[Janet Kenny]

I will write to thank Carol Taylor privately for sending me a CD of Randol Bass's setting of her heart-felt poem, "Texas is Singing", but I am so overwhelmed by the beauty of the setting, the in-your-face romanticism and passion of the entire experience that I feel I must alert other Eratosphereans to its existence.

The rich, expressive orchestration, the wit of the music (I loved the Van Cliburn Tchaikovsky piano concerto chords) the sense of space and exultation and sadness and tenderness and above all the exuberant confidence. Totally lovely. Why else would a New Zealand-born Australian weep?

The Texas Master Chorale, which was celebrating its 20th anniversary and the players from the magnificent Houston Symphony responded with sincerity to the words, all of which are clearly heard without any exaggerated "seengeeng" enunciation.

Thank you so much Carol for this great experience. I hope others will be sufficiently convinced by my words to take the plunge and hear it for themselves.

Janet




[This message has been edited by Janet Kenny (edited May 26, 2006).]

[Robert Meyer]

del.


[This message has been edited by Robert Meyer (edited May 27, 2006).]

[Michael Cantor]

That sounds great, Carol, and intriguing. It seems like a major deal, with symphony and chorale - a little different than reading to nine people in the back corner of a bookstore. Can you give us some details? Is it available commercially?

Michael

[Carol Taylor]

Thank you, Janet. I'm delighted to know that you like it and just thrilled about the whole experience. Mike, it's a really big deal for me, much more than reading in the back corner of a bookstore, which I rarely get off my ass and do. Texas Master Chorale commissioned a piece from Randol Bass to commemorate its twentieth anniversary this year. The poem I submitted, Texas Is Singing, was chosen as the text. We premiered the piece in concert in April. Also on the program was Shubert's Mass in G (the first piece the group had ever performed in concert) and Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. The concert recording is not commercially available, though we have three CD's that are: gospel, Christmas, and patriotic.

Carol

[Katy Evans-Bush]

Carol, congratulations, this sounds incredibly exciting. And from Janet's description it sounds as if they've doen a fantastic job of presenting it.

What a thrill!

KEB

[Robert Meyer]

del.

[This message has been edited by Robert Meyer (edited May 27, 2006).]

[Mike Slippkauskas]

Carol,

Congratulations! Many of us. particularly the music lovers, must share this grandiose fantasy -- for you reality. And I trust any assessment of Janet's.

Best,
Michael Slipp

[Carol Taylor]

Thanks, Katy, Robert, and Mike. I enjoy singing with TMC more than anything else I do.

Carol