Treasured fall traditions

Starting with Halloween (October 31)

I didn’t care much for Halloween when I was young. The candy was mostly disappointing. Halloween costumes and colors seemed trashy to me. I had no idea what was supposed to be fun or special or “holy” about a holiday that seemed to celebrate fear and deception.

But now, I understand Halloween as a celebration of the triumph of love over fear and life over death. I love the month of October because Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and Día de los Muertos have all developed a special place in my heart over the years.

The first time I fell in love with Halloween was at my friend Mandy’s house during my undergraduate days at CSU Long Beach. Mandy invited me to my first Halloween party and helped me carve my first pumpkin. Tons of friends were crammed in that small Long Beach apartment where we drank beer, watched and laughed at classic horror movies, and turned pumpkins into art.

All Saints’ Day  (November 1)

I love being an Episcopalian. And though I haven’t gone to my home church in a long time (which is quite common for musicians), All Saints’ Sunday at All Saints Church in Pasadena (pictured) will always hold a special place in my heart. The Sunday after Halloween is one of two Sundays when incense is used during the service — the other is Pentecost, which happens in the summer. At my first All Saints’ Sunday service in 2002, I sang my very first Duruflé Requiem under the direction of my mentor, James Walker. There are no words to describe the overwhelmingly exquisite beauty and power of singing the Duruflé’s work with orchestra in the context of an All Saints’ Sunday service. I had never experienced such solemnity, reverence, and beauty, all at once. I could feel the presence of all the saints, our ancestors compassed around us in that space with all those worshippers, the holy smells, the beautiful garments, the hymns and the sublime music. I’ve never been the same since.

Our ofrenda, honoring and remembering family

Día de los Muertos  (November 2)

I married into a family of Mexican heritage. The Robles family history is rich and beautiful, a lot like my own Stewart family history.  That’s one of the many reasons I fell in love with and married a Robles man. Grandpa Mark Robles was a professional guitarist and singer who worked at La Golondrina on Olvera Street, and had several film appearances. Grandpa and his wife, Emily, were devout Catholics and parents of nine children, including my father-in-law, Christopher Edward Robles.

To my knowledge, the Robles family didn’t really celebrate Día de los Muertos. But when the movie Coco came out a few years ago, it resonated deeply with me because of my own family connection to a great musician of Mexican heritage. So although the Day of the Dead isn’t a holiday I grew up with, creating an ofrenda each year enables me to honor the legacy of Grandpa Robles and remember all the loved ones who have passed from this life to the next. Seeing their pictures on the ofrenda during the month of October connects me to my past and reminds me of the love and strength these people continue to give me, even though they’ve passed on.

Composition

My compositions “Can You See” and  “Veni Sancte Spirius” have grown in popularity over the past few months, with planned performances by several choirs across the country. Click the button below to check out my colleague Dr. Marques Garrett teaching it to his students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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Conducting

I’m back in the saddle!
It’s been fun getting to conduct again, mostly for virtual choir projects where I have to “audiate” the choir (hear them in my head), because they aren’t actually singing with me synchronously.

But I was elated for the opportunity to conduct 3 songs with the group Tonality for the “Tune In Festival” produced by CAP UCLA. Check us out on Friday, October 30 at 9pm. I’m conducting my composition “Can You See,” along with “Sing About it” by Moira Smiley and “America the Beautiful” by Shawn Kirchner, with Shawn himself on piano.

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Singing

I sing ALL THE TIME! on virtual choir videos, guide tracks, practice recordings, over Zoom calls, all over my house!… There’s so much singing to do, despite the fact we can’t do it together in person.

For Fun

Honestly, things have been really tough lately. COVID-19, the ongoing images of brutality against Black lives, and the upcoming election have caused my general anxiety to skyrocket.

And yet… the blessings continue. Gratitude returns. Hope is kindled again and again. So what’s giving me life right now?

