Category Archives: Writings

Essays, articles, musings, and status reports.

Modern Madrigal Lyrics

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The Montreat College Choir premiered my Modern Madrigals this weekend. They did a really incredible job, and the audiences were very appreciative. Big thanks to Timothy Wilds and the Choir. If you want to know more about my Modern Madrigals, here’s a short explanation.

The “Modern Madrigals” are an attempt to merge modern texts with a traditional and choral sound. They are a love letter to the sound of Renaissance Madrigals and the history of rather bawdy and colloquial texts that accompanied them, while bringing those ideas forward to the present day. “My Man is My Batman” is the tale of a young couple as they go to the film “The Dark Knight Rises.” “This Llama” is based on a true story of two friends faced with the dilemma of having to say goodbye. And “Curse You Autocorrect!” describes the very human failings of our very inhuman technology.

Many people commented that they wanted to see the lyrics, so here they are. I hope to have recordings, either audio or video, online soon.

My Man is My Batman

My man is my Batman
My woman is Catwoman

Na na na na na na na na na na na na Batman!

We went to the movie
And we were feeling groovy.
Would it be the best one?
Or maybe just the last one.

The pale moonlight / Na na na

Watching this dark fable
Made us feel unstable
We got very cozy
Cheeks were getting rosy
As the Dark Knight Rose!

Deshi deshi basara basara / Pale Moonlight / Na na na

Nolan is my God now!
It was awesome and how!
It should sweep the Oscars!
Win ten gabillion Oscars!

Oscar / Deshi / Pale Moonlight / Na na na

Late that night
Wild and free
My lover whispered to me

When Gotham is ashes, you have my permission to die.

This Llama (Based on a true story)

My best friend
moved to Ohio
I was very sad when
I had to say goodbye-o

What was I to do
To show my love?
But then I was led
As if from above.

So I went to my favorite
Meme Generator
Meme Meme Meme Meme Meme Meme Meme Meme Meme
And I knew just exactly
What to make her

A digital card
Of a Llama in a yard
And it said 

This Llama is here to tell you how much I love you!

Lla lla lla lla lla lla lla lla llama!
Lla lla lla lla lla llama!
Llama! Llama! Llama! 

Curse You Autocorrect!

Curse you autocorrect!
That’s not what I mean!
Eww!
You did what?
Dear god no! 

I went to Biltmore and won a case of women last night.
You pervert!
I wrote wine.

Hahahaha
Hahahaha
LOL LOL LOLOLOL
Curse you autocorrect!

Hey man what’s up?
I rented a movie and pooped popcorn.
Eww!

That’s not what I mean!
Eww!
You did what?
Dear god no! 

How is our pregnant little girl?
Mom how did you know?
I meant perfect, wait you what?

Hahahaha
Hahahaha
LOL LOL LOLOLOL
Curse you autocorrect!

How was the doctor?
I have a dinosaur infection.
Dinosaur infection?
Double Sinus Infection.

That’s not what I mean!
Eww!
You did what?
Dear god no!
Curse you autocorrect!

Tickled pink,
Nathan Hathaway Adams

P.S.  I know I said on facebook I would announce the name of the set of Latin Pieces a long time ago. Planning on actually doing it tomorrow!

Happy Birthday John Philip Sousa!

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This morning I was alerted to the fact that it was not only Election Day (Vote!), but also John Philip Sousa’s birthday! How apropos.

So in honor of the occasion, here are some of the works of the American March King, in some very informative videos by the Marine Band. God bless our troops.

Digital high five if you can’t listen to “The Washington Post” without hearing lyrics by Sondheim.

A funny story about marches and birthdays: A beloved professor of mine’s birthday occurred on the same day we were learning about Sousa and his marches in Music History. We asked our instructor why the trio section was so named. He jokingly replied that it was in 3. Well, we believed him, and the Trio section of the March I wrote for the other professor’s birthday, was, and is, in 3!

The Wonderly Fanfare, by Nathan Hathaway Adams, performed by Dr. Anthony Moore

A Romantic Era composer, while famous for his military band marches, he also wrote operettas and was a fan of the work of Gilbert & Sullivan. He wrote an orchestration of the team’s H.M.S. Pinafore, and composed a march using the themes of Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado, which is particularly interesting to me as I just auditioned for a local production of said operetta.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! I plan to keep reading about and listening to this uniquely American composer. Are you a fan of Sousa? Interested, like me, in learning more? Then drop me a line and let’s talk sometime.

