Shaw Music

Abington Choral Club Concert

2011-11-29T23:52:00.006-05:00

On Saturday, December 3, 8:00 PM, the Abington Choral Club will present their winter holiday concert, "Rejoice! A Festive Celebration!"

The concert includes excerpts from Handel's Messiah, L'dor Vador, and my three a cappella carols: "The King Shall Come," "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming," and "Good Christian Friends, Rejoice."

The concert will be held at the Abington High School, and Santa will visit! It should be a fun time for adults and children alike...

Christmas Anthem Reviewed in CrossAccent

2011-11-09T15:08:00.007-05:00

I just found out that a recent edition (Vol. 19, no. 1) of the Association of Lutheran Church Musician's journal, "CrossAccent," contains the following review of my Christmas anthem, "Winds Through the Olive Trees" (published by Choristers Guild and distributed by Lorenz):

"What a pretty melody Timothy Shaw has written! Dedicated to his children, the tune is childlike in its simplicity and purity, but never childish. The anonymous text has been set by several composers, but Shaw’s compares well to any of them. The setting is a straightforward treatment of the tune with simple SAB voicing and an attractive part for C instrument, probably a flute. It could be learned in a couple of rehearsals by a choir of average ability. The composer provides a nice little Gloria section by the treble voices in response to the men singing, “Then from the happy skies angels bent low, singing their songs of joy…” “Winds Through the Olive Trees” would be a good choice for a choir which is short on men or a youth choir and is appropriate anytime during the Christmas season."

Choral Music Recording by Concordia

2011-10-06T08:29:00.006-05:00

Concordia Publishing House has released a 2 CD set, Hymns for All Saints, that contains 31 choral settings of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. My recently published setting of "The Twenty-Third Psalm" is included. Click here for more information.

Publishing (Concordia) update 08.22.11

2011-08-22T12:48:00.008-05:00

Concordia has accepted for publication in 2012, my newest collection of choral pieces: Three a cappella hymns: Advent and Christmas (SATB). This includes the following titles:

In December 2011, the Abington Choral Club (directed by Peter Hilliard) will perform these pieces as part of their annual holiday program.

Unaccompanied Flute Solo

2011-07-04T10:32:00.014-05:00

A few nights ago, around mignight, an almost fully formed piece of music came into my mind (this doesn't happen to me very often!). Then I spent a bit of time writing this setting of a 19th-century Silesian folk tune (CRUSADER'S HYMN) for unaccompanied flute. I have written one other piece for unaccompanied flute, which is a medium that has attracted a number of composers through the years: J.S. Bach, Partita; Berio, Sequenza; Debussy, Syrinx; Cynthia Folio, Arca Sacra; Phillip Glass, Serenade; Jennifer Higdon, Song; Poulenc, Un Joueur de Flute Berce les Ruines; and many more... You can hear and see the piece here:

Review in Worship Arts

2011-06-13T06:52:00.008-05:00

The March-April 2011 edition of Worship Arts (The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts) included a favorable review of my premiere organ book, All Praise for Music: Easy Hymn Settings for Organ (published by Augsburg Fortress):

"These seventeen hymn arrangements will give you a great variety in one collection. DIX, FOUNDATION, HOLY MANNA, NICAEA, RUSTINGTON, SCHÖNSTER HERR JESU (CRUSADER'S HYMN), SUFFERER, and UNSER HERRSCHER, among others, are included. Some are more adaptable for shorter performance time than others, but you will find this is a year-round necessity in your library. Some pages are blank to facilitate your use."

Choral Review in The Hymn

2011-06-12T13:54:00.006-05:00

This comes quite a bit after the fact, but I just found out that the January 2011 edition of The Hymn (published quarterly by The Hymn Society - US and Canada) included a favorable review of my anthem , "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" (published by MorningStar Music):

"New tunes often help us hear and sing familiar texts with heightened awareness; this anthem certainly evokes such an awareness. The composer brings fresh new meaning to the text in this well-crafted three-part anthem. The key throughout is D major. The accompaniment is pianistic but could be adapted to the organ. The anthem is well suited for voices and would work for small churches as well as large churches. It would be a strong selection for a summer anthem during Ordinary time, or Lent."

