Composing Notes: Recent Episodes
Julian David Bryson
Julian reflects on his coming out journey and how Frank Ticheli’s There Will Be Rest has provided an important mirror along the way.
Links to Julian’s recent features in the Mass ACDA Newsletter, Mass Sings and an invitation to the sure-to-be-fabulous Mass ACDA Summer Conference.
An invitation to discuss better ways to commission new music, including some of the anxieties composers currently face and a few ideas for alternative models.
Julian reflects on Voice Week 2019 at Curry, including workshops by Laurel Irene and David Harris of VoiceScienceWorks.org.
The American Prize named Julian Bryson a Semi-Finalist in the Profession Choral Composition Division for 2018-2019. More details available here, including links to the winning pieces.
A brief history of Shchedryk (known to Americans as Carol of the Bells) including pronunciation and transliteration of the original text by John Wernega.
Reflections on Triad’s Past Is Prologue concert of June 17, 2018 including some thoughts on reprising music in a “new music ensemble”.
What does one learn from four years of membership in a choral collective? Julian reflects on his experiences and looks forward to performances by two such ensembles, C4 and Triad.
This article explores techniques for voicing a choir. Since we know that the vocal mid-range is the best place to begin, why assign a young singer to a certain part and keep them there for years? By moving people around, we build their skills for the long-term.
This article presents a list of titles from Independent/Digital Music Publishers that are well worth exploring. It is a companion piece to an article in the Massachusetts ACDA Spring 2018 Newsletter.
Reflections on my residency with the Blue Valley Northwest Choirs and Symphonic Orchestra as they premiered Redemption Mass.
A few thoughts on prioritizing the life of a musician. I'm busy, but the best kind of busy. Sometimes, I need to remember why I do what I do, rather than just focusing on how little time I have to do it.
This jazz-inspired arrangement of Wade in the Water features a fantastic accompaniment that is written so that no improvisation is necessary (though in this style, it is always welcome). A cambiata part is included, and the arrangement is designed for maximum flexibility--SA, SSA, TB, SAB, SACB, and unison are all possible. I will donate half of my proceeds from this arrangement to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
Alabama Gal combines the classic tune—originally known as Buffalo Gals, but who in Alabama wants to sing that?—with The Banjo and Morte! Lamentation by America's first rock star (aka composer), Louis Moreau Gottschalk (1829-1869). It includes opportunities to learn about counting sixteenth notes, singing arpeggiated triads, changing tempos, and the wild story of Louis Moreau Gottschalk. If you have a young choir and want to show off a fantastic accompanist, Alabama Gal is guaranteed to bring down the house!
Read about Julian's experience at Massachusetts ACDA Summer Conference 2017, and how being a part of Triad: Boston's Choral Collective has influenced his teaching choices at Curry College.
Julian Bryson’s compositions categorized by ensemble type and voicing. Explore and find something that your choir might enjoy!
A Parable of Choices wins the Yale Glee Club 2017 Emerging Composers Competition. Learn more about the work and its premiere.
Choral music is uniquely positioned to change how we see the world, and that is the key to changing our surroundings.
What is a composer's identity? Why do we do what we do? One perspective presented here...
What a wonderful experience visiting the Clef Singers of Cumberland High School! I look forward to doing it again ASAP!
Conferences offer opportunities for inspiration, but also for downward-spiral conversations. I know which opportunity I will choose this year.
Honestly, I needed a slice of humble pie, and I was fortunate that Dr. Slaughter was a skilled chef. Reflections on the Mass ACDA Intercollegiate Choral Festival
From 12/20/2015:
I'm so thankful to have been a part of several fantastic performances and premieres with Triad over the past several months. Among them are three of my own pieces:
Lacrimas, conducted by Norm Gouin, featuring Sudie Marcuse (View the score)
Fire and Ice, conducted by Corey de Tar (chosen by the audience to be our encore; View the score)
O nata lux, conducted by Amanda Sindel-Keswick (View the score)
I was also able to conduct a pair of wonderful triptychs:
less incalculable, by David Harris
Three Horizons, by Kevin Siegfried
Triad is a wonderful group of people, and I love hanging out with them every Monday night! If you'd like more information about this innovative ensemble committed to performing the music of our time, follow us on Facebook, YouTube, or Soundcloud.
From 1/18/2015
As I reflect on all that has happened in the past three days, I am humbled by the tremendous opportunities provided by the Florida Music Educator's Association. From reconnecting with friends (choral music is SUCH a small world) to making new ones, the entire experience was truly extraordinary!
