Such a great idea! Art being born from art - inspiration comes from so many different places. Great work!

https://composerjim.com/works/no-thing-can-die-as-others-do/
Text:
by Edna St Vincent Millay, about the death of a poet:
"No thing that ever flew, / Not the lark, not you, / Can die as others do."
Premiere performance by the Calvin College Alumni Choir
Pearl Shangkuan, director.
Composer's Notes:
(in a letter sent to friends after Stephen Paulus' passing)
"Dear Friends: As I imagine is the case with many of you, I am having a really difficult time coming to grips with Stephen's passing. I have found myself in tears on several occasions, and frankly, again, right now. Stephen and I met in 2007, when we
both had music played on the same program. Now - I say we met... but, the truth is, he was the one who initiated the contact.
I knew of him and his music, of course, and was pretty much a "deer in headlights" when near him that day.
Well - true to Stephen's form (as I would subsequently come to discover) - he found me, was extremely nice and complimentary, and we had a long conversation. Every time I saw him thereafter, it was like seeing an old friend - he was funny, curious about what was going with me and my career, and also offering advice, which I still follow to this day.
In many ways, I relate to him very much. (and this was confirmed listening to the radio broadcasts and archived interviews
with him over the past couple of days). Actually, it's almost scary - and please mind you, I'm not making artistic comparisons
as if I'm his equal - but he would call his music neo-romantic, but quickly diffuse the negative connotation that exists currently;
he would describe his music as both rhythmic and lyrical. He liked joking around. He loved text. He's self-published
(one of the first success stories in that regard that I can think of). All of these things I would use to describe a lot of my characteristics, both personally and musically. (plus we're both thin with brown hair - but he had more hair!)
In the days since his passing, I have read many tributes, where people have spoken with such eloquence. I have never been blessed with the ability to speak as such, and so I have found myself these past few days really struggling with how to express my sadness.
The only way I know how to express my thoughts is through music. And so - last night - I wrote a little SATB choral score in Stephen's honor, and in his memory. The words come from something I read that Stephen's collaborator, Michael Dennis Browne, shared, as he thought of Stephen's passing:
by Edna St Vincent Millay about the death of a poet:
"No thing that ever flew, / Not the lark, not you, / Can die as others do."
I owe Steve so much, and this is the only way I could think to try to repay some of what he gave to me.
I knew I could count on seeing him every December at the Midwest Clinic here in my hometown of Chicago, and I will be so sad when I'm there this year, to only be reminded again that he is gone."
Jim Stephenson; October 22, 2014

No Thing Can Die As Others Do - James M. Stephenson

produced by Felix Snow

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Gold

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live, performed in one take.  Way cooler to see the video at https://youtu.be/sHxKXwAXUV0

Collage by Rachel England http://rachelengland.virb.com/

inspired by Jeremy John upcoming Sci-Fi novel, Hivemind http://glassdimly.com/

Cello/E-drums - Cicely Parnas
Lyrics - Jeremy John
Mastering - Lance Conrad (http://www.humanswin.com)
Music/Production/Mbira - SPEARFISHER


INDIANA TEENAGERS//live

A Mashup of J.S. Bach's "Cello Suite No. 1 in G" and Prince's "i would die 4 u." Featuring Kirsten Whitson, cello.

i would die 4 u

Helix

Better Not

This is a MASHUP of the famous choral anthem "Pilgrim's Hymn" by Stephen Paulus and a new song by Jocelyn Hagen. The new lyrics and melody pair with the underscoring harmonic progression of the hymn, played by SPEARFISHER.

The lyrics were inspired by recent school shootings, and the effect they have on the parents of the victims.

Beyond Reach ~ arr. Jocelyn Hagen + Spearfisher (Stephen Paulus)

Jocelyn Hagen

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