Three Hymn Tragedies
In Three Hymn Tragedies, the emotional anguish behind the creation of three popular 19th century hymns is explored. The hymns are (in order of appearance) It Is Well With My Soul (Spafford/Bliss, 1873), What a Friend We Have In Jesus (Scriven/Converse, 1855) and Bringing in the Sheaves (Shaw/Minor, 1874).
To listen:
1._1873.mp3
2._1855.mp3
3._1874.mp3
Crossing the Bar
Alfred, Lord Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar" serves as the text of this song for soprano. The piece was specifically written for the memorial service of Captain Helge Krarup, my father-in-law in May 2010. The imagery of the piece conjures up the experience of setting out on a voyage.
Anybody Can Do Anything
Jean Detrick Engstrom was born in 1925 in Lima, Ohio. She was known to many Lima News readers for her regular column and her trademark "Makes My Heart Smile" stories. But to me, she not just a weaver of masterful stories; she was my favorite aunt. One of her many tales was an autobiographical narrative entitled "Rosie the Riveter-A.K.A. Jean", which detailed her life bouncing from one odd job to the next while growing up in the war years.
I've taken her account and set it to music, creating Anybody Can Do Anything, a concert piece for soprano and piano. This piece was premiered at the Lima Veterans Memorial Civic Center in 2007.