This TE DEUM setting, originally written in 1997, has been slightly revised in 2016. A chamber orchestration (strings, flute, oboe, trumpet, timpani, organ and optional harp) is in preparation and is expected to be available in Fall 2017.
This new setting of the Christmas/Epiphany words, “As with gladness, men of old did the guiding star behold” seeks to emphasize the joyful nature of the visit of the Magi to the Christ child. Set in a lively 7/8 time, it is mainly in four parts (SATB), although the 3rd verse, “As they offered gifts most rare” […]
“Winter Stars” was written by Pulitzer Prize winning American poet Sara Teasdale (1884-1933) and was first published in 1920 in the collection “Flame & Shadow.” She grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, found acclaim while living in New York City, and became disillusioned in her later years. Perhaps she was writing this poem with World […]
Voiced for SSAB with optional organ. A combination of Latin, English, and Greek text. The Improperia, also known as the Reproaches, are a series of antiphons and responses used on Good Friday that remind us of the atrocity of our sin. God had repeatedly saved us and we repeatedly rejected Him. Here I have put […]
This heartfelt folksong was written by Newfoundlander Jim Payne (b. 1955) in 1994, and appeared as the title song for the Album “Wave Over Wave: Old and New Songs of Atlantic Canada,” with Fergus O’Byrne (1996). The song was also very successfully recorded by the Newfoundland folk rock band Great Big Sea, which released it […]
The text comprises a solitary verse, St. John 3:8, taken from Nicodemus’ well-known nocturnal conversation with Jesus. The anthem is intended for use in a generous acoustic, such as a Cathedral, where during the many bar rests, the fragmented and overlapping phrases can be given opportunity to resound and reflect until the reverberation dissipates. The […]
An attractive and accessible setting of the Rite Two Holy Communion Liturgy from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church. Intended primarily for use in churches where congregation and choir sing the service together, it could be used by congregation alone, as the melody line does not rise high. Ideally, though, an […]
A short, meditative setting of the familiar Latin hymn text, particularly suitable for use as an introit during the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Scored for 4-part SATB voices, this motet is simple enough to be enjoyed by volunteer church choirs and professional/collegiate choirs alike.
When I Am Dead, My Dearest was conceived as a partner piece to Dido’s Lament from Henry Purcell’s opera, Dido and Aeneas. Purcell’s aria begins, “When I am laid in earth”; Rossetti’s poem begins, “When I am dead.” Purcell ends with “Remember me, but ah, forget my fate”; Rossetti’s poem ends, “Haply I may remember […]
Rorate Caeli was written for Grace Lutheran Church in Hockessin, DE and premiered during the Advent season on December 7th, 2013. The text comes from the book of Isaiah and speaks of the yearning of the Jewish people for the coming of Messiah. Originally set to plainchant, several composers throughout history have set the text […]
When I first discovered Charles Bernstein’s beautiful poem, I knew immediately that I wanted to set it for men’s chorus. The poem expresses so much within a brief, 4-verse form. I set out to use harmony to color the text’s rich imagery while honoring the poem’s lyrical and repetitive nature in the melody. The surprising […]
Composed and written for The Calling All Choir while at the Chalk Hill Artist Residency in Healdsburg, California. My first night at the residency I woke up before dawn. The previous evening I was enjoying the sounds of crickets chirping. I expected to hear them that morning, but instead I was met with silence. I […]
This award winning setting of “Psalm 150” uses an inclusive language version of this beloved Psalm. Many congregations prefer not to use male pronoun references to God, and in this instance, “his” and “him” as well as the word “Lord” are replaced simply with “God”. The organ part is of particular interest, as it was […]
Deep peace of the running wave to you.Deep peace of the flowing air to you.Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.Deep peace of the shining stars to you.Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you. (Words adapted from an ancient Gaelic blessing)
Scored for SATB chorus, 2 pianos, and percussion, Most This Amazing is a colorful, pulse-driven setting of E. E. Cummings’ “i thank You God for most this amazing.” The choral writing is well-suited to strong high school, university, or community ensembles, while the piano parts are best approached at a professional level (with one percussionist). […]
The round in Western culture has been associated as closely with wit as it has with praise. Here are thirteen risible rounds of varying difficulty intended for a cappella performance. Admirably suited to treble voices, they may be sung by mixed groups of all ages. The lyrics are light and teasing, the music jaunty and […]
Composed for San Francisco Choral Artists as part of the composer’s 2017-18 stint as Composer-in-Residence, “The Noble Art of Music” is a short, fanfare-like choral setting of two well known quotations by Martin Luther about music: “After the word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world.” “As long […]
Commissioned by Richard Geiger for the Academy for the Study of St. Ambrose of Milan “Veni, Redemptor (Come, Redeemer)” is a new composition based on a hymn written in the 4th Century by St. Ambrose of Milan. The hymn was originally titled, “Intende qui regis Israel,” and the words invite Christ’s presence into this world […]
An effective way to close a service or concert during the seasons of Christmas and Epiphany, this short choral benediction is easy to learn and will be an enjoyable addition to the repertoire of choirs of varying sizes and skill levels.
(Choral SATB with S,A divisi) Written for a choral composition competition in 2024 (I didn’t win), this piece uses the text of Psalm 13 to demonstrate David’s dispair and doubt turning into faith and joy. Text in English is from the 1928 US Books of Common Prayer vv. 1-3, 5-6. ISMN 979-0-9025253-5-0 ISWC T3250054634 If […]
This setting of the Anglican communion/mass service – Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei – is simple and tuneful. The writing is in the tradition of the great English composers of the 20th century. The Gloria is available as a separate anthem through Swirly. It can be performed as a general-purpose anthem or during the […]
From an Oregon Bach Festival concert review by Tom Manoff, in the (Eugene, Oregon) Register-Guard , July 11, 2002: “Rebecca Oswald is not a showy composer, but she’s an honorable one. ‘The Soul Contemplates the Creator In the Creation’ is splendid choral writing. This unpretentious style isn’t calculated to impress the trendy set, but in […]
Looking for a challenging piece for your high school or college women’s chorus? Kirsten Shetler’s setting of “Alleluia” will be a beautiful addition to any program in any season.
