Tag Archives: Composer

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!

Collaborations

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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.

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

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

Nathan Hathaway Adams, Composer, Senior Recital

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Announcing the Senior Recital of

Nathan Hathaway Adams, Composer

Featuring the world premieres of all original music performed
by the faculty and students of the
Montreat College Music Department

Including
*Hymn Suite for Montreat, String Quartet
*The Call of Cthulhu, Dramatic Cantata

And more!

Chapel of the Prodigal / April 17th /  7 PM / Reception to Follow

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