I am enjoying the Write Like Mozart class from www.coursera.org. I am taking it along with a number of my students, and I am finding it to be an excellent way to reinforce music theory with the use of analysis and generative (composing) point of view.

I posted onto YouTube the video of the world premiere of my sacred work Fragments, for choir, two percussionists, and solo alto. Fragments is a setting of texts from the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Thank you VERY much to the following who made it possible: Dennis Houser, conductor; Kate Howell, alto; Owen Davis, percussion; Maria Flurry, percussion; and the Yavapai College Choral Union

Music for Fragments is available on my site www.nathana.com.

Tags: Dead Sea Scrolls, Henry Flurry, Composition, Fragments, Geza Vermes

On February 12, 2012, Prescott POPS Symphony is to premiere "1912," my 15 minute orchestral work celebrating the Arizona centennial that they commissioned for the concert.

The work is in four movements, inspired by poetry of Martha Kirby Capo.

You can preview the score and audio files at www.nathana.com/1912. At that site, you'll also find the poems that Martha Kirby Capo wrote and program notes about the piece.

I will be conducing the piece. It has been an honor to rehearse the POPS symphony on this work and I look forward to its performance!

The San Tan Orchestra will also be playing "1912" on February 25 and 26.

I had the opportunity to play on a recital last night with several other fine pianists from the area on a Prescott Fine Arts Association concert honoring the 200th birthdays of Schumann & Chopin.

I played my set of "cat pieces" entitled Three Pieces for Jasmine, and I premiered a set of short works entitled Three After Schumann's Album for the Young -- short works geared for students and inspired by three works in the Suzuki Piano repertoire: Happy Farmer, Melody, and The Wild Rider. Each of my works started with a concept from one of Schumann's pieces, and I used that concept as a basis for the short character piece I wrote.

Each of the pianists brought something magical to the concert. In particular, Christina Cuda-Robertson brought great joy to the piano, and Michael Mahany had us all laughing with his musical humor. And then the highlight of the evening (for me) was a performance by Steinway artist James Nalley of Liszt's Ballad #2 in B Minor. The performance was so stunning that it brought tears to my eyes.

(This is a repost from my Prescott High School Wind Ensemble residency blog)

When I compose, I sometimes like to bounce ideas off of my wife, Maria. It has its risks, though. An idea that I have in my head may provoke a completely different reaction from her than what I envision. But one of the nice things about being married for almost 20 years is that I no longer need to tell her if I disagree with her. She can read that look in my face … the one that (unintentionally) says, “OK, I hear what you’re saying, but I disagree, and this conversation is no longer helping me.” And she politely backs off from her point and lets me take what ideas I did like from her.

I find it well worth bouncing ideas off of her, because sometimes, as a composer, I need a fresh perspective to throw in some new directions.

So, today I took a risk, and I learned what it was like to get fresh perspective from a high school band. Read More...

(This is a repost from my Prescott High School Wind Ensemble residency blog)

I teach piano, and just about all of the music my students are expected to learn are written by dead white men. When the listen to the radio, they hear music written by people living very far away from them. We live in the world where composing music is very distant from your average student.

This is one of the reasons that I teach all of my piano students to compose. Among other reasons – its fun, it helps us learn how music is constructed (thus, making it easier to learn), and, like all creative endeavors, it validates our existence on this planet. (OK – maybe that’s a bit existential ... )

So, while chatting with the band members of my residency this Monday, I mentioned that one of the reasons I compose is that I get tired of playing (or, more accurately, teaching) only music that is written by dead or far away people.

And then, a lone voice came up from the flute section in front of me. ”I wish we played more music by dead people.”
Read More...

At the end of this month, I start a residency with the Prescott High School Wind Ensemble. The residency lasts about 7 weeks, during which time I visit the high school 5 times (plus once at the beginning of this month).
Read More...

The Prescott Fine Arts Association presented two concerts of music by Henry Flurry on March 14, 2009. Proceeds from the concert benefit PFAA’s music scholarship program.
Read More...

Threnody, a setting of a poem by Martha Kirby Capo, was premiered on June 13, 2008 at the New Music Arizona concert of the Chaparral MusicFest 2008. Martha’s poem is a reflection upon a young family’s loss of their first born. Martha, who ministered to this family within her church, remarked in an email to me, “That's one thing about working in a church -- you certainly have a lot of instances where you're called to walk with people through some very painful places.”

The settings is for string orchestra, marimba, and women’s choir. Layne Longfellow gave a moving reading of the poem to the audience prior to its performance.

Threnody
by Martha Kirby Capo
Copyright 2007

On a cold, rainy November
night James Michael died
as I cradled him in
my new mother's arms
we were so young and
now in the silent space of
a heartbeat
I am so old
and my new mother's
arms are empty.

The chill panes are misted
with my breath
indifferent raindrops
splatter turgid trickling
half-moon rivers
I do not see
their source I

cannot know their end.

James Michael has rested
on his seventh day of creation.

please
make
it
stop
raining

A busy year for composing is shaping up ...

The Prescott Fine Arts Association has invited me to organize a concert of all Henry Flurry music, to be presented as their March concert for the 2008-2009 season. What an honor! Current plans are to include instrumental, piano, choral, and solo vocal music. More details as they come up.

Christina Cuda-Robertson is going to play a couple of short piano pieces of mine on a solo recital she is doing on October 28, 2007 at Prescott Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, to officially inaugurate their new piano. These works are part of a still in progress set of short character pieces called the Jasmine Series. Jasmine was our cat. After she died in 2002, I started writing some works that typify things she liked. Currently, scheduled for the recital are Hopping Sparrows and Fly On the Window. Christina is a fantastic pianist, and I encourage everybody to attend the recital to hear all of the music she will be performing.