The Twenty-Third Psalm published by Concordia

2011-05-03T11:59:00.005-05:00

Concordia has released my choral anthem "The Twenty-Third Psalm" (2-part mixed choir, keyboard, optional treble instrument), which pairs a new tune with the familiar text "The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want..." (from the 1650 Scottish Psalter). You can view the score on Concordia's website, and you can listen to a demo recording here.

Church Music Online: Augsburg Fortress Webinar

2011-04-25T12:09:00.004-05:00

Last month, I hosted a webinar for Augsburg Fortress titled Church Music Online: Using the Internet to Enhance Your Music Ministry. This was a repeat of the workshop I gave at their January 2011 Philadelphia-area Winter Music Clinic. The seminar is mostly a tour of websites that church music directors and organist/pianists will find helpful. If you are interested, you can watch it here on YouTube.

J. S. Bach's "St. Matthew Passion"

2011-04-12T09:42:00.009-05:00

I am looking forward to presenting a paper titled "Chromatic Saturation in J. S. Bach's Music: Analytical and Theological Implications" at the Rocky Mountain Society for Music Theory (April 15-16, 2011, Colorado Springs). The bulk of the paper looks at appearances of the "Passion Chorale" ("O Sacred Head, Now Wounded") in Bach's St. Matthew Passion; the final harmonization uses all 12 pitches of the chromatic scale. So, I propose that Bach uses the entire chromatic collection to signify consummation and to underscore the theological weight of the death of Christ. Martin Luther wrote: "By this deed the whole world is purged and expiated from all sins, and thus is set free from death and every evil." This perspective on Bach's use of the chromatic collection is quite different from that of most scholars.

Interestingly, this presentation comes near the end of Lent, when our thoughts begin to turn to Palm Sunday and the events that followed. You can hear a choir sing the four different harmonizations of the chorale here:

Review in The American Organist

2011-03-31T12:52:00.006-05:00

All Praise for Music: Easy Hymn Settings for Organ (published by Augsburg Fortress) received a favorable review in the April 2011 edition of The American Organist (published by the American Guild of Organists). The book is described as: "A diverse collection of eminently usable hymn tunes spanning the Church Year..."

Choral Review in CrossAccent

2011-03-24T09:56:00.004-05:00

The current edition (Vol. 19, no. 1) of the Association of Lutheran Church Musician's journal, "CrossAccent," contains the following review of my anthem, "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" (published by MorningStar Music):

"Shaw has written a newly composed work to Robert Robinson's 18th-century text that should prove useful for many choirs with limited numbers of men's voices. With its mostly unison or homophonic texture, the anthem is within the abilities of most small church choirs and would be appropriate for general services. Within the limitations of writing for three parts, Shaw maintains interest through sensitive text setting. The first and third stanza use one melody for the first half, while the second stanza ('Here I raise mine Ebenezer') provides a contrasting melody. Each stanza begins with unison voices, ending with the full three-part texture. Although the work calls for 'keyboard,' the writing is more suitable for piano than for organ."

"Ah, Holy Jesus" performed by Temple University Concert Choir

2011-03-22T14:52:00.004-05:00

If you would like to watch/listen to a recording of last month's Temple University Concert Choir performance, here is a video (my piece comes in around 1:19:45):

Music Event: Temple University Choir from Tenth Presbyterian Church on Vimeo.

Church Music Workshop: Langhorne, PA, 3.5.11

2011-02-24T08:22:00.000-05:00

Philadelphia Biblical University will host its annual Church Music Celebration on Saturday, March 5, 2011, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Ron Man, an expert in ethnodoxology, is the keynote speaker. The workshops feature different tracks for different interests (children's music, conducting, keyboards, etc.), and the day concludes with a mini-concert by PBU music ensembles.

I will present three workshops throughout the day:

From Tickling the Ivories to Pulling Out the Stops: Practical Advice for the Pianist-turned-Organist
Music for the Small(er) Church Choir: Reading Session
Time-Saving Tips for the Church Musician

Registration costs only $60, which includes copies of all the music used in all reading sessions (whether you attend them or not!).