Marching,
Nathan Hathaway Adams

Embarking on “The Lord of the Rings”

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I have recently began the quest of reading “The Lord of the Rings,” and I know I’m a bad member of the western world for not having finished it earlier. But honestly, I’m glad I didn’t. I wasn’t ready for it in High School. I am now far enough removed from High School to admit all of the things I did not understand and was not ready for.

Image

Like this movie.

Now that I am older and more mature Now that I am not in High School, what was once an arduous task is now a joy and treasure. I warned my friends when I restarted the books that I was very likely to become one of those Lord of the Rings fans. And it’s very quickly becoming true. I have used the word “mathom” in conversation more times than I can recall, and I can’t wait to start reading the appendices.

I love how much music is in the books. It is further contributing to my desire to see more spaces made for the communal making of music. The sharing of songs and the telling of tales. I think it’s so important to make music corporately, which is part of the reason I love writing hymns.  This aspect has also pushed my interest in the stage version of the epic which has played to audiences outside the U.S.

Which includes music by A. R. Rahman.

But one thing that has been bothering while reading the books is the fact that they’re in copyright. I have heard it said over and over again that Tolkien wanted to created a mythology for the English speaking world. But what good is a mythology if it doesn’t belong to the people? A mythology is at it’s richest when many voices are contributing to it creating new variations and threads. This is something that frustrates me about many of our Western mythos. It’s very hard for the layman to contribute to them in an area much larger than fan fiction. I crave for the day when society’s great icons will truly belong to society.

In Fangorn,
Nathan Hathaway Adams

 

In the Land of the Sky

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In my Junior year at Montreat College, as a part of my Interdisciplinary Studies, I was apart of a group of Music Business students charged with the task of recording & releasing an album. We could choose anything we wanted for this very real class assignment, and we choose the Swannanoa Valley.

The result was “In the Land of the Sky,” a collection of stories and songs connected to the valley. Looking back, it was a very special experience to make this album a reality, and I think for me, that’s the most special thing about it, that it’s real.

My main task was to oversee the material for the narrations that appear on the album, giving context for the songs. While I was not with the group for the last semester of the project, nearly all of the narrations were written or edited by me.

We had a lot of wonderful people contribute the the album, including David Holt, Wayne Erbsen, Bert Brown, Don Talley, and Matt Auten. You can find the album on amazon here, as well as on iTunes and cdbaby. If you get it, let me know what you think!

Love,
Nathan Hathaway Adams

“This Is Not Over Yet”

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[After I wrote this post, I wrote a follow up post here.]

Yesterday, North Carolina passed Amendment One. I am deeply saddened by this. Do I see this Amendment as prejudiced? Yes. Do I see everyone who voted for it as a bigot? No. I hope that everyone can find a way to have helpful and respectful dialog in their own little worlds over the coming months. But perhaps most important of all, is this journey over? No. Do I have a song that is perfect for this particular moment? DUH.

*Small word choice edits made for clarity after skimming Justin Lee’s Blog. 

Contemplating,
Nathan Hathaway Adams

Moustached & Muddy

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Why am I wet and muddy? Why do I have moustache? Why am I sharing this with you?

Why am I wet and muddy?

Because at Monteat College, we have this thing called Pan Day, where we dress up at Peter Pan characters and have a huge water balloon fight where we hit each other with foam swords. It was today, and it to add awesomeness to intended injury, it was raining.

Why do I have a moustache?

Because a friend of mine is singing Non siate ritrosi from Così fan tutte by Mozart on his Senior Recital. For this aria, he is in disguise and let me borrow one of the moustaches he bought. Does this have anything to do with Pan Day? No.

Why am I sharing this with you? 

Because I thought it was funny.

A bit damp,
Nathan Hathaway Adams

Recital Reflections

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How do I begin? It was beautiful. I don’t think I can express to you exactly how wonderful it all was, or how much it meant to me. I have only begun to understand that myself! I have gotten such wonderful feedback from the whole experience, and I’m sure I’ll continue to get more as I process the evening and the work that led up to it.

So far the only pictures from the evening, I hope my friend won't mind my sharing them!

And my work is still yet to be performed this semester! The College Choir will be singing my setting of “Psaume 23″ at their concerts, and my dear friend Stephen Long will be singing my setting of “Sonnet de l’Absinthe” by Raoul Ponchon at his Senior Recital!

