Tag Archives: Choral Music

Modern Madrigals: Batman, Llama, & Autocorrect

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frank_gorshin_riddler1

Riddle me this, riddle me tangerine.

What do Batman, Llamas, & Autocorrect have in common?

Would you believe, choral music?

Last year, I wrote a set of Choral Pieces called the “Modern Madrigals.” What is a Modern Madrigal you ask? (Feel free to skip to the music if you like, you don’t need no education to enjoy my music.)

Inspired by the idea of replacing Fa La La with LOL, the Modern Madrigals marry modern concerns with older styles of music.

The first was entitled, “My Man Is My Batman.” It describes a young couple going on a date to see “The Dark Knight Rises” and their evening of hijinks. For the theory nerds, at the end I use what I call a Leaning Tone Cadence, which is V-N6-I.

 

The second, “This Llama,” talks about the true story of a dear friend moving to Ohio, and the picture I made to wish her farewell. Here I also got to have some fun with Fa La La.

 

And finally, “Curse You Autocorrect,” uses my original idea to sing a song of woe for when our phones think they are smarter than we are.

They were a joy to write and I am forever grateful to Timothy Wilds for giving me a place to inhabit artistically and the Montreat College Choir for bringing my music to life.

Share them if you like them! If you or someone you know are interested in having a choir perform any of these, feel free to contact me.

With love,
Nathan Hathaway Adams

Liturgia Feminae et Masculae

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Petrus Maria non est

 

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

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!

SIWIW: Madrigal Edition

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[SIWIW = Songs I Wish I Wrote]

So,  in case the first title of the semester didn’t clue you in . . .

. . . I love madrigals. They’re bawdy, fun to sing, wonderful to listen to, and “madrigal” is just a wonderful word to put your lips around. So let me share with you today two of my favorite madrigals.

The first is My Bonny Lass She Smileth, by Thomas Morley and this was the piece I most had in mind when I wrote the Batman Madrigal.

The second is As Vesta Was Descending, by Thomas Weelkes. I plan to draw inspiration from this piece for one of the other madrigals in the set for the Montreat College Choir.

Mmm, yummy yummy madrigals.
Nathan Hathaway Adams

Future Fall & Present Harvest

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Your item was delivered at 11:22 am on September 17, 2012 in GREENSBORO, NC 27402.

Scores to five of my vocal compositions are currently sitting in a P.O. Box in Greensboro waiting to be picked up by the UNCG School of Music, Theatre and Dance, for consideration as a part of my application to the MM in Composition program

I’m quite nervous to be taking my horses out of the barn down to the racetrack for the first time. I’ve of course put my music online before, but this is the first time I’ve had an outcome dependent on the reception outside of my little bowl called Montreat. And while I wait for the word, I will continue to ruminate on the next best step. Who knows? I may end up turning an acceptance letter down.

But as the new artistic year starts, lots of exciting things are beginning to happen. I just sent my first piece for the College Choir to Timothy, and I’ve started some sketches for some things that will be sung by the Soundings ensembles.

I’m about half-way through (scary!) Opera Creations’ Opera Scenes Workshop and I’m very grateful for the chance to be involved. I am learning so much, and the fact that I’m terrified that I won’t make it out alive is simply evidence of that. I’ll be singing selections from the roles of Handel’s Acis (from Acis & Galatea) and G&S’s Strephon (from Iolanthe). The performance will be at Montreat at the end of the month (details on my events page).

Waiting for autumn colors,
Nathan Hathaway Adams

SIWIW: Under the Willow Tree

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“SIWIW” stands for “Songs I Wish I Wrote” and I hope make it a regular feature on my blog. I was first introduced to idea when the Library of Congress asked Stephen Sondheim to make such a list, which was subtitled “At Least In Part” (the same applies here).

This song is an aria from Samuel Barber’s opera “Vanessa,” here sung in a choral arrangement by the BYU singers. One of my dear friends performed this on his Senior Recital, and as he practiced it, I grew to love it.

Make sure you watch the video as well as listen, the singers make some gorgeously delightful facial expressions.

Crying,
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