I can play Carol of the Bells on piano from memory. It is the only thing I can currently play from memory on the piano, and thus it holds a special place in my heart.
This almost makes me want to convert.
Drooling,
Nathan Hathaway Adams
Reflecting on my 12 Songs of Christmas project, the fact that today is another holiday really hit home for me that I would rather see Christmas as a time of reflection on the Mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus, as opposed to something that department stores dictate what and when I do (Things like seeing my family and eating tons of food and giving awesome gifts also a part of it, however.)
In that spirit, today I will select one of my all time favorite carols and recordings. I love Annie Lennox’s Christmas Album so much, it is a must listen-to for the winter months. One of my favorite aspects of this album is the prevalence of explicitly Christian selections, even though it is not a religious album, which makes it a very tangible example of inter-faith respect and community.
Also, since it is New Year’s Eve . . .
Resolved,*
Nathan Hathaway Adams
*Just kidding, I don’t have any resolutions.
I was not able to get to my blog yesterday, so today will feature two songs! We continue our celebration of the 12 Days of Christmas (slightly off) with two very different musical favorites! The first from The Year Without a Santa Claus.
Gawsh how I love this song. I prefer Snow Miser, even though I don’t function well if wintery weather last more than a day or interferes with my plans.
The other selection is from Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols. This is a setting of the famous Adam Lay Ybounden, which I still don’t understand.
Such beautiful harp writing. I feel better now.
Lifted,
Nathan Hathaway Adams
Welcome to the second of my my twelve days of musical Christmas! Today I have selected an old favorite. “Santa Baby,” written by Joan Javits & Philip Springer, and sung by Eartha Kitt.
I have had to sit through some very unfortunate covers of this song during my winter in retail, but that has not tainted my love of the original. A dear friend of mine confessed to me that he hates this song, although he can respect the original recording. This is a reaction I can understand, as this is not a song just anyone can perform. I hope to someday be up to the task, because this will be on my Christmas album, should I ever release one.
Thinking of all the boys that I haven’t kissed,
Nathan Hathaway Adams
I will be celebrating Christmas with a 12 day series of some of my favorite songs. I am doing this now for two reasons.
I am going to begin with a enchanting carol we don’t hear enough. Timothy Wilds selected a wonderful arrangement of this for the last Christmas Concert I sang in at Montreat. Unfortunately, I can’t find a video of that arrangement, so we shall have to put up with this version.
Caroling,
Nathan Hathaway Adams
The Latin pieces for the Soundings Middle & High School Ensembles: Tu es Petrus (HS Men), Ave Maria (HS Women), & Non est masculus, neque femina (MS), comprise a set entitled “Liturgia Feminae et Masculae.”
They will premier at the Soundings Studio concert on Monday, December 17th at Trinity Presbyterian Church, at 7:30 PM
Pleased,
Nathan Hathaway Adams
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!
I just wrapped up a couple of really exciting collaborations on some choral pieces, one with a local lyricist, and one with a famous author. The collaboration with the famous author was across time and space, and we’ve never actually met (aside from brief twitter conversations). But his assistant said it was okay, and that’s all that matters.
The local lyricist/poet’s name is Danielle King and we’ve put together a very exciting piece for all three Soundings Studio Choirs (Women’s Ensemble, High School Choir, Middle School Choir) plus guitar and harp. Danielle did a great job on the text, and I’ll be announcing the title tomorrow. (Here it is!)
Unfortunately, while I was hoping the collaboration with the famous author would be premiering at a concert this winter, it looks like it’s going to have to wait until the Spring. But it’s okay, I think it’s more of Spring piece anyway.
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
Booo!
Nathan Hathaway Adams