blog.sinden.org

It makes you appreciate the tremendous power of particularity. If your identity is formed by hard boundaries, if you come from a specific place, if you embody a distinct musical tradition, if your concerns are expressed through a specific paracosm, you are going to have more depth and definition than you are if you grew up in the far-flung networks of pluralism and eclecticism, surfing from one spot to the next, sampling one style then the next, your identity formed by soft boundaries, or none at all.

The whole experience makes me want to pull aside politicians and business leaders and maybe everyone else and offer some pious advice: Don’t try to be everyman. Don’t pretend you’re a member of every community you visit. Don’t try to be citizens of some artificial globalized community. Go deeper into your own tradition. Call more upon the geography of your own past. Be distinct and credible. People will come.

Brooks, David. "The Power of the Particular". New York Times 25 June 2012. Emphasis added, and quote taken rather out of context.

Update 28 June 2012: Unbeknownst to me yesterday, another blog of an Anglican persuasion had already picked this up. A more liturgical take on this can be found at Sed Angli: Springsteen vs. the Church

Labels: Anglicanism, church music, identity

I'm excited to be attending the Association of Anglican Musicians conference in Philadelphia this week. You can see the latest tweets with the hashtag #AAMPhilly below (#AAM2012 is about museums).

Update: Here are the tweets for posterity (in reverse chronological order)

sinden RT @sinden: “Everyone who works in a church is a pastor, teacher, and performer, in that order” –Alec Wyton #AAMPhilly
4:12 PM Jul 6th 

sinden RT @anglobaptist: RT @sinden: After that Buxtehude thinking about changing my name to David Sünden. #AAMPhilly // Dork.
1:12 PM Jul 5th 

sinden I'm in Alexandria Va. It seems like every other person I met at #AAMPhilly was from here.
6:50 PM Jun 22nd 

sinden Ray Glover, my illustrious predecessor offering a toast to Gerre Hancock who died earlier this year #AAMPhilly http://t.co/0M71cEIZ
12:28 AM Jun 22nd 

sinden A whole shrine to Lincoln. This just wouldn't fly in the south. #AAMPhilly http://t.co/7FiSKBxf
10:08 PM Jun 21st 

sinden #AAMPhilly (@ The Union League of Philadelphia w/ 2 others) http://t.co/PtftqqYc
9:58 PM Jun 21st 

sinden damn it's hot outside. #AAMPhilly
5:10 PM Jun 21st 

sinden Breath as circle or airport people mover. Voice just steps on. #AAMPhilly
12:46 PM Jun 21st 

sinden Healthy vocal technique by Stephanie Tennill #AAMPhilly
12:39 PM Jun 21st 

sinden Strauss, Wagner, Elgar, Hancock. Wanamaker. Incredible! #AAMPhilly
11:40 PM Jun 20th 

sinden This is new. Fun! #AAMPhilly (@ Macy's w/ 3 others) [pic]: http://t.co/7S96gOVf
11:21 PM Jun 20th 

sinden #AAMPhilly (@ St Mark's Church) [pic]: http://t.co/DJMqeEwg
8:12 PM Jun 20th 

sinden Connect people coming in through music with others in the parish. Create links. #AAMPhilly (she's not on the panel, but should be)
7:33 PM Jun 20th 

sinden I think this session isn't going well because no one has made the case that church growth isn't a direct goal of what we do or #AAMPhilly
7:31 PM Jun 20th 

sinden Not to say that anyone is against growth, but are we after numbers or disciples #AAMPhilly
7:31 PM Jun 20th 

sinden THIS SESSION IS NOT ABOUT CHURCH GROWTH. It's about something else. New music? This is weird and poorly executed. #AAMPhilly
7:22 PM Jun 20th 

sinden What is she talking about? #owenburdickispissedoff #AAMPhilly
7:22 PM Jun 20th 

sinden A contentious afternoon session that inadvertently began as an open-mic critique of our morning worship. #AAMPhilly
7:02 PM Jun 20th 

sinden “Everyone who works in a church is a pastor, teacher, and performer, in that order” –Alec Wyton #AAMPhilly
6:07 PM Jun 20th 

sinden #AAMPhilly is watching a video featuring two members of the Diocese of Va.
5:50 PM Jun 20th 

sinden Panel discussion on music and clergy stuff #AAMPhilly
5:19 PM Jun 20th 

sinden #AAMPhilly (@ Church of the Holy Trinity) http://t.co/GXljatSE
2:14 PM Jun 20th 

sinden There are 118 ranks in this tiny room at Curtis! #AAMPhilly
12:43 PM Jun 20th 

sinden At the Curtis Institute of Music with Alan Morrison #AAMPhilly http://t.co/xtBPSotb
12:42 PM Jun 20th  

sinden I just won a bottle of wine in a raffle on the bus #AAMPhilly
12:25 AM Jun 20th 

sinden This is how we roll #AAMPhilly http://t.co/PMKDKPu5
11:30 PM Jun 19th 

sinden We started this evensong at 4:40, as it's almost 6:15. I like evensong as much as the next guy, but really? #AAMPhilly
10:15 PM Jun 19th 

