Music Meets Drama

With 150 art songs in her compositional output, Gena Branscombe set the words of famous and not-so-famous poets to music.   Her mother's poetry became song and her own poems set to music were dedicated to her mother and her daughters.   One often wonders why a specific poem catches the attention of a composer.   When reading a poem that touches their inner feelings, does a melody form in their mind?   Maybe the poet approached the composer with their own works suggesting a collaboration. Whatever Gena Branscombe felt about the poems she set, her songs beautifully imbue the words with melody, complex harmony and quivering emotion that grasps not only the performers but the audience as well.   The poets must have been pleased. As a young ambitious music student, Canadian Katherine Hale (1878-1956) foresaw herself on the operatic stage with a career that took her around the world to perform in all the major opera houses.   Her singing career tra...

  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 ...

In the early 20th century two women stood out as leaders of women composers, promoters of American music and in particular American women composers.   These women were friends and colleagues   ... Mrs. Amy Beach and Gena Branscombe.   Their intersecting lives left an indelible mark on American music and today's women composers benefit from the paths these two laid down for them.   Mrs. Amy Beach was born Amy Marcy Cheney in Henniker, New Hampshire in 1867 and became Mrs. H.H.A. Beach in 1885 when at the age of 18 she married the famous physician, Henry Harris Aubrey Beach.   She was a child prodigy on the piano making her concert debut at the age of 16 in Boston.   Imagine my surprise when I first met Gena Tenney Phenix in 2000 and asked her if during her childhood had she ever met Mrs. Beach?   Her response was, "Oh, you mean Aunt Amy?   No, I do not remember meeting her though I know she was in our home when we lived on West 82nd Stree...

Blame……as human beings we often blame or find fault with others for our failings or missteps while as individuals we fall short of being aware that it was “me” who is at the center of personal controversy. Yet, maybe blaming someone else could have a positive effect on a friendship, especially all in good humor, is a good thing! Over the past few years as I’ve written my blog about composer Gena Branscombe, I have also given tribute to people who helped me down this unknown path of recording, creating a one-woman show, writing a blog and what to do next. It’s my turn to say “It’s Roger’s Fault”…..who’s Roger? Roger DeWitt, my former upstairs neighbor. Of course, some could question, former? Did he leave because I drove him out with my practicing? No, Roger left by his own decision yet before doing that his foot prints on my life and Gena project were made indelible. In 1998 Roger purchased the apartment above Dan’s and mine from Evan Pappas, yes the Evan who is the director of...

Friends will surprise you with the most wonderful, thoughtful gifts.   During a visit with Ina Torton, friend, massage therapist extraordinaire and real estate agent, she handed me a beautiful volume of Emily Dickinson poems.   Gold lettering, white lilies with gold stems and a bee on a turquoise blue cloth cover.   Beautiful, just beautiful.   Having gone through her bookshelves, Ina came upon this volume of Emily's poems and gave it to me.   What an appropriate gift as Ina knew that along with my friend, Barbara Dana, our Emily Dickinson show, “A Voice of Her Own” had just had its second reading here in New York City .   In November 2011, “A Voice of Her Own” had its first reading for an invited audience. See my blog posting of February 24, 2012.  My ending statement was that the show was a work in progress and indeed over the past year, we have worked hard as a team….Kate Bushman, Barbara Dana, Martin Hennessy, Amelia Campbe...

Having composed 150 art songs during her long career, Gena Branscombe’s vocal works were performed by renowned opera singers of her era who gloried in singing beautiful, romantic music. A famous person putting forth her music in concert meant audience members might seek her out, then purchase her sheet music! In addition to the well-known singers, there were voice teachers, Broadway and Vaudeville performers, oratorio and recital specialists and even church choir members who promoted the expressive and lilting songs by Miss Branscombe. During a number of our talk-backs after performances of “Life! Love! Song! A Visit with Gena Branscombe,” Martin and I have answered questions about Miss Branscombe’s life, family and music, our work together and much more. One of the questions that seems to recur is, “Who sang her songs during her lifetime? And, where did they perform them?” Now for the answer to those questions. Recently I purchased a copy of her song, “The Morning Wind” an...

March 12, 2012, an e-mail from Melissa Maize, Director of Resource Development at the Good Samaritan Society Quiburi Mission in Benson , Arizona ,   “ I believe that one of our residents, Mary Jo Steebner, is in your photo! Please contact me.” The photo mentioned is of the Branscombe Choral performing at Town Hall in 1949 and is posted on my website. Of all the stories I could recount about my contact with former Branscombe Choral members or their family members, the one that touches me the most is Melissa’s.   A resident in their dementia unit, who though not very communicative, had told Melissa she had sung with the Branscombe Choral.   There were no family members or friends to corroborate Mary Jo’s life journey.   Melissa asked if I would have any information that would help her engage her resident to tell her story.   My response was that Miss Steebner had been a member for only one concert, December 1954, the final concert of the...