Music Meets Drama: Katey J. Halbert and Pacific Sketches

Thursday, July 15, 2021

Katey J. Halbert and Pacific Sketches

The Gena Branscombe postings on my blog have centered on her vocal music, singers who performed her songs as well as her life and career. Little has been written about the instrumental music she composed. That’s my fault.

Gena’s instrumental works were not published as her songs and piano pieces were. Her orchestral and instrumental compositions are in manuscript held at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Several weeks ago I was searching YouTube for Gena Branscombe recordings that may have been posted. What a wonderful surprise to come upon Katey J. Halbert’s recordings of Miss Branscombe’s Pacific Sketches for French horn and piano.

A trip to Hawaii in 1955 was the inspiration for these works. Flying to San Francisco from New York, then boarding an ocean liner, on board Gena attended Hawaiian cultural lectures and took hula lessons. She was 74 years old! Way to go, Gena!

The sound of bells playing gospel hymns intrigued her. She included that musical memory into her piece “Kona Beach” which is a movement in Pacific Sketches. Later she composed “Homeport” and “Night in the Islands” to round out the work.

The pieces were played live on WNYC in February 1956 for the Annual American Music Festival and again in April 1956 at the New York Federation of Music Clubs Biennial Convention. Katey Halbert’s recordings are the first in 65 years!

Katey Halbert’s recording came about as part of her doctoral project. Searching for French horn pieces composed by women, she found Miss Branscombe’s “Pacific Sketches.” Thanks to Katey’s beautiful playing and to her great pianist, Casey Dierlam Tse, for bringing these pieces alive in the 21^st century.