102 in the Shade

It was a hot few days in San Antonio, where the temperature climbed above 100 and the TCDA Directors' Chorus performed BROTHERS OF THE SINGING VOID at the closing concert of the convention.  This was one of those really memorable performances -- only the second time it has been performed -- both conducted by my good friend Jonathan Reed.  The men brought a depth of maturity to both the sound and musical nuance, a warm, rich and pliable sound, molded by Jon (who I think will come to "own" this piece) and intelligent and sensitive collaborative piano accompaniment by Alan Raines.  It was great to reconnect with Alan, see great friends and colleagues, hear Craig Hella Johnson's commissioned work WE ARE -- strikingly beautiful text and music -- and be, again in this unique and inviting city.  Unexpected surprises were a wonderful dinner party in the "upstairs room" at the former-convent-turned-new-home-of-Liberty Bar restaurant, and a chance meeting with an undergrad dorm-mate I hadn't seen in thirty-some years.  Neither of us have aged!