Spirit of Motherhood

About a month ago one of my “Google Alerts” caught my eye….a piece of Gena Branscombe’s sheet music was for sale on Amazon.  To my surprise, an original publication of “Spirit of Motherhood” was available.  I quickly purchased it.  The music arrived a few days later in beautiful condition. 

In today’s world the words may seem sentimental or even out-of-date and the music may be a little over-the-top dramatic, yet at the time it was composed, poet Louise Driscoll (1875-1957) and Gena Branscombe were giving tribute to the most difficult job in the world – motherhood.

In 1923 the New York State Federation of Women’s Clubs held a pageant showcasing the progress women had made in the past 50 years.  “Spirit of Motherhood” was performed by the Women’s Club chorus.  Imagine the progress made for women from 1873-1923.

This was a celebration honoring women’s suffrage, the work their leaders Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone and Susan B. Anthony had organized for many years that culminated in the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution.  "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."

Women could vote.  Mothers could vote for their future and the future of their children and families.

When we judge a piece of historic music by today's standards and what women composers are doing today, maybe we ought to stop, think, look at history and remember what women composers were accomplishing nearly 100 years ago for the rights of women.

A sentimental tribute to motherhood...very fitting even today as it is the spirit of love and acceptance without judgment.  

Miss Peg McIntyre - Gem of a Teacher

In our adult lifetimes we can look back at the teachers whose classes we attended whether in grade school, high school or college then wonder how we ever learned anything.  Yet, amongst the multitude of teachers are gems, real gems of education who taught us their passion for the subject matter. 

In my education which includes a Master degree, I have had maybe five outstanding teachers and many fine teachers.  One of those outstanding gems of a teacher was my freshman in High School English teacher, Miss Peg McIntyre.  From her I learned the basics of our language and most important I learned to love Shakespeare.  We studied and read out loud “The Merchant of Venice” with Miss Mac reading Shylock.  She explained the meaning of each scene, the under currents of the plot, each character’s motivation and the history of the play’s era. 

Miss Mac advised her class to have a dictionary at hand when reading Shakespeare.  You must look up all the words you don't know and write the definitions in the margin so you will remember them!  To this day when I read Shakespeare, my dictionary is next to my book from which I am reading the play.

A few years ago when Al Pacino performed Shylock in the “Merchant of Venice” for Shakespeare in the Park, Dan and I were lucky enough to get tickets.  I had no time to review or even read the play in preparation.  As I sat in the outdoor theatre mesmerized by the performances at hand, I recalled the play as if I had studied it with Miss Mac just a short while ago.  The plot unfolded, I remembered much of the dialogue and the characters’ motivations and for me it was thrilling.

Having stayed in touch with Miss Mac over the years, I wrote her a note thanking her for being the gem of a teacher she was and telling her how the story and characters of “Merchant of Venice” had come alive because of her all these many years later.  Nearly two weeks went by when the phone rang, on the other end, Miss Mac saying how surprised she was to get my note.  We laughed, reminisced and then she explained something that took me by surprise.

My freshman year was the first time in her many years of teaching that she had taught “Merchant of Venice” and she was scared teaching it to us.  “Scared?,” I said and her response was, “I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.  I was afraid you students were not learning the play.”  I reassured her she had taught the play just fine! 

Miss Mac left my high school after my freshman year, went on to teach elsewhere and then married.  As I said, we stayed in touch.  Yearly I sent her a birthday card with a letter.  Two weeks ago I sent her a belated Happy Birthday card and in today’s mail I received a letter from her husband telling me she had died in July.  My heart sank….my gem of an English teacher who taught me to love Shakespeare is gone having left an indelible mark on me and I am sure many of her other students. 

Grace “Peg” McIntyre Lamb….a classy lady, always dressed in the most beautiful clothes, hair coiffed, nails manicured, with an Irish glint in her eye, a smile that lit up her classroom and a gem of a teacher.  Miss Mac, you will always be with me every time I attend a Shakespeare play because you knew how to teach…even if you didn’t know what the hell you were doing.  

