Samson et Dalila
Since the beginning of the fall semester last year, I have been busy learning the music for this year’s opera at Bob Jones, Samson et Dalila by Saint-Saens. I am in the Hebrew Chorus. Beginning this semester, we have been rehearsing on stage in Rodeheaver Auditorium multiple times a week in preparation for the opera. As I’m typing this entry, we are in the middle of a rehearsal and I’m in the middle of the hall listening to the understudies perform Act 2. The guest artists that will be singing the roles of Samson, Dalila, and the Philistine High Priest have just arrived in the last 24 hours and are also in attendance tonight watching our rehearsal.
This is a pretty huge opera – one of the biggest that we do here at Bob Jones. There are literally hundreds of people involved in the production. Opening night is Tuesday, March 9th, one week from tomorrow as I’m writing this. If you are in the Greenville area (or even if you aren’t) you should definitely consider coming to see this. Even if you don’t think you like opera, this production will not disappoint. The music is cool, the costumes are cool, and the set and staging are really cool. 
More information on the opera can be found on the BJU website. You can also view the Facebook event that has been created for it.
Spring Semester 2010 Update
The spring semeseter 2010 began this past Thursday. Here’s a rundown of my classes and other various activities this semester. First my classes:
- Choral Literature – a survey of choral genres/music down through the centuries
- American Hymnody
- 19th Century Techniques – a study of musical form and analysis of 19th century music
- Private Composition
I am also still in the University Chorale (website | twitter). In addition to performing a concert in April, we are heavily involved in the school’s opera which will be performed in March – Samson et Dalila. All of these classes, plus involvement in choir and opera and work responsibilities will consume most of my time this semester.
But there is always something “cooking” on the compositional front. This month, I will wrap up the incidental music that I’ve been writing for Northland International University’s spring drama. Pretty soon, it will be time to decide on music for my graduate recital (spring, 2011). I will have about 40+ minutes of original music to write for it. I also hope to hear soon from a few publishers regarding my latest choral pieces which I submitted recently.
That’s about all for now. I’m excited about this semester and the many learning opportunities headed my way.
PeterAnglea.com Redesign
After almost three years, it was time to revamp my website. Now that the semester is over and I’m at home, I found the time necessary to complete the new site. During the semester, I worked on some design concepts on and off and eventually finished a basic XHTML/CSS layout. My next task was to convert my design to a WordPress template (WordPress is the Content Management System that powers this site). For the web aficionados out there, here’s a rundown of some more technical elements.
Jesus Lives and So Shall I
In celebration of Reformation Day 2009 and the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin, I am releasing a new hymn setting that I composed this month. The text is an 18th c. poem by Christian F. Gellert entitled Jesus Lives and So Shall I. I decided to put this text with a new tune, and here it is.
Feel free to use it with your congregations and let me know what you think of it. I hope you enjoy it.
Jesus Lives and So Shall I (PDF)
Up and Coming…
Hello all. We’re now at the halfway point in the semester, and things are moving fast. Just a couple items of interest coming up to inform you of…
First, next week I will be releasing a brand new hymn right here on my website. Actually, a new tune and harmonization for an old text. It’s a hymn of triumph that will be fitting with the celebration of Reformation Day and the 500 anniversary of the birth of John Calvin.
Second, I’m excited to be going on tour with the BJU Chorale to New England and surrounding areas November 2nd-9th. We’ll be making stops in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. Those interested in keeping tabs on the Chorale can follow their twitter feed and http://twitter.com/bju_chorale.
Third, I have a commission to announce. I have been given the opportunity to write incidental music for a sacred drama which is to be performed in April at Northland International University in Dunbar, WI. The music will consist of about 5-10 minutes of music for in between scenes and also some background music during the scenes.
Fourthly, my website will soon receive a little bit of an overhaul. I am currently working on a new design which is nearing completion. If time permits, I hope to have it up by the end of the semester.
Lastly, if you’ve not yet seen, my teacher, Dan Forrest, has recently released a CD recording of many of his concert choral works entitled “Arise, Shine!” It is a great CD compiled from various recordings of concerts done on campus featuring the BJU Chorale and combined choirs. I’m even on a couple of the tracks. More information and links to purchase this album can be found on his website – www.danforrest.com.
