Brubeck lives on in song

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File photo. Dave Brubeck during his visit to
Bowling Green State University in 2005. (Photo: J.D.
Pooley/Sentinel-Tribune)

When Dave Brubeck came to Bowling Green in 2005 it wasn’t to play the music that made
him famous, it was to hear the music that was his passion.
Brubeck, the jazz pianist and composer, died Wednesday just one day shy of his 92nd
birthday.
He was best known for leading a jazz quartet whose sophisticated sound defied the
norms of the jazz world at the same time it became one of its most popular acts.

Brubeck with his quartet featuring the lyrical yet mordant alto saxophone of Paul
Desmond pioneered the college concert. Later his quartet now including master
drummer Joe Morello helped pioneer playing in odd time signatures, even scoring
a $1 million hit with Desmond’s "Take Five." Brubeck’s albums found
their way into record collections where they were the only jazz.
That was all pretty much in the past when he came to BGSU at the invitation of
William Skoog, then choral director.
Skoog, who now chairs the music department and directs choral activities at Rhodes
College in Memphis, Tenn., had long loved Brubeck’s classical choral works. He
sang, conducted, wrote about and advocated for Brubeck’s choral works.
So he approached Brubeck about composing something for the university’s men’s chorus.
He got a response from Brubeck asking for information about the ranges of the
ensemble’s singers. Skoog provided the details along with recordings of the
ensemble and then got a telephone call. Could the tenors really sing that high,
could the basses really sing that low? Brubeck wondered.
He accepted the commission and told Skoog that for the first time he just wrote what
came into his head without worrying about the abilities of the ensemble that
would sing it.
What he delivered was "a god-awful difficult fugue," Skoog said. But the
men’s chorus mastered it much to the composer’s pleasure. It became "a
badge of honor" among members that they had performed that piece, Skoog
said.
The composition featured rhythmically tricked-up melodies – one singer likened them
to Brubeck’s piano solos – that twisted and turned and bumped into each other
with notes that defied resolution.
The fugue "Love Flows from God" is based on a poem by 13th century mystic
Mechthild of Magdeburg. The text fit with the religious bent of almost all of
Brubeck’s choral work.
Brubeck was deeply affected by his service in the Army during World War II, Skoog
said.
While at BGSU he spoke of serving in France during the Battle of the Bulge. "At
the time," he said, "I wondered why we were killing each other. …
Don’t any of us ever take seriously what we were handed by God?"
In his later years, Skoog said, "he felt compelled" to write choral works.
"He wanted music to make a difference for humanity, make a better
world."
Brubeck carried his fame lightly. Once during the composition process, he called
Skoog to play him the theme. "Is that going to be OK?" he asked.
Also on the program at BGSU was an a cappella performance of "I Dream a
World." It was the first time the fugue section had been sung because it
had been deemed too difficult.
After the rehearsals the singers asked if they could talk with Brubeck who was seated
back in Kobacker Hall.
He approached the choir and greeted them: "Thank you so much for being so great
in singing my stupid songs."
He also expressed concern that he’d written a piece that was too hard for the men’s
chorus.
Skoog worries that the challenge of Brubeck’s choral works will discourage future
performances. "It’s not an easy get. It’s a lot of hard work."
When he performed "To Hope" as a guest conductor in Prague, the orchestra
requested its parts three weeks ahead of time.
Brubeck would travel with his assistant Russell Gloyd to hear performances of his
piece. The "allure" of his presence, Skoog said, promoted his work.

Skoog recalled his winning personality. During a rehearsal of his "Boogie 1
A.M." the young singers were having a hard time getting the feel of the
piece’s jaunty swing. Brubeck came dancing down the Kobacker aisle, snapping his
figures and finally drumming on the stage to demonstrate rhythm.
The choir nailed the groove.
Skoog said for all their challenges the pieces are worth the work. He remembered in
Prague, the audience stood and demanded three encores. "It just speaks to
people from a very deep place."
Brubeck’s work continues to get recognition. "Music of Ansel Adams" written
by Brubeck and his son, Chris Brubeck, was nominated Wednesday for a Grammy for
Best Instrumental Composition.
Skoog said a lasting impression he has was of seeing Brubeck performing "Voice
of the Holy Spirit" at the University of Michigan. During a section when
the choir sang alone, Skoog noticed Brubeck at the piano, in a posture of
prayer.
Skoog thought: "That’s where he’s coming from."

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