Dr. William “Bill” Moffitt, long time Director of the Cougar Marching Band at the University of Houston and band composer, passed away on March 5, 2008. I had the opportunity to be at the U of H game where they honored him by naming the band hall (I think) after him. He conducted the band during halftime for the playing of of his famous “The Horse” as well as a few others, if I remember correctly. I’m sad I never got to meet him. U of H Bands and their Kappa Kappa Psi chapter has created a memorial page here. RIP…
Category: The Band Director
Roll Over Beethoven
It came in the mail today. Now, I just have to have some ideas to write….
When I Get Home
I am now home from TMEA. I left feeling like we accomplished a lot…despite only having gone to 1 clinic the entire weekend. It was very much a jazz education focused weekend for me and I think I grew a lot as a musician, educator and supporter from my experience. 🙂 The three big highlights (in no particular order) –
It was really nice to see everyone, as well! Those of you that live further away, I hope your travels home are safe and I hope to see you again soon. Seeing you guys brighten my life even more than it already is!
Next: Tokyo, Japan. 😀
Roll Over Beethoven
I’m honored to say that I have been chosen as one of 8 to conduct at the UT – Arlington Conducting Symposium on February 9!! Apparently, I’ve been “on the list” since last fall when I applied but somehow, the word didn’t get to me until early this week. Heck, I even saw Doug Stotter (Director of Bands at UTA) at Midwest and he said if I didn’t receive an email by then, I wasn’t on the list so I guess the original email got lost in the shuffle. No matter, I’M IN!!!
ANYWHO, I had my choice of several pieces to conduct over 2 sessions that day so I decided I was going to conduct Gustav Holst’s Second Suite in F, Mvt. 2, Song Without Word and Mvt. 3, Song of the Blacksmith. Although both movements are short, it is quite a bit of music to prepare. Luckily, the Stony Point Wind Ensemble played the entire Suite several years ago for UIL so audibly, at least, I am VERY familiar with the music. Now, it’s just a matter of translating what I know in my ear to what I see on the page and make my own interpretations in some aspects.
Holst used English folk tunes and Morris dancing songs for inspiration when composing his Second Suite. The folk tunes used in the two movements are quite nice – I found the lyrics (yes, even to Song Without Words) in A Catalog of Folk Song Settings for Wind Band by Mark Aldrich.
Movement 2, Song Without Words comes from the love song, I’ll Love My Love.
1. What is the meaning of the song that rings so clear and loud,
Thou nightingale amid the copse, thou lark above the cloud?
What says thy song, thou joyous thrush, up in the walnut tree?
What says thy song, thou joyous thrush, up in the walnut tree?2. What is the meaning of thy thought, O maiden fair and young?
There is such pleasure in thine eyes, such music on thy tongue?
There is such glory on thy face, what can the meaning be?
There is such glory on thy face, what can the meaning be?
Song of the Blacksmith comes from the ballad tune The Blacksmith.
1. A blacksmith courted me, nine months and better.
He so fairly won my heart, wrote to me a letter.
With his hammer all in his hand, and he looked so mighty clever,
And if I was with my love, I would live forever.2. My love’s gone across those fields, with his cheeks like roses,
My love’s gone across those fields, gath’ring primroses.
I’m afraid the scorching suns will shine and spoil his beauty,
And if I was with my love, I would do my duty.
I’m using the Frederick Fennell edition of the score and in verifying that it would work with the band playing the Matthew edition, I called Ludwig Music. I spoke with a very nice man named Chris there and not only did he answer my questions about the score and its compatibility, he told me several stories about having worked with Dr. Fennell (or Fred, as he called him). It actually started about with a simple converstation about how wonderful these Fennell editions of scores are and it led to stories about his working with Dr. & Mrs. Fennell on a daily basis. See, Chris owns either Masters Music or Great Works Music and one of them bought Ludwig Music a while back from Mrs. Fennell. He said that when he did that, he also pretty much became the caretakers of everything the Fennells had done through their lives and eventually, kind of their caretaker. He talked about what a wonderful couple they were and how wonderful it is to still work with his wife, Elizabeth Ludwig Fennell now.
I love going to conducting symposiums and I think conductors in Texas are very fortunate that there are some affordable ones in our state (this one is free!!). I learn so much when I go to them, even when I’m observing. They make me a better conductor and teacher as well as a better musician!!
Ain’t She Sweet
Today was so much better. All the EVERYTHING that was going on last week and through the weekend has ended and things have calmed down a smidge at work. I have all my grades entered and verified for the progress report and I can actually see the top of my desk at work!
Tonight, I came home before dark (a first in about 2 weeks), had a yummy dinner (Taco Cabana) and now, I’m going to do a load of laundry and pay my bills.
This recent exhaustion really put me in a mini-depression over the weekend. Luckily, I managed it fairly well by not drinking and trying to get in sleep when I was home. When I was around my students, I tried to take a long breath before I snapped at them and tried to spend a little time just hanging out with them in the band hall. I’m really proud of myself in not getting wrapped up in being tired and making it more drama than it was. Don’t get me wrong, I did my share of whining. LOL. But I kept it minimized (as much as I could) to the people who would understand and help me through it, rather than just anyone who would listen. It’s the little things, huh? 😀
The musical was a success. We made over $8000.00 in ticket sales and with that, donations and the little bit of money we got from the school’s budget, we broke even on the production. AND, everyone involved did a spectacular job. There isn’t one person who worked on this production that shouldn’t be proud of the outcome and compliments. It’s all well earned!
Playing in the pit orchestra of the musical was another great experience. There is A LOT of music in South Pacific and we played almost constantly. It was a lot of fun. During the first act, there was a little bit of down time and I got to catch up on reading magazines and getting some school paperwork done.
I read an article in February’s issue of Marie Claire about Tony and Heather Randall and their marriage before Tony passed away. They had a May-December romance but it seems like it wasn’t in any way like the Anna Nicole Smith/J. Howard Marshall thing. They seemed to truly love each other, despite all the life differences their age difference seemed to hold. When asked if she would marry an older man again, she said, “Yes, yes, yes. Life is such a crapshoot that even when a relationship doesn’t make sense on paper – and even when it’s fairly easy to predict that not everything will be ideal – having love for whatever length of time is always better than not having it at all.” Pretty smart, if you ask me.
February will be an interesting month. We start with Crystal’s birthday, move into TMEA week and then I leave for Japan for a week. We finally and painstakingly got the itineraries set and the tickets bought. I’m just glad that I keep my passport up to date because this trip is happening way faster than I’d have a chance to get it renewed!
I know, I still have to write about the end of my New Years trip and it really won’t be a long post but I guess this is the post that I really need Crystal to talk it through with so we don’t forget anything. Our memory of that part of the night really is patchy! LOL
OH, has anyone watched the Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles? I don’t watch it but someone said one of the characters looks just like me. I looked it up on IMDB but I’m not so sure. What do you think?
Well, I hope you all have a nice week.
Love you, mean it!
~C
Benford's Musings 
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