WILDERWORLD

Bill Engvick delivered this speech at the annual Alec Wilder Concert in New York on April 22, 2001

While We're Young performed by Melinda Dillon from the soundtrack to Staying Together, a Hemdale film, 1989

Pictured are Engvick and Wilder in Stony Point, NY, March 1952
Photo by Fran Miller

Happy Birthday Alec Wilder, who was born 106 years ago on February 16

Be sure to attend the 28th Annual Friends of Alec Wilder Concert on April 14, 2013 at 120 W. 69th Street, New York, at 3 p.m. Among those performing will be Hilary Kole, Aaron Gandy and the Four Bags. A Tribute to William Engvick is planned. See you there!

Words by Bill Engvick, Music by Alec Wilder

Performed by Mabel Mercer with Buddy Barnes, piano

From An Evening with Mabel Mercer and Bobby Short, broadcast on PBS Television December 1972

Thank you Mark Walter

See also wilderworld 68

Words by William Engvick (pictured), Music and Orchestration by Alec Wilder

Performed by Eileen Farrell with Mitch Miller conducting the CBS Symphony, August 29, 1946

My love took wings and flew away
In the morning
In the morning
Said "I'll be back on Saturday
In the morning"
He wore his suit with wings of gold
In the morning
In the morning
And three big coats for up there it's cold
In the morning
He made a joke like he always did
In the morning
In the morning
He kissed me and said "So long kid!"
In the morning
He took the stick and off he went
In the morning
In the morning
Looked as if he were heaven bent
In the morning
I thought I never saw the sky
In the morning
In the morning
Look so far and blue and high
In the morning

I went back to the house on Dover Street
In the morning
In the morning
And thoughts of him came sad and sweet:
Wore his suit with wings of gold
Three big coats, up there it's cold
Made a joke like he always did
Kissed me and said "So long kid!"
Took the stick and off he went
Looked as if he were heaven bent

Saturday I woke at five
In the morning
In the morning
Felt more dead than I felt alive
In the morning
I went down to the field where nothing grows
In the morning
In the morning
And people were saying "She already knows"
In the morning

I can never lift my eyes again
To see those Saturday skies again
In the morning
In the morning

Written in 1942

Rest in peace my dear friend Bill Engvick, who lived to see 98 years worth of mornings

Sonata No. 3 for Bassoon and Piano in Five Movements, played by Carl Rath, bassoon and Jeongwon Ham, piano

I Like It Here words by Bill Engvick, The Sounds Around the House words by Johnny Mercer, Photographs words by Fran Landesman, The Winter of My Discontent, Moon and Sand words by Engvick, Where Is the One? music by Eddie Finckel words by Alec Wilder, I See It Now words by Engvick, Blackberry Winter with Loonis McGlohon, Summer Is a-Comin' In words by Marshall Barer, I'll Be Around performed by Eric Comstock, vocals and piano, Barbara Fasano, vocals, Gene Bertoncini, guitar and Joe Wilder, trumpet

Pictured: Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wilder at the Concert

New York City April 15, 2012

All words and music by Alec Wilder unless otherwise indicated

Bob Levy introduces Honorary Guest Host Joe Wilder

If Someday Comes Ever Again words by Johnny Mercer, Ellen and Lovers and Losers words by Bill Engvick, arranged by Roger Wesby and performed by The Salvatones

Suite for Piano I Movement 3, Suite for Piano III Movement 3, Hardy Suite Movements 1 and 3, Suite for Piano II Movement 1, Un Deuxieme Essai Movements 1 and 6, Suite for Piano IV Movements 1 and 4, Sonata Fantasy Movements 2 and 4, performed by John Noel Roberts, piano (pictured)

Recording and photos by David Litofsky - Thanks!

