Stacy Horn

“To sing in a choir is the quickest, surest, and best way to become intimate with music, to get close to the seat of its emotional life, where its heart-throbs can be felt and heard … to hold communion with its gentle saints and glorious heroes.” These are the words of 19th century music critic Henry E. Krehbiel, and he’s speaking about choral composers, but all composers are gentle saints and glorious heroes.

Music reaches a place inside us that cannot be reached with words or in any other way. Composers are the heroes writing the music that reaches that place.

The last time I went to the Aaron Copland School of Music I realized how few female composers I was familiar with. Given how hard it is for new composers to have their work heard, I have to imagine it’s even harder for female composers. So I’m thrilled to be speaking at a Women Composer’s Recital on October 11th at 5 pm at the Aaron Copland School of Music. The concert I went to there before was fabulous.

If you’re going to be in New York on October 11th, please join me to celebrate the work of our newest heroes! Directions here.

I swear, I have completely lost any capacity at memory it seems. Something recently made me remember writing about how hard it is to achieve ensemble rhythm sometimes. It’s one thing for a bunch of singers to be all together technically-speaking, but if you’re not really feeling it as one it can sound wooden and march-like. If you’re truly down there in the rhythm together however, the music jumps to life. You can hear and feel the difference immediately.

And that made me remember this really scary thing I read in one of composer Morten Lauridsen’s essays, Composers on composing for choir. Lauridsen is very insistent that taking the right tempo is crucial to reaching the correct emotional pitch. Of course he’s right. Different tempos will communicate different feelings.

While conceding that there’s room for interpretation, he writes that his piece O Magnum Mysterium is often conducted too slowly, and that seven or eight minutes is too long. Uh-oh. We’ve sung and recorded this piece. I immediately checked the CD. Five minutes and thirty-two seconds. Phew. We were okay!

And yet another shot of the Empire State Building from my roof. Is it my fault it’s so irresistible? You can see the Chrysler Building a little bit as well.

By now everyone has probably seen this, but here is an endearing translation of a conversation between two dogs.

And this is a picture of a window garden behind my building. I wish it was my window garden.

I was in Pennsylvania yesterday, talking about my book at the Wellington Square Bookshop and at West Chester University, at a meeting for the local chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.

My God, Pennsylvania! I mean, first, check out the cookies below. I took this at the Wellington Square Bookshop where Donna McFadden had laid out these wonderful musical themed cookies (which were delicious). Wasn’t that an incredibly kind and thoughtful touch?? I felt so welcome and appreciated. Why didn’t I sneak some more in my pocket for the train ride home?? Seriously, they lit scented candles, made me tea, it was lovely. Thank you so much Donna and Wellington Square Bookshop.

Then, I didn’t know how I was going to get from the bookstore to the University, plus there were also hours and hours between events (an unavoidable scheduling issue). Well, Gail and Mary Lou, who came to the reading, live near the college and they drove me over!! And gave me a tour of the beautiful church where they sing (a centuries old converted barn)!! And I saw a baby deer!! And afterwards I went out to dinner with Gail and her husband Charles!! Thank you so much Gail and Charles and Mary Lou.

At the University, Erin Price and Mark were my next wonderful hosts. They’d just come from a big performance (they’re all music undergrads and grads) and they probably wanted to just kick back, but they came to my talk, and everyone who was there were all so funny and charming and relaxed (I think all but one of them also were part of the performance). I talked, they asked me questions, I asked them questions—the future singers and musicians of the world will be in good hands with them. Then Erin and Mark took me to the train and insisted on waiting with me until the train came (so polite). Thank you Erin and Mark.

I’m going to take it easy today, and maybe watch the EMMYS which I recorded last night.

The picture below is of a sign I passed by on Bleecker Street, two blocks from where I live. Oh how I laughed and laughed. Yeah. Right. Sigh. (I’m sure it’s a great deal.) There’s a street fair on Bleecker Street right now. It’s a gorgeous, windy day. I walked through the fair after swimming, and I felt so healthy and alive. It was kinda perfect.

I’m going to Pennsylvania tomorrow, to talk about my book Imperfect Harmony at two places, the Wellington Square Bookshop, and at West Chester University, at a meeting for the local chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. I’m a little nervous. Public speaking. Always a little nerve-wracking. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to get through my Tedx talk in November.