  • Watching the World Series.
  • Listening to Billy Child’s new album, “Acceptance”.
  • Playing “Bioshock” on Xbox 1.
  • Chopping vegetables.
  • Bouncing on my trampoline.
  • Working on home improvement and seasonal decorating.
  • Completing French lessons every day on Duolingo.
  • Singing and editing virtual choir videos.
  • Playing “Just Dance” on Nintendo Switch with my daughters.
  • Watching Star Trek: Deep Space 9 on Netflix with my husband.
  • Connecting with friends and family on Facebook and Instagram.

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October 25, 2020 Zanaida 0

Just three

Balance.
Resonate.
Flow.

These three concepts have become a foundation for my philosophy of singing, conducting, and just being. I love how my music-making is an experience that vacillates between spirituality, intellectualism, and athleticism.

When I also remember that balance, resonance, and flow are all equally integral to my life and work, I find peace more easily accessible.

Composition

I’m working on finishing my set of Kwanzaa Songs in time for this year’s holiday season. Umoja, Kujichagulia, and Kuumba are done. Now to finish Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, and Imani. It doesn’t come easy, but I’m getting there. You can read a little about Kwanzaa here

A list of my finished works can be found on my website:  ZanaidaRobles.com

Here’s the order form to purchase perusals and official scores.

Conducting

The Duruflé “Sanctus” project went quite well! I’m proud of what our Neighborhood Chorus accomplished for our Homecoming service on September 13.

Next up:  for the Harvard-Westlake Upper School choirs, I have to video record myself conducting music of Dunphy, Brahms, Naplan, and Robles (me)!

Maurice Duruflé (1902-1986) at the organ. (No, he wasn’t able to join us on the 13th!)

Singing

I’ve been rebuilding my vocal stamina since the summer hiatus ended. Teaching and rehearsing choir via Zoom means I do much more singing than conducting. It’s been fun getting re-acquainted with my larynx and remembering how to breathe!

For Fun

In honor of Halloween and to remind me not to take myself too seriously, I bought a giant plushy spider from the grocery store. It has adorable red eyes, and it’s hair can be styled in several different ways. At first my family made fun of it. But every now and then, I find it in a different room, placed in such a way as to make me laugh or scare me. It might be right outside my bedroom door, there to greet me when I wake up. It might be at the bottom of the stairs or waiting for me in a dark bathroom, there for me to find when I turn on the light. I can’t tell you the joy this $5 spider has brought into my life.

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September 25, 2020 Zanaida 0

Seen, heard and valued

Have you ever had an experience where you’re talking with a person or a group of people (virtually, synchronously, or otherwise) and they never respond to what you say, or they only respond if they have a problem with what you’ve said?

Have you ever thought, “Am I talking to myself? Do they not hear me? Do they not agree with me? Is what I said stupid? Do they not care about me? Do I not belong here?”

Did your heart sink? Did it make you angry? Did you keep thinking about it long after the moment had passed?

Have you ever agonized over trying to find the right words to express yourself only to have your words met with a nauseating silence?

When this happens to me (like it has on several occasions recently), it’s really painful. I truly hope I haven’t inadvertently caused anyone else to feel this way. If I have, I’m sorry.

We are in community with one another, and all of us need to feel seen, heard, and valued by each other. It’s not just about ego. It’s about caring for each other, lifting each other up, and keeping each other mentally and emotionally safe and healthy.

Why don’t we encourage each other more? Why don’t we offer more praise and gratitude for each other? Do we care enough to consistently respond promptly? Do we respect each other enough to consistently show up on time or even show up at all? Do we show our gratitude for one another? Sure, sometimes unforeseen circumstances prevent us from doing so. But what about the “foreseen” times when we fall short?

If we want a better world, we have to cultivate healthier communities and better relationships. The time it takes to more consistently pay undivided attention to each other, show care and gratitude for each other, and act with kindness and consideration in this world is time well invested.

Composition

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been amazed at how much interest there has been in my compositions, especially “Veni Sancte Spiritus” and “Can You See?” I’ve written a bunch of other stuff, too! A list of my works can be found on my website. Here’s the order form to purchase perusals and official scores. My SoundCloud page contains audio samples of many of my original compositions. Here’s a link to a sample of my piece “Umoja.”

