Paul Bunyan

I just finished the first piece of a new school children's choral series with lyricist and friend, J. Paul Williams. The series, which will use a variety of composers, but always Paul's texts, will be called "The American Experience" and will be published by Gentry Publications (a division of Fred Bock Music Company).

The piece, "Paul Bunyan" is for two part children's choir, and I think it will be a lot of fun to sing and perform. When I write for children I always try and write something that I think will be fun for them and for their audiences as well (usually their parents). This piece tells several of the Paul Bunyan legends in less than 3 minutes!

The due date was September 1st, but I worked hard to finish it today because my whole family is heading to Pennsylvania tomorrow to visit my parents for the next week. I'll be singing some new songs at my parents church, Beaverdam Mennonite on Sunday at 10:45 a.m., so if you're in the Corry, PA area, I hope you'll stop by and say "Hi."

Harry Potter #5: My Review

My own personal "reward" to help me finish my recent slew of writing was to buy the latest Harry Potter book when I had finished all my pieces. So, last Saturday I went out and bought Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

With all my flying time out to L.A. and back, I had about 75% of it read by the time I got back late Tuesday night, and I finished it up last night.

It definitely continues to develop the big story arc of the series, but to me, it was slow getting there. I find the HP books usually have a slow time getting started, but things get interesting fairly quickly at the Dursleys' house, which was good to see the Muggle and Magical worlds intersecting more.

However, after that the pace dies off rather quickly and really doesn't return until the last few chapters. And there is a lot of ink in between.

Other reviews mention what a foul mood Harry seems to be in throughout this book, and I have to agree. Teenage mood swings are one thing, but it seems like Harry's CONTINUOUSLY "feeling the heat rising within him" or "blurting out" some complaint or another. I would still recommend the book, but I was rather annoyed with Harry just about every time he opened his mouth.

It's still an enjoyable read, and with every book, we get to see and learn more about the history of wizarding and their whole magical culture, but if I were a character in the story, I would be hanging around Ron or Hermione for the most part this time around rather than Harry.

Craig Goes to Hollywood

I'm back from my quick trip out to California. Most of my California connections lie in SoCal, "behind the Orange Curtain" as Steve Bock of Fred Bock Music Company likes to put it, but this time I was north of L.A., in the Burbank/Glendale/North Hollywood area.

I was out to present choral music for a Hal Leonard Publications workshop called "The Joy of Worship." Mark Cabaniss, their sacred choral editor, was the main presenter, but I presented some piano pieces and a selection of choral anthems for Fred Bock Music Company, which is distributed by Hal Leonard.

It was a quick trip, but a good one nonetheless. I spent most of my time with Steve Bock, (driving around in his blue BMW convertible was a whole new experience for me), and spent yesterday morning with him and his mom, Lois Bock, who is also a delightful person with a lovely home.

I also got to see my friend and wonderful musician Jan Sanborn, who is the keyboard editor for FBMC. She always impresses me when her musicianship and style whenever I'm around her.

Since I was still on Wichita time (central) I was up plenty early, and ran into another composer/arranger, Roger Emerson at breakfast. It was great to "pick his brain" a little about the choral music industry and "talk shop" with another writer. I told him I grew up singing his music (I can clearly recall a sketch of his portrait appearing on some anthem covers), and he loved it that I'm now a writer and "studied" his stuff informally. Hmm, funny, no publisher has ever put a portrait of my face on a cover...I guess they worry it would hurt sales...:=) Anyway, Roger was very complimentary of my writing, especially my Pure Curry stuff, and said, "Fred would've loved that." That made me feel good, since it's published by the Fred Bock Music Company.

I got in about 11 last night after two flights, most of which were spent reading the latest Harry Potter. I'm tired today, but I think it was a very worthwhile trip. "There's no place like home." Especially in the morning, when your kids wake up.

Finito!!

Yea!! I'm done with my Oklahoma Baptist writing! I'm really pleased with how all the pieces turned out. Hopefully, I'll get to hear them at some point in the next year when the choirs perform them. The Oklahoma border is about an hour's drive away, and it's a 2 1/2 hour drive to Oklahoma City from Wichita.

No other choral groups have been more supportive and encouraging of my choral writing over the past 10 years than the Oklahoma Baptists. Every year they commission me to write special arrangements just for them, and they always treat me so well when I'm among them.

That is due in large part to their director, Dr. Bill Green, who claims (and I believe him!!) to be my "biggest fan." Not only that, he's a quality friend and a guy who's heart for Jesus and for people is amazing to watch.

I'm very grateful tonight for the opportunity to not only write music, but to have it performed as an offering of worship by quality singers and quality people!

Progress Report

Things have been hopping around the Curry household, including tonight. Amy just got back from delivering a baby; the "family bike ride" we all were going to go on turned into "Daddy will try and keep all of us from getting killed."

I guess if you look at it from that perspective it was a success, but keeping tabs on a 4 year old with training wheels and a 21 month old on a Big Wheel is more stressful than the "quality bonding time" I was envisioning.

In other news, I've finished one of two pieces for the Singing Churchwomen of Oklahoma. I have one more to go before the 20th; I should be able to get to it next week after I return from a reading session in Burbank. My writing schedule is rather full at the moment. I guess it's good to stay busy, but I get stressed with trying to balance deadlines, and the rest of life.

But it's been a productive day, and for that I'm grateful.