Temple University Concert Choir, 2.23.11

2011-02-19T08:38:00.026-05:00

The Temple University Concert Choir, under the direction of Paul Jones, will include my setting of "Ah, Holy Jesus" (HERZLIEBSTER JESU) in their upcoming concert at Tenth Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, February 23, 2011, 7:30 p.m. There is no admission charge for the concert. If you would like to watch/listen but are not in the Philadelphia area, the concert will be broadcast live via webcast and then archived for future viewing.

If you would like to use this choral anthem with your choir, Augsburg Fortress will publish it within the next year or so. Here are program notes about the piece: This is a strophic setting of a meditative Passiontide hymn by Johann Heermann (1585-1647) paried with a well-known tune by Johann Crüger (1598-1662). The biblical imagery in the text is portrayed using a variety of musical techniques: melody sung against the drone of a fifth, stark parallel fifths and octaves, SATB chorale-stlye harmonization (v. 3: "Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered..."), and harsh dissonances arising from pedal tones (held notes). The piece concludes with a three-fold "Amen" to provide balance and reflection.

Other pieces on the program include Poulenc's "En soir de neige", Britten's "Hymn to St. Cecilia", Brahms's "Geistliches Lied", and Fauré's "Cantique de Jean Racine".

Psalm 121 published by Choristers Guild

2010-12-26T15:05:00.001-05:00

Choristers Guild commissioned me to write a setting of Psalm 121 (unison/2-part choir, piano) that is now available through CG's distributor, Lorenz. This text, one of the "Songs of Ascent," is a favorite of many people (myself included!), and I'm very pleased with the finished product. It's perfect for older elementary choirs, and it also works beautifully with adult choirs. You can view sample pages here, and you can hear a demo mp3 of the piece by clicking here.

All Praise for Music: Easy Hymn Settings for Organ published by Augsburg Fortress

2010-12-23T19:36:00.001-05:00

Augsburg Fortress has released my first volume of organ music: All Praise for Music: Easy Hymn Settings for Organ. The title is taken from stanza 3 of Marty Haugen's 1999 hymn, "O God of Blessings, All Praise to You!" (included in the book), which reads:

All praise for music, deep gift profound,
through hands and voices in holy sound;
the psalms of David, and Mary's praise,
in wordless splendor and lyric phrase,
with all creation one song we raise:
Soli Deo gloria! Soli Deo gloria!

This is a substantive collection of 17 hymn settings written with today's busy organist in mind. Selections span the church year, and the arrangements are set in a variety of forms: preludes, postludes, meditations, improvisations, hymn introductions, and free-harmonizations.

It is also a great resources for teachers who would like to introduce sacred repertoire to their organ students. I wrote many of the pieces with a pianist-turned-organist in mind, so the pedaling (while integral) is often minimal.

Titles and tunes include:

Brethren, We Have Met to Worship {Holy Manna}
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing {Nettleton}
Day by Day {Blott en dag}
Fairest Lord Jesus {Crusader's Hymn}
For the Beauty of the Earth {Dix}
God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending {Rustington}
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! {Nicaea}
How Firm a Foundation {Foundation}
If You But Trust in God to Guide You {Wer nun den lieben Gott (Neumark)}
Now Thank We All Our God {Nun danket alle Gott}
O God of Blessings, All Praise to You! {Soli Deo Gloria}
O Worship the King {Lyons}
Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty {Unser Herrscher}
Shall We Gather at the River {Hanson Place}
That Boy-Child of Mary {Blantyre}
They Crucified My Lord {Sufferer}
Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing? {Quelle est cette odeur agreable}

Augsburg Fortress Winter Music Clinics

2010-12-23T09:22:00.000-05:00

Augsburg Fortress will host a one day Philadelphia-area Winter Music Clinic on January 8, 2011, at St. John Lutheran Church in Center Square, PA. I will lead two sessions:

Reading Session: New Keyboard Repertoire for Lent, Easter, Spring
Workshop: Church Music Online: Using the Internet to Enhance Your Music Ministry

Registration is free, and attendees receive a 15% discount on all music purchased!

