Thomas Lloyd, professor of Music and Director of Vocal and Choral Studies at Haverfod and Bryn Mawr Colleges, is currently on sabbatical to compose music!  His new song "Fatherly Reflections" is set to poems by  Karl Kirchwey, a colleague of Lloyd at Bryn Mawr College, and will be premiered at the "Harmony of Yin-Yang" concert next Sunday by tenor Richard Troxell.

Tom told us about the origins of "Fatherly Reflections," his composing and vocal passions in a brief interview:
 

"I began composing and arranging about ten years ago, primarily to fill gaps in programs I was planning for my choirs.  I found that it really stretched me as a musician and gave me much fresher view of the scores I was conducting - why did this composer make this choice of melodic inflection?  What really makes the harmonic language of that composer distinctive?  What interpretive choices do composers make about the poem they are setting?..."

Read the full conversation with Tom Lloyd.

We are thrilled to welcome back Harold Evans, a superb improvisational pianist who joined us in 2007 for "Last Songs" and in 2009 for "Four Hands ~ Warm Hearts."

Harold has generously shared his musical insights in his recent interview with our publicist.

Q: How do you approach creating a Broadway interpretation of any piece, and how does it differ from how you would interpret classical works?  

Evans: Above all, I would encourage the singers to sing all genres of music with wortgestaltung - a German word, which, loosely translated, means pronouncing a word in such a way that its true and full meaning is immediately evident to the listener.

For example: probably the three most difficult words to say in the English language are "I love you," if you don't really mean them. The singer can make this phrase convincing if he/she follows a simple rule: anticipate and elongate the principle consonant in the most important word of the phrase.  Try it: say "I love you," and then say "I llllove you."  Does it work???..."  

Click here to read the full interview.

Learn more about Harold Evans here.

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"... a superbly satisfying musical experience."

"... How better to appreciate that deeply missed voice than to hear some of [Samuel Barber's] loveliest music performed by Lyric Fest's pianist Laura Ward, soprano Randi Marrazzo (both of West Mt. Airy), and mezzo Suzanne DuPlantis (of East Falls) plus the singers of The Crossing under Donald Nally's direction? No better way..."

Chestnut Hill Local, by Michael Caruso. (Nov 4 issue of the Noteworthy column). 

"Lyric Fest's soloists... offered interpretive readings of Barber's bold relationship with voice and text...

The Barber cast: Donald Nally, Michelle Johnson, Emily Bullock and William Stone.

Just as transporting was Laura Ward's undecorated, fully voiced piano accompaniment...The program was book-ended by a fine choral group The Crossing, led by director Donald Nally, which had such warmth and precision in their selections..."