A few of my works are not available directly from me. My piece “No Fairy Tale Here,” a tribute to the great writer Ida B. Wells, is published by MusicSpoke.com. For a sample recording, you can click here.

Conducting

At Neighborhood UU Church we are embarking on our first choral project of the year – a virtual choir rendition of the Duruflé Sanctus, with video!! A compilation of individual videos of singers will be mixed and edited into a video that will allow us to virtually “sing together” though we’re apart. Here is the link to the conducting video I made to be used as a guide when singers make their recordings.

Here’s the video

Anyone familiar with this piece who wishes to sing with us in our virtual choir is welcome to join us! Virtual rehearsal take place every Thursday at 7:15pm starting this Thursday, August 27. Singers’ videos are due by Friday, September 4th at 5pm. The finished video will be premiered during our Neighborhood UU Church virtual Homecoming service on Sunday, September 13 on Vimeo and Facebook.

Wanna sing “Sanctus” with me? It’s easy! Reply to this post or visit my website at zanaidarobles.com, and use the contact form to let me know you’d like to participate. I’ll send you all the information you need so that you can join us for our virtual choir project.

Singing

I had myself a glory attack! Here’s a preview of a gospel-style recording I made of the Negro spiritual “Over My Head” for an upcoming service at Neighborhood UU Church.

Listen on Soundcloud

For Fun

I used to joke about how I didn’t like to cook and wasn’t very good at it. But it’s COVID times, y’all! And with encouragement from my bestie Debby, my darling husband Vincent, and my wonderful mother-in-law Karen, I can honestly say I’ve grown to enjoy it! My favorite thing to do is chop stuff, especially celery and carrots. Don’t laugh, but one of my signature dishes right now is instant ramen with sautéed veggies and Trader Joe’s smoked herring. I also make a killer bruschetta with fresh basil, tomatos, and kalamata olives. 

First row: “I discovered black rice!”; Smoked sardines with avocado and salsa over rice; Veggie sautèe and garlic pork soup dumplings over rice; Ramen with smoked herring

Second row: Chopped a bunch of stuff and made a scramble; Smoked salmon ramen; Traditional

August 25, 2020 Zanaida 0

Metamorphosis

In this house, for which I am so grateful,
Sometimes I feel like we’re in a cocoon. 
I don’t feel trapped.
I think I see us changing, growing, blooming, awakening.
I hope.

There are many painful and awkward days.
There is uncertainty and risk and failure ahead.
Often, change feels like loss.
And there is deep grief and pain.
But something is holy here,

Here in this holy cocoon from which we cannot yet emerge;
Where we are stuck and in pain.
Are we stuck and in pain because our legs have fallen off?
Is that what has changed?
Is that why we can’t move?
Will we never walk again?

We had better be growing wings, then.

COMPOSITION

Yay! I finished movements 2 and 3 of my Nocturnes for Piano. Now to crunch out the 1st movement. I’ve got a good start on it, but I’m struggling with the development. 

CONDUCTING

I shot a video of my conducting practice the other day. Ugh. So much work to do. I’m working on preparing the Duruflé “Sanctus,” which I’ll need to record for real soon for an upcoming virtual choir project.

SINGING

I had fun using GarageBand to create a multitrack recording of my setting of “Veni Sancte Spiritus” today. Singing alto, tenor, and bass is fun for this reluctant soprano.
Listen on Soundcloud

FOR FUN

I’m playing “Zelda: Breath of the Wild” on Nintendo Switch. It is a masterpiece of a video game! The landscapes are vast and beautiful, the animation is exceptional, and the story is classic. Best of all, the music is wonderful! It’s like they use chamber music textures to give the game a more intimate feel. It’s a great way to escape from the troubles of this world for a little while. 

Trailer for Nintendo Switch:  “Zelda: Breath of the Wild”

July 25, 2020 Zanaida 0

Making a statement

The need for self love and self care is crucial, and working to help uplift and show care toward other Black people is a vital part of this work. As a member of the national board for the National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM), here is a statement I have crafted about our work:

“With gratitude and reverence for the pioneers who have come before and for those who are with us now; with sober focus and determination to carry on the work of honoring and advancing our legacy; in the face of all manner of trials and tribulations in our midst: the National Association of Negro Musicians is firmly committed to its mission of promoting, preserving, and supporting all genres of music created or performed by African Americans.”

