Compositions/Arrangements

"Peace I Leave With You" was written on the evening of March 27th, 2014, dedicated to Hannah Metzler.

This piece was written in Hannah's memory, for her family, friends, and for anyone who desires a space for meditation, reflection, comfort, or peace. Performed by the 2013/2014 Fairport High School Polyphonic Mixed Choir of Fairport, NY, under the direction of Dr. Jim Jefferis.  ©2014

John 14:27 KJV

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

For inquiries regarding the use of this piece or the use of the score, please contact me directly via email, Facebook, or SoundCloud.

Peace I Leave With You - for SATB divisi (2014)

Performed by the Fairport High School Polyphonic Choir, June 1st, 2015 under the direction of Dr. Jim Jefferis.

I wrote "Weep You No More" over the course of about 9 months, constantly revising and editing. I felt so drawn to this text immediately (author anonymous, 15th century) as it spoke of peace, reassurance, and calmness- and in fact I wrote the opening section in under half an hour, as it seemed to flow so effortlessly. The text is as follows:

"Weep you no more, sad fountains; 
What need you flow so fast? 
Look how the snowy mountains 
Heav'n's sun doth gently waste. 
But my sun's heav'nly eyes 
View not your weeping 
That now lies sleeping, 
Softly, softly, now softly lies sleeping. 

Sleep is a reconciling, 
A rest that Peace begets. 
Doth not the sun rise smiling 
When fair at e'en he sets 
Rest you then, rest, sad eyes, 
Melt not in weeping 
While she lies sleeping, 
Softly, softly, now softly lies sleeping."

For inquiries regarding the use of this piece or the use of the score, please contact me directly via email, Facebook, or SoundCloud.

Weep You No More - for SATB divisi (2014)

Performed by the Fairport High School Concert Band on May 13th, 2015. This performance conducted by myself.

This piece came about in a funny way...It is the culmination of a failed choral piece, an afternoon of writing around a very simple folk-esq melody, and another little segment that always stood alone until I was able to stitch everything together to form this piece. The title comes from a poem by Sophie Hensley which is titled "Shadow Song". Which goes as follows:

"The night is long
And there are no stars, - 
Let me but dream
That the long fields gleam
With sunlight and song,
Then I shall not long
For the light of stars.

Let me but dream, - 
For there are no stars, - 
Dream that the ache
And the wild heart-break
Are but things that seem.
Ah! let me dream
For there are no stars."

It is in B major (which is absolute hell for any musician), but I am confident that the color I was looking for was achieved. I was very honored to conduct this piece on it's premier (which happens to be this recording).

For inquiries regarding the use of this piece or the use of the score, or for request of the Bb version of this piece, please contact me directly via email, Facebook, or SoundCloud.

Shadow Song - for Wind Ensemble (2015)

My piece "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" for Women's Choir and piano. Performed live on November 2nd, 2015 by the Fairport Polyphonic Women's Chorale of Fairport, NY. Conducted by Tara Switzer, accompaniment played by myself.

Text by Christopher Marlowe:
Come live with me and be my Love,	 
And we will all the pleasures prove	 
That hills and valleys, dale and field,	 
And all the craggy mountains yield.	 
  
There will we sit upon the rocks	         5
And see the shepherds feed their flocks,	 
By shallow rivers, to whose falls	 
Melodious birds sing madrigals.	 
  
There will I make thee beds of roses	 
And a thousand fragrant posies,	  10
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle	 
Embroider'd all with leaves of myrtle.	 
  
A gown made of the finest wool	 
Which from our pretty lambs we pull,	 
Fair linèd slippers for the cold,	  15
With buckles of the purest gold.	 
  
A belt of straw and ivy buds	 
With coral clasps and amber studs:	 
And if these pleasures may thee move,	 
Come live with me and be my Love.	  20
  
Thy silver dishes for thy meat	 
As precious as the gods do eat,	 
Shall on an ivory table be	 
Prepared each day for thee and me.	 
  
The shepherd swains shall dance and sing	  25
For thy delight each May-morning:	 
If these delights thy mind may move,	 
Then live with me and be my Love.	 
 
For inquiries regarding the use of this piece or the use of the score, please contact me directly via email, Facebook, or SoundCloud.

The Passionate Shepherd To His Love - for SSAA and piano (2015)

"Dimensions" written by myself, performed by the Fairport High School Day Jazz Ensemble of Fairport, NY, (myself on keys), under the direction of Bill Tiberio, recorded by Ed McClive.

This piece was written in a time of my life that was constantly changing. To the point that the present felt strange- almost out of place or unfamiliar. I feel the layering of the many themes that make up this piece represent the aspects that created this odd phenomenon in my life. In a time where leaving for college was slowly growing sooner and sooner as well, I found myself becoming more and more nostalgic. The main melody of this piece I feels captures this spirit of happy remembrance of the past.

Enjoy, and for any inquiries about use of the score/mp3, please contact me directly. Thank you!

Dimensions - for Jazz Ensemble (2015)

Composer || Conductor || Pianist || Organist || Cowbell Enthusiast || Melodica Virtuoso || Supporter of homeostasis everywhere || St. Olaf '20


Contact: jt.madden@icloud.com  , or you can message me here on SoundCloud, or on Facebook and Twitter.

Dimensions - for Jazz Ensemble (2015)

Jonathan Thomas Madden