sinden After that Buxtehude thinking about changing my name to David Sünden. #AAMPhilly
7:19 PM Jun 19th 

sinden Busy day. No cell signal at St. David's, Wayne. Now Princeton Seminary Chapel to hear TENET. #AAMPhilly
6:59 PM Jun 19th 

sinden Morning Prayer (starting a bit late now) #AAMPhilly (@ St. David's Episcopal Church) http://t.co/twEp0vkN
1:20 PM Jun 19th 

sinden Running quite late now as buses do not have a direct route to the church due to small bridges. #AAMPhilly
1:16 PM Jun 19th 

sinden Famous, well-published church musician in row ahead of me on bus talking about his enjoyment of True Blood #AAMPhilly
12:04 PM Jun 19th 

sinden Young adults are not looking for the church to entertain them. They're looking for something transcendent. #AAMPhilly
1:06 AM Jun 19th 

sinden Okay, this is boring. Necessary, but boring. #AAMPhilly
8:14 PM Jun 18th 

sinden @bwv552 is not at #AAMPhilly
7:19 PM Jun 18th 

sinden Jacket comes off for the Reubke. #AAMPhilly
6:46 PM Jun 18th 

sinden Nobody applauded after that Gerre Hancock improvisation transcription. I think we're all okay with that. A prayerful moment. #AAMPhilly
6:39 PM Jun 18th 

sinden This organ is thrilling and the perfect vehicle for this transcription of Lenare tr. Brahms Academic Fest Overture #AAMPhilly
6:22 PM Jun 18th 

sinden Cruelty on the part of the conference organizers. Neither Twitter nor Facebook penetrate these thick marble walls #AAMPhilly
6:22 PM Jun 18th 

sinden One sad note. The retired bishop of New Hampshire the Rt Rev D Theuner has had a fall here. He is in hospital Should be OK Pray. #AAMPhilly
6:22 PM Jun 18th 

sinden Mark Laubach performing in seersucker at Girard College Philadelphia. #AAMPhilly
6:22 PM Jun 18th 

sinden #AAMPhilly (@ Old City Coffee) http://t.co/cxSvF1dF
4:42 PM Jun 18th 

sinden I'm in the ballroom at the City Tavern where the very first Independence Day was held. #AAMPhilly
3:26 PM Jun 18th 

sinden “@DanaTMarsh: After a wonderful recording and then tour to DC in the space of 9 days, now en route to Philly via Amtrak for AAM" #AAMPhilly
2:43 PM Jun 18th 

sinden Did I mention that I exchanged the peace with Benjamin Franklin? He was in the pew behind me. #AAMPhilly
2:39 PM Jun 18th 

sinden Judith Hancock is playing a transcription of one of her late husband's improvisations. #AAMPhilly beautiful.
2:33 PM Jun 18th 

sinden Wonderful opening Eucharist at Christ Church. Hearty hymn singing. Now Judith Hancock plays the concluding voluntary. #AAMPhilly
2:32 PM Jun 18th 

sinden Pedal cadenza! #AAMPhilly
3:56 AM Jun 18th 

sinden Alan Morrison is playing BWV 552 from memory at 11:30 at night. Showoff. #AAMPhilly
3:29 AM Jun 18th 

sinden @ChurchSnobTEC did I mention we've all just been drinking? #AAMPhilly
3:25 AM Jun 18th 

sinden Really, nothing makes you feel so alive as sneaking into a big hall late at night and listening to really badass organ music #AAMPhilly
3:23 AM Jun 18th 

sinden I am sitting 2 seats away from Joel Martinson! #AAMPhilly #Organnerd
3:13 AM Jun 18th 

sinden Unintended lighting effects as organ has shaken something loose #AAMPhilly
3:11 AM Jun 18th 

sinden Tournemire 'Victimae paschali' with Alan Morrison #AAMPhilly improv = dedicated to Gerre Hancock's memory
3:10 AM Jun 18th 

sinden Organ was voiced at night, so 23:00 is like "going to work". #AAMPhilly
3:08 AM Jun 18th 

sinden Free reed in Positif! #AAMPhilly
3:06 AM Jun 18th 

sinden Organ is leaning out at a 4° angle (by design) #AAMPhilly
3:05 AM Jun 18th 

sinden Afterparty!!! Kimmel Center (acoustics don't sound as good as Dallas, but I think they're supposed to). #AAMPhilly http://t.co/Tlijs5mE
3:03 AM Jun 18th  

sinden #AAMPhilly http://t.co/l2DiRCPr
1:01 AM Jun 18th  

sinden And now time for a @gjackson3 piece! "Now I have known O Lord" #AAMPhilly
12:17 AM Jun 18th 

sinden Acknowledging the sense of scale at the end. Smart move. #AAMPhilly
12:13 AM Jun 18th 