Advent and Christmas Choral Music

2010-10-22T08:33:00.000-05:00

If you need some new choral music for the fast-approaching Advent/Christmas season, consider these titles (links will take you to the publishers' websites, where you can hear demo recordings and view sample pages). All of these pieces are easy to learn but sound great in performance!

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (2-part mixed, keyboard)
Winds Through the Olive Trees (SAB, piano, C treble instrument)
See amid the Winter's Snow (2-part mixed, piano)
O Little Town of Bethlehem (Unison, piano, treble instrument)

Anthem featured in Choral Director's Magazine

2010-08-28T19:33:00.004-05:00

My newest Christmas anthem, "Winds Through the Olive Trees" (Choristers Guild: SAB, piano, C treble instrument) is featured along with other "New Products" in the July 2010 edition of Choral Director's Magazine. To hear a demo recording of the piece, click here.

Winds Through the Olive Trees published by Choristers Guild

2010-07-23T07:24:00.002-05:00

My newest Christmas anthem, "Winds Through the Olive Trees" (SAB, piano, C treble instrument), is now available through Choristers Guild. This is an original setting of an exquisite text by an anonymous author. You can hear a demo recording and view sample pages online here. The piece may be ordered through J. W. Pepper.

Publishing (Augsburg Fortress) update 06.04.10

2010-06-04T18:54:00.006-05:00

Augsburg Fortress has accepted for publication my setting of "Ah, Holy Jesus" (SATB, a cappella), based on the tune "Herzliebster Jesu" by Johann Crüger (1640). This is a straightforward, strophic setting of a well-known Passion hymn with text by Johann Heermann (1630). The anthem should be released in about a year or so.

Wait on the Lord published by Concordia

2010-06-03T19:15:00.005-05:00

Concordia has released my choral anthem "Wait on the Lord" (2-part, keyboard), which is an original setting of selected verses from Psalm 27 . You can hear an mp3 demo and view the score online. The piece may be ordered through Concordia directly or from J. W. Pepper.

Sing, O Heavens published by Concordia

2010-06-03T19:02:00.006-05:00

Concordia has released my choral anthem "Sing, O Heavens" (SSA, a cappella), which is an original setting of Isaiah 44:23. It is appropriate for use throughout the church year, and it works very well as an Introit for Easter Sunday. You can hear an mp3 demo and view the score online. The piece may be ordered through Concordia directly or from J. W. Pepper.

For the Bread Which You Have Broken published by MorningStar Music

2010-05-05T14:02:00.004-05:00

MorningStar Music has released my choral anthem "For the Bread Which You Have Broken " (SATB, keyboard). The publisher writes that the anthem is: "A beautiful prayer for Communion. Mostly unison and two-part writing, with one four-part verse and and optional a cappella sections, it concludes with a lovely twofold 'Amen'." You can view sample pages and hear a demo mp3 online here. The piece may be ordered through J. W. Pepper.

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing published by MorningStar Music

2010-05-05T08:43:00.007-05:00

MorningStar Music has released my setting of the hymn "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" (SAB, keyboard). The publisher writes that this anthem is: "A beloved text with a new tune that is sure to become a favorite of your musicians. With many unison passages and effective three-part writing that opens into fuller chords at the conclusion, this anthem is suitable for use with smaller and larger choirs." You can view sample pages and hear a demo mp3 online here. The piece may be ordered through J. W. Pepper.

REJOICE! CD now available

2010-03-27T08:58:00.001-05:00

REJOICE! Devotional Hymn Settings is now available through CD Baby. This recording includes 25 tracks (nearly an hour of music), ranging from quiet and contemplative to loud and celebratory. You can preview preview the tracks, read the album notes, and purchase the CD here.

Two single tracks ("Like a River Glorious" and "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name") are also available as downloads through iTunes and Amazon.com.

O Come and Mourn published by MorningStar Music

2010-03-12T12:45:00.002-05:00

MorningStar Music has released my anthem "O Come and Mourn" (2-part choir, keyboard), with text by Frederick W. Faber. This anthem is well-suited for use during Good Friday services and at other occasions throughout the Lenten season. To view sample pages and hear an mp3 demo of the piece, click here.

