Time to Breathe!

For the first time in 2 weeks, I finally feel like I am catching up.  Now, this does not mean I think I am AHEAD on anything.  I just feel as if I'm not running to catch up.  I have a presentation tomorrow on performing practices.  I am addressing various vocal considerations.  I have spent a lot of time the past few weeks reading various sources.  I spent hours and hours this past weekend typing up hand outs and synthesizing my own notes.  I need to run through it tonight (and maybe tomorrow morning).  But the information is there.

Already I begin on my next presentation.  Actually, two presentations.

At any rate, let me briefly comment on chant.

There is this thing about chant.  The Monks of Solemnes basically just beat every two beats.  I mean, they grouped it into twos and threes, but unless it was a group neum, they seemed to group every two microbeats, regardless of text stress.  I don't like that.  But, to each their own.  Even the Monks of Solemn.

I asked myself a question last Thursday and only just now was able to answer it.  The question was: Does "Hélas mon dueil" by Dufay sound liked "Solo e pensoso" by Marenzio?  I heard the Dufay piece briefly in a class.  And I thought about that.  So I wrote myself an e-mail asking myself that question.  And now I am answering it.  No.  Not they do not sound similar.  Often I hear these things and often things are similar, so I am a little disappointed they do not sound alike.  I LOVE the Marenzio piece.

I'm starting to think about recital pieces for my March DMA recital.  More mulling on that later.  I have a few ideas (including a Holst set), but I'm still open to ideas.  So many great pieces out there!