sinden This one's good, but it's awfully dense, and it's running a little long #AAMPhilly and just when I say that it changes. Pott knows.
12:10 AM Jun 18th 

sinden "CRUCIFY!" #AAMPhilly
12:02 AM Jun 18th 

sinden Beautiful, wandering setting of "My song is love unknown by Francis Pott. I think I dig his music. #AAMPhilly
12:00 AM Jun 18th 

sinden Did I mention that I was on the first bus, and yet one of the last to arrive? Not an ideal seat on the side of the church. #AAMPhilly
11:59 PM Jun 17th 

sinden How do you get six sopranos to sing like one?! The Crossing. #AAMPhilly
11:46 PM Jun 17th 

sinden Now I'm hearing something by Gavin Bryars live for the first time. #AAMPhilly
11:45 PM Jun 17th 

sinden More Tulev. The composer who opened. I'm listening. #AAMPhilly
11:32 PM Jun 17th 

sinden The composer is in the house! #AAMPhilly
11:30 PM Jun 17th 

sinden Sublime. Well crafted. Beautifully conceived. Spoke clearly, effectively. Never above mp #AAMPhilly
11:29 PM Jun 17th 

sinden Subdued, pleasantly meandering piece by Francis Pott on Ecclesiasticus. It's not too long yet, but it could be. #AAMPhilly
11:27 PM Jun 17th 

sinden Unfortunate motorcycle timing at #AAMPhilly
11:17 PM Jun 17th 

sinden The Crossing is one of this country's great choirs. Scott Detra is tearing up the organ part. #AAMPhilly
11:16 PM Jun 17th 

sinden Electrifying first salvo. This is a concert of all modern works. Would have much rather heard real chimes then the organ's. #AAMPhilly
11:11 PM Jun 17th 

sinden Concert by The Crossing at St Clement's #AAMPhilly
11:04 PM Jun 17th 

sinden @DanaTMarsh hope evensong was grand! I thought good thoughts as my train rolled through Washington this morning. See you soon #AAMPhilly
9:37 PM Jun 17th 

sinden Train is arriving in Philadelphia. Excited to be here for the Assoc. of Anglican Musicians conference! #AAMPhilly
6:53 PM Jun 17th 

sinden I can't remember the last time I haven't been in a church somewhere on a Sunday morning. Weird. But I'll be in church all week. #AAMPhilly
2:08 PM Jun 17th 

sinden I'm headed to Philadelphia for the Association of Anglican Musicians 2012 conference. #AAMPhilly
12:36 PM Jun 17th 

Up rose old Barbara Frietchie then,
Bowed with her fourscore years and ten;

Bravest of all in Frederick town,
She took up the flag the men hauled down;

In her attic-window the staff she set,
To show that one heart was loyal yet.

I invite you to read "Barbara Frietchie" by John Greenleaf Whittier on this Flag Day.

Honor to her!

The seance, which is to say the typewriter, computer, pen, pencil, and paper are there to catch the ghosts before they thin out in midair…

What I'm trying to say is that the creative process is much like the old-fashioned way of taking photos with a huge camera and you horsing around under a black cloth seeking pictures in the dark. The subjects might not have stood still. There might have been too much light. Or not enough. One can only fumble, but fumble quickly, hoping for a developed snap.

Bradbury, Ray. The Illustrated Man. From the 1997 Introduction "Dancing, So As Not to Be Dead"

Labels: creativity, Ray Bradbury

GROSS: Wes Anderson, welcome back to FRESH AIR. Now, I've read that the first germ of the idea for "Moonrise Kingdom" was in the recording of Benjamin Britten's "Noye's Fludde," which translates to "Noah's Flood." What's the connection between this music and the concept of "Moonrise Kingdom"?

WES ANDERSON: Well, I don't know Benjamin Britten's work that well, but I have always had a particular affection for it, because this play, "Noye's Fludde," or however you say it, he wrote to be performed by mostly amateur church groups, with a couple of professionals thrown into the mix. And it's meant to be performed in churches, rather than auditoriums or opera houses or anything else. So anyway, I was in a production of it, along with my older brother, when I was 10 or 11 years old.

So many of the - I've been sort of humming these, you know, these hymns and things from that play/opera all my life, and I had a thought that I wanted to incorporate somehow into this, which I didn't know how I was going to do for quite a long time. But somewhere early on I sort of thought the movie should be set to Britten, and we use not only the "Noah's Flood" pieces, but also we kind of tapped into his - into the whole body of work.

Wes Anderson, Creating A Singular 'Kingdom', NPR's Fresh Air

Update 6 June 2012 11:45 a.m. via Twitter:

@sinden And those scenes, plus many others, were filmed at Trinity Church, Newport! Wes and the whole crew were fantastic to work with.

— Anne Marie (@girlierev) June 6, 2012

@sinden Yep! Filmed for 2 weeks in June 2011. Built the ark around our center aisle pulpit. Additional scenes in parish house basement. Fun!

— Anne Marie (@girlierev) June 6, 2012

Labels: Britten, film, Wes Anderson