Music Meets Drama

  “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 wor...

  The year 2025 held for us the happiness of having the first volumes of Gena Branscombe's piano, violin and vocal music  published by One Eye Publications of Whitby, Ontario.  These are beautiful volumes that introduce musicians to her works. Recently One Eye Publications released additional volumes of Gena's music including two violin/piano works, three piano pieces and volumes of songs geared to Gena's family life. What beautiful volumes they are!   The near future holds more volumes of her music to be published - French Horn pieces and more violin/piano works.  Later there will be three volumes of art songs that singers and their collaborative pianist will love!  Stay tuned! With many thanks to Eleanor Gummer of One Eye Publications for her dedication and belief in the music of Gena Branscombe!   #BringingBackBranscombe

    This “incognito – wearing shades” picture was taken in the basement of the Library of Congress in 2007.  Dr. Sharon Johnson, Nancy Davis (piano duo performers) and I, along with my collaborator Martin Hennessy, had moments earlier performed on the stage at the Library.  What an honor to have been invited to participate in the “Women Composers of the MacDowell Colony” concert.  Those personal and musical experiences form friendships and professional relationships that last over many years.   Fun jokes, Facebook postings, Instagram pictures and emails link us together to this day.   Nearly a year ago Dr. Sharon Johnson emailed to say she owed me an email and would follow up soon.   Her school year at Houghton University was coming to an end with a full schedule of recitals, juries and final tests.   Several weeks later, Sharon and I had a Zoom meeting and had many more meetings over months that opened a door to creating a women composer...

  For over a year, The Gena Branscombe Project had been developing a concert that honored the first women composers who in 1924 were invited to join the National League of American Pen Women.   Identifying the composers, researching their works, making a list of titles, finding a theme for the program, then slowly choosing which pieces would form the   program may seem tedious, yet, “Winds of Change, Songs of Time: The Musical Legacy of the National League of American Pen Women”   was a success. With many thanks to Board member Regan Russell for creating a program celebrating the four seasons which featured 10 woman composers who were among the first to join the Pen Women and we included one 21 st century composer was genius!   Again, thank you, Regan! On February 28 th , “Winds of Change, Songs of Time: The Musical Legacy of the National League of American Pen Women” was performed at the New York Society for Ethical Culture.   With performances by p...

  Over the past six years The Gena Branscombe Project has awarded scholarships to up-and-coming composers, conductors and arts administrators.   One of our missions is to stay in touch with our winners, post their accomplishments on social media and to meet them in person when the occasion arises.   We also try to attend their concerts or at least watch them live streaming! Recently Co-Founder Dan Ryan and our 2020 Composer scholarship winner, Damali Willingham, crossed paths at a gig they did.   Damali was Assistant Conductor and Dan sang with The Refugee Orchestra Project on their March 1, 2026 concert in Methuen,   MA.     Several years ago Damali rea lized Gena Branscombe’s “Festival March/Prelude” from manuscript into a score for wind ensemble.   She conducted the premiere of that score at Berklee College of Music in Boston.   It’s been a pleasure meeting Damali for lunch or coffee and attending concerts she has conducted.   She...

At times Ebay will offer wonderful treasures that must be purchased!  Two weeks ago Gena Branscombe's original published piano suite "In a Fairy Garden" appeared for sale.  Dedicated to her oldest daughter, Gena Tenney, who in 1915 was a four year old when Arthur P. Schmidt Company released it for sale. Obviously Gena knew her daughter's pianistic abilities when she composed these pieces. Fast forward 110 years to 2025 when Eleanor Gummer of One Eye Publications in Whitby, Ontario republished "In a Fairy Garden" with a colorful fairy cover appealing to children and adult piano students.  With many thanks to Eleanor Gummer for her dedication to publishing Gena Branscombe's music in the 21st century.   Over 100 years ago these piano pieces were charming and appropriate for young children or adults learning to play piano.  The same holds true today.  Music crosses the path of time to reach the depths of our souls. #BringingBackBranscombe