Publishing (Hope) update 11.12.09

2009-11-12T14:57:00.004-05:00

Hope Publishing Company has accepted my setting of "How Can I Keep from Singing?" (2-part choir, treble instrument, keyboard) for publication in the collection Easy Anthems Volume 3. This is my first piece to appear in the Hope catalog, and I am happy to add Hope to my list of publishers. They expect to release the collection in about a year or so.

Marilyn Mason New Organ Music Competition

2009-07-09T21:31:00.005-05:00

I am pleased to announce that my Partita on "For All the Saints" won 2nd place in the Marilyn Mason New Organ Music Competition, sponsored by the Detroit chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The finalists were selected in March, and the winners were announced following a performance (and audience vote!) on June 28, with Lynne Davis playing the finalists' compositions. Contact me if you would like to obtain a copy of the score: tshaw@pbu.edu.

Partita on Savior of the Nations, Come published by Concordia

2009-06-29T16:26:00.011-05:00

Concordia now has in stock my Partita on "Savior of the Nations, Come" for organ solo. This partita is ideal for use during the Advent season, and the movements include: Chorale, Aria, Duo, Variation, Canon, Major. Click here to go to the product page on Concordia's website, where you can view a sample page and hear a demo mp3 of selected movements.

Amazing Grace published by Concordia

2009-05-16T12:42:00.008-05:00

Concordia now has in stock my setting of "Amazing Grace" for SSA (a cappella). Click here to view the product page on Concordia's website, where you can see sample pages and hear a demo mp3. It is also available for sale through J. W. Pepper.

We're Marching to Zion published by Augsburg Fortress

2009-04-30T20:04:00.007-05:00

Augsburg Fortress now has in stock my choral anthem "We're Marching to Zion" (SATB, a cappella, with optional snare drum and triangle). I wrote this piece at the request of one of my choir members. And then, the choir at the Presbyterian Church of Coventry, CT sang the premiere on May 25, 2008. Several people in the congregation spoke of how much they enjoyed it -- I think the choir liked it, too! In addition to Augsburg Fortress's store, the piece is available for sale through J. W. Pepper.

Best Selling Anthems at Choristers Guild

2009-04-29T12:47:00.001-05:00

Choristers Guild has released a list of their best selling anthems for 2008, and "Blessed Be the Lord" (unison/2-part, keyboard, treble instrument) is among them. To listen to an mp3 of the piece, click here.

Piano Intros & Alternate Accompaniments

2009-04-28T10:30:00.008-05:00

Volume 9 and Volume 10 of Introductions & Alternate Accompaniments for Piano are now available from Augsburg Fortres s. This new resource is meant to accompany the hymnal Evangelical Lutheran Worship, though pianists of many denominations will find this collection to be invaluable. Four of my settings are included in Volume 9: So nimm denn meine Hande, Brother James' Air, Ist Gott fur mich, Love Unknown. Six of my settings are included in Volume 10: Hamburg, Lasst uns erfreuen, Nun danket alle Gott, Dundee, Marion, Old Hundredth.

Anne Williams CD complete

2009-02-04T14:50:00.007-05:00

The CD Sacred Music for Cello, featuring Anne Martindale Williams is complete. The recording includes hymns and spirituals as well as 4 classical pieces by J. S. Bach, Mendelssohn, and Faure. The CD is available for purchase through CD Baby, where you can also listen to samples of all the tracks.

Oklahoma Children's Choir Festival

2009-01-03T14:34:00.005-05:00

The Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church will host a Children's Choir Festival on April 25, 2009. My anthem "Teach Me Your Way" is one of the selections on the repertoire list. This will be the 3rd time that the piece has been used at a children's choir festival.

Piano Intros & Alternate Accompaniments

2008-12-04T08:05:00.008-05:00

Volume 5 and Volume 8 of Introductions & Alternate Accompaniments for Piano are now available from Augsburg Fortress. This new resource is meant to accompany the hymnal Evangelical Lutheran Worship, though pianists of many denominations will find this collection to be invaluable. Six of my settings are included in Volume 5: Ein feste Burg; Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier; Munich; Alles ist an Gottes segen; Morning Hymn; and Tallis' Canon. Three of my settings are included in Volume 8: Walton; Song 67; Vater Unser.

