Spring 2008

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Spring 2008 NEW ISSUE

SACRED CHORAL — Mixed Chorus and Organ

STEPHEN R. FRASER [b. 1980]: Rejoice, the Lord is King
• SATB & Organ • #6992 • $3.90 • c. 4:20
Winner of the 2008 AGO/ECS PUBLISHING Award in Choral Composition Sponsored by the American Guild of Organists and ECS Publishing
The AGO/ECS PUBLISHING AWARD IN CHORAL COMPOSITION is a unique collaboration between two organizations dedicated to promoting and enriching the repertoire of organ and choral music: the AGO, a not-for-profit national organization dedicated to the advancement of the organ and choral music professions, and ECS Publishing Corporation, a member of the professional music publishing business community. Established in 1985 and held biennially, the competition for the AGO/ECS Award is open to all. Works submitted to the competition must be unpublished, and composed for SATB chorus and organ, with the organ playing a distinctive and significant role. The award includes a cash prize, publication of the winning composition by ECS Publishing Corporation, and a performance at an AGO National Convention. Words excerpted from the “News Bulletins” section of the National AGO website.

“The text for this composition is derived from The Sacred Harp, Carmathen 473, by Charles Wesley (1741). The organ plays a significant role, including an extended introduction and several transitional passages.” —Stephen R. Fraser
USE: General • moderately difficult • church services and concerts

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS CHORAL — Mixed Chorus unaccompanied

JOSEPH GREGORIO [b. 1979]: A Christmas Diptych
• SATB (divisi) • #6790• $1.85 • c. 4:45
The words for this piece are from Luke 2:8-11, 14 (KJV) as adapted by the composer. This setting begins with a chant followed by an Andante section and closes with a Maestoso section.
USE: Services, concerts • moderately difficult • accomplished church, college, community, professional choruses

Thomas Bold Cantus Hymnus Choral Series

The artwork, Choir Rehearsal, is by Malcolm Tuffnell, currently of Goleta, California.
© Copyright 2006 by Malcolm Tuffnell. Used by permission.
This new issue brings the second installment in the Thomas Bold Cantus Hymnus Choral Series. Inspired by the success and charm of the collaboration of songs and hymns, Thomas Bold has completed the Cantus Hymnus Choral Series, joining new melodies set to poems of Janet Lewis to familiar hymn tunes for various
seasons and occasions in the Christian church year.

THOMAS BOLD, arr. [b. 1952]:
Melissa’s Bouquet
• Tenor or Baritone Solo, SSA • #6768 • $1.85 • c. 1:00

A Lullaby
• Soprano Solo, SATB • #6368 • $1.85 • c. 2:30

The Manger
• Alto Solo, SAB • #6769 • $1.85 • c. 1:00

Melissa’s Bouquet (based on Rosa mystica)
I know a rose-tree springing / Forth from an ancient root… Hymn text: Speier Gebetbuch, 1599

A Lullaby (based on Cradle Song)
Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, / The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. Hymn text: Little Children’s Book of Schools and Families, c. 1885 and John Thomas McFarland, 1887

The Manger (based on Puer nobis)
What star is this, with beams so bright, / More beauteous than the noonday light? Hymn text: Charles Coffin, 1736; Tr. John Chandler, 1837
USE: services, concerts • moderately easy (all three) • church, high school, college, community, professional choruses

CHRISTMAS CHORAL — Mixed Chorus and Instrumental Ensemble (or Piano)

STEPHEN CHATMAN [b. 1950]: Christmas Joy
• SATB, Aud./Congr., Brass Quintet, Organ & opt. Perc.
• Full Score • #7.0513 • $52.00 • c. 14:00
• Parts • #7.0514 • $39.00
• Piano/Choral Score • #7.0515 • $6.50
“Commissioned by Maurice Casey (Music Director of the Worthington [Ohio] United Methodist Church), Christmas Joy was premiered in Worthington on December 18, 2005. This fourteen-minute set of continuous carol arrangements may be performed by SATB chorus and audience/congregation accompanied by piano or brass quintet, organ, and optional percussion. The festive instrumental introduction features snippets of favorite carols and the joyful choral declaration,‘Noel, noel, Sing Christmas joy.’ This ‘Christmas joy’ motif is a unifying ritornello that connects and juxtaposes the merry verses of Good King Wenceslas, Here We Come A-wassailing and Nouveau Nouvelet, and the reflective lines of O Come, O Come Emmanuel and Lo How a Rose. After a reprise of the opening section that appears before the stirringly triumphant and penultimate Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, the ‘Christmas joy’ motive reappears in the final joyful and climactic phrases.” —Stephen Chatman
The piano/choral score includes a reproducible audience/congregation part.
USE: services, concerts • moderately easy • church, high school, college, community, professional choruses

