Thursday, December 28, 2023

Journal of the IAWM – International Alliance of Women in Music

 


This month’s Journal of the IAWM,  International Alliance of Women in Music, featured an article about The Gena Branscombe Project’s 2023 scholarship winners. 







Congratulations to Brittney Benton, Hannah Nacheman and Roslinde Rivera. 

Keep watching for announcements of the 2024 Gena Branscombe Project scholarships!



#BringingBackBranscombe

Friday, December 15, 2023

Hail Ye Tyme of Holie-dayes (A Chrystmasse Song)

 

Chrystmasse seasons filled with joy, sadness, melancholy, sentimental remembrances, thankfulness for gifts received, gatherings of friends and family are what nearly every person experiences during their lifetime of Holie-dayes. 


For Gena Branscombe there were many of those same experiences.  In her December 14, 1917 letter to her publisher Mr. Schmidt she wrote,

“There is a foretaste of what the years will bring – this Christmas – a poignancy that has never existed before.  And just now we are waiting for later news of my cousin Gerald – who was severely wounded and gassed a few days ago.  I wish you could have seen the two older babies frolicking in the snow – this afternoon with their cheeks like peonies.  They’re both so huge that they can hardly both sit on their used –to-be capacious sled – and when their wicked mother would give an unexpected pull – one or the other would roll merrily off.  They are great fun.”


Miss Branscombe wrote of her cousin who was fighting and was wounded in Europe during World War I.  Concern, worry, sadness turns to her recounting of the joy she experienced playing in the snow with her two oldest babies, Gena and Vivian. 

In various other letters to Schmidt she wrote of Chrystmasse travel to Methuen, MA to spend the holie-dayes with her husband’s family.  Or a Chrystmasse trip to Methuen was thwarted due to “Gena had Grippe – and while she was able to be out a day or so before Christmas – we didn’t dare risk it …”  (December 26, 1915 letter).  Another letter explains she had no time to send out cards or have a picture taken of daughter Gena because she was out of town playing concerts. 

Now why the two different spellings of the word Christmas/Chrystmasse or the word Holie-dayes?


As a composer, Gena Branscombe added her Chrystmasse song to the published and performed repertoire in 1912.  With poet Kendall Banning the two combined talents to write “Hail Ye Tyme of Holie-dayes.”  Mr. Banning’s poetry harkens back to olde English which I am sure delighted Miss Branscombe.  A sprightly, upbeat tune acknowledging love, laughter, fun, follie, garb worn by the poor and Noblesse.  Encouraging songs of happiness will help rid sorrow and madrigals for all because Chryst will be with ye alle! 

 

“Hail Ye Tyme of Holiedayes” published by the Arthur P. Schmidt Co. of Boston  sold well and was performed frequently by famous singers David Bishpham, Laurence Tibbett, Norman Joliffe, Penelope Davis and many others.  Miss Branscombe arranged the solo song for women’s chorus, SATB and TTBB.  Even more sales were made.  Royalties to help with Chrystmasse expenses were received with glee and thankfulness.







While we have worked to bring Gena Branscombe’s music into the 21st century, I want to express my my heart-filled thanks to the Branscombe/Tenney/Phenix family for their gifts of support, kindness and generosity.


Enjoy the sentiment of the Holie-dayes poem

Hail Ye Tyme of Holie-Dayes  (A Song of Chrystmasse)

Kendall Banning, poet,   dedicated to David Bispham

 

Hail Ye tyme of holie-dayes,

Mistletoe and Hollie;

Love and laughter, feastings after,

Beckon fun and follie.

 

Simple folke in humble garbe,
Noblesse in their golde,

Hail to-day, in brave array.

Chrystmasse as of olde.

 

Sing but songs of happiness,

‘vaunt ye thoughts of sorrow;

Troublings cease in tyme of peace,

Cares will seare ye-morrow

 

Simple songs for lowlie friends,

Madrigals for halle;

Reste ye, Chrysten gentel-folke;

Chryst be with ye alle!

 

 #BringingBackBranscombe

Monday, December 4, 2023

Micah Gleason, Conductor

 


The Gena Branscombe Project has been in existence for five years.  In 2024 we will be awarding scholarships to an up-and-coming arts administrator, conductor and composer for the fifth consecutive year.  It has been an honor to follow the career paths of our winners.





This past Saturday our 2021 Conductor’s Scholarship winner, Micah Gleason, conducted her graduation concert at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.  Choosing a program of De Falla’s “Three Cornered Hat, Suites 1 & 2, Jessie Montgomery’s “Coincident Dances” and the Sibelius Symphony No. 1, Micah led the orchestra in a subtle and exciting performance of each of these works. 




Micah has carried on Miss Branscombe’s belief in education that will further a career, mentoring those with whom she works and dedicated work that leads to performing music with the highest standards possible. 

Below is the link to Micah’s concert.  Listen and you will understand why she won The Gena Branscombe Project’s conductor’s scholarship in 2021.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq2EYcUODVM

Congratulations, Micah!


#BringingBackBranscombe