Stephen Long, Baritone, Senior Recital
Saturday, April 28th, @ 7 PM
Chapel of the Prodigal, Montreat College

Montreat College Choir Concert
Friday & Saturday, May 4 & 5, @ 7 PM
Chapel of the Prodigal, Montreat College

Giddy,
Nathan Hathaway Adams

Happy Birthday P.D.Q. Bach!

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Okay, I promise I will stop writing about composers birthdays soon. March just happens to be ripe with such events. Which makes sense. Parents get snuggly in the early autumn, don’t use protection, have a little accident, mistreat the kid, and a composer is born!

http://www.schickele.com

Speaking of mistakes! Yesterday was the birthday of P.D.Q. Bach!  Here’s one of my favorite choral pieces by that world rejected composer, “My Bonny Lass She Smelleth”!

Dosing you with perfume,
Nathan Hathaway Adams

A Little Birthday Music of the Night

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Wow! This is big week for composer birthdays! Yesterday Bach, and now Sondheim & Lloyd Webber! Both theatrical composers, I unfortunately cannot take you out to see the shows I want to discuss, so let’s go to YouTube!

Sondheim: A Little Night Music

The week or so ago, my voice teacher asked me my favorite song from “A Little Night Music,” and after I compared it to picking a favorite child, we settled on “Every Day A Little Death.” Maureen Moore makes me want to melt.

And then last night, a friend of mine asked if it was worth it to watch the film version of the show. In eventually concluded it was, if only to see the standout performances, such as Diana Rigg as Charlotte. (Unfortunately,  YouTube only has a recording, but you can still hear the heartache.)

Lloyd Webber: The Phantom of the Opera

When I was a young whippersnapper of a male soprano, I was always attracted to the soprano “arias” of Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom.” I started to explore musical theatre just as the film version came out, so I would often be caught with this tune lilting through my brain and attempting to lilt out of my mouth.

But, I must be honest. I didn’t like Phantom. The movie hadn’t sold me, and I had never had an opportunity to see the stage show. But then this Spring Break, I found the Royal Albert Hall 25th Anniversary taping. (Four Redboxes, Two States, it was a very popular DVD.) I really enjoyed it, I was finally able to see the stage show, and now I like “The Phantom of the Opera.” If you are not a fan of the show, but have only seen the movie, I would highly recommend this taping. He’s a brief clip of the same song.

Yay! Birthdays!

Okay, now I have to get back to homework.
Nathan Hatha-

Are you kidding me? I missed Mussorgsky’s birthday yesterday? Oh fine. I love this piece, it fascinates me how music can actually sound creepy.

And the disco version . . .

And we’re done.
Nathan Hathaway Adams

Happy Birthday Bach!

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Today we celebrate the birthday of he-who-cannot-be-played, Bach! To celebrate the natal day of the Jesus of Western Music, I offer you a few thoughts on that master of counterpoint that I have collected (read: stolen) from my colleagues and counterparts.

1. “Buxtehude is like Bach without the genius.”

This was my own thought when I first heard the work of John the Buxtehude in Music History. The style and forms seemed to remind me so much of Bach, but it just wasn’t as brilliant, not as piercing, it was like eating at Olive Garden after coming back from Italy. (Or Carrabba’s for that matter.)

2. “I feel like we adore anything that has Bach’s name on it.”

This was shared as we pondered one of the sinfonias in Form & Analysis. Not a fan of that particular piece, this student shared a concern for an over-zealousness in our praise of the savior. She later admitted that she hated puppies and that she found cake disgusting. Another student expressed that Bach’s work was not something he readily appreciated, although he liked the Cello Suites. (Chump.)

3. “Humming ‘Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring’ will get any song out of your head.”

This nugget was shared with us by our Music History teacher. The only problem is, you then have “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” stuck in your head. Aren’t we all stressed out enough?

4. “People should fear Handel the way they fear Bach!”

Bach. He’s one of the scariest mofo’s to ever don a powdered wig (if you’re a musician). People don’t take performing his work lightly, because they know it’s hard. But Handel, he is loved and admired and badly played the world over! (So is Bach, but it’s a little different – less songs about trees.) My friend thinks we should fear Handel’s runs just as much as we fear Bach’s periods.

5. The Swingle Singers!

This makes all the places in my brain happy.

Bach to you,
Nathan Hathaway Adams