This is a straightforward setting for choir and organ/keyboard of an Appalachian carol found by John Jacob Niles (1892-1980). Niles was an American composer, singer, and collector of traditional ballads. He discovered this carol in Mayfield, Kentucky in 1933. Niles was an important influence on the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s, […]
The impetus for this anthem was the Music in Worship event at the 2016 ACDA Southern Division conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Conductor Gerald Peel asked me if I would write something that his choir could sing for the event, which was to consist entirely of works featuring the word “alleluia.” In my search for texts, […]
Composer’s Note: “The Red Wheelbarrow,” an innovative environmental/imagist poem I first read as a teenager, struck me as an alluring and joyful means to immerse in a commission by Austin’s Inversion Ensemble for their Planet Home project. The score blossomed during a fellowship at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, a pastoral setting that […]
Merriam-Webster.com defines copypasta as “data (such as a block of text) that has been copied and spread widely online.” This piece, Copypasta, is a setting of three of my favorite text memes that originated on Tumblr. The first movement, Spiders Georg, illustrates the statistical concept of outliers using the example of an arachnid-eating recluse. The […]
A two part mixed voice anthem with keyboard accompaniment. The text is from the Biblical verse, 2 Samuel 18:33 which records King David’s reaction to the news that his son Absolom, who had rebelled against him, had been killed. When David heard that Absalom was slain He went up to his chamber over the gate […]
“Snowflakes” is a short, peaceful, wintry song for a cappella SATB chorus, with lyrics by Linda A. Copp. The piece was commissioned by Cantabile Chamber Chorale, directed by Rebecca Scott, for performance in their 2003-04 season. This piece is a great choice for high school and college, and the “Quartet Pack” option makes it ideal for a […]
“Shout For Joy” was composed for the undergraduate commencement exercises of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in May, 2003, and is dedicated to the graduating class of that year. The text, from Psalm 33, is suitable for a range of liturgical occasions, and the work is also effective as a concert piece. The energetic opening […]
This composition won first prize in the Longfellow Choral Composition Competition in 2011. I have enjoyed Longfellow’s poetry for many years–“Excelsior” in particular. However, I’ve never managed to develop a huge amount of sympathy for the poem’s protagonist. Here we have a youth who ignores the advice of everyone around him that his journey was […]
Steven Paxton’s VISIONS for SATB choir is a moving setting of the poem by Wisconsin poet Charlotte A. Cote: “You catch sometimes a glimpse of forever — a lake… .” It was commissioned by Paul Rusterholz and the La Crosse Chamber Chorale in celebration of the 1998 Wisconsin Sesquicentennial. Two versions are available, one with […]
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. […]
‘Balm in Gilead’ is a fervent prayer to the heavens, to relieve the aches and weighty sorrows of an entire enslaved people. In his memorable autobiography, Frederick Douglass wrote these searing, and unforgettable words; “I have often been utterly astonished, since I came to the north, to find persons who could speak of the singing, […]
Originally written as an anthem to mark a Silver Wedding anniversary, this piece was rescored and incorporated as the opening piece in the contrasting set of “Three Anthems“, commissioned by the Purbeck Arts Choir in the UK. It is scored for SATB choir with divisi and organ. Although a dramatic and impactful work, it is […]
The author of the text of this composition, Norbert Čapek (1870-1942) was the founder of the Unitarian movement in what is now the Czech Republic. Originally destined for the Catholic priesthood, he converted to the Baptist faith; however, his views gradually became more liberal, and he was forced to emigrate to the United States. After […]
In the poem “Psalm of the Sky,” Rabbi Rachel Barenblat reimagines “The Lord is My Shepherd” (Psalm 23) in a contemporary context. Performers may highlight the many instances of text painting and create contrast between moments of gentleness, boldness, and carefree movement. The last verse of Psalm 23 is included in Hebrew as a coda […]
“Cantemus in omni die” is a setting of a hymn to the Virgin Mary written by Cú Chuimne Sapiens, an Irish monk active at Iona by the early 8th century (died 747). It is the earliest known Latin hymn to Mary originally composed in the Western Christian Church rather than translated into Latin from earlier […]
“Misericordias Domini” was written for Grace Lutheran Church in Hockessin, DE and premiered during the Advent season on December 7th, 2014. The text comes from Psalm 89 and has been set by several composers including Orlando di Lasso and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Although settings of this text are usually used during Advent, this setting is […]
“Tu Lumen” was written for Grace Lutheran Church in Hockessin, Delaware and premiered as a short, contemplative prelude for the Service of Light on March 30th, 2014. The text is an excerpt from the 6th century hymn Christe Redemptor Omnium. Although the hymn is typically used during the advent season, this portion of the text […]
Rosa mystica is a sacred devotional cantata combining various texts in which a rose or flower is used as an analogy for the Blessed Virgin Mary, including the Rosa Mystica tradition, and Mary as the stem of the rose from which, arising out of the root of Jesse, grew Jesus, the Spotless Rose. In three […]
The text of “In Those Years, No One Slept” is a scene from a time of conflict/war, by Romanian-American immigrant Claudia Serea. The score is at once rhythmic and exciting, haunting and unsettling. It was a winner of the 2018 Uncommon Music Festival Composition Competition. It is accessible for all fine high school, collegiate and […]
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)
One of Newfoundland’s best known folksongs, “She’s Like The Swallow” was first collected by Maud Karpeles in 1930, but certainly dates from well before that, as evidenced by the appearance of several verses in various British laments. The subject of the unfaithful lover is perhaps as old as song itself. “She’s Like the Swallow” is […]
This setting of Evensong Canticles (BCP 1662) is intended for use in those churches which are looking for a relatively simple choral setting, or that don’t always have a mixed choir and need the flexibility of being able to sing the canticles in unison where necessary, or where a choir of children’s/women’s voices or men’s […]
This delightful piece sets a whimsical poem by the American poet, Susan Kinsolving, about steps taken internationally to make the world a better place. Sanford Dole’s Dance Steps has artistic merit…no one can doubt the artistic merit of Dole’s entertaining piece. I was not looking forward to enduring Susan Kinsolving’s absurdist text, printed in the […]
This beloved lullaby is presented with an evocative piano accompaniment and vocal solo, bringing out a melancholy beauty that will entrance your audience.