CHRISTMAS CHORAL — Mixed Chorus and Percussion

STEPHEN CHATMAN [b. 1950]: The Star-Song
• SATB & opt. Medieval Drum • #7.0516 • $2.65 • c. 3:00
This setting is based on fragments by Robert Herrick (1591–1674) as adapted by the composer.
Declare, bright Star, if we shall seek / Him in the Morning’s blushing cheek,
Or search the beds of Spices through, / To find him out, ye need not do.
USE: services, concerts • moderately easy • church, high school, college, community, professional choruses

CHRISTMAS CHORAL — Treble Chorus unaccompanied

DANIEL PINKHAM [1923-2006]: What Sweeter Music
• Women’s Chorus (SSA) • #6417 • $1.50 • c. 1:00
As with Chatman’s The Star-Song, this too is a setting of words by Robert Herrick.
What sweeter music can we bring / Than a carol for to sing the birth of this our heav’nly King?
USE: services, concerts • moderately easy • church, high school, college, community, professional choruses

CHRISTMAS CHORAL — Mixed Chorus and Violoncello

PAUL GIBSON [b. 1952]: It Fell Upon the High Midnight
• SATB & Violoncello • #6728 • $1.85 • c. 2:05
Winner of the VocalEssence 2005 Welcome Christmas! Contest for new carols, the first performances of It Fell Upon the High Midnight were by Philip Brunelle and VocalEssence at their 2005 Christmas concerts in Minneapolis. This work is a setting of an anonymous English text written before 1536.
The violoncello part appears on the back page of the edition.
USE: services, concerts • moderately easy • high school, college, community, professional choruses

CHRISTMAS (OR SECULAR ) CHORAL — Mixed, Male or Treble Chorus unaccompanied

JAMES GRANVILLE EAKIN III [b. 1973]: Sleep, my child
• SATB • #6705 • $1.85 • c. 3:15
• TTBB • #6706 • $1.85
• SSAA • #6825 • $1.85
A setting of a traditional Welsh text, Sleep, my child was commissioned by the Turtle Creek Chorale for a children’s concert given in October 2005 at the Morton H. Meryerson Symphony Center in Dallas, Texas. The proceeds from this concert were donated to the Make A Wish Foundation.
USE: services, concerts • moderately easy • church, high school, college, community, professional choruses

CHRISTMAS CHORAL — Mixed Chorus, Handbells and Harp

STEVEN SAMETZ [b. 1954]: Angelus
• SATB (divisi), Handbells & opt. Harp • #6646 • $1.85 • c. 3:30
• Parts for Handbells & opt. Harp • #6647 • $5.25
The Latin text is the Catholic prayer for the Incarnation.
The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, / And she conceived of the Holy Ghost. Hail Mary, full of grace, / The Lord is with thee. / Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. / Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. / Amen.
Angelus is also available in an instrumental version for harp solo (Catalog No. 6679). Care should be taken not to confuse the harp parts for the two versions.
USE: Incarnation services, Christmas concerts • moderately difficult (mainly for sustained divisi writing) • large church, college, community, professional choruses

SACRED CHORAL — Mixed Chorus and Instrumental Ensemble (or Organ and Percussion)

STEVEN SAMETZ [b. 1954]: Alleluia-Amen
• SATB, Brass Ensemble, Percussion, Organ & Harp (ad lib.)
• Full Score • #6643 • $7.95 • c. 3:30
• Parts • #6644 • $16.90
• Organ/Choral score with opt. Perc. • #6645 • $1.85
The brass ensemble consists of three trumpets in Bb, 2 horns in F, trombone and tuba. A euphonium part is included in the set of parts in lieu of horn 2.
No percussion parts are needed to perform only the organ/choral score. Two extra copies of #6645 should be purchased for the timpani and crash cymbal players.
USE: General, services or concerts • moderately easy • church, high school, college, community, professional choruses

CHRISTMAS CHORAL — Mixed Chorus and Organ

AUSTIN LOVELACE [b. 1919]: The Beginning of Wisdom
• SATB & Organ • #6637 • $1.50 • c. 2:15

Here are we in Bethlehem
• SATB & Organ • #7003 • $1.50 • c. 1:45
The Beginning of Wisdom is a setting of a text by Edith Lovejoy Pierce that first appeared in the publication The Christian Century in 1958. This work is appropriate for Epiphany services.
The words for Here are we in Bethlehem are by Rev. F. J. Moore.
USE: church services and concerts • moderately easy • church, college, community, professional choruses

