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Posted by bill vaananen
on 4/18/2005, 12:59 am
205.188.116.198
Jeff: If you get this, I just wanted to tell you how much I love the song "I Don't Mind" as recorded by Audra McDonald. I don't know if you are also the lyricist, but the blend of the music, lyrics, Audra's voice, and the beautiful, spare arrangement for strings and woodwinds just crystilize the work for me as something quite precious and heartfelt. My daughter, who is 7, has me set the song on "repeat" as she goes to sleep each night as of late. What beautiful music to sleep to... (not to suggest it induces sleep, that is!) You and I also have something in common: I am a composer and lyricist who has also written a musical (a finished one at that!) based on the life of Ben Franklin. Mark Amenta and I wrote our own musical adaption of "Ben and Me", the story of Ben and his imaginary mouse friend, Amos from the Robert Lawson book). The show has been performed by Face to Face Productions at hundreds of schools all over the Chicago area since it was written back in 1990 or so. I've written nearly 30 kids' musicals, but mainly I'm a general music teacher to kids K-5 in Northbrook, IL. Anyway, good luck with any upcoming projects. You are a talented, thoughtful composer and your work--at least the little I've heard of it--is a breath of fresh air. Keep writing, and thanks. Bill Vaananen, Deerfield, IL
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