Kendall Banning, poet - Gena Branscombe, composer

 

“Words, words, words, I’m so sick of words” sings Eliza Doolittle in the musical “My Fair Lady.”  Learning elocution from Professor Henry Higgins with assistance from Colonel Hugh Pickering, Eliza’s frustration was understandable.  The two men worked with her to change her cockney-flower-selling accent to an upper class high society proper English accent.  She repeated words over and over until the cockney was eliminated and her “proper” enunciation would fool people at a society ball.

What does that scenario have to do with Kendall Banning, poet, and Gena Branscombe, composer?  Well, to be honest, both scenarios are about words, finding the proper words.

Composers search at length for inspiring words, whether in poems, speeches or literature, that they will set to music.  From the composer’s heart, mind and soul, a melody emerges hopefully supported by lush  harmonies that combined give a deeper dimension to the meaning of the author’s words.   If the composer is lucky enough to collaborate with a living author, they will hopefully do so in a friendly, professional way.

Kendall Banning (1879-1944) and his wife Hedwig von Briesen Banning (1844-1919) were family friends of Miss Branscombe and her family.  Mr. Banning was one of Gena’s favorite poets whose words inspired her to compose two song cycles and individual songs using his words.  Gena dedicated songs to Mrs. Banning, a contralto, who performed her songs on concerts. 

 In 1913 a New York Times review said of Banning that "no other poet in America at the moment has such a gift of pure melody.”  No wonder Gena loved setting his words.  Banning was Darmouth College educated, published a dozen books and was editor at Cosmopolitan, Popular Radio and Hearst magazines in addition to being a poet.

 Though I have not read correspondence between Kendall and Gena, there are Gena’s letters to her publisher, Arthur P. Schmidt.  Mentioning Mr. Banning many times between the years of 1913 to 1929, she would tell Mr. Schmidt she was working on the settings of his poetry or he stopped by to visit and at one point he had called to inquire as to why she had not completed a song.  She told Mr. Schmidt that Kendall had a desire to have a say on the cover art of the song publications which she opined the decision was between the two men.  There were lengthy letter exchanges about the amount of his royalties.  It was agreed that he would receive 25% royalties. 

Miss Branscombe’s best-selling songs and highest producing royalties were from settings of Mr. Banning’s poetry.  In a true act of friendship, Mr. Banning gifted his poetry to Miss Branscombe.

“Hail Ye Tyme of Holiedayes” originally a solo song was later arranged for women’s chorus, SATB and men’s chorus.  This “Chrystmasse” season brightly melodic song was for many years a best seller at the holiday season.

“Radiant as the Morning” was a song that

Miss Branscombe generously sent professional copies to famous singers of her era encouraging them to perform it on their recitals and radio broadcasts.  Mr. Banning had written the poetry as part of a set entitled “A Wedding Service.”  Only “Radiant as the Morning” was set to music.

The six songs that make up the song cycle, “Songs of the Unafraid,” was not only sold as the complete cycle, but, with wisdom and good business knowledge, Mr. Schmidt published some of the songs individually.  “At the Postern Gate” and “The Great Adventure” sold well and were performed frequently.  Nature, adventurousness, love and true love with “a lass with glad grey eyes,” the sea and even London’s walls are brought to life in beautiful melodic songs and rich, lush harmonies.

“The Sun Dial’s” four songs of open roads, morning winds, moonlight and noon day with its bounteous happenings are delightful observations that give the singer every reason to paint a vocal picture of nature!  Sold as a song cycle, all four songs were successfully published individually guaranteeing high sales.  Royalties divided 75% to Gena and 25% to Kendall were gladly accepted.

If you are reading this and searching for repertoire to perform on your next recital, consider these Gena Branscombe/Kendall Banning songs.  They are available!

Words, words and more words written by a melodic inspired poet then set to music by a heart-felt, talented composer who understood the responsibility of shaping language and melody into song. 

 

#BringingBackBrancombe