Hail Ye Tyme of Holiedayes

By the time Halloween arrived this year, we were bombarded with Christmas commercials on television, stores that were decorated for the Holiday and announcements were made as to how early retailers will be opening on Thanksgiving Day.   What happened to Halloween?  What happened to Thanksgiving?  What happened to Christmas shopping and advertising starting the day after Thanksgiving?  OK, I’m giving away my age and my disgust at the consumerism that has become our Holiday season. 

Writing this blog just two weeks before Thanksgiving, I remind myself of all the beautiful Christmas music that will flood the airwaves very shortly.  Gorgeous secular tunes that remind us of how wonderful it will be to be home for Christmas, twelve days of Christmas with birds, dancers and golden rings for gifts and then, reindeer with red noses set a mood of crisp winter air.  Carolers may appear at your door singing “O Holy Night” or “O Christmas Tree.”  Our memories recall these words and melodies easily, no matter what our age. 

In 1912, Arthur P. Schmidt published Gena Branscombe’s beautiful Christmas song, “Hail Ye Tyme of Holiedayes” with words by Kendall Banning.  Yes, old English words were used to give a feeling of merry old England’s celebration of Chrystmasse.  Recalling mistletoe, hollie, feastings, noblesses dressed in gold and songs of happiness, the poet and composer declare a tyme of peace, madrigals for halle and that Chrysten gentlefolke be reminded that Chryst will be with alle! 

A bright, cheerful song filled with Gena’s usual zest for life, “Hail Ye Tyme of Holiedayes” became her best selling song earning her more royalty money than any of her other published compositions.  Not only did she compose this as a solo song in a multitude of keys, her own Branscombe Choral performed it in an SSAA arrangement nearly every year on their Christmas concert at the Broadway Tabernacle Church.  They also performed it for the commuters at Grand Central Station and Pennsylvania Station in New York.  In addition, she arranged the song for SATB and men’s chorus.  She covered all the bases of publishing this work for every possible musical need!

This Christmas song is performed during my one-woman show where Gena recalls her beloved Branscombe Choral’s lush, rich sound from the alto section!

A beautiful Christmas anthem not in the standard Holiedaye repertoire today, yet a song that clearly expresses Miss Branscombe’s old fashioned beliefs. 

May all of our Holiedayes whether it be Chanukah, Christmas, Winter Solstice or Kwanza be filled  with peace, kindness, happiness and gentlefolke!

Wider Than the Sky - Emily Dickinson International Society

Founded in 1988 and now celebrating its 25th year of existence, the Emily Dickinson International Society (EDIS) encourages the continuing study of our great poet's life and works.

Their presence is felt in local chapters worldwide, through continued publication of scholarly papers published in journals, sponsoring international conferences and awarding scholarships to promote the continued study of Emily's impact not only in the literary world but on the world stage. 

The University of Maryland at College Park hosted this year's international conference from August 8-11th.  A gathering of Emily scholars celebrated "Emily Dickinson, World Citizen"  with research papers, panel discussions, creative presentations and performances by a variety of actors and musicians. 

 To fit into an evening of Emily Dickinson musical performances, Barbara Dana trimmed "Wider Than the Sky" to 30 minutes highlighting scenes from the show.  Again, we had the lovely Elizabeth Morton as Emily and Martin Hennessy playing piano. Jamie Smithson and Laurie McCants joined us to create several characters in Emily's life. 

Having an audience filled with Emily Dickinson scholars and afficianados could be a bit daunting.  Yet, they were attentive and drawn into the story and show Barbara and I have developed.  What a pleasure it was to bring a new facet of Emily to the Emily Dickinson International Society conference.

"Wider Than the Sky", as I've said several times, continues to be a work in progress and a journey ever so worth the process!

Emily Dickinson - The Next Chapter

"I Told Myself to Sing" is now titled "Wider Than The Sky".  Powerful new avenues have come to Barbara Dana's and my dream of a play with music.  With each revision the show gets stronger and deeper.  Emily Dickinson's spirit and spunk sparkle with intensity and purpose.

 

On Friday evening June 7th, Hudson Stage Company in Croton-on-Hudson sponsored our staged reading of "Wider Than The Sky".  The newest version of Barbara's brilliant script inspired all of us to new levels of performance.  With songs and music that were further adapted to fit the flow of Emily's journey of accepting her own death, the show was an emotional success for the actors and audience members alike.

