At the beginning of this year, I set a physical fitness goal to run a half-marathon by the end of 2013. Anyone who has been following me on Facebook knows of the ups and downs that I've experienced in my journey from couch potato to runner. Somewhere in July, I finally had enough experience and confidence to register for the Orlando half marathon on December 7. While I might have been procrastinating in some other areas of my life (see previous newsletter), I'm actually ahead of schedule with running, so on my trip to...

later this week, rather than continue with my training schedule, I've opted to actually run the Nashville half-marathon. This will be further than I've run in one day. It will be colder weather, and the route includes a few more hills that I'm used to seeing here in central Florida. Unlike where I've had to race to turn out compositions in the last couple of weeks, my goal for this run will be simply to finish and still be able to walk. It seems I still enjoy challenges - even if they aren't musical.

I'm hoping to be as pleased with my running outcome as I have been with the musical output of the last two weeks. After a successful compositional dash to produce the choral score for the C.S. Lewis Evensong, I was able to settle upon a theme and style for the my piece for the CFAGO Spooktacular: French composer Louis Vierne meets The Munsters. While I was not able to record the performance at the event, I was able to make a recording later in the week that you can hear here. Immediately after finishing that piece, I set to work on the Rondo Fanfare for the Sovereign Brass Union Concert with took place just this past Sunday. You can hear the music notation software Finale play through the score here.

Finally, the Christmas with the Basilica Choir CD has arrived! I've decided to extend the pre-arrival discount until  I get back from Nashville. Order your copy here. The dash to the holidays will keep me running for a few more weeks, but I always enjoy this time of year. I hope you do as well!

Wishing you all the best,
Wm. Glenn Osborne