SACRED CHORAL — Mixed Chorus and Organ

AUSTIN LOVELACE [b. 1919]: Faith Is
• SATB & Organ • #6951 • $1.85 • c. 2:45
Faith Is employs words from Hebrews 11:1-2, 13, 16b; 12:1-2a as adapted by the composer. As the title implies, this piece puts forth a possible definition of faith.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
USE: church services and concerts • moderately easy • church, college, community, professional choruses

SACRED CHORAL — Mixed Chorus unaccompanied

ROBERT KYR [b. 1952]: Alleluia for Peace
• SATB (divisi) • #6280 • $3.90 • c. 9:00
The words to this setting include only Alleluia and Dona nobis pacem.
USE: services, concerts • difficult (mainly for extensive divisi writing) • skilled, large church, college, community, professional choruses

SECULAR (MAYBE SACRED) CHORAL — Treble Chorus and Piano

DAVID CONTE [b. 1955]: A Hope Carol
• SSSA & Piano • #6605 • $2.15 • c. 4:30 (pre-revision recording)
A Hope Carol was commissioned by the San Francisco Girls’ Chorus, Susan McMane, conductor. The words are by Christina Rossetti (1830–1894).
“In this setting of A Hope Carol, the altos represent the speaker of the poem and the divided sopranos represent the heavenly chorus of the speaker’s imagination. To represent this ‘distance’ both sonically and visually, the altos can be placed in the front rows with the sopranos behind them. Conductors may even experiment with offstage placement of the sopranos.” —David Conte
USE: concerts • moderately difficult • accomplished church, college, community, professional choruses

SECULAR CHORAL — Mixed Chorus, Clarinet and Piano

MATTHEW McCONNELL [b. 1980]: A Mouseful of Trouble
• SATB, Clarinet in Bb & Piano • #6839 • $3.90 • c. 9:00
• Clarinet Part • #6840 • $2.60
I. The Tree
II. The Mouse
III. Tree and Mouse
IV. The Cat (Frisky Business)
V. Mouse Inside the House
VI. Mouse Outside the House
This humorous, six-movement work employs a text by Neil Petkus. The protagonists are a tree, a mouse and a cat. A mouse who is out in the cold sees a tree in which he finds shelter. The tree is to become a Christmas tree and is subsequently cut down, carried and wrapped, trapping the mouse. After a family takes the tree into their house, the mouse is discovered by the occupants and their cat. The mouse makes a mad dash outside and, looking for shelter again, he finds another tree.
USE: Christmas concerts • moderately difficult • skilled church, college, community, professional choruses

SECULAR CHORAL — Mixed or Treble Chorus and Instrumental Ensemble (or Piano)

GWYNETH WALKER [b. 1947]: Now Let Us Sing!
• SATB & Piano • #6600 • $2.65 • c. 3:30
• SSAA & Piano • #6601 • $2.65
• Full Score • SATB, Brass Quintet, Perc. & Pno. • #6893 • $7.50
• Full Score • SSAA, Brass Quintet, Perc. & Pno. • #6894 • $7.50
• Parts for both versions • #6895 • $21.00
“Now Let Us Sing! is a celebration of song — the singing of a community chorus, the singing of all creatures on the earth. A voice for everyone!
The basis for this work is the traditional spiritual with the lyrics ‘Now let us sing ’til the power of the Lord comes down.’ This is an exhortation for all to lift up their voices, unafraid. After beckoning the chorus to sing, the lyrics spread out to include all of the animals on Noah’s Ark as well!
Lines from the Prayer of St. Francis are interspersed: ‘the rising morn in praise rejoice, the lights of evening find a voice…’ All the earth shall sing. Now!”—Gwyneth Walker
This piece employs a standard brass quintet (2 trumpets, trombone, horn in F, trombone and tuba). Parts for both Bb and C trumpets are included in the set.
USE: concerts • moderately easy • high school, college, community, professional choruses

VOCAL MUSIC

DAVID CONTE [b. 1955]: A Hope Carol
• Voice & Piano • #7188 • $7.50 • c. 4:30
• moderately difficult

JOHN DAVID EARNEST [b. 1940]: The Future In My Hand
• Voice & Piano • #6812 • $10.00 • c. 7:40
1. At Dusk
2. Autumn
3. Villanelle
• moderately difficult

MATTHEW McCONNELL [b. 1980]: A Mouseful of Trouble
• Soprano, Clarinet in Bb & Piano • #6838 • $13.25 • c. 9:00
• Clarinet Part • #6840 • $2.60
• moderately difficult

