This composition was composed for the New Haven Chorale in Connecticut. It was premiered at the Connecticut Chorus Conferences at Yale University.The poem begins with the question, “Little Lamb, who made thee?” The speaker, a child, asks the lamb about its origins: how it came into being, how it acquired its particular manner of feeding, […]
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 tender new Christmas lullaby is combined with a solo trumpet, which begins to play “Lo, How a Rose ‘ere Blooming.” Text by Edward Caswall (1814-1878) Mary Breden led her Consort Singers of Loyola Marymount University in the premiere at their 2018 Christmas program.
“Nature Motets” is a set of four pieces for a cappella choir. The texts celebrate nature in all its glory, and are by John Muir, John Ruskin, and Sarah Teasdale. Each movement can be performed as a stand-alone piece.
Originally written for a Portuguese children’s choir, this simple a cappella setting could equally be performed by an adult women’s choir. It is mostly in two parts (SA), but there is an optional 3rd part towards the end of the piece. The first few measures may be sung as a solo. Translation: “Not unto us, […]
A melodic, prayerful, and emotionally engaging setting of the ancient Latin hymn text attributed to Pope St. Gregory the Great (540-604), Supreme Creator of Light. Lucis Creator optime, Supreme Creator of light, lucem dierum proferens, Bringing forth each day’s dawn, primordiis lucis novae, Creating anew the primordial light, mundi parans originem: Which first shown when the […]
“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 […]
About the Coventry Litany of Reconciliation On the night of 14th November, 1940, Coventry and its Cathedral endured a one-off, but relentless, bombing campaign. Overnight, the ‘Moonlight Sonata’ offensive destroyed much of central Coventry, hundreds of its people and left its Cathedral in ruins. Only the outer shell of the walls and the tower remained […]
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 […]
Like Softest Music takes its words from Romeo and Juliet: My soul calls upon my name. How silver-sweet sound lovers’ tongues by night, Like softest music to attending ears! The piece is canonic, and much of the piece is sung sotto voce, creating a soft and indistinct choral soundscape that envelops the audience.
The voice of the English-speaking working classes is preserved in the rich body of song that developed in the centuries leading up to the Industrial Revolution and in the years surrounding the Great Depression. The songs abound with hope, despair, delight, passion and humour. This original collection of 12 folk-inspired rounds borrows lyrics from English […]
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.
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 […]
“Celebrate A New Day,” is an uptempo, rhythmic piece that was composed for the 75th Anniversary of the Australian Boys Choir. It is ideal for special occasions like graduations and is suitable for all young treble choirs, mixed children’s choirs, as well as boys and girls choirs. The work received the “Audience Favorite” award at […]
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 […]
This setting is ideally suited for a good chamber choir with a high soprano soloist. Julie Myers’ beautiful poem suggests to the composer a journey from darkness to light, from despair to hope, and this is reflected in the music, which should be performed simply, but with expressiveness and conviction.
Steven Paxton’s RAINDROP SONG is a setting of a whimsical poem by Texas poet Chris Willerton, about a talking raindrop. This short, delightful work for treble choir requires a good pianist, and includes short spoken segments for individual speaker as well as full choir.
An English translation of the poem “Friede auf Erden” by Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825-1898) is set for SSATB choir unaccompanied. Referencing the Christmas story, this setting brings to life the text with lush harmonies freely changing key centers as the story progresses. Each of the four stanzas ends with a variation on the musical material […]
This poignant setting of a poem by Christina Rossetti is dedicated to the memory of Michael Friedman, a dear friend, songwriter, lyricist, and composer, who died too young. The opening two notes (C#-D), at first soft and pensive, lengthen to a three-note motive (C#-D-F#) that is woven into the texture of the six-minute piece, a […]
This carol was first published in 1833 in a collection entitled “Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern”. William Sandys, a solicitor by day and music & manuscript collector by night, purportedly came across the tune in Devonshire, England. In this gentle setting from 1991 many colors of choral writing appear with sections for SATB, 3-part men, […]
“Shenandoah” is a new, rich arrangement for women’s voices. The piano accompaniment is optional but does provide support and some additional harmonies. Your women’s choir or trio will find “Shenandoah” to be well worth the effort. This piece is an excellent concert choice and would also be very appropriate for contests, festivals, and literary events.