Great Hymns of Faith for the Church Pianist published by Augsburg Fortress

2008-10-10T20:34:00.017-05:00

My latest book of sacred piano solos, Great Hymns of Faith for the Church Pianist (Augsburg Fortress), is now available for sale. This volume includes settings of the following tunes:

Antioch, Beach Spring, CWM Rhondda, Ebenezer, Gordon, Hyfrydol, Lobe den Herren, Martyrdom, Morecambe, Morris, Nettleton (2), St. Denio, St. Margaret, Southwell

The book is dedicated to my first piano teacher, with whom I studied for 5 years as a boy in rural New Hampshire. The dedication reads:

"This volume is dedicated to Gwendolyn Sainsbury, who graciously shared with me her profound love of music."

Click here to go to the book's page on the Augsburg Fortress website.

The Triumphal Entry published by Concordia

2008-07-08T11:06:00.001-05:00

Concordia now has in stock my choral anthem "The Triumphal Entry" (from my 2007 Easter cantata), for SATB & piano. The piece, with text from Matthew 21:9, is a stately and dramatic Palm Sunday "Hosanna" proclamation celebrating Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Click here to view the product page on Concordia's website, where you can hear a demo recording (mp3) and see sample pages.

Hyfrydol published by MorningStar Music

2008-05-06T21:40:00.009-05:00

MorningStar Music has released my setting of the beloved Welsh hymntune "Hyfrydol", for Bass Instrument (Cello or Bassoon) & Piano. This setting, which is ideal for more advanced players, is cast in ABA form. The piece opens quietly as the solo instrument plays the tune twice above a chordal accompaniment. The contrasting ‘B’ section, a dialogue between the instruments, is based on a motive adapted from the tune. Following this development-like section, the opening material returns triumphant and powerful. A brief coda, which recalls the ‘B’ section, closes the piece.

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus published by Augsburg Fortress

2008-05-05T12:43:00.010-05:00

Augsburg Fortress has released my Advent anthem "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus" (2-part mixed, keyboard) as a separate octavo. This piece is also included in Augsburg's Choirbook for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, which was published last year. Click here to hear a demo recording of the piece.

New Commission for Cello and Piano

2008-04-03T08:25:00.007-05:00

The team of composers who wrote music for David Kim's CD The Lord Is My Shepherd has been commissioned once again. The new project is a compilation of hymn settings for cello and piano, which will be recorded by Anne Martindale Williams (principal cellist of the Pittsburgh Symphony). I contributed two hymn settings: "This Is My Father's World" (Terra Beata) and "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" (Aberystwyth). The performers hope to record in early December and then release the CD and book of music together, shortly thereafter.

Best Selling Anthems at Choristers Guild

2008-03-10T08:18:00.004-05:00

Choristers Guild has released a list of their best selling anthems for 2007, and "Teach Me Your Way" (unison/2-part, keyboard, treble instrument) is among them. To listen to an mp3 of the piece, click here.

Blessed Be the Lord published by Choristers Guild

2008-02-20T16:36:00.010-05:00

Choristers Guild now has in stock my newest children's choir anthem, "Blessed Be the Lord," with a text based on Psalm 72:18-19. Sung in unison, the anthem works well for younger and/or older children's choirs. Budding two part choirs, however, will enjoy the final section of the piece that offers the chance for two part singing. Click here to hear a demo recording and view sample pages.

Piano Intros & Alternate Accompaniments

2007-12-29T15:06:00.003-05:00

Volume 2 and Volume 7 of Introductions & Alternate Accompaniments for Piano are now available from Augsburg Fortress. This new resource is meant to accompany the hymnal Evangelical Lutheran Worship, though pianists of many denominations will find this collection to be invaluable. Four of my settings are included in Volume 2: Salzburg, Old 124th, Pange Lingua, and The King's Majesty. Five of my settings are included in Volume 7: Kirken Den Er Et Gammelt Hus, Gott Sei Dank, Wir Pflügen, Prospect, and Heath (or Schumann).

