Music Meets Drama

  In today’s world it is difficult to observe the number of pianos that are left on the curb for pick-up that will then be destroyed.  Yes, there is a video online of a large furniture hauler hoisting a spinet piano into the back of a garbage truck which then crushes the instrument into pieces.  There are also countless pianos listed on E-bay.  From concert and baby grands, to spinets, uprights, old and new, electronic and more, they are for sale or offered for free if you come get them.  Are pianos becoming a musical instrument of the past? How painful it is to watch that beautiful piano be destroyed.  Maybe that piano had been in a family for a generation or two.  Maybe that piano was purchased by parents who saved for years to buy it for their children hoping they would learn to play.  Maybe they practiced every day, maybe not willingly,  but they practiced under the watchful eye of their parents.  Maybe those children would love ma...

  At age 92 Gena Branscombe received what would be her final commission.   Frederick Swann, organist of the Riverside Church in New York City, requested she compose an “Introit” and “Prayer Response” for a morning church service to be held on Mother’s Day in May 1973.     Not to be deterred by her failing eyesight, Gena began writing her own poems then set them to music she quietly held within herself.   Daughter Gena Phenix provided the staff paper and pencils as well as offering to help, but, Gena’s intention was these final pieces would be entirely her own.   By the end of March 1973, the “Introit” was complete followed in April by the “Prayer Response.”   She added a concluding “Amen” to finalize the Mother’s Day Service.     On Sunday, May 13, 1973 accompanied to Riverside Church by daughter Gena and her husband Philip, Gena Branscombe listened to the choir sing her “Introit,” ”Prayer Response” and the closing “Amen.”   Her fina...

  Binghamton musicians added to the value of events musical in this city yesterday when the Harmony Club presented a program of Gena Branscombe compositions at a musicale in the Monday Afternoon club. With this popular composer as conductor and honor guest, with an audience that taxed the capacity of the clubroom auditorium, and with a well balanced and artistically presented musical menu, the event proved one of those pleasant, artistic hours of music such as gladden the hearts and find instant response in the minds of music lovers. Proof that American music has made marked strides during the last few years is evidenced by the artistry of the Branscombe compositions, full of color and of charm. Vocal and instrumental numbers were interpretated in an interesting manner.   The Binghamton Press, Tuesday evening, February 28, 1928   Among Gena Branscombe’s 1928 letters to her publisher, Mr. Austin, at Arthur P. Schmidt Publishing, is the original newspaper article fro...

  The Gena Branscombe Project has announced their 2022 scholarship winners.   We congratulate these talented musicians and wish them all the best as they move forward with their careers.   The Gena Branscombe Project has awarded its 2022 Composer scholarship to Alexandra Bellhaven . In addition to being a composer, Alexandra is a musical theater writer, pianist, and conductor with a passion for the art of telling stories. She is a current student at Berklee College of Music in Boston where she studies Film Scoring and Composition with minors in Musical Theater writing and conducting. Alexandra’s niche is telling the hidden stories that affect a large population of people; the stories of the silent majority. Whether that is the stories of addiction, or the transformation of love in all forms, Ally seeks out art that generates the feeling of community in a unique way. When not storytelling, you can find Ally training for the Chicago 2022 marathon,   Congra...

  What could singer Oliver Steward, Metropolitan Opera star tenor, Frederick Jagel, and sports announcer Graham McNamee possibly have in common?   First, they are all American born, second, the obvious answer would be a connection to Gena Branscombe.   And, yes, all three of them sang her song, “At the Postern Gate” from her song cycle, “Songs of the Unafraid.”   In Gena’s November 14, 1928 letter to Mr. Austin at Arthur P. Schmidt Publishing, she mentions that Oliver Steward had sung the song at a private musicale and at the Plaza Hotel.   She happened to meet Mr. Frederick Jagel of the Metropolitan Opera who told her he had also sung the song at a private musicale and would be singing it over the radio in January.   In what seems to be a whimsical after thought in her letter, she asks if Graham McNamee singing that song on the radio had “stirred up a little life!”   There is no information about Oliver Steward on the internet.   I will s...

  With thanks to Matt Spangler for inviting me to be interviewed for his podcast “ The Ladies Speak .”   Speaking about Gena Branscombe for over 3 hours was a new one for me.   Guided by Matt, it was easy.   Damali Willingham, The Gena Branscombe Project 2020 Composer scholarship winner, joined the session to speak about the experience of arranging and conducting Gena’s “Festival Prelude.”   What a pro Damali is! Thanks to Dave at Pod617 studio who made me feel comfortable and at ease. Forgive my poor photographs of Dave’s wrist band advertising, but, it is very creative and I had to share it. The podcast will be posted on “The Ladies Speak” website in early 2023.   Of course, we will post it as soon as it is available. In the meantime, the recording session is “A WRAP!”

  NATIONAL LEAGUE OF AMERICAN PEN WOMEN, INC. - Linking creative women since 1897 The Santa Clara, California Chapter of the National League of American Pen Women invited me to give a presentation about Gena Branscombe’s involvement with the Pen Women.  On Saturday, November 5 th , I presented my speech.  I offer my thanks to Luanna Leisure, President of the Chapter, for the invitation and organizing the meeting and to the members and guests who were an engaged audience. Below is the link to the video:   https://www.dropbox.com/s/x0f1kbhsayzlu3j/NLAPW_Branscombe.mp4?dl=0 Enjoy!    

  It was Christmas Day dinner 1983 in my apartment in Elmhurst, Queens.   Among those at the table were my friends Jon, Greg, Edwin McArthur and his wife, Peggy.   The dinner conversation flowed between multiple subjects including church music of the season, politics and the weather.   Once those subjects faded into eating the main course and dessert, Edwin began to hold court with his reminiscences of his colorful, storied and many years in the classical music world.   We peppered Edwin with questions about famous opera singers of his long career.  He knew all of them, had worked with them and had very strong opinions about each and everyone of them.     It was either 1981 or 1982 when my friend Jon introduced me to Edwin.   He insisted that we would hit it off and I would enjoy hearing Edwin’s stories.   Jon was right.     Edwin arrived in New York City in the late 1920s.   He was the son of a Colorado minister....

  A new photo of Gena Branscombe appeared in my e-mail thanks to her grandson, Roger.  What a lovely picture it is.   By the style of the dress, hat and handbag, I would guess the photo was taken in the 1940s.  Looking closely at her hands, she is holding a baton.  On the back of the picture it says, “Gena at our Spring luncheon.”   I presume the luncheon would have been the Branscombe Choral Spring luncheon.  No date or identifying information is given.