Music Meets Drama

  Over the years of working on my Gena Project, the number of surprise moments has never ceased to amaze me.   People contact me whether former members of the Branscombe Choral, relatives of Branscombe Choral members, a researcher who years ago interviewed her in person, relatives of Miss Branscombe and more.   Always these moments take me by surprise since they open new doors of understanding the past and enhance my connection to Gena Branscombe….always. Two weeks ago I received an e-mail from Dr. Derek Strykowski, Associate Teaching Professor, Historical Musicology at the University of Buffalo.   Dr. Strykowski is writing a book about Arthur P. Schmidt, his personal life and career in the music publishing business.   My blog postings extolling the publisher’s passion for promoting American women composers in a day when women were thought to be second class musicians caught Derek’s interest.   Margaret Ruthven Lang, Clara Kathleen Rogers, Gena Branscom...

  Christmas Eve – the year 1906 - classical music was first broadcast on the radio from Brant Rock, Massachusetts.   Over the air-waves people heard a phonograph recording of Handel’s “Largo.” Reginald Fessenden and F.W. Alexanderson were the inventors’ team who created the broadcast with Fessenden closing the program with, “Merry Christmas.”   A few short years later in 1910 Enrico Caruso was heard live from the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.   Radio became a major venue for classical music and by 1920 and into the 1930s programs such as “Bell Telephone Hour,” “Voice of Firestone,” and “Cities Service Concerts” filled the air with classical music.    Arturo Toscanini led the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Live broadcasts from the Metropolitan Opera were heard.  These performances drew large audiences.    Families gathered around their radios to listen to great performances by the top classical musicians of the day. Those 20 years of...

The Gena Branscombe Project is now accepting applications for its 2025 scholarships.  We honor the music and life of Miss Branscombe by mentoring up-and-coming arts administrators, conductors and composers by awarding yearly scholarships. Go to the website: www.thegenabranscombeproject.com to find  scholarship information and application.  The deadline is May 9, 2025.   #BringingBackBranscombe