Music Meets Drama

The insights of the written word when given to its reader are limitless.  Recently I have been reading Gena Branscombe’s letters to her publisher, Arthur P. Schmidt of Boston.  Her letters begin in early January 1911 and continue through December 1951.  The correspondence is abundant covering what works will be published, royalties, what concerts she was performing and the singers who were performing her songs.  She included personal matters of what her children were doing, their shenanigans and the advice her husband gave her.  Then one particular letter caught my attention with Miss Branscombe’s philosophical and heartfelt admiration of a composer.   Her writing style is in the moment of what goes through her mind.   She uses dashes as a way of pausing to think of what she will express next.   In her letter to Schmidt dated June 26, 1915, she writes, “The work of Wagner is to me so transcendental -   that I personally feel ...

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

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...

Twenty years have passed since I began my Gena Project, as I call it.   Many of you have read and heard how I discovered her music, my journey through her life, co-authoring and performing a one-woman show, writing articles and giving talks about composer Gena Branscombe. Through the twenty years there have been countless people who have helped me, encouraged me, contacted me and been cheerleaders for the work I was doing.   As I look back, I have been blessed by each of these people, what they have generously given me and for their friendship. Very few of my Gena people had met one another and in some ways, they were compartmentalized because of their location or expertise.   Yet, each day I have been thankful for all of their contributions to my work. When Dan Ryan, Director of Choral Activities, at Clark University in Worcester, MA, announced he would be performing Gena Branscombe’s oratorio Pilgrims of Destiny on April 27, 2019, I knew that was the day ...

With many thanks to the Honourable Neil Ellis, Member of Parliament, Bay of  Qunite, for the letter below:

Richard Duckett of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette wrote a feature article about this Saturday's performance of Gena Branscombe's dramatic oratorio, Pilgrims of Destiny.   Conducted by Dan Ryan, Director of Choral Activities at Clark University, the concert includes the Clark University choirs, soloists, children's choir and orchestra.  A woman composer's award winning work will have its first performance in the 21st century! https://www.telegram.com/entertainmentlife/20190420/rediscovered-choral-drama-by-woman-composer-to-be-performed-at-clark-university-in-worcester #BringingBackBranscombe

On Saturday evening, April 27th, the Clark University Choirs under the direction of Dan Ryan will perform Gena Branscombe's dramatic oratorio, Pilgrims of Destiny .   Composed in 1919, the 1929 premiere of this work was given in Plymouth, MA with the last known performance in 1940.  This performance will mark the 21st century premiere of Miss Branscombe's masterpiece.   The concert is free and open to the public.  Please join us in Worcester, MA at Clark University's Atwood Hall for what will be an exciting evening of beautiful music.  #BringingBackBranscombe