Townes Osborn Miller - Flute
Ellen Bottorff - Piano 
Choir - Melanie Melcher Cuthbertson, Amy Waldron, Paula Brekken, Leah Jenkins, Jay Van Blaricum, Jason Parr, Brady Shepherd, Ben Winters

Psalm 100 represents the whole Church singing praise to God. Commissioned by Irmgard Bittar in 1999 for the dedication of Lutheran Church of the Living Christ in Madison, WI, the piece opens with bold, clanging piano chords, followed quickly by a fanfare with the full choir. The piano rhythms subside to accompaniment as the rest of the piece unfolds. The overall form is that of an inverted arch, bold and strong from the beginning and winding down to perfect stillness in the middle as a single, lost sheep—personified by the soprano soloist—comes to rest on the words “and the sheep of his hand.” From here to the end the music gathers speed and strength, returning to the declamatory character of the beginning and ending with a rousing “Amen!”

Psalm 100 - Opus 10 Preview

Tami Lee Hughes - Violin
Ellen Bottorff - Piano

Ballade for Violin & Piano maps out a lyrical musical journey ending in a serene and heavenly reward. Like Dante with Virgil (and later Beatrice) in the Divine Comedy, the two instruments here are very evenly matched: full partners in their upward musical travels.

Ballade for Violin and Piano - Opus 15 Preview

A setting of Psalm 89 which speaks of the goodness and faithfulness of God. Both text and music are profoundly comforting. From Responsorial Psalms for Advent and Christmas.

Forever I Will Sing The Goodness Of The Lord - Preview

A song of thankfulness to God for bringing the people of Israel back from exile. For the Christian, the text has a further significance: redemption from the darkness and exile of sin by the coming of the Light of Life, Jesus Christ. From Responsorial Psalms for Advent and Christmas.

The Lord Has Done Great Things For Us - Preview

The second piece from my Two Pieces for Orchestral Brass - Opus 19. Score and parts are available for sale; please email your interest to brian@nelsonmusic.com

Fanfare on The Destiny of Fate

Steeped in a deeply rooted music tradition,  informed by faith, and inspired by contemporary melody and tonality, Brian J. Nelson communicates timeless messages in a dialect that is universally understood. In his own words, “music itself is a language, with a vocabulary and a content, fully capable of communicating a message of truth by way of beauty.” It is this truth that Brian seeks, and delivers, in his compositions. 

He composes commissioned sacred and classical works for voice and instruments across a wide variety of genres. He also teaches composition and theory, and offers lectures for academic and public audiences. He is also the Director of Music and Sacred Liturgy at St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center in Lawrence, KS. 

Born in Madison, Wisconsin, Brian received his Doctor of Musical Composition degree from the University of Kansas, where he studied with James Barnes. He earned his Master’s degree in Composition from the University of Wisconsin, and his Bachelor of Composition degree from the University of Michigan, having studied under William Bolcom, Willam Albright, and Nick Thorne.

A devoted Catholic and prolific composer, Brian has published his music on four CDs: Vocalise – Vocal and Instrumental Music of Brian J. Nelson, Responsorial Psalms for Advent and Christmas, On a Musical Journey, and The Reconciliation – Vocal Music of Brian J. Nelson. In addition to his extensive output of music for the Mass and the Divine Office (the official, daily prayer of the Catholic Church), Brian has composed art songs and major works for voice, instrumental ensembles, and orchestra, and was the orchestrator for Tony winner Mark Holman’s musical The Girl, The Grouch and The Goat, which has appeared around the country.

Nelson’s sacred music catalogue has recently been picked up by International Liturgy Publications and is being prepared for publication. His Vocalise for Solo Cello, Truly, Truly I Say to You and Psalm 100 are available from Alliance Publications.


Brian J Nelson - Composer

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