I very soon will have to change the name of this blog, because as of last night, I am no longer just a handbell composer. Lynne Latham, editor of Latham Music (a division of Lorenz) has accepted my string orchestra arrangement of We Three Kings. It should be available sometime in 2010. Exciting times!
I also should have this weekend another SATB choral piece finished, which will bring the Year of Insanity total up to 6. More when that's done, and definitely at the end of the month.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
More Exciting Sightings
First, because I knew I'd get hopelessly lost if I'm shooting to get 50 or so pieces written this year, I've added a list at the bottom of the blog which I'll update as I get new pieces finished. Hopefully that'll help keep me honest, or at least keep me not confused.
Second, searching around today, I found some music reviews at Creator Magazine (www.creatormagazine.com) in their "Monday Morning Email" for August 3. All the pieces reviewed were from Beckenhorst Press, and Bob Burroughs wrote a very nice blurb about Winter's Waltz. Not that Mr. Burroughs will ever read this blog, but thank you for the kind words nonetheless -- they are very much appreciated.
Third (and fourth!), I discovered a couple more festivals which will be playing some of my pieces. Il Est Né will be featured at the South Georgia Holiday Ring on September 26, while O Sacred Head, Now Wounded will be played at the Georgia Spring Ring on March 19-20, 2010. It's always nice when I find out a piece of mine has been played during a church service or a local concert, but when hundreds of handbell ringers all gather together to ring the same piece, it's something truly special. Heartfelt thanks to those who picked the repertoire at those festivals -- it is a privilege and an honor.
Should have another piece or two finished this week and ready to submit, probably SATB choral this time. More as soon as I have news.
Second, searching around today, I found some music reviews at Creator Magazine (www.creatormagazine.com) in their "Monday Morning Email" for August 3. All the pieces reviewed were from Beckenhorst Press, and Bob Burroughs wrote a very nice blurb about Winter's Waltz. Not that Mr. Burroughs will ever read this blog, but thank you for the kind words nonetheless -- they are very much appreciated.
Third (and fourth!), I discovered a couple more festivals which will be playing some of my pieces. Il Est Né will be featured at the South Georgia Holiday Ring on September 26, while O Sacred Head, Now Wounded will be played at the Georgia Spring Ring on March 19-20, 2010. It's always nice when I find out a piece of mine has been played during a church service or a local concert, but when hundreds of handbell ringers all gather together to ring the same piece, it's something truly special. Heartfelt thanks to those who picked the repertoire at those festivals -- it is a privilege and an honor.
Should have another piece or two finished this week and ready to submit, probably SATB choral this time. More as soon as I have news.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Good news
Just heard from J.R. Smith, the editor of the Overtones magazine (that's the bi-monthly publication from AGEHR which goes out to every member of the organization) that my two-octave accompaniment for O Come, O Come Emmanuel will be making an appearance in the "Tips & Tools" section of the magazine sometime in the near future. It should be in the hands of members sometime before this Advent season.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
August Insanity -- Completed!
Here is the current count for the Year of Insanity:
Pieces finished: 4
Rejections: 1
Acceptances: 0
The rejection was "For the Bible Tells Me So" at Lorenz. I'm now holding on to that one to get a mate to pair it with. I have also sent both "For the Beauty of the Earth" and "The Holly and the Ivy" (not part of the Year of Insanity, but nonetheless rejected at AGEHR) on to Jeffers. I also today finished up another two-part choral piece, "Still Winter's Night," and both it and "Blessed Assurance" I sent on to Lorenz.
I've also decided that -- since I made up the rules and the challenge to begin with, I can modify it at any time -- I can work ahead; I don't have to wait for the next month to begin to start working on the next set of pieces. In other words, I can work ahead, and as long as I get my 48 pieces total for the year, the challenge is successful.
Hey, 48 pieces is 48 pieces. :) Right?
Pieces finished: 4
Rejections: 1
Acceptances: 0
The rejection was "For the Bible Tells Me So" at Lorenz. I'm now holding on to that one to get a mate to pair it with. I have also sent both "For the Beauty of the Earth" and "The Holly and the Ivy" (not part of the Year of Insanity, but nonetheless rejected at AGEHR) on to Jeffers. I also today finished up another two-part choral piece, "Still Winter's Night," and both it and "Blessed Assurance" I sent on to Lorenz.