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC — Harp Solo

STEVEN SAMETZ [b. 1954]: Angelus
• Harp Solo • #6679 • $2.50 • c. 3:30
• moderately easy

KEYBOARD MUSIC — Organ Solo

DANIEL PINKHAM [1923-2006]: Bells
• Organ Solo • #5879 • $2.65 • c. 1:00
• moderately easy

RECORDING CREDITS – The Philovox Ensemble

Tracks 1, 3-5, 8 and 13-15 were recorded on January 13, 2008 at The Church of the Redeemer, Chestnut Hill, MA, and on January 14, 2008, at the recording studio of WGBH Radio, Boston, MA, by the Philovox Ensemble directed by Jane Ring Frank. The organist was Heinrich Christensen (tracks 1 and 13-15). The vocal soloists were baritone Marc DeMille, (track 3), soprano Jessica Cooper (track 4) and alto Mary Gerbi (track 5). The members of the Philovox Ensemble were sopranos Jessica Cooper, Adriana Repetto and Mary Sullivan, altos Mary Gerbi, Martin Near and Kristi Vrooman, tenors Eric Esparza, Jason McStoots and Steven Soph and basses Marc DeMille, Paul Guttry, Timothy Macri and Darrick Yee.

Tracks 2, 7, 9 and 17-22 were recorded on April 9, 2008, at the recording studio of WGBH Radio, Boston, MA, by the Philovox Ensemble directed by Jane Ring Frank. The instrumentalists were Rafael Popper-Keizer, Violoncello (track 9), Diane Heffner, Clarinet (tracks 17-22) and Michael Monroe, Piano (tracks 17-22). The
vocal soloist was Soprano Teresa Wakim (track 2). The members of the Philovox Ensemble were Sopranos Mary Sullivan, Teresa Wakim and Brenna Wells, Altos Jennifer Ashe, Martin Near and Kristi Vrooman, Tenors Randy McGee, David Scott and Steven Soph and Basses Brian Church, Marc DeMille, Bradford Gleim and John Proft.

The producers were Robert Schuneman and Antonio Oliart Ros; the recording engineer was Antonio Oliart Ros; editing and mastering was by Robert Schuneman, Arsis Audio, Boston, MA.

RECORDING CREDITS – Guest Artists

Christmas Joy by Stephen Chatman was recorded December 18, 2005 at Worthington United Methodist Church, Worthington, Ohio. It was performed by the Worthington United Methodist Church Choir, Maurice Casey, Conductor. Linda Nolan was the organist. The brass players were Richard Burkart and Tim Leasure, trumpet, Charles Wadell, horn, Joe Duchi, trombone and James Akins, tuba. The percussionists were Susan Powell and Joe Krieger. The recording engineer was Craig Knough. Permission to use this track was kindly given by Maurice Casey.

Sleep, my child by James Granville Eakin III, was recorded December 11, 2005 at the Morton H. Meryerson Symphony Center in Dallas, Texas. It was performed by the Turtle Creek Chorale, Dr. Timothy Seelig, Conductor. Mark Robbins was the recording engineer. This track is used with the kind permission of Dr. Timothy Seelig.

Angelus by Steven Sametz, was recorded in December, 2007 at Packer Memorial Church, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA. It was performed by the Lehigh University Choir, Steven Sametz, Director. Andrea Witchen was the harpist and William Holmes was the recording engineer. Permission to use this track was kindly given by Steven Sametz.

Alleluia-Amen by Steven Sametz, was recorded in December, 2000 at Packer Memorial Church, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA. It was performed by the Lehigh University Choral Arts and Brass Ensemble, Steven Sametz, Director. This track is used with the kind permission of Steven Sametz.

A Hope Carol by David Conte, is from a CD entitled Voices of Hope. It was recorded in June, 2006 at the recording studio of Skywalker Sound, Marin County, CA. It was performed by the San Francisco Girls Chorus, Susan McMane, Artistic Director. Permission to use this track was kindly given by Melanie Smith. This is a pre-revision recording.

Now Let Us Sing! by Gwyneth Walker, is from a CD bearing the same title. The CD was recorded and January and June, 2007 at the Music Building Recital Hall, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT. It was performed by Bella Voce, Dawn Willis, Music Director. The recording engineer was John McClure. This track is used with the kind permission of Dawn Willis.

Alleluia for Peace by Robert Kyr is from a recording made on May 6, 2006 at The Grotto, Portland, OR. It was performed by the David York Ensemble, David York, Director. Rod Evenson was the recording engineer. Permission to use this track was kindly given by David York.