Next week will be busy, though it will also be a really nice respite from the daily grind.  Portus 2008 is a Harry Potter symposium (replete with papers, panels, presenters, parties, pageantry, pomp, etc.) that will be held at the Hilton Anatole hotel in Dallas, Texas from 10-13 July.  It’s being put on by the same people who put together Lumos in 2006 and other Harry Potter-related conventions and events.

The day before Portus, 9 July, and at the same venue will be held SnapeFest that will deal exclusively with all-things Severus Snape (character from the Harry Potter universe).  It, too, will have papers, presenters, a video presentation, etc.  It is being put on by Snapecast LLC which brought to the world the Snapecast podcast, in which I have had an ancillary role.

In addition to these two events, I will see family and, hopefully, a few friends. 

But this is by no means the biggest thing going on in my summer.  More on that to come. 

Jeff

I am quite happy to not only toot my own horn about my own music, but to also let everyone know of good music written by another. Jeremiah Joseph is a composition major at Houston Baptist University, and if this excerpt is any indication of the quality of the whole, then his new monodrama Alyce is very cool indeed.

This recording is sung by Ashley Brooks who has the following to say:

Recently, Jeremiah Joseph asked me if I would be available to sing excerpts from his monodrama, “Alyce” for a composers forum at HBU. I was so thrilled to do it, since I have known Jeremy for a long time and am so proud of the work that he is doing.

I had an extraordinary experience singing these pieces and can not wait to perform the monodrama in its entirety sometime in the near future. You can find the recordings of that performance at www.myspace.com/jeremiahjosephmusic

The piece is scored for voice, piano, flute and double bass- here we are without a bass, but it worked out just fine. The first excerpt is “Such a Pretty Picture” which is followed by “What a Night”. Ben Sieben plays piano and Nathan Hailey plays flute. Please listen and enjoy. If you like it, share it!!! Thanks!

I have to agree, Ashley, great stuff!

Jeff

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXwYruAEPnA

Enjoy!

Jeff

A little late this is, but liturgically still just fine. Happy Easter, everyone (including my Orthodox friends who will celebrate it about a month from now)!

Jeff

YouTube is a gift from God.

Always on the news and elsewhere, we only get the famous last two minutes or so of this most-famous oratory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But seeing the entire thing (yes, from the moment the gathering’s MC introduces King) for the first time gives me a new appreciation of how stunning this speech really is.

Music coming across by way of the simple spoken word - Amazing!

Jeff

Игорь Фёдорович Стравинский (Igor Fjodorovič Stravinsky)

As a part of this season of Da Camera of Houston, the Houston Chamber Choir will perform Свадебка (Les Noces) by Igor Stravinsky under the direction of noted conductor Reinbert de Leeuw. In an interesting twist, this performance is coming the week before Holy Week. Actual ballet will not be a part of this performance, though don’t let that stop you from coming. Even as a concert piece, Les Noces is very powerful, indeed.

Friday, March 14, 2008 at 8:00 PM
Part of Da Camera of Houston’s Exiles in Paris: Part 2
Wortham Center Cullen Theatre
501 Texas Ave.
Houston, Texas 77002
You may purchase tickets here.

an interesting article on Les Noces.

The Mocking of Christ by Titian.

The Bach Society of Christ the King Lutheran Church will be performing the Matthäuspassion (Passion according to St. Matthew) during this coming Holy Week.

Palm Sunday March 16, 2008 • 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday March 18, 2008 • 7:00 p.m.
Good Friday March 21, 2008 • 3:00 p.m.
Melissa Givens, soprano; Gerrod Pagenkopf, countertenor
Daniel Buchanan, tenor; Paul Busselberg, bass
Randolph Lacy, Evangelist; Mathhias Weichert, Jesus
Bach Choir & Orchestra • Christfried Brödel, guest conductor

All performances will be in the Nave of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Houston’s Rice Village.

This promises to be a stellar performance not only from Herr Brödel, the guest conductor, but also from the stunning voice of Mathhias Weichert (who will be singing Jesus as he did with us two years ago, Herr Brödel conducting then, too).

Two warnings: Bach’s St. Matthew Passion is about three hours (including an intermission and, later on, a short pause). Also, get there at least an hour early. Our Holy Week performances are the most-popular thing we do throughout the year, and the house will fill quickly. The early bird gets the worm. 

Jeff

“Whenever I try to explain the Society to folks who have never experienced it, I always seem to end up dragging out my photo album. Why? Well, because, as the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.”

- From Mistress Anastasia Guta, Province of Malagentia, East Kingdom - This collection of photos dates from ca. 1999. These pictures were taken at Pennsic War and various events in the East Kingdom of the Society for Creative Anachronism.

These photos may have been taken nigh-on-a-decade ago, but they are as timely today as they were back then.  This is as good a collection of SCA-related photos I’ve found on the internet.

Jeff

How on earth do I describe the Society for Creative Anachronism? Well, I think the best way is to watch the above 8-minute piece from CBS Sunday Morning and see for yourself. A picture speaks a thousand words, and this report speaks perfectly of this remarkable organization.

Jeff

The Nativity by Petrus Christus, c. 1445.
Photo taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_of_Jesus

Growing up Baptist, “Christmas” was just the one day (25 December), and after that, thoughts of getting ready for Easter come into play. Having been a part of the life of the Episcopal Church for almost six years, I have fully and gladly accepted the tradition of Christmas being the “twelve days of Christmas” and not just the one. In traditional Roman, Anglican, and Eastern traditions as well as Coptic and Ethiopian traditions, Christmas begins on 25 December and does not end until 6 January, it being the Feast of the Epiphany.

Continue reading ‘Christmas MMVII’