Thank you to the All-State Concert Band and Men's Chorus for an exciting premiere. I really enjoyed your questions and conversations and hope we have many more opportunities to work together in the future. The Florida Vocal and Bandmasters Associations were wonderful to work with, as were the conductors, Dr. Jeff Johnson and Dr. Rebecca Phillips.
FMEA should serve as a model for other music education organizations, and I am truly blessed to have been able to take part in their celebration of music. (Especially since it was more than 40 degrees warmer there than in Quincy!).
From 1/16/2015
Here is an explanation of how I put Clarion Call together and what it means to me. The beauty of music, though, is that we all bring our own interpretations and experiences, so feel free to explore the music on your own terms. Think of this as a spoiler or the key to a crossword puzzle. It's more fun to fill in the answers yourself, but sometimes it's nice to know if someone else agrees with you.
From 12/5/2014:
I am so excited to announce that the Florida Vocal Association and Florida Bandmasters Association has commissioned me to compose a piece for their combined Men's Chorus and Concert Band. It is entitled Clarion Call (thanks to my friend and colleague, Adam Beeken for suggesting such a fantastic title) and combines excerpts from Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address and Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King, Jr. (special thanks to the King Center in Atlanta, GA for granting permission to use the text).
Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, the text speaks to unity, brotherhood, and working together toward a brighter tomorrow. I can think of no more important message to share with the world given recent events. Woven among the texts are melodies and rhythms derived from the letters and syllables of each author's name as well as Civil-War era bugle and drum calls.
The performance will be Saturday, January 17, 2015 in Tampa, and conducted by the incomparable Jeff Johnson from the University of Kentucky. More information coming soon...
From 9/5/2014:
I have enjoyed a fantastic first week at Curry College! So many wonderful students and such fun topics to discuss. I'm especially excited about SING! Curry's choir. If you're a Curry student looking to improve your vocal skills, join us!
- MUS 3310
- 4-6:30 PM on Wednesdays
- Alumni Recreation Center
- 2 credit hours (it counts toward your upper level CLAC electives)
- Singers of all ability and experience levels are welcome
- We'll sing a wide variety of rep--Sing-Off! style a cappella, classical, spirituals, folk songs, and all kinds of other things...bring ideas and suggestions!
- Contact Professor Bryson for more information or just show up at rehearsal on the 10th.
From 3/25/2014:
Tonight at 7 PM in the Singletary Center for the Arts, the UK Choristers and Chorale present a fantastic concert, "feet on the ground...head in the clouds". Two diverse sets range from Tarik O'Reagan's daring The Ecstasies Above to VIDA's Famine Song (which I get to conduct) and Moses Hogan's The Battle of Jericho.
Thursday night at 7:30 in the Singletary Center for the Arts, the UK Men's Chorus and Women's Choir sing. I'm really excited about another performance of my arrangement of Minstrel Boy (commissioned by the UK Men's Chorus), especially since we will be singing it in the round--a one-of-a-kind performance not to be missed.
For more information (and to keep up with all future UK Choirs events), click here.
From 3/13/2014
Last week's recording of ...with music... is now available by clicking here. It was premiered at the Intercollegiate Men's Choruses Festival hosted by the Rutgers University Glee Club by the commissioning choir: YPAS's Gentlemen's Ensemble, Jacob Cook, director. If you like it, please share it! (Especially with any Men's Chorus directors you know).
The sheet music is available at CadenzaOne.com (or just click here.)
Thanks to YPAS and Jacob Cook for allowing me to be a part of this very special experience. And also to the Niles Estate, Hope Koehler, and Ron Pen for making all of this possible. John Jacob Niles' music is beautiful, and there are so many unpublished works that need to be heard. If you are interested in exploring the collection (or commissioning choral arrangements of other pieces), they are available in the UK Special Collections Library (and trust me, there are some gems in there).
From 3/6/2014:
I'm having a great time in New Brunswick and New York City with the YPAS Gentlemen's Ensemble. The arrangement of "...with music..." featuring two unpublished songs of John Jacob Niles that they commissioned from me is now live here. Hopefully recordings will be soon to follow!
From 2/23/2014:
The Catholic Schools and Parishes of the Diocese of Lexington commissioned a new arrangement of the classic hymn, "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name" in honor of their 10th annual Area Choir Concert. Dedicated to their departing Bishop, Ronald Gainer, the piece came together after only about 20 minutes of rehearsal. I was very pleased with the performance and look forward to posting audio and video as soon as it is available. Sheet music is now available at CadenzaOne.com.
Special shout out to Adam Beeken for suggesting the project and to Rob Vanover for realizing the accompaniment with tremendous sensitivity.