Christmas Choral Music

2007-07-05T09:55:00.003-05:00

It's that time once again when choir directors begin thinking about music for the upcoming church year. If you would like to include an easy, but engaging, setting of a poetically vivid Christmas text, consider See amid the Winter's Snow (2-part mixed choir, piano). Click here to go to the piece's page on the Concordia website, where you can view sample pages and hear an mp3 of a portion of the music. The octavo may be ordered through "JW Pepper" and "Sheet Music Plus" (links to the right, under Distributors' Websites).

...and More Christmas Choral Music

2007-07-05T09:54:00.001-05:00

Here is another easy anthem for the Christmas season: O Little Town of Bethlehem (unison choir, keyboard, optional treble instrument in C or B-flat), published by MorningStar Music.

Hsu & Jones Duo Piano CD

2007-06-19T13:30:00.000-05:00

Samuel Hsu and Paul Jones have released a CD of beautiful duo piano music. The recording includes classical and sacred music for two pianos and features works by composers J. S. Bach, Mozart, Milhaud, Daniel Barta, and myself (my setting of All Hail the Power {Coronation}). You can hear samples of many of the pieces at CDBaby.

Piano Intros & Alternate Accompaniments

2007-06-18T11:11:00.000-05:00

Introductions and Alternate Accompaniments for Piano, Volume 6 is now available from Augsburg Fortress. This new resource is meant to accompany the new hymnal Evangelical Lutheran Worship, though pianists of many denominations will find this collection to be invaluable. Four of my settings are included in this volume: CWM Rhondda, Sursum Corda, Es Ist Das Heil, and Land of Rest. Several other volumes are scheduled to be released soon, and I have more hymn settings that will appear in those collections.

I Will Sing of My Redeemer published by Fred Bock

2007-05-08T12:47:00.001-05:00

I Will Sing of My Redeemer, published by Fred Bock Music Company, will make a nice addition to your choir's Lent/Easter repertoire. The publisher writes that this easy anthem, set for accompanied two-part mixed chorus, features "two melodies reminiscent of the American folk song genre," and that "this Lenten or communion piece enables simplicity to sound profound." For historical background on the text and music, as well as rehearsal tips and suggestions for using the piece in worship services, click here.

Come, Christians, Join to Sing published by Concordia

2007-05-04T11:14:00.002-05:00

Come, Christians, Join to Sing (SAB, keyboard) is now up on the Concordia website. Click here to go to a page where you can read a brief description and hear an mp3 demo recording of the octavo.

Psalm 117 published by Concordia

2007-05-04T11:12:00.002-05:00

Psalm 117 (2-part mixed choir, keyboard) is now up on the Concordia website. Click here to go to a page where you can read a brief description and hear an mp3 demo recording of the octavo.

Sing Praises to the Lord published by Kjos

2007-04-18T17:52:00.001-05:00

Neil A. Kjos Music Company now has in stock my choral anthem, Sing Praises to the Lord, for unison/2-part choir, keyboard, and optional C-treble instrument. Click here to go to the product page on the Kjos website, where you can hear a recording of the piece and view a pdf of selected pages.

David Kim Violin CD

2007-04-18T09:26:00.000-05:00

I've been told that David Kim's new CD, The Lord Is My Shepherd, is the #1 selling disc in the gift shop at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (home to the Philadelphia Orchestra). If you'd like to hear samples from the recording and obtain a copy, go to the CD's page on CDBaby.

Augsburg Choirbook for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany

2007-04-05T11:03:00.000-05:00

This new resource from Augsburg Fortress includes SATB, two-part and three-part settings of much-loved literature from the Augsburg choral library as well as newly composed settings. My setting of Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (from the Christmas cantata Come, Worship the Lord) is the first selection in the book.

Easy Hymns for the Church Pianist published by Augsburg Fortress

2007-03-07T09:52:00.001-05:00

Easy Hymns for the Church Pianist, Volume 1 (Augsburg Fortress) is now available for sale. Click here to go to the book's page on the Augsburg Fortress website.

