Music Meets Drama

This past week was a banner week for finding Gena Branscombe’s sheet music on either Amazon or E-bay. Real treasures were found and I bought each one! Much to my surprise the original 1913 edition of her song cycle, “Lute of Jade” was for sale on E-bay. A muted brown cover with soft green lettering and held together with a small maroon cord, this song cycle features poems by various Chinese poets of the Age of Enlightenment (AD 700-834) and were translated by L. Cranmer Byng. Arthur P. Schmidt published the song cycle! Dedicated to the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs Chorus, “The Arkansaw Traveler” was published in 1942 by J. Fischer & Bro. An American folk song arranged for four part women’s chorus, this copy is in mint condition and a wonderful addition to my collection. “I Bring You Heartsease” published by Arthur P. Schmidt in 1915 is one of the most common of her works I find online. A waltz with words by Gena herself, it is dedicated to her mother,...

Music teachers…..the words evoke memories of our first piano teacher who helped us learn the names of the lines and spaces on the staff, note names and values, rhythm, and, practicing every day for a half hour as our fingers fumbled on those first pieces. What has that piano teacher memory to do with Gena Branscombe? In her extensive career Gena had numerous music teachers and professors whose guidance and teaching abilities help jettison her into the public eye. Yes, those teachers had a diligent pupil who took her studies seriously, who strove to have a music career by her hard work and determination, never sitting on her laurels yet always looking for an opportunity of self-promotion. One-on-one lessons with music teachers are more than just one hour of playing or singing your assigned pieces. They are sessions of intense personal happenings that deal with not only notes, phrasing, tone color and technique, but also, one’s emotions in expressing what the composer intended. Te...

Over the past 11 years I have been fortunate enough to purchase some of Gena Branscombe’s sheet music found on either Ebay or Amazon. Sheet music covers from her era could be works of art. It is easy to see that most of her covers were rather subdued which may be have been her choice or that of the publisher. Enjoy a look at some of her sheet music. With a photo of the St. Lawrence river, this song features poetry by the composer who was ever dedicated to her beloved Canada. Schmidt published this song in 1921. As poet and composer Gena's song "Autumn Wind so Wistful" was published in 1911 and republished in 1914 by Arthur Schmidt. Published by Schmidt in 1917, Gena set the poetry of Katherine Tynan. Gena teamed with her friend,fellow Canadian and poet Arthur Stringer to compose this song. Published in 1945 by Arthur Stringer. This is dedicated to the World War II Canadian soldiers. "Songs of the Unafraid" and ...

In 1899 at the ripe age of 18 while in college, Gena Branscombe’s song “For Love’s Abroad in Springtime Eves” was published by the Hatch Music Company of Philadelphia. Imagine….over one hundred years ago, a woman composer had found a publisher to release her song. I try to comprehend that idea and often wonder how she managed to get published for the first time, then, just two years later in 1901, four of her piano pieces were published by the Canadian firm Whaley, Royce and Company. Two different music publishers in two years. It is difficult to grasp how hard it was for composers, even more so, women composers to be published. Composers submitted their compositions to music publishers who looked at the marketability of the piece, took into consideration the cost of type setting the music, printing, distribution, hopefully it would sell and the composer would earn royalties. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries people purchased sheet music with fancy colorful engaging art wor...

Norman Carlberg, Evan Pappas & Ellen Harvey…..all three directors of “Life! Love! Song! A Visit with Gena Branscombe.” A one-woman show ….how does one person get so lucky to have three wonderful directors? Life is not predictable or fair at times. In my April 8, 2010, blog I wrote of my first director, Norman Carlberg, who gave wings to my show and saw me through to the opening night at the Liederkranz Club in April 2004. I am thankful to him for comprehending and supporting my mission to get Gena Branscombe’s life story out to the world. Norm died suddenly of a heart attack in July 2005. At that time I was about to go back into rehearsals with Norm for upcoming performances. Evan Pappas, my co-author, and I had rewritten the script, made cuts and sharpened the show. I was excited to get back on my feet and perform this diamond of a show. Norm’s death meant I had no director and was in need of someone to help me put the show back together. Without hesitation I called Evan a...

There is no need to tally up the years one has had a dedicated friend as the number is meaningless, the quality of friendship, a blessing in one’s life and, ….well, priceless, to quote an advertisement. Thus it is with my treasured friend Julie TeSlaa. We met while Julie was in Junior High School and I was in college. It’s frightening to say that I was Julie’s voice teacher….what did I know about vocal technique in those years? Oh, dear me…..next to nothing. Still, Julie and I became fast friends. She was introduced to opera when I took her to hear/see the Metropolitan Opera during their Spring tour in Minneapolis. She heard art song recitals by the great singers when they also came to Minneapolis. She was a sponge taking it all in. As for Julie as a singer, with a 1000 watt smile, her sweet voice comes with the heart and soul of a performer. Standing a mere 4’10” she had the ability to draw you into her world of a song touching the audience’s soul. So time marches on and ...

As I have written my blog entries, I realized recently that more has been said about my Gena Branscombe project than about Gena Branscombe the person. When I perform my lecture recital, “Gena Branscombe: Her Life in Poetry & Song” after singing the opening song, I begin speaking with the statement, “Gena Branscombe born Picton, Ontario, November 4, 1881 died New York City July 1977. Daughter, woman, wife, working mother with four daughters, pianist, accompanist, composer, conductor; founder, conductor, fund raiser and organizer for over twenty years of her women’s chorus The Branscombe Choral, leader of women holding executive offices in such organizations as the National League of American Pen Women, General Federation of Women’s Clubs, National Federation of Music Clubs, Society of American Women Composers, Altrusa International and more…..oh, and did I mention, she was the mother of four?” Here in pictures is Gena’s life with a little commentary. I trust this will expla...