I've also decided that -- since I made up the rules and the challenge to begin with, I can modify it at any time -- I can work ahead; I don't have to wait for the next month to begin to start working on the next set of pieces. In other words, I can work ahead, and as long as I get my 48 pieces total for the year, the challenge is successful.
Hey, 48 pieces is 48 pieces. :) Right?
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
August Update
Well, the Year of Insanity is off to a roaring start. Since August 1, when the Insanity began, I have finished two handbell pieces and one two-part choral piece. One of the handbell pieces, "For the Bible Tells Me So" is currently under review at Lorenz. The other handbell piece, "For the Beauty of the Earth," and the choral piece, "Blessed Assurance," are both awaiting mates of the same type of piece so they can go out into the world with a friend. I'll update when those are ready to go.
I do know I plan on trying the "Blessed Assurance" with my choir at church, since two-part is about all our small numbers can handle right now. Not sure about the handbell pieces -- I'll have to wait and see what my numbers end up being when we have our first rehearsal in a few weeks.
Not sure what my next project will be. Right now I'm waiting for school to start and for that to sink in. My daily schedule will now allow me a few hours first thing in the morning to compose and write before going in to school to teach the little ones, so I'm hopeful I can capitalize on that time and keep the Year of Insanity on track. More later!
I do know I plan on trying the "Blessed Assurance" with my choir at church, since two-part is about all our small numbers can handle right now. Not sure about the handbell pieces -- I'll have to wait and see what my numbers end up being when we have our first rehearsal in a few weeks.
Not sure what my next project will be. Right now I'm waiting for school to start and for that to sink in. My daily schedule will now allow me a few hours first thing in the morning to compose and write before going in to school to teach the little ones, so I'm hopeful I can capitalize on that time and keep the Year of Insanity on track. More later!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
A Year of Insanity
I'm all about deadlines and challenges. I've discovered that, at least for me, having a deadline makes things get done which otherwise wouldn't, or at least gets them farther toward completion. Challenges are much the same thing. National Novel Writing Month is one thirty-day challenge to write 50,000 words of fiction in a month. My own InMuWriJu is an attempt to write 5,000 measures in a month, and while I've never made it, the numbers of pieces I've got written and published from that intense bout of music-making is testament to the fact that deadlines and challenges work, at least for me.
So, here's my latest challenge ...
This is inspired a bit by Jonathan Coulton, a very funny singer (though his lyrics usually border on the raunchy, so listen with care). For a year, he did what he called Thing a Week, where every week, he would write, record, and release a new song. One new song, every week. 52 songs in 52 weeks.
Nuts, right?
Well, my own idea is much along those same lines. I propose to finish four pieces a month, every month, from now (August 2009) until July 2010. That is four pieces finished and out in the world, every month. "Out in the World" can mean submitted for publication, entered in competitions, or even just passed on to someone who can do some good with the piece. If all goes as planned, by August 1, 2010, there will be 48 more of my pieces out there and circulating around, and hopefully many of them will be getting published, which is the ultimate goal.
I will keep updates here (and if it gets too crazy, on my website at jasonwkrug.com, as well) to keep my accountability going. I'm a little terrified about how will this will actually work, but I figure nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Right?
So, here's my latest challenge ...
This is inspired a bit by Jonathan Coulton, a very funny singer (though his lyrics usually border on the raunchy, so listen with care). For a year, he did what he called Thing a Week, where every week, he would write, record, and release a new song. One new song, every week. 52 songs in 52 weeks.
Nuts, right?
Well, my own idea is much along those same lines. I propose to finish four pieces a month, every month, from now (August 2009) until July 2010. That is four pieces finished and out in the world, every month. "Out in the World" can mean submitted for publication, entered in competitions, or even just passed on to someone who can do some good with the piece. If all goes as planned, by August 1, 2010, there will be 48 more of my pieces out there and circulating around, and hopefully many of them will be getting published, which is the ultimate goal.
I will keep updates here (and if it gets too crazy, on my website at jasonwkrug.com, as well) to keep my accountability going. I'm a little terrified about how will this will actually work, but I figure nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Right?
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