The Noble Art of Music sets two Martin Luther quotations as a bright, uplifting choral fanfare celebrating the joy of singing. Commissioned by the San Francisco Choral Artists, it unfolds in clear panels—urgent, then stately, before opening into a broad final statement—making a crisp, welcoming opener for almost any program. “As long as we live, […]
GA-ZE (SSA) is from the northwestern part of Uganda (West Nile Region), bordering with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, formerly Zaire). It is closely associated with the traditional Gaze dance of the Lugbara people, and the lyrics are a mixture of Lugbara and Lingala. The Gaze play/dance songs encourage and inspire children, usually […]
This popular spiritual has been arranged for SATB and piano duet (4 hands, one piano). Uplifting AND fun to sing, with a very exciting accompaniment. There are multiple optional, short solos. A great time will be had by all!
The sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries in Britain form a golden age of round-singing; even the nineteenth provided some fine examples. These twelve rounds, set to texts by Shakespeare, Skelton, Swift, Dryden, Johnson, Carroll and Synge, are of varying difficulty and may require rehearsal. Keeping as they do to the style of the period, they […]
I Lift Up Mine Eyes (Psalm 121) is part of the section (Psalms 120-134) of psalms called the ‘Songs of Ascents’, meaning “to sing while going up.” It is a song of thanksgiving sung by the psalm singer, possibly on the way to Jerusalem with the hills of Jerusalem in view. The psalm contains two […]
This Spiritual strikes to the very heart of an enslaved people, fervently longing for freedom. The melody is quite simple, and is embellished with a layer of pathos, and yearning that is impossible to resist, or ignore. Absolutely appropriate for performance in a concert hall, as well as a liturgical setting.
Most This Amazing is a colorful, pulse-driven setting of E. E. Cummings’ well-known poem of gratitude and wonder. Two pianos and percussion add rhythmic energy, sparkle, and a magical sheen, with the choir carrying the text in broad, singable phrases. 📖 Download the Perusal Score Choose the “free perusal score” option in the shopping cart. […]
A short setting of Teasdale’s poem for eight voices. TEXT I saw a star slide down the sky,Blinding the north as it went by,Too burning and too quick to hold,Too lovely to be bought or sold,Good only to make wishes onAnd then forever to be gone—Sara Teasdale
This upbeat mixed-meter setting of Psalm 100 in Hebrew was inspired by Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms. The difficulty level is moderate, suitable for high school, college, and community choirs. It was premiered by Triad: Boston’s Choral Collective. The English translation is as follows: 1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Worship the […]
This is the melody-only booklet to accompany the full SATB & organ/piano vocal score, available here, where you will find full details and recorded samples. For use with congregations.
This is the SSAA treble choir version of the award winning “In Those Years, No One Slept.” The text 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. […]
Gorgeous Blue Eyes comes from a larger set entitled the Four Wedding Songs which was dedicated as a wedding gift to Stephen and Stacey Squier on the eve of their wedding on July 29th, 2010. The four movements of the work were inspired by the tradition to give a bride “something old, something new, something […]
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 […]
This anthem is a setting of words from Psalm 5. It is particularly suited to church performance during devotional or penitential seasons such as Lent, or in prayer or dedication services. The anthem was also incorporated as the middle piece of the contrasting set of “Three Anthems“, commissioned by the Purbeck Arts Choir in the […]
This familiar Spiritual is intertwined with another less-known hymn-tune, from one of the earliest collections of Slave songs known- collected by William Francis Allen in 1867. This ardent abolitionist gathered many songs from the post- Slavery communities of Port Royal, South Carolina to create a remarkable published collection of African American music.
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.
Click here to follow the score: https://youtu.be/kSR8gohqJVY This setting of ‘Jesus, friend of little children’ was written about 30 years ago, for the baptism of our younger daughter. It was written as a soprano solo with piano accompaniment. In this current version, it may still be performed as a solo, if desired, but I have added […]
Hildegard’s ecstatic praise of the Holy Trinity is mirrored in this expressive setting, built on an original chant inspired by Hildegard’s music. Premiere given 5/20/22 in Leipzig by Neue Kammer + Friends, conducted by Franziska Kuba.
This traditional folk song from Haiti originated as a work song, sung by boatmen in order keep their rowing strokes in sync. The language is Haitian Creole, similar in pronunciation to French, but easier (no silent letters!). Piano accompaniment with simple optional drum. Also available in a version for TTB chorus.
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 […]
Due Sonetti de Petrarca are settings of sonnets by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) (1304-1374), great Italian scholar and poet and one of the earliest humanists. The set was written for the Saint Mary’s University Chamber Singers, who premiered the works on their tour of France in March, 2009, with the composer conducting.