All music by Alec Wilder except as indicated

Love Among the Young, Walk Pretty, Night Talk, Blue Fool, It's a Fine Day for Walking Country Style - John Carlson trumpet, John Dirac guitar, Douglas Yates bass clarinet

Photographs (words by Fran Landesman), Whistle Stop (music by Hugh Martin, developed by Alec Wilder), While We're Young (words by William Engvick, music by Alec Wilder and Morty Palitz), I'll Be Around (words and music by Alec Wilder) - Kathleen Landis vocal and piano, Bob Levy trumpet and MC (pictured)

April 10 in New York brought another rich and varied presentation of the extraordinary music of Alec Wilder

Air for Oboe and Strings oboe Rita Mitsel, piano Maria Dessena

When You Are Old (poem by W. B. Yeats), The Moon (Percy Bysshe Shelley), Suddenly (based upon the poem Everyone Sang by Siegfried Sassoon) vocal Carla Wesby, piano Barbara Lee

Sonata No. 1 for Tuba and Piano tuba Michael Salzman, piano Barbara Lee (pictured)
I Moderato
II Allegro
III Andante
IV Allegro

All music by Alec Wilder

Composed by Alec Wilder for a production of the play Pantagleize by Michel de Ghelderode at Jerome Hill's 3rd Annual Festival de Cassis in Cassis, France, August 1966

Performed by the New York Woodwind Quintet: Samuel Baron flute, Ronald Roseman oboe, Ralph Froelich french horn, David Glazer clarinet and Arthur Weisberg bassoon

Alec's notes to Jerome: “I wrote a suite keeping in mind your point of ‘les folies.’ Three of the four movements I and Sam [Baron] feel convey this spirit. The only problem will be the style of drumming in Bamboola’s song. It must be straight jazz. I wrote that song and the Lullaby in high keys in keeping with the indications in the play that both are sung in a high hysterical voice.

"Bamboola’s song is fiendishly difficult for one not familiar with scat singing. However strict adherence to the notes is not essential.

“The Lullaby, since the playwright indicates that Pantagleize should sing it in a high voice, is accompanied in a rather petulantly Poulenc fashion. I have, however, added a Glockenspiel two octaves above the voice so that the singer (actor) won’t have too much difficulty maintaining the melody (which is simple and which later is played simply). The soldier’s song is very simple. I picked a middle baritone range, figuring the average male voice would find it comfortable.

“The percussionist should bring the following instruments: Bass drum, Snare drum, Tenor drum, Glockenspiel, Suspended cymbal (large), A variety of mallets, Triangle. There might be a chime.”

All music by Alec Wilder

1 Song for Carol written 1968

2 Suite No 2 for Tuba and Piano (Jesse's Suite) 1964

3 Suite No 3 for Tuba and Piano (Little Harvey Suite) 1966

4 Suite No 4 for Tuba and Piano (Thomas Suite) 1968

5 Suite No 5 for Tuba and Piano (Ethan Ayer Suite) 1963

All Suites contain four movements

Harvey Phillips, tuba; Bernie Leighton, piano

From LP Harvey Phillips: Alec Wilder's Tribute to the Phillips family... (Golden Crest RE 7054)

R.I.P Harvey Phillips, a giant in the world of tuba and the world of Wilder

All words and music by Alec Wilder except as indicated

Milwaukee words by Marshall Barer, performed by Kitty Kallen (Mercury 5315 1949)

Walkin' Sad music by Loonis McGlohon, sung by Mark Murphy from LP Songs of Alec Wilder (JJA 19795 1979)

Walk Pretty words by Fran Landesman, performed by Jackie and Roy recorded in 1976 from CD Echoes (Jazzed Media 2007)

Will You Come for a Walk with Me? words by Marshall Barer, performed by Mike Stewart with Mitch Miller and Orchestra (Golden R-288 1956)

It's a Fine Day for Walkin' Country Style words by William Engvick, sung by Jo Sullivan and Jim Hawthorne from the CBS production of Miss Chicken Little broadcast December 27, 1953

Walk Softly performed by Mundell Lowe and his Orchestra from LP New Music of Alec Wilder (Riverside RLP 12-219 1956)

I'd Gladly Walk to Alaska words by Arnold Sundgaard, recorded in 1960, sung by Kathleen Murray from LP Kittiwake Island (Blue Pear 1003 1983)

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