Core Messsage Concepts:

To all creators, performers, and educators who identify as Black, African American, Negro, or Colored;

To all those who seek to promote, preserve, and support all genres of music created or performed by African Americans:

WE CARE FOR EACH OTHER – Here’s what NANM provides… 

  • scholarship money;
  • a platform for cultural engagement and celebration;
  • educational/historical/cultural resources;
  • a space for those who identify as members of the African diaspora to be seen and to process shared experience.

WE SEE EACH OTHER – Here’s who NANM honors for already doing the work…

  • Our heroes, past and present.
  • Visit nanm.org to learn more.

WE APPRECIATE EACH OTHER – Here’s who honors and supports NANM’s work… 

  • Our donors and members

WE NEED EACH OTHER – Here’s who we need to help continue NANMs legacy…

  • solicitation of scholarship applicants;
  • calls for scholarly papers and articles;
  • calls for presenters and performers at national convention.

I’m working on building the infrastructure that enable us to more effectively fulfill our organizational mission, thereby strengthening and uplifting ourselves so that we may be sustained in the fight against racism alongside our non-Black siblings.

Composition

I’ve had so much inspiration to work on new projects that I can hardly figure out where to begin. I’ve also had numerous requests for scores from my catalogue of completed works. If you would like to peruse a score or purchase a license for one or more of my works, please use the contact form on my website at zanaidarobles.com. Sometimes it takes me a couple days, but I’ll respond as soon as I possibly can. I’m excited to share my music with you!

In the meantime, here’s a recent recording I made of my work “Umoja” for treble voices. I added a few things to spice it up! 

Umoja , arranged and sung by Zanaida Robles

Conducting

As I prepare to go back to the “virtual” choir room this fall, I’m working on shoring up my conducting skills. Conducting is such a magical art form to me, and I grieve the loss of the ability to practice my art due to COVID-19. However, I’ve decided to commit to continuing to work on my craft and to use my skills in the service of my ensembles through video. Some works I’m hoping to video record myself conducting this fall include “Sanctus” from Requiem by Maurice Duruflé, “Hehlehlooyuh” by James Furman, and my very own composition “Kyrie.”

As I prepare for this fall, I have been reviewing texts and notes from my doctoral studies at USC. I’ve also been reading choral music publications and paying attention to the current work of my colleagues in the field of choral music education. One of the most delightful things I’ve found was my friend Dr. Christopher Gravis’s video introduction to instrumental conducting. His video was absolutely inspirational to me, reminding me how amazingly complex our art form can be and how we have a responsibility to put in the work to thoroughly study and fully comprehend the music we conduct, regardless of whether it’s instrumental or choral.  Here’s the video:

Instrumental Conducting:  Introduction to the Orchestra, the Score, and Transposition — by Christopher Gravis, posted June 2020.

Singing

When I’m not recording vocals for various professional projects, I’ve been singing through my 24 Italian Art Songs and Arias, trying to work on my legato phrasing and vowel alignment. (I enjoy playing them on my flute, too!)

I’m also playing around with GarageBand to create new music. Here’s a recording I did not too long ago of “Karitas Habundat” by 12th century composer and mystic Hildegard von Bingen.

Karitas Habundat by Hildegard von Bingen, sung by Zanaida Robles

For Fun

My daughter is really into K-Pop right now. I love watching her dance to this music because she moves with such effortless style and confidence. I’m in awe of how easily she picks up these dance steps; she’s such a natural dancer (complete opposite of me!). She tried to teach me the dance steps to a couple of songs. Laughter ensued, and then I gave up. But it’s fun to try!  Start here:

BLACKPINK – ‘Kill This Love’ DANCE PRACTICE VIDEO (MOVING VER.)

This post originally appeared in Zanaida’s monthly newsletter.
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June 25, 2020 Zanaida 0