In honor of Shakespeare’s birthday, my setting of Sonnet 130.
*This recording was made by a student vocalist at Montreat College. I post it to share my setting, as opposed to his performance. He wants me to note that this is not an accurate depiction of his current vocal abilities.
Nathan Hathaway Adams
When I discovered The Jellyrox was releasing a new EP, I was quite excited. Dear Matt creates deliciously infectious positive pop that neither give me diabetes nor makes me feel guilty for my pleasure. I dutifully pre-ordered and waited.
I received my copy in the mail and drove to the place where my best friend was house-sitting. Also a fan of the pox (ehrm, rox), he agreed that we should listen to it. I place it in the Mac and went to make a cup of tea.
I came back to find it had been ejected. Assuming I had inserted it facing the wrong direction, I placed it in the other way. I began to prepare my body for the music.
But it was stuck. The computer would not acknowledge the disc’s existence, and would not eject it. I tried everything and nothing worked. All it would do was make a whirring noise every 2.5 second. To taunt me.
This did not end well for me emotionally. The fun thing about nervous breakdowns is that it’s the serious stuff that builds the fire, and the stupid that sparks it.
Eventually, the Mac regurgitated my disc and I am happily listening to it now. The moral of the story is, “Buy more physical CD’s, because if a Mac eats the only one you’ve bought this year, it’s that much more devastating.”
I attended Montreat College, and while I am very happy that I did, on some listless days when the “what-ifs” dance across my mind in a bizzaro performing arts piece, I wish that Black Mountain College had been able to stay open and that I would have been able to attend there.
Opened in the 1930′s, Black Mountain College was a liberal arts college which took a very unique approach to education. Many of the luminaries of the past century worked and created there: including Buckminster Fuller, Merce Cunningham, and (the one I am most enamored of) John Cage.
I cherish the sound of a Prepared Piano, and love the ideas behind his most well known composition, 4’33. Artsy-fartsy stuff does tickle my fancy and push my buttons, and it also pleases me to know that such a landmark once existed in the place that I am happy and proud to call home.
In Asheville, the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center is working to preserve and push forward the legacy of Black Mountain College. Part of that includes the {Re}Happening.
The {Re}Happening is an evening of arts presentations that attempts to recapture the spirit of what living and working at Black Mountain College might have been like all those years ago as artists created and presented their works to each other.
Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend because I already have the great fortune to be attending the Vocal Blast Spring Benefit at the Toy Boat Toy Boat Toy Boat Community Arts Space.
But, I am going to be present in another way. There is a crowdfunding campaign to raise money so that the event might be filmed and preserved for posterity. [EDIT: And there's still time to contribute!] While nothing can match the magic of being there, video records can still be a great tool. My love of Sondheim and my education in musical theatre would not be anywhere near as nuanced without having had access to the video recordings of the original casts of Sunday In The Park With George, Into the Woods, & Passion.
They have raised the money for basic filming, but with more money they can cover editing, and add other touches that will make the final product even better. If you are interested in those sort of thing happening, then consider contributing. And if not, why not poke around IndieGogo or Kickstarter and find what you do want to see happen and help fund that?
Listening to the music around me,
Nathan Hathaway Adams
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
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!
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
To start off, the Opera Scenes Concert was wonderful. I have never felt more at ease during a performance, and I fell I did very well. It was an incredibly liberating experience vocally, and it was a true joy to watch my fellow performers giving it their all.
I am also quite thrilled to perform the G&S duet from Iolanthe again at the first Student Recital of the semester at Montreat College. I will be singing it again with Soprano Ciara Stalling to assist her in fulfilling her semester requirements for performance. It will be at 7 PM in the campus’ Chapel of the Prodigal on Tuesday, October 16th.
I have also been possessed to join the Montreat College Chamber Orchestra. Why? Because I can. I will be playing percussion. Why? Because I can?
Also, in perhaps the most exciting news, recording work for the cast recording of The Call of Cthulhu is starting to get underway! We’re beginning work on getting accompaniment tracks so we can start the process of recording the choral numbers.
Busy, busy, busy,
Nathan Hathaway Adams
P.S. Be on the look out for the new “Songs I Wish I Wrote: Madrigal Edition!”
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