Music Meets Drama

  Walking into the Library of Congress Music Reading Room on Monday, August 4th, this was the scene at the request counter.....research gloves hung out to dry. Brittle, old and deteriorating paper manuscripts, scores, pictures and articles often must be preserved and protected by wearing white gloves.  Human hands with their natural oils and hand cream could make these treasured items weaken or fall apart, thus the gloves. Over the weekend, these gloves had been washed and were now drying on the counter top.  Visiting researchers would be wearing the gloves in the next few hours. Ah, the life of a researcher! #BringingBackBranscombe

  Gather four people together; discuss dates for travel to the Library of Congress in Washington, DC - August 4, 5 and 6; plan for our individual research projects with our collective interest in the archives of publisher Arthur P. Schmidt of Boston; alert the Library of Congress we will be there on said dates – all this planning created a memorable three days in our nation’s library. (John Adams Building - Library of Congress)   Who were these four people?  Dr. Derek Strykowski who is authoring a book about Arthur P. Schmidt, his life and his impact on music publishing in America; Linda Johnson, great granddaughter of Arthur P. Schmidt with her interest in reviewing all the business records and letters from which she would learn more about her great grandfather; Dr. Regan Russell who wrote her dissertation on Gena Branscombe’s 150 art songs was reading women composers' letters written to Schmidt and then, well, me who you know has an interest in Gena Branscombe and who...

In late April, Wendi Maloney of the Library of Congress e-mailed to ask if I would be willing to be interviewed about my work on the music and life of Gena Branscombe.  Most important, was the work on reviving Miss Branscombe's dramatic oratorio, Pilgrims of Destiny .  Below is the hyperlink to the interview. https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2019/07/inquiring-minds-rediscovering-one-of-americas-leading-songwriters/ Over the past 20 years, it has been my honor to work on Gena's music and life.  There is more to come in the future - stay tuned! #BringingBackBranscombe

  “Declassified: Women Composers Hiding in Plain Sight”.   What an interesting title for a blog written by Melissa Wertheimer, Music Reference Specialist, at the Library of Congress.   Click on the link below and read about Melissa’s first days working for the Library of Congress, finding a picture of five women composers with no identification.   Her search through the Library’s various collections to solve the mystery of the five women in the photo is intriguing. https://blogs.loc.gov/music/2018/05/women-composers-hidden-in-plain-sight/ The five women are (left to right):   Phyllis Fergus, Ethel Glenn Hier, Amy Beach, Harriet Ware and Gena Branscombe.  They were in Washington, DC having been invited to join the League of American Pen Women.  These five were the elite women composers of their day.  This past November, Melissa presented her research in a lecture also entitled, “Declassified: Women Composers Hiding in Plain S...

In May 2015, I wrote a blog entry about Gena Branscombe’s dramatic oratorio, Pilgrims of Destiny .   There was a detailed description of what was happening in Miss Branscombe’s and her family’s life at the time.   Also, I had found an original 1929 piano/vocal score online and purchased it.   Please go back and read the posting. This blog is about Pilgrims of Destiny and wonderful news to share with you.   Pilgrims of Destiny will be performed Saturday, April 27, 2019 at Clark University in Worcester, MA.  Dan Ryan, Director of Choral Activities at Clark University, will conduct this work which has not been performed since 1940.   When I began work on my Gena Branscombe Project, it was always my dream to see that Pilgrims of Destiny be performed once again. Last year I received an e-mail from conductor Dan Ryan telling me had found the score and was interested in performing the work.  Several weeks later we spoke by ph...

  The Elusive Arthur P. Schmidt Gena Branscombe's music publishers were numerous and among them was Arthur P. Schmidt of Boston, Massachusetts.    In   my January 2011 blog entry, I wrote the following paragraphs about him..... "German born Arthur Schmidt (1846-1921) was a trailblazer for American composers and in particular American women composers.   In my mind and opinion he broke down barriers, sought out potential that could be developed into the brightest and best.   He proved that the word composer had no gender bias to it….a composer is a composer whether man or woman!   What I have found most interesting about Mr. Schmidt is the personal interest he took in his composers.   At the Library of Congress in Washington , DC is the entirety of his business records.   There are ledger books for sales of each composer’s works, royalties paid, copyright filings, renewals and expirations, inventory listings, files with each ...