The village of Pyla in the United Nations Buffer Zone on the island of Cyprus is the site of the Pyla-Koutsopetria Archaeological Project (PKAP). My little brother, Ian Ragsdale, is producing and directing a documentary on this archeological survey, and I have a large part to play in this film’s music. Continue reading ‘Voices from Cyprus’

My niece (by little brother Ian and Randi), Ruby Renee Ragsdale, was born 2 October 2009, healthy and happy.   She is Ian and Randi’s first child and the photographer, Wendi Schoffstall, is quite remarkable.

More Ruby (and more of Wendi’s work) here…

…because as Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times puts it, “No, gang rape isn’t exactly great fodder for cocktail parties. It’s incredibly uncomfortable and depressing to speak about — and that’s probably one reason it’s gone on as long as it has, with relatively little attention. It’s taboo to discuss — not only in countries like Liberia or Sudan [or the Congo, for that matter], but here in the US as well. It needs to stop, and we can help make that happen.”  He talks more about it in his blog.   More about this situation here as well.

And yes, sexual violence is not an easy thing to speak out about, but speaking out about it needs to happen.  And by way of letters and calls to our federal legislators and president, yes we can — make things happen.  It’s our country.  It’s our world.  And I will be writing my letters today. 

Jeff

www.transposemysong.com

The Cabildo in New Orleans was built in 1799 and served as the place’s town council building up to and after annexation by the United States, ceasing in that function in the 1850s.  This place stands at the center of the history of Louisiana and was the location of the ceremony marking the Louisiana Purchase.

The American composer Amy Beach wrote Cabildo, her only opera in 1932.  Set inside the Cabildo itself, it was never performed in her lifetime, receiving its premiere in 1947.  The only fully-professional production was staged in 1995, and as far as I know, it was not performed again until this past week when Houston-based Opera Vista gave the work’s New Orleans premiere inside the Cabildo itself to rave reception.

For this production, Opera Vista’s Co-Founder and Artistic Director Viswa Subbaraman needed a new score and orchestral parts transcribed from the original manuscript which was nigh-on-illegible.  Yes, it was legible enough (barely) for a transcription to be made, but certainly not for performance, and no orchestral parts could be found.  And while Viswa was the brains behind the editing and final decisions with the new score and parts, he did not have the time to do the grunt-work of transcribing the hundred-page full score or to make the needed parts.

This is where Transpose My Song came in.  Using industry-standard software, I was able to do the many hours of grunt-work Viswa needed to have done.  He then was free to do other things and had more freedom to make the changes and edits necessary to make Cabildo come alive for the audiences of New Orleans.  The performances were a triumph, and I am proud Transpose My Song was able to play a part.

Frankfurt am Main, February 6, 1965
original found here

Come Sunday — The Sacred Music of Duke Ellington

Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
purchase a season subscription | purchase individual tickets

Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 3:30pm
purchase a season subscription | purchase individual tickets

Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church
3826 Wheeler Avenue
Houston, Texas 77004

Continuing a tradition begun with Dave Brubeck and his quartet in 2006, the Houston Chamber Choir turns its talents to jazz. Duke Ellington, like Brubeck, wrote sacred music throughout his career. The Chamber Choir and guest singers join forces with a stellar big band lead by Barrie Lee Hall, Ellington’s long-time trumpeter and pianist Paul English in this rare glimpse into sacred side of The Duke.

Portrait of Mendelssohn by the English miniaturist James Warren Childe (1778-1862), 1839

After Bach

Saturday, May 2, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Click here to purchase individual tickets through Da Camera of Houston

Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center
500 Texas Ave.
Houston, Texas 77002

Da Camera of Houston and the Houston Chamber Choir collaborate once again, this time to trace the influences of J. S. Bach into the 19th century. Franz Liszt’s “Via Crucis,” a late work scored for two pianos and chorus, will be featured along with a cappella settings by Felix Mendelssohn commemorating the 200th anniversary of his birth.

+ + +

Liszt’s “Via Crucis” is not done all that often, but I can tell you that it’s very, very cool.  The Mendelssohn will be an exciting contrast and complement to the Liszt and will be a lovely way to spend a Saturday evening.

Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
purchase a season subscription | purchase individual tickets

Sunday, March 29, 2009, at 3:30 p.m.
purchase a season subscription | purchase individual tickets

St. Philip Presbyterian Church
4807 San Felipe St.
Houston, Texas 77056

2009 marks the 250th anniversary of Handel’s death. In tribute, the Houston Chamber Choir, soloists and period instrumentalists present “Esther,” Handel’s first English oratorio. Tuneful and heroic, “Esther’s” immediate success signaled a new direction in Handel’s career that eventually led to his masterpiece, Messiah.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_(Handel)

As well as singing in the choir, I will be singing a bit role in this: one of the Isrealites in one of the scenes.

The Houston Chamber Choir
Hear the Future — 11th Annual Invitational School Choral Festival

Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.
FREE Concert

South Main Baptist Church (directions)
4100 Main Street
Houston, Texas 77002

Co-sponsored by AMC Music, Hear the Future pays tribute to the essential work done by outstanding choral music educators in our region and their excellent choirs. Enjoy this afternoon of music and show your support of arts education in our schools. You will come away convinced that the future has never sounded brighter.

Gian Carlo Menotti’s
AMAHL & THE NIGHT VISITORS
A holiday story about a young boy’s encounter
with the Three Kings

Sunday January 4 at 3:00 pm and 6:30 pm,
Monday January 5 at 6:30 pm
Tuesday January 6 at 6:30 pm

Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church
6221 Main Street

Tickets are $5 children (12-) and seniors (55+)
$10 adults. Available at the door or in advance
by calling 713-328-0778.

For directions, click here.

Palmer Church is located across from Rice University and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Park in lots off of Fannin and Main Streets and along Main Street. Childcare available for children 5 and under in the church nursery.
For more information, call 713-328-0778.

Wikipedia article chock full of information about the opera
Amahl on YouTube

Birth of Jesus. Detail from the side facing the apse of the so-called “Sarcofago di Stilicone” (”Stilicho’s sarcophagus”), an Ancient Roman christian sarcophagus dating from the 4th century. It is preserved beneath the pulpit of Sant’Ambrogio basilica in Milan, Italy. Picture by Giovanni Dall’Orto, April 25 2007.

Oh my!  An update!

Save for some shingles and all from Mother’s roof in Indiana (yes, Indiana), my family got through Hurricane Ike unscathed, thanks be to God.  That and a bunch of other things have prevented my posting here since Willy Wonka-knows-when.  My new Dell Inspiron 530 (Apple still too expensive) is doing quite well, and we shall see how things with www.transposemysong.com fare in 2009.

Has my life gone as I had originally planned?  Not quite.  But could my life had gone far worse than it has?  Yes.   Has it gone that worse?  Definitely not.  Am I thankful?  You bet I am.  Do I feel for those who have not been so lucky as I?  If I don’t, there is with me something very, very wrong.

Continue reading ‘Christmas MMVIII’