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 […]
Kling No Klokka is a Norwegian folksong, about church bells ringing out at Christmastime. The words are in Norwegian, and the setting is for four-part choir (SATB), with organ or piano accompaniment. This arrangement was made for the Boys’ Choir at Trondheim Cathedral in Norway, the Nidarosdomens Guttekor, and their conductor, Bjørn Moe, and will […]
This setting of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ stately, mixed-meter hymn tune uses shimmering tone clusters to depict the textual themes of light and fire in the first two verses. The third verse emphasizes themes of humility and service in an earthy a cappella setting, after which a building organ interlude leads into a towering and majestic […]
This setting of Charles Baudelaire’s iconic poem captures the “luxury” and “voluptuousness” of Edna St. Vincent Millay’s radiant translation. The six-part texture allows for thick, evocative chords in Dole’s jazz-influenced harmonic world. Slowly evolving chord progressions paint a picture of a person truly in love with another, asking that they go on a long journey […]
This piece was written while walking through the Mission District of San Francisco on a rainy evening. California has been experiencing a serious drought these past few years. I was thrilled to feel the raindrops, hence the celebratory feeling of the piece. — Mark Growden Also available in TTBB and SSAA versions.
This lively arrangement in 7/4 meter re-fashions Lowry’s familiar hymn into a rhythmically-charged spiritual, using an unequal four beats per measure to carry the listener along on a joyous spiritual journey along the celestial river.
“Song of Becoming” (2025) traces an arc through the four classical elements—Air, Earth, Fire, and Water—as symbols of transformation. Mostly sung in English, the score weaves in short phrases of original Persian as mantra-like refrains. Air opens in longing and awakening; Earth turns toward humility and groundedness; Fire burns with passion and surrender; Water dissolves, […]
Tumbalalayka is a rhythmic, harmonically rich setting of the beloved Yiddish folksong. The voices imitate the strumming of the balalaika in this classic riddle-courtship song—by turns playful and tender. Performed regularly by choirs around the world. It is included on French vocal quartet Quatour Aesthesis’ 2022 CD O Do Not Move. At a glance • WACDA […]
Among The Trees The Clearing Rests In Song and Shade I Go Among the Trees and Sit Still All the Earth Shall Sing (The dark around us, come) Three Songs for SATB Choir & Piano Words by Wendell Berry These three songs are about finding peace and unity within nature. Balance comes to many of […]
Charles Wesley’s hymn text based on the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel depicts a deeply human struggle for truth and understanding. This a cappella setting of the text grows with the building intensity of Jacob’s determination, finally breaking into the joy of revelation and reassurance in the final verse.
This haunting melody, is one of the most beautiful songs that the slaves composed; bone-weary and sorrow-filled… with their eyes firmly fixed on a Great Deliverer somewhere up in heaven. The itinerant preachers that visited the plantations, selected specific passages from the Bible- guaranteeing them entrance to the Promised Land- if they worked hard for […]
Apple Pie is a novel, fun, upbeat and humorous tale of two friends searching for their favorite dessert. It was the winner of the Wasatch Chorale Ars Nova Composition Competition; their call for scores asked for a piece suitable for an afternoon family concert. With a rollicking piano part moving it along, the chorus tells […]
This setting of the Gloria text in English is excerpted from a longer Anglican communion/mass service — Communion Service in D — also published on Swirly (including settings of the Hosanna, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei). The Gloria is a simple, tuneful arrangement that can be performed as a general-purpose anthem or during the Christmas season. […]
The words of this carol/motet are well-known from Britten’s teenage tour-de-force, but that double-chorus setting is out of the reach of most church choirs. The powerful text, alternating English and Latin in the style of medieval carols, warrants an additional, simpler setting. The work is suitable for concert performance, as well as for liturgical use […]
Golden Apples Of The Sun (SATB, unaccompanied) is a joyful, rhythmic piece with lyrics inspired by a Yeats poem. Accessible, uptempo and exhilarating, it is ideal for civic events and celebrations. It is a dynamic work that is exciting for both performers and listeners. Winner of the Celebration Singers 80th Anniversary Composition Competition.