As winner of the Organization of American Kodály Educators’ (OAKE) 2020 Ruth Boshkoff Composition Prize, I composed Redbirds in August/September of 2020 for a premiere at OAKE’s 2022 national conference, conducted by Ruth Dwyer. With the mission of OAKE and children’s choirs in general in mind, I wanted to choose a text for this piece that […]
KONIKONECO (TTB) is a traditional call-and-response song of the Teso people, who live in eastern Uganda and in western Kenya. The lyrics, from the Atesolanguage combined with borrowings from other languages and dialects, roughly translates as “Let us celebrate our schools, our learning, and our empowerment.” The piano accompaniment suggests the arpeggios typical of Ugandan hand-held harps (a’dungu). Other […]
Let Him Return acknowledges the fear, anger, sadness, and raw courage of the women throughout history who have prayed the universal prayer that their men return safely home from war. Primarily triadic, there are numerous modulations throughout this work, effectively preventing harmonic predictability. The vocals begin with the altos in unison, then sopranos divisi, and […]
“The Wind” was commissioned by the Organization of American Kodály Educators as a result of Rich Campbell winning the Ruth Boshkoff Composition Prize. The text is from Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1885 A Child’s Garden of Verses. The choir begins by emulating the sound of the wind, and then sings directly to the wind, describing the […]
KONIKONECO (3-Part Mixed chorus) is a traditional call-and-response song of the Teso people, who live in eastern Uganda and in western Kenya. The lyrics, from the Ateso language combined with borrowings from other languages and dialects, roughly translates as “Let us celebrate our schools, our learning, and our empowerment.” The piano accompaniment suggests the arpeggios […]
‘Long live music – long live life!’ This little song, originally composed for a children’s choir in the USA, was adapted for a small community choir in Birmingham, UK. The words and music are simple and straightforward, about the joy of music and singing, and the song can be quickly learnt by choirs of all […]
ROC-010 Confitemini Domino The Latin text “Confitemini Domino” – “Give thanks to the Lord” — appears in several Psalms and has been set to music across centuries – from early composers like Giovanni Gabrieli, Heinrich Schütz, and Jean-Baptiste Lully to modern masters like Knut Nystedt. This setting for SATB chorus (with brief soprano/bass divisi) is […]
A new choral piece depicting the Christmas star shining as the three Magi make their way to Bethlehem. Words by the composer. Commissioned by the San Francisco Choral Artists, and premiered in 2023 with Magen Solomon conducting.
Tre Madrigali Amorosi are settings of poems by Torquato Tasso (1544-1595), a favorite poet of Italian madrigal composers of the sixteenth century. The set was written for the Saint Mary’s University Chamber Singers, who premiered the works on their tour of France in March, 2013, with the composer conducting and Chun Chim (David) Leung, violin. […]
A theatrical setting of Di Balade Funem Farloyrenem Shefel, a colorful allegory by Yiddish poet Itzik Manger telling the story of a shepherd boy searching high and low for his lost lamb, only to discover that he has found something more important that he didn’t know he was looking for. Follow the score with English subtitles in […]
This very simple Christmas song is aimed at younger children. It is in unison throughout, apart from a brief optional descant part near the end. Accompaniment is for piano, and a few simple percussion instruments may be added if desired. This is the original version (GTT-025a), which refers directly to Christ’s Nativity, and is suitable […]
“We Will Shine Like The Sun” is an uptempo piece; this arrangement is for combined SA treble choir & SATB choir with piano accompaniment.. The empowering text inspires imagination with optimistic lyrics that are ideal for young singers. The score includes a driving piano accompaniment, a clapping section, and an optional tambourine part. The rousing […]
This modern English version of a 9th Century Old Irish benediction lends itself well to both concert and liturgical performance. Liturgically, it fits well as a call to worship or as a communion meditation. The text recalls the doxology given in Revelation 7:12.
This Spiritual is one of the most well-known and beloved in the entire canon of Slave Songs , and has universal appeal — with it’s simple melody, and heartfelt lyrics — pleading for deliverance from earthly oppression in the same manner that Elijah was taken to his Heavenly Home. Perfectly appropriate for inclusion in a […]
Jane Goodall and the Chimps Music and Lyrics by Bruce Lazarus Commissioned and first performed by North Cambridge Family Opera Chorus Jane Goodall went to Gombe to learn about chimps never realizing she would be there to stay. She was told, “stay aloof” but she named them and waited. Oh, Jane Never despair. We see, […]
This short SSA piece was written for the University of Michigan Women’s Glee Club. It is an unaccompanied 3-part setting of the poem by the English poet, Robert Herrick. Jaclyn Johnson, Interim Director of the Glee Club said, “This is a WONDERFUL piece! I love that you have composed in an older polyphonic style to match […]
Christus Factus Est was commissioned by Marion Jacob to be premiered at her senior recital on May 15th, 2010. Although the musical content of the piece does not come straight from the original Christus Factus Est chant, several of the original motives can be heard quoted in places such as the opening soprano line and […]
SATB a cappella settings of three ancient Latin texts in a style reminiscent of Renaissance polyphony, but mixing dissonant and tonal harmonies in a challenging but singable texture. Melodies are often disjunct, even passing from section to section, but always lyrical and poignantly expressive. De castitatis thalamo, virgo virginum, and Ave Maria. Ave Maria also […]