We welcomed Susannah Jones and Morgan Auld to the cast who found voices for multiples of characters who enter Emily's life.  Elizabeth Morton as Emily delved into the poet's soul with elegance.   Again, Martin Hennessy and I offered our musical and dramatic talents.

Also, new to this reading was our director, Anthony Arkin.  A veteran actor and film director, Anthony brought great insights to the show, to our characters and the overall shape of the story. 

Thank you to Hudson StageCompany, Denise Bessette, Dan Foster and Olivia Sklar for making this performance possible, for providing dinner between the rehearsal and performance and for your dedicated audience who attended. 

Emily Dickinson has taken us on an ever evolving dramatic journey.  Next stop on our staged readings calendar was a performance for the Emily Dickinson International Society's conference in College Park, MD.  As I have said before, "Wider Than the Sky" is a work in progress.  Emily Dickinson's inspiring life and poetry cheer us on. 

People Living Through Cancer

Giving of your musical talent for an organization that has been your support group through life-threatening  health issues is a gift of gratitude and a way of paying forward for the people who will need assistance in the future.  This describes my friend, tenor Alex Charles Klebenow, who has organized, produced and performed three concerts benefitting People Living Through Cancer (PLTC) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

 In 2007 Alex was diagnosed with cancer of the groin which metastasized to his spinal column and then his brain.  His fight to hold onto life was won with the help of wonderful doctors, family and friends.  Surviving is only part of cancer recovery.  A patient needs emotional support and a secure place to share as well as express their anger, frustration and issues related to cancer.  Alex found such a place in PLTC and over the past five years since his recovery, he has attended group sessions regularly. 

Gathering his Albuquerque singer friends, accompanists and instrumentalists, he asks them to donate their time and talent.  Alex carefully chooses music that draws in an audience.  He programs  repertoire familiar and not so familiar, finds solo pieces for everyone, features a composer from the American song book, finds audience sing-along pieces, writes spoken dialogue for the performers, makes floral arrangements for the stage, arranges receptions to follow the concerts and then, it seems, "VOILA" he has a fund raising concert for PLTC.  Of course, we know it takes countless hours plus much more than what I've written to produce a concert of quality that will raise money.  With heartfelt dedication, Alex has given of himself without reservation to benefit and thank PLTC.

This year I was able to join Alex and his friends for their third annual PLTC concert.  Entitled, "I Shall Hold to Life" the music inspired survival and the gift of life for all.  What an honor it was to be able to perform with Alex, tenor Tom Crow, baritone Alfredo Beltran, bass Peter Tras, wonderful accompanists Daniel Cummings and Mackenzie Reed and instrumentalists Wake Patterson and Chuck Lucero.   Each of the performers was either a cancer survivor or has had cancer touch their lives in family members or friends. 

 Two well-attended concerts raised money for PLTC.   New cancer survivors in Albuquerque will have People Living Through Cancer support in part because of Alex's musical talent and generosity of creating these concerts.  Bravo, Alex.  Mary Ellen, Cindy and Leslie of the People Living Through Cancer organization, thank you for your work helping people through their cancer journey.  You are much needed in this world. 

New Mexico, Land of Enchantment, is indeed enchanting.  The beauty of the land can take your breath away.  The people... friendly, welcoming, warm and with a great sense of humor. 

Mother and Daughters

In previous posts I have often recounted how generous the Branscombe/Tenney/Phenix family has been to me.  My recent correspondence with Gena Branscombe's grandson, Roger, has included a request for a copy of an article she wrote in 1956.  Roger was sure it was in his family files and quickly sent me a pdf copy and along with that article were copies of programs of her music performed in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  My research and reading continues!

As always, Roger, in his search for the things I request, seems to find additional materials or pictures he wants to share with me.  These items take me by complete surprise.

This picture arrived in yesterday's e-mail.  The image took my breath away as it is the first picture of Gena Branscombe I have seen where she is smiling....truly smiling and her face is filled with love for her two daughters which she holds in her arms.  What a joyful picture to share with you my readers!

Thank you, Roger Phenix.