Easter Cantata Title Page

2006-12-18T20:30:00.000-05:00

Last night's premiere of "Come, Worship the Lord" (Advent Cantata) was a glorious event. Following the performance, many people asked about the upcoming Easter Cantata. To give you a sense of Part 2 of the commission, to be premiered at the Presbyterian Church of Coventry on April 1, 2007, the following is from the title page:

Blessed Be the Lord: Cantata for Easter

SATB Chorus
Soprano, Alto & Bass Soloists
Trumpet, Horn
Keyboard

1. Behold My Servant (Duet): Isa. 42:1-3
2. Rejoice, Greatly, O Daughter of Zion (Soprano): Zech. 9:9
3. The Triumphal Entry (SATB): Mat. 21:9
4. Jesus Cleanses the Temple (2-part): Lk. 19:45-6
5. The Passover with the Disciples (2-part): Jn. 13:31-5; 1 Jn. 4:7
6. Jesus Prays in Gethsemane (2-part): Mk. 14:36, 41
7. Alone Thou Goest Forth (SATB): Peter Abelard, 1079-1142
8. Surely He Has Borne Our Griefs (Duet): Isa. 53:4-6
9. Ah, Holy Jesus (SATB): Johann Heermann, 1630
10. I Will Make You As a Light (Duet): Isa. 49:6; Zech. 12:10
11. O Come and Mourn (2-part): Frederick W. Faber, 1849
12. Jesus Is Buried (Instrumental)
13. Sing, O Heavens (Women): Isa. 44:23
14. Jesus Lives! (SATB): Christian F. Gellert, 1757
15. Who among You Fears the Lord (Duet): Isa. 50:10
16. Lift up Your Heads, O Gates! (Soprano): Ps. 24:7-10
17. Behold, the Dwelling Place of God (SATB): Rev. 21:3;
Isa. 60:19-20; Ps. 72:18-19

Advent Cantata Title Page

2006-07-26T14:48:00.000-05:00

To give you a sense of the content of my advent cantata, the following is from the title page:

"Come, Worship the Lord: Cantata for Advent"

SATB Chorus
Alto & Baritone soloists
Violin, Viola, Cello
Keyboard

1. Prologue: Jn. 1:1, 3-4; Isa. 2:5 (A, B)
2. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (SATB)
3. Recitative: Isa. 7:14 (B)
4. Magnificat: Lk. 1:46-55 (Women)
5. Recitative: Mic. 5:2 (B)
6. The Snow Lay on the Ground (SATB)
7. Gloria In Excelsis Deo: Heb. 1:6; Lk. 2:14 (SATB)
8. Shepherds, What Joyful Tidings (SATB)
9. Interlude: Jn. 1:9, 11-12; Isa. 2:5 (A, B)
10. Recitative: Lk. 2:25 (A)
11. Nunc Dimittis: Lk. 2:29-32 (Men)
12. Recitative & Trio: Num. 24:17; Mat. 2:1-2 (A, TBB)
13. Visit of the Wise Men (Strings)
14. In the Bleak Midwinter (SATB)
15. Epilogue: Jn. 1:14; Isa. 2:5 (A, B)
16. Lord Jesus Christ, How Far You Came (SATB)

Contemporary Flute Music

2006-07-17T11:28:00.000-05:00

Cynthia Folio, one of my former music theory professors, has released a CD of new music for flute. In addition to being an excellent theorist, she is a fine composer. You can order it through amazon.com.

Children's Choir Repertoire

2006-07-16T13:21:00.002-05:00

If you are searching for repertoire appropriate for children's and youth choirs, be sure to consider Choristers Guild. This company has long been the standard-bearer for fine music crafted especially for younger voices. Click here to view their "What's New" page.

Commissioning Music

2006-06-27T21:41:00.000-05:00

If you've ever wondered about the process of commissioning a composer to write a musical work, read this informative article on the website of Selah Publishing, a publisher of fine choral music.

Rachmaninoff Vespers CD

2006-06-22T07:38:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for a CD of fine choral singing, this recording of Rachmaninoff's Vespers will not disappoint. One of my all-time favorites, this recording is of the Robert Shaw Festival Singers, conducted by Robert Shaw himself.

Shape-Note Hymns

2006-06-17T08:44:00.000-05:00

I have read papers on the analysis of shape-note hymns at UConn, Northwestern, and Belmont University. Some people have asked, "Is there a good resource online that deals with shape-note hymnody?". Here is a fine website.