'The melody just comes to me': Monroe music man is a published composer

MONROE — After 40 years of writing music, there’s harmony in Kyle Engelmann’s life. The 63-year-old is a newly published composer.

Engelmann, a composer and arranger, began his career at Oakland University in Rochester as director for the university’s "Godspell" performances. During his time there, he composed several pieces for the Pontiac/Oakland Symphony that were performed in the Pontiac Silverdome’s banquet hall.

As a boy, he was drawn more to scientific notations instead of music notes.

“I wanted to be a scientist,” Engelmann said. “It was science before I gravitated to music.”

Growing up in a small Baptist church, he took music lessons from Lois Blum.

“She was up and down the piano and it fascinated me,” he said. “My dad sang in the choir. He sang bass. Even in the church pews, he would sing the bass part of the hymns and I would stand next to him. I was amazed he could sing a bassline melody that blended in with the tune.”

Engelmann admits he would try to sing along, moving his chin up and down for the high and low notes.

Although inspired by his father’s voice, he admits Mrs. Blum was the driving force.

At age 8, he "practically begged" for piano lessons but was told he was too young. The official learning commenced when he was 10.

“Not only was Mrs. Blum an excellent pianist but she was an excellent piano teacher,” he said. “Part of her lesson involved rhythm and counting out loud in subdividing beats. That emphasis on rhythm has served me my whole life. I can sight read music and tackle difficult rhythms very easily thanks to her.”

Musical career

Following music lessons with Mrs. Blum, Engelmann continued with more advanced learning.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in music performance from Oakland University. He worked for the performing arts department, later finding steady work as a music director, usually for churches. He also earned a master’s degree in education from Oakland University.

Throughout his career, he’s had several positions such as director of music for the Archdiocese of Detroit, full time organist and choir director at St. Joseph’s in Erie and, later, full time director of music at St. Michael’s in Monroe.

He credits his time at St. Michael’s where his craft in composing and arranging was put to practical use. Every weekday, he composed Psalms for mass.

When it comes to favorite composers, Richard Rodgers, who wrote the music for “The Sound of Music,” quickly comes to mind.

“He wrote so many good singable tunes,” he said. “He must have done a dozen musicals with Hammerstein and every one of those musicals have at least three or four songs that everyone knows and can sing along to.”

Engelmann says if he could emulate someone, it would be Rodgers.

Composing

When the Monroe resident is composing, 90% of the time, the lyrics are found in poetry. On occasion, he will rewrite some of the words.

“I’m using poets like G. K. Chesterton or Fanny Crosby,” he said. “If they are more than 70 years old, they are in the public domain. I’ll find the lyrics and a tune will come to me right away. Sometimes, it's when I read through poetry.”

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Earlier this month, Engelmann had three music compositions published — “Whose Woods Are These?” “And All the Stars Looks Down” – Unison/Part Two and “And All the Stars Looks Down” – SATB . They are available as digital downloads through Beckenhorst Press, Inc.

“Whose Woods Are These?” is perhaps the most sentimental of the three. It’s music set to Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.”

“I wrote it while I was in college 40 years ago and I lost the music,” he said. “I basically forgot all about it. When I retired, I said, 'I’ve got time to concentrate on composing.' I had never made an effort to get music published.”

He remembered “Whose Woods Are These?” was a "good tune." He did some reconstructing and added “better music.”

“That piece took a long time to be born,” he said, laughing. “It sat on the shelf for more than 35 years and the music itself was lost.”

More music

Engelmann’s currently working on a music composition with lyrics by Crosby.

“It’s a sacred piece for church,” he said.

He is also contemplating writing a piece for concert band performance. The music will be geared to Monroe and commemorate the 1812 battle of the Raisin River.

Engelmann never knows when a certain melody will come to him. There are times when ideas wake him in the middle of the night and he'll go over to the piano and jot things down.

“The melody just comes to me and I start singing it,” he said. “Sometimes, it may be just four measures, just a little catchy tune, but they’re a germ of something that could be really good.”

— Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at lvidaurribowling@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: 'The melody just comes to me': Monroe music man is a published composer