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Mr. Franklin is one of only two non-Presidents to have his face on a U.S. Bill.  I wonder if his work on this musical creation had anything to do with his selection as the face on the $100 bill (well, and perhaps his contribution to the five-person committee that drafted a little thing called the […]

I suppose if you can drain that many wine bottles you get to perform almost anywhere.  

(An excerpt from the Choral Journal column, “Mentoring: Helping to Ensure Excellence” by Verna M. Brummett)          Mentoring by experienced choral conductors can ensure that new or less experienced teachers will be ready to “take the reins” of current [choral] organizations, to formulate new organizations, and to take professional leadership responsibilities at the state, […]

(An excerpt from the Choral Journal column, “The Sound” by Jamison Marvin)          What generates the beauty [of a male chorus]? The space above it. The overtones produced by the fundamental (if the chord is sung in tune) are given a chance to ring and reinforce the sound below. That special sound is not […]

(An excerpt from the Choral Journal article, “Podium and Pen – Choral Conductor as Composer: An Interview with Theodore Morrison” by Jerry Blackstone)          I think the relationship among composer, commissioner, and performer must be one of openness, with give-and-take in all directions. In our century, many composers thumbed their noses at the folks […]

(An excerpt from the Choral Journal article, “Beethoven’s Choir Director: Ignaz Karl Dirzka [1779-1927]” by Grant W. Cook III)          Dirzka received the choral parts (to the Ninth Symphony) by Tuesday, April 27.  On Thursday, April 29, Anton Schindler reported to Beethoven: “Today Dirzka told me that he already began with the chorus yesterday, […]