Music Meets Drama

Where would we be without librarians?   In this day of researching on the internet it may seem as though a librarian’s job is something of the past, soon to be expendable.   Au contraire – think again.   A librarian’s job is ever evolving in our world of technological advances.   Their creative drive helps guide new avenues of dynamic research.   Keeping track of online creativity that must be held for future generations is their ever expanding role.   And, there are precious historic items not yet digitized and available online that only they have access to.     Most of all, a real, live librarian, through their experience and knowledge, will act as your guide and mentor opening new pathways of research you have yet to discover.     So it was when I was introduced to George Boziwick nearly 22 years ago.    At the time George was Curator of American Music at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.   At our...

We are hectic and over scheduled people who allow work and other responsibilities to rule our lives.   We take little time to step back, breathe and assess what is happening.   Maybe there will come one day when an unexpected opportunity arises and we question whether we should tear ourselves away.   Maybe we should take a step forward to do something that will bring us joy.   Thus it was Thursday afternoon, June 6th, for me.   A late morning e-mail from Gena Branscombe’s grandson, Roger Branscombe Phenix, said he wanted to go to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts to look through his grandmother’s music.   Should he call or e-mail to let the Special Collections department know he was coming?   In a return e-mail I explained you went to the third floor, requested the music and then waited to see it.   An idea came to me, “Would you like me to go with you?   I have some work to do with the collection.”   The answer...

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...

Finding the few surviving Branscombe Choral members as well as my acquiring the two Branscombe Choral scrapbooks has been a joy. Those dear books, one dated from 1934-1944 and the other 1944-1954, have been in my possession for over four years. I have gone through the yellowed pages of programs, letters, telegrams, newspaper articles, reviews, meeting agendas, mailing lists, and pictures all lovingly scotch-taped onto the pages of the scrapbooks. Branscombe Choral member Emma Davidson was the creator, keeper and conservator. The Davidson family lovingly protected the books through three generations until they came to me. These scrapbooks are filled with memories of a women's chorus created 76 years ago, then disbanded 56 years ago. A piece of history that impacted the musical life of New York City and the lives of the members who adored their conductor and leader. Touching the fragile pages one can nearly feel the vibrancy of life for those 20 years the chorus rehearsed and per...

An art song recital for Valentine's Day, it should be fairly easy to find repertoire to fill out a program. My thought.....what is the greatest love story in the literary world? Why that would be Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning. Is there a a woman composer who set Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem, How Do I Love Thee? Two women-in-music reference books listed Gena Branscombe's settings of six of the Sonnets from the Portuguese as fine pieces of music. Her setting of How Do I Love Thee ? was noted as being one of the best of her era. A small music publisher in Texas had reissued the song cycle, Love in a Life, which included the song I wanted. Who is this woman and why am I now being drawn to her music? When the music arrived I took it to my accompanist Martin Hennessy. His immediate reaction was, "You must record these songs. And, who is she? She composes beautifully." Thus began my journey. Several trips to the New York Public Libra...

Three simple measures -- an original piece of manuscript -- her signature. What a find! A collector's item for sale on e-bay and I must own it. This is one of the first two Branscombe songs I learned in 2000 and it is the opening song on my CD, "Ah! Love, I Shall Find Thee: Songs of Gena Branscombe." Serenade is sung in my one-woman show, "Life! Love! Song! A Visit with Gena Branscombe." My performing career expanded from art song recitals, contemporary music and oratorio to performing the music of this lovely woman composer , famous in her day. After her death her music and original manuscripts were held in boxes at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts until I discovered them and thus began my journey! #BringingBackBranscombe