State of the Songs (Shabbat Shirah)

Tonight and tomorrow is the annual "Sabbath of the Song", Shabbat Shirah, so called because this week's pericope contains the Song of the Sea. And as has been my custom, it's a good opportunity to take stock of my musicmaking.

Pesukei d'Zimrah --- I got some piano reductions written last spring, but then the CST book took over my life, and so on and so forth, and --- well, I'm stalled again. But this morning on WGBH there was a segment about the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (http://bmop.org/) -- they seem to be slashdotted at the moment, but basically they're a local orchestra that focuses on new works. I wonder if they'd be interested....

Bible Bystanders --- nothing new since last year. Pity, too. I really should get back in the saddle on this while my kids are still young enough to appreciate it.

Kabbalat Shabbat --- This one, at least, is coming along nicely. I have four movements done, and the rest sketched out in my head at least. My goal is to get it done in time to get a group together to use it liturgically next year for Shabbat Shirah. Since this is a small-scale project (6 voices a cappella) that's actually possible.

Voice Lessons --- I never signed up again after the summer. Too busy. And I haven't rejoined Zamir or signed up to sing anywhere else.

So: Not much done in the past year. A little composing, but not much. Not enough editing. And pretty much no singing. The state of the song, my friends, is challenged.

State of the Songs (Shabbat Shirah)

Tonight and tomorrow is the annual "Sabbath of the Song", Shabbat Shirah, so called because this week's pericope contains the Song of the Sea. And as has been my custom, it's a good opportunity to take stock of my musicmaking.

Pesukei d'Zimrah --- I got some piano reductions written last spring, but then the CST book took over my life, and so on and so forth, and --- well, I'm stalled again. But this morning on WGBH there was a segment about the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (http://bmop.org/) -- they seem to be slashdotted at the moment, but basically they're a local orchestra that focuses on new works. I wonder if they'd be interested....

Bible Bystanders --- nothing new since last year. Pity, too. I really should get back in the saddle on this while my kids are still young enough to appreciate it.

Kabbalat Shabbat --- This one, at least, is coming along nicely. I have four movements done, and the rest sketched out in my head at least. My goal is to get it done in time to get a group together to use it liturgically next year for Shabbat Shirah. Since this is a small-scale project (6 voices a cappella) that's actually possible.

Voice Lessons --- I never signed up again after the summer. Too busy. And I haven't rejoined Zamir or signed up to sing anywhere else.

So: Not much done in the past year. A little composing, but not much. Not enough editing. And pretty much no singing. The state of the song, my friends, is challenged.