New School Year
A new school year is underway, so here’s a little update on what I’m up to these days. My new line of study for my Master’s degree is a M.Mus in Church Music, Composition Principal. This semester, I have 9 credits:
- Orchestration
- Research & Writing in Music
- Introduction to Schenkerian Analysis
- Private Composition (w/ Dan Forrest)
- Private Piano (w/ Mark Parker, my teacher from undergrad)
- Music Group credit (BJU Chorale)
As always, there are new things happening on the composition front. I have a piece or two that I’m working on presently. But for the most part, this year I’ll be doing a lot of composition exercises and such with Dr. Forrest. Next year I will begin composing all the pieces for my graduate recital (spring semester of 2011).
The Chorale is also going to be quite busy this year. We’ll be singing in campus church a few times, singing in the Vespers program Sept. 20th, performing a couple selections by Mendelssohn as a part of a faculty recital series in October, helping with a Craig Courtney reading session in October, going on tour to New England in November, and performing the Messiah (3 times) at Christmas. That’s busy enough to rule out having a regular concert of our own this semester.
My job on campus as part of my GA program is with Web Technologies. Essentially, there are four of us responsible for maintaining applications, forms, and the like on BJU.edu and the BJU Intranet. I spend most of my time at work programming applications and doing security and performance upgrades on previously existing applications. I’ve gotten to work with people from various departments on campus – Human Resources, BJU Elementary, the School of Fine Arts, Office of Student Services, and many others.
This semester will be stretching in more ways than one, but also should prove to be academically enriching as well. I’m most excited about the opportunity to (finally) have an outlet for my compositional efforts. Previously, it was just something I would do on the side with the sporadic moments of free time I would have, but now it’s my major. I’m excited… and only slightly overwhelmed at this point.
P.S. I have found myself updating my blog less and less as time goes on. If you’re really interested in keeping tabs on me, I encourage you to follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/peteranglea). I update that almost daily – and often more than once per day.
xHTMLpro.com for Sale
I’ve recently done some re-branding of my design website. My brother and I are no longer doing business as xHTMLpro. We’ve changed our name to WaldenWebdev and are now operating from www.waldenwebdev.com.
As a result, we no longer have a need for our old domain name, and are looking to sell it. It is currently listed at Sedo.com.
Melodie en Sol
When Melody and Guillaume asked me to write an original piece for their wedding processional, I was excited and eager to do so for a number of reasons. For one thing, she is my sister, after all! Also, how many aspiring composers get the chance to write a piece for somebody actually named Melody? So, while this was a unique opportunity for me, at the same time it also presented me with a unique challenge: how on earth am I supposed to write a melody for Melody with enough musical significance to match the height of emotions present on the most important day of her life? The more I thought about it, the more I decided to that the best way to write this piece was to have Melody and Guillaume do the bulk of the writing for me. Yes, that’s right. In fact, without even trying, they had already done most of the grunt work for me on this composition. Ok, maybe that’s a little misleading, but let me explain… Read more
Watch my Sister's Wedding Online
This Friday, July 24 at 7:00pm, my sister, Melody Anglea, and her fiance, Guillaume Allardice, will be getting married at our home church in Pennsylvania. I will be traveling there from Bob Jones this Wednesday night/Thursday morning. I’m the pianist for the wedding. Actually… along those lines, I have another announcement to make soon, so stay tuned.
Anyways, for those that will not be coming to the wedding, but would still like to watch, my brother will be running a live webcast of the entire wedding starting at 6:30pm on Friday. The link for the webcast is http://www.firstbapleb.org/wedding/. Please tune in and watch, and while you’re at it, leave a note of congratulations for Melody and Guillaume. Thanks!
New Audio File
This is actually a first for me. I have posted a recent recording of my sacred SATB choral anthem, I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say, on my music page. This recording was made back on May 5th at the annual student composition recital at Bob Jones University which I was a part of. The recording features the BJU Chorale (Warren Cook directing) and yours truly at the piano. I think it came out really, really nicely (considering they read through it only once for about 10 mins. just prior to the recital) Enjoy!
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