“Family Portrait” dress rehearsal with over 250 musicians onstage
This is by far the most significant of my compositions. It is a 60-minute oratorio for chorus and orchestra, with mezzo-soprano and baritone solos. It was commissioned by my friend and colleague Judy Sadler Marlett and includes settings of 8 letters authored by her ancestors: Tyler, Lanie, and Percy Houghtaling. Percy was Judy’s grand-father, Lanie was his mother, and Tyler (a member of the New York 94th Regiment, Company C during the Civil War) was Judy’s great-great grand-father. The outer movements are bookend settings of an excerpt from Walt Whitman’s “To Think of Time.” Solos were specifically composed for Judy (an extraordinary mezzo-soprano) and Daniel Belcher (Grammy-winning baritone). While some movements were premiered by the Manchester Symphony Orchestra, the complete work was premiered at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho (where Judy is Professor of Music).
The completed work had it’s Indiana premiere in October of 2017 with the Manchester Symphony & Chorus plus Manchester University choirs and choral ensembles from Warsaw, Northfield, and Fairfield high schools in the area. Soloists were the wonderful Judy Marlett and Daniel Belcher, for whom the solos were composed. Several interviews and materials from that performance are linked below. The final link is to the PBS Broadcast of the performance itself.
Below: Pre-performance video giving information about the compositional structure of the work, also insights from soloists Daniel Belcher and Judy Marlett. (15 mins):
Below are photos of Lanie’s last letter, and also various rehearsals and performances.
Page 1 of Lanie’s final letter to her sister, Etta.Page 2 of Lanie’s final letter to her sister, Etta.
Dress rehearsal footage of Judy Marlett singing the words from her great-grandmother’s final letter (shown above).
Click on any of the photos below to see them enlarged and captioned.
MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY October 2017
Sopranos! (this is one of my favorites — because she’s my kid: Emily)
A solid men’s chorus is vital during the three soldier letters. These guys did a terrific job.
High School dioramas at the pre-performance event
Civil War artifacts provided by the Wabash County Historical Society
I am always so honored to have Daniel Belcher perform with us. He is a great talent, and always so approachable for our students.
“Family Portrait” dress rehearsal featuring Daniel Belcher, baritone soloist
Daniel Belcher at dress rehearsal for “A Family Portrait”
The MSO’s very skilled bassists
Robert Lynn, principal cellist for MSO
Historical museum table at pre-performance event
“Family Portrait” dress rehearsal with over 250 musicians onstage
Judy Marlett, mezzo-soprano in dress rehearsal. Her ancestor’s letters were the source of lyrics for “Family Portrait”
Lanie’s dress. It was actually too small for the mannequin! She was one teeny-tiny lady.
My own family after the performance: mom, dad, and my daughter Emily. Robert was probably putting his cello away.
Post performance photo with my fabulous “Family Portrait” soloists: Judy Marlett, mezzo-soprano and Daniel Belcher, baritone
High School History Student Diorama for “Family Portrait” pre-performance event.
High School diorama at pre-performance event
Judy and me: pre-performance dressing room pic
Hundreds in the chorus for “Family Portrait” dress rehearsal
High School diorama at pre-concert event
Civil War re-enactor presentation during a pre-performance event on the university mall
“Family Portrait” dress rehearsal
The beautiful Judy Marlett, mezzo-soprano
Pre-performance event on the mall with Civil War re-enactors
Dress rehearsal with the magnificent Daniel Belcher
Pre-concert warm-up: “A Family Portrait”
Civil War era replica artifacts for the pre-performance events on the university mall
Civil War re-enactors at the pre-concert mall on the university mall
One of Lanie’s letters to her sister, which is set as one of the “Family Portrait” movements
MSO Maestro Scott Humphries addressing the audience.
Daniel, Judy, and I with Judy’s mother. Her father was the youngest letter author whose words became lyrics for “A Family Portrait”
Civil War re-enactor during a pre-concert event on the university mall
Judy Marlett, mezzo-soprano is a very animated soloist
“Family Portrait” introduction
Daniel Belcher, baritone soloist
Some of our wonderful high school choristers
NORTHWEST NAZARENE UNIVERSITY premiere (Nampa, Idaho)
Premiere of “A Family Portrait”Danny and Judy premiere the duet from “A Family Portrait”Rehearsing “Family Portrait” with Vallivue High School Choir (Ron Curtis, director)Daniel Belcher, sings “A Family Portrait”Judy Marlett sings words from a letter written by her great-grandmother in “A Family Portrait”Danny signing some autographsPremiering “A Family Portrait” in IdahoJudy Marlett, mezzo-soprano and me, flanking her mom — whose ancestors wrote the letters from which “A Family Portrait” was bornMe w/amazing mezzo-soprano, Judy Sadler Marlett
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