I am beginning another collaboration with poet Martha Kirby Capo (also mentioned here). We will be writing some lullabies for the local group of woman singers called Womansong. They are hoping to perform some of these on a Mother's Day concert in 2008 and to record them on an upcoming CD.

And then there are the couple of other unconfirmed projects potentially coming up ....

I was lucky enough to have a few performances of my works this past summer.

On May 31, 2007 the bands of Ingleside Middle School of Scottsdale, AZ performed 2 band works of mine that were the result of a month long residency with that same school. The students of two bands had the opportunity to create story lines upon which each of the pieces would be based. I took their story lines and suggested styles and wrote a band piece for each band. The students had the opportunity to witness the creative process as I brought in parts of the new composition each week. In the end, they gave each piece a title that they chose and voted on. The two band works are called A Sinking Divorce and The House of Delusion. (I take zero credit for those titles!) It was a thrill to hear those kids play works they had a hand in creating.

On June 8, 2007, Skid-Krinkin' was finally performed by the two musicians who commissioned the work, Alison Shaw and Marty Erickson of Balance Duo. They performed it as part of the Chaparral MusicFest 2007. Thanks Marty & Allison!

On August 3, 2007, I had the incredible pleasure of accompanying on piano the lovely voice of John Hubert singing Three Poems of John Hall Wheelock on a recital at the 2007 Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network Conference in Clearwater, FL. What a treat! Thanks, John!

On August 19, 2007, the choir at Rayne Memorial Methodist Church in New Orleans, LA premiered a new choral work entitled Beloved, My Home. I wrote the work to honor the 50th anniversary of my parents (August 20, 2007). Rayne Memorial is their church, and their choir did a lovely job. This was the first collaborative effort with a neat poet named Martha Kirby Capo. She answered an email I sent to my UU Musician peers. I asked for suggestions for poetry to set for this occasion. Martha offered to write some, and what a lovely job she did! We will be working together more in the future.

Beloved, My Home
By Martha Kirby Capo, Copyright 2007

Our lives have been a sacrament,
Each to the other.
I added my breath to your breath,
And mingled my soul with your own.
No matter what roads we did travel,
Beloved, in you, was my home.

Our lives have been a sacrifice,
Each with the other.
Our branches, entwined, intersect;
Entangled, my roots are your own.
No matter what roads we now travel,
Beloved, in you, is my home.

Our lives have been a sacred gift,
Each for the other.
Enshrined in my heart, be at rest;
Enfolded, your heart is my own.
No matter what roads we will travel,
Beloved, in you, I've come home.

Skid-Krinkin' is currently scheduled to be performed at the Chaparral MusicFest on the evening of Friday, June 8, 2007 at the Elks Opera House in Prescott, AZ. More details will be posted as the concert date approaches.

As part of the Elks Opera House's 102nd anniversary celebration on February 24, 2007, Philip Dixon and Christina Cuda Robertson will be offering a repeat performance of Henry Flurry's song cycle Three Poems of John Hall Wheelock.

Information about the concert itself follows:

The historic opera house celebrates 102 years with a stylish reception at the Hassayampa Inn followed by a showcase of some of the best talent in town. Reception 6:00p.m. @ The Hassayampa Inn The inn's renowned chef will prepare delicious hors d'oeuvres for guests. There will also be a Silent Auction featuring beautiful gifts and service offerings. Guests will then be escorted to the theater in a red carpet procession accompanied by New Orleans jazz standard, "When the Saints Come Marching In." Theater Curtain: 7:30p.m. Elks Theater, 117 E. Gurley St., Prescott Tickets: $15 show only / $50 reception & show Sponsored by: Elks Opera House Foundation For more information call 928-771-2554.

Philip Dixon and Christina Cuda Robertson premiered Henry Flurry's song cycle Three Poems of John Hall Wheelock on January 20, 2007 at the Prescott Fine Arts Association.

Recordings of the premiere follow:

Henry Flurry's Spoken Introduction:

The Unknown Beloved:

Unrest:

Whenever Two Lovers Meet:

Thank you Philip & Christina for a wonderful performance!

Christina Cuda-Robertson (piano) and Philip Dixon (baritone) will premiere Henry Flurry's new song cycle Three Poems of John Hall Wheelock at the Prescott Fine Arts Association concert on January 20, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

The words to the poems set to music are as follows:

The Unknown Beloved

I dreamed I passed a doorway
Where, for a sign of death,
White ribbons one was binding
About a flowery wreath.

What drew me so I know not,
But drawing near I said,
"Kind sir, and can you tell me
Who is it here lies dead?"

Said he, "Your most beloved
Died here this very day,
That had known twenty Aprils
Had she but lived till May."

Astonished I made answer,
"Good sir, how say you so!
Here have I no beloved,
This house I do not know."

Quoth he, "Who from the world's end
Was destined unto thee
Here lies, thy true beloved
Whom thou shalt never see."

I dreamed I passed a doorway
Where, for a sign of death,
White ribbons one was binding
About a flowery wreath.


Unrest

These words are not in the public domain


Whenever Two Lovers Meet
(from Talismans Secrets and Deliverances)

Whenever two lovers meet
A new star in heaven is lit –
Heaven is the banner of love,
And night the memory of it.

The joyous embrace of love
Calls a new soul from its sphere
At the music of two hearts beating
God leans down to hear.

Thomas Murphy and Dennis Askew premiered my Skid-Krinkin' today at the New Music Arizona concert held at the Phoenix Art Museum. A recording of the work can be found here:

Or downloaded from here.

The concert featured music from composers residing in Arizona. A copy of the program can be found here.

Skid-Krinkin' was commissioned by Balance Duo. Since Balance Duo was unable to perform the piece on October 8, they graciously allowed others to premiere the work that day.