Choral works

Echo describes a woman who struggles to accept that her loved one is dead and has resolved to hold on to their memory no matter how painful. This poem is particularly poignant for me as I instantly recognized the parallels between Rossetti's character and my great-grandfather who was the one left behind when his wife of almost 70 years passed away in 2004. He was a strong man but his typically sunny disposition became much more sombre. He was reunited with his wife four years later. In the years after his death, I often wondered what that time apart must have felt like having spent most of their lives together. The moment I read this poem I knew I had to set it to music. I did so in order to invite everyone to imagine a love that transcends death yet cripples when the inevitable occurs.

I have also written a companion piece for Echo entitled Remember for men's chorus. The poetry for both Echo and Remember were written by Christina Rossetti.

Performed by the Clark College Concert Choir 6/13/14

©2011

Echo for SSAA choir

A new setting of Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore's playful poem "Paper Boats" for a cappella mixed choir, written for the Oregon Bach Festival Composer's Symposium. This is the first of four settings in a cycle of Tagore's poetry. 

This particular recording features the OBF American Creators Chorus under the direction of Craig Hella Johnson.

Paper Boats (2013)

Poetry by Mary Elizabeth Frye

Performed by the Clark College Women's Choral Ensemble under the direction of April Brookins Duvic at Marylhurst University on June 9, 2012.

I apologize for the poor recording quality...

©2012

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep for SSAA choir

Pastiche-ios! (I. Vertigo + II. Reverie)

Ah Sunflower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the sun;
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveller's journey is done;

Where the Youth pined away with desire,
And the pale virgin shrouded in snow,
Arise from their graves, and aspire
Where my Sunflower wishes to go!

—William Blake

Ah Sunflower

Performed on July 2, 2013 by the American Creators Chorus under the direction of Craig Hella Johnson.

Written for the 2013 Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium.


PROJECT : ENCORE™ has found this work to be of exceptional merit.  Its panel of internationally know conductors has selected the work for inclusion in its database of recommended choral music.  - www.projectencore.org

Semi-finalist for for the 2014 American Prize in choral composition.

(I recommend headphones to get the full effect.)

------------------------------------------------------------

I Shall Not Care 
by Sara Teasdale
             -

When I am dead and over me bright April
     Shakes out her rain-drenched hair,
Tho' you should lean above me broken-hearted,
     I shall not care.

I shall have peace, as leafy trees are peaceful
     When rain bends down the bough,
And I shall be more silent and cold-hearted
     Than you are now.


I Shall Not Care for SSATTB choir

Performed December 6, 2013 by the Clark College Concert Choir under the direction of April Brookins Duvic.

----------

Богородице дѣво, радѹйсѧ,
Благодатнаѧ Марїе,
Господь съ тобою:
благословена Ты въ женахъ,
и благословенъ плодъ чрева Твоегѡ;
якѡ Спаса родила еси дѹшъ нашихъ.
-

Bogoroditse Devo, raduisya,
Blagodatnaya Marie,
Gospod s' toboyu:
Blagoslovyena tyh v' zhenakh,
Y blagoslovyen plod chreva Tvoyego,
yako Spasa rodila yesi dush nashikh.
-

Theotokos Virgin, rejoice,
Mary full of grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
for thou hast borne the Savior of our souls.

Bogoroditse Devo for mixed choir

Written for the American Creators Chorus (dir. by Craig Hella Johnson) at the 2014 Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium.

Performed June 10, 2016 by a small group from the Clark College Chorale (dir. April Brookins Duvic)and directed by Brandon Stewart.

VVVVV

"mi amor descubre objetos" by Isabel Fraire
.

mi amor descubre objetos 
sedosas mariposas 
se ocultan en sus dedos 

sus palabras 
me salpican de estrellas 

bajo los dedos de mi amor la noche 
brilla como relámpago 

mi amor inventa mundos en que habitan 
serpientes cuajadas de brillantes 

mundos en que la música es el mundo 

mundos en que las casas con los ojos abiertos 
contemplan el amanecer 

mi amor es un loco girasol que olvida 
pedazos de sol en el silencio
----------

"my love reveals objects" by Isabel Fraire
.

my love reveals objects
silken butterflies
concealed in his fingers

his words
splash me with stars

under my love's fingers, the night
shines like lightning

my love invents worlds where
jeweled glittering serpents live

worlds in which music is the world

worlds where houses with open eyes
contemplate the dawn

my love is a mad sunflower that forgets
fragments of sun in the silence
---

More poetry written by this amazing poet can be found at isabelfraire.com

"mi amor descubre objetos" for mixed choir

Sharp Edges for solo clarinet (2015)
Commissioned by Christopher Grymes. Premiered at East Carolina University on January 23, 2015. 

Sharp Edges for solo clarinet (2015)

A setting of Sara Teasdale's "Alone".
---
I am alone, in spite of love,
In spite of all I take and give—
In spite of all your tenderness,
Sometimes I am not glad to live.

I am alone, as though I stood
On the highest peak of the tired gray world,
About me only swirling snow,
Above me, endless space unfurled;

With earth hidden and heaven hidden,
And only my own spirit's pride
To keep me from the peace of those
Who are not lonely, having died. 
---
Premiered by Resonance Ensemble in October 2019

ALONE for mixed choir and piano (live)

Ensemble Modern&HR  Frankfurt/M.

Solistin : Nina Janßen-Deinzer

Edition Peters Frankfurt/M. 
https://www.edition-peters.de/cms/deutsch/general/komponist.html?composer_id=3425

iv 7 für Kontrabassklarinette

Paired with the poem by <a href="http://plthomaspoetry.blogspot.com/" target="_paulhm">P. L. Thomas:</a>

<a href="http://plthomaspoetry.blogspot.com/2011/07/no-other-snowflakes-and-ashes-pt-1.html" target="_blank">no other (snowflakes and ashes) pt. 1</a>



Visit:  <a title="“snowflakes &amp; ashes”" href="http://www.peterbkay.com/music/snowflakes-and-ashes/" target="_blank">http://peterbkay.com/snowflakes-and-ashes</a>

snowflakes & ashes (Live)

" ...simultaneously innovative, intellectually stimulating, but most of all emotionally moving." - Maria Choban, Oregon ArtsWatch

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep for SSAA choir

Brandon Stewart

Related tracks