Music Meets Drama

  November 4, 2021 marked what would have been Gena Branscombe’s 140 th birthday.  Well, it was her 140 th birthday.  This landmark was posted on my Facebook page along with a picture of Gena smiling into the camera.  Friends and colleagues responded with encouraging remarks which touched me deeply.   That same day the BBC Philharmonic, on their Facebook page, posted a short bio and beautiful sketch of Miss Branscombe acknowledging her birthday and her career.   What a surprise and honor for her and her family.   BBC Philharmonic   Composer, pianist and educator Gena Branscombe was   #BornOnThisDay   in 1881.   During her lifetime, the talented composer had 74 of her choral compositions published by 22 different music companies, along with 150 art songs, 13 piano pieces and 8 instrumental works   She followed composer Amy Beach to be elected President of the Society of American Women Composers in the late 1920s   At ...

  The Gena Branscombe postings on my blog have centered on her vocal music, singers who performed her songs as well as her life and career.  Little has been written about the instrumental music she composed.  That’s my fault.    Gena’s instrumental works were not published as her songs and piano pieces were.  Her orchestral and instrumental compositions are in manuscript held at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.    Several weeks ago I was searching YouTube for Gena Branscombe recordings that may have been posted.  What a wonderful surprise to come upon Katey J. Halbert’s recordings of Miss Branscombe’s Pacific Sketches for French horn and piano.    A trip to Hawaii in 1955 was the inspiration for these works.   Flying to San Francisco from New York, then boarding an ocean liner, on board Gena attended Hawaiian cultural lectures and took hula lessons.   She was 74 years old!   Way to go, Gen...

  “Am enclosing a programme of Nevada Van der Veer’s concert” …. ““Happiness” was well received in spite of the fact that the accompanist composed as she went along.”   (from a letter to Arthur P. Schmidt, publisher, dated February 11, 1916)   Today as I was transcribing a few of Gena Branscombe’s letters to her publisher, Arthur P. Schmidt, I came across this quote and it made me laugh out loud.  There is no mention of where the concert was held or the accompanist’s name, which is good.  We all have bad performance days.   Nevada Van der Veer (1884-1958) was a New York City born contralto.   Her first name was derived from the admired American opera singer Emma Nevada (1859-1940).     Miss Van der Veer was a contralto soloist at several New York City churches including Fifth Avenue Presbyterian.   Her singing voice was said to be powerful, even and velvety.   Known for her recital work, she toured frequently.   ...

  A new website has been created with current information and pictures.  Thanks to my web designer, Jeff Williams, for all of his creative and hard work plus his patience through delays. What a wonderful journey, www.kathleenshimeta.com #BringingBackBranscombe

For over 20 years, it has been an honor to work on the music and life of composer Gena Branscombe.  The Gena Branscombe Project is announcing their second annual scholarships for an emerging student conductor, composer and arts administrator.  See details below! The Gena Branscombe Project is proud to announce that applications for the 2021 scholarships will open March 8, 2021, International Women's Day! A scholarship will be awarded to an emerging student composer, conductor, and arts administrator. In addition, this year we will offer a Composer Commission Prize. Details can be found on our website: https://www.thegenabranscombeproject.com/scholarships Please pass on this information to your colleagues, friends and students. #BringingBackBranscombe  

  “To Miss Lucielle Browning – With all good wishes – of Gena Branscombe”   inscribed on a piece of Gena Branscombe’s sheet music.   Who was Lucielle Browning?   An internet search offered information about Miss Browning.    Lucielle was born Lucielle Raynor Brown on February 19, 1913, in Jacksonville, NC and died on August 8, 2011 in Florida.      A number of my blog posts have been about discovering Miss Branscombe’s compositions either on E-bay or Amazon.  On occasion the works found are ones that I own yet I will buy them because they are autographed or inscribed to someone.  On other occasions a piece not in my collection appears for sale and obviously I purchase it.  This blog posting will be about these very reasons for a recent purchase of Gena’s music.  With friend and poet, Arthur Stringer, the two New York based Canadians collaborated on a patriotic hymn written for the Royal Canadian Navy.  “Our Canada...

  This time of year brings on a flurry of shopping for gifts to be given to children, parents, friends and colleagues.   The expectation of finding the correct item is great and the expectation of what we hope we will receive is even greater.   What a rut we have created for an act that should be from a loving heart.   Researching the definition of a “gift” I found numerous meanings.   The most common would be giving or donating of a thing to someone or an organization voluntarily without payment in return.     Next comes the mention of a natural talent which I, of course, think of the gift of music.     In my years of working as a performer, it was my inherent musical gift that I then gave to an audience who would receive my personal message.   That also is a gift.     I have said that discovering the music and life of Gena Branscombe was and continues to be one of the most unexpected, surprising gifts to my musica...