article by David Patrick Stearns came out Wednesday, 23 July, in the Philadelphia Inquirer, which you can find here. It also includes a link to audio they did for the Creatively Speaking radio show, airing Saturday at 11 am. The photos of (1) Donald conducting The...
by Kile Smith | Jul 24, 2008 | CDs, Classical music, hymn, liturgical music, Lutheran, Music Composition, New Compositions, new music
Air conditioning is fine But a severe storm system moseys up from the Carolinas, decides that our church roof would be a delightful place to spend the day, doesn’t move for six hours Hear thunder all that time, and wind and rain. And thunder. Which means the...
by Kile Smith | Jul 23, 2008 | CDs, Classical music, hymn, liturgical music, Lutheran, Music Composition, New Compositions, new music
Four more sections recorded, including Vater unser, which we knew would be difficult, mainly because of tempo. It’s a long piece (nine verses), and although I mix the ensemble up to keep changing the landscape, it’s still a lot of music to get through. The choral...
