This is my final project from a choral composition class that I took. It was performed on May 6, 2014. Many thanks to all who sang this after only two rehearsals! The text is by Horatius Bonar.

I Lay My Sins on Jesus

This piece was premiered in the spring of 2015.

Text: Psalm 77
Music: Josh Sparkman

Copyright 2015 by Josh Sparkman. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Program notes:

“Has God Forgotten?” is not a vocal summary of Psalm 77 with a string quartet accompaniment; instead, it is intended to be primarily a string quartet that portrays the emotions associated with the text of Psalm 77. The emotion of the strings is vocalized and directed by the soprano line. For that reason there are large portions of the piece where the strings play alone, developing the emotion while the audience dwells on what was last said.

This work attempts to portray the text’s intense emotional journey from unspeakable grief combined with raw doubt to confident peace. Its form—a loose ABA’—helps to convey that journey. Mm. 1-21 make up A (unspeakable grief), mm. 22-81 make up B (raw doubt that constantly intensifies), and mm. 82-113 make up A’ (confident hope in the works and ways of God). Though there is a significant harmonic and textual contrast between A and A’, the structure is very similar. Some similarities are as follows: 1) Both are slow. 2) Both begin with a low chord in the strings before the soprano sings a phrase unaccompanied. 3) Both contain a recitative-like section (A: mm. 13-23; A’: mm. 105-111). 4) Both have a more-or-less homophonic texture.

Musically, this piece is built around the motive that is initially presented in mm. 3-4 on the soprano’s word, “forgotten.” This ascending half step followed by a descending minor sixth is used throughout the piece. While sometimes it is used plainly, there are other moments where its intervallic structure is used more subtly. For example, the theme that begins in m. 22 is based off the intervals of the motive; the first three notes (D-A-Bb) span a minor sixth and include a half step, as do the second, third and fourth notes of the theme (A-Bb-F). In m. 82, there is an obvious change in mood. The soprano has just asked the haunting question, “Has God forgotten to be gracious?” and is now about to realize the solution to the situation: remembering what God has done. She states, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord.” In similar fashion to the initial presentation of the word “forgotten” via the motive, the word “remember”—which is the antonym of “forgotten”–is also built on the motive, but this time the motive is inverted.

In mm. 13-23, the soprano states that her grief is overwhelming to the point where she cannot even express in words her sorrow. The presence of steady eighth notes begins in m. 22 and continues all the way to the climax of the piece around m. 75 (changing to sixteenths at m. 64). These eighth notes are designed to represent a heartbeat that starts slowly but gradually beats faster and faster as the soft grief from the beginning transforms into unfettered anguish and doubt. 


Has God Forgotten?

Copyright 2015 by Patrick Beam and Josh Sparkman. All rights reserved.

Music: From William Walker's "The Southern Harmony, and Musical Companion," 1835

Arranged: Patrick Beam and Josh Sparkman

Text: Joseph Hart

1. Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and power.

I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O there are ten thousand charms.

2. Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.

3. Let not conscience make you linger,
Not of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.

I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
O there are ten thousand charms.

Come, Ye Sinners, Poor And Needy

Commissioned by the New England Christian Youth Chorus; John Skinner, director. This is a live recording from their premiere on December 14, 2015. 

Text is taken from Luke 2:29-32.

Light of Salvation

"The Land of Counterpane" was commissioned by the New England Christian Youth Chorus, directed by John Skinner. This recording is from the performance on May 16, 2017. 

One of the choir members, Grace Webster, introduced the song so nicely at the concert that I wanted to include what she said here:

"The Land of Counterpane" is a wonderful piece that takes the words of another well-known poem by Robert Louis Stevenson and puts them to an expressive tune by Josh Sparkman. The poem talks about how the author was often sick as a child and how he spent his time busily playing with his toys in the magical land of Counterpane, the colorful squares on his quilt. The song follows the boy's adventures to this marvelous country and culminates with the boy viewing his happy world as the silent giant, the giant who presides over his amazing kingdom, who has soldiers and ships, trees and hills, cities and houses. Welcome to the pleasant land of Counterpane."

The Land of Counterpane

Baritone: Michael Eldridge
Piano: Josh Sparkman

“Who Will Give Me Tears?” was commissioned by baritone Charles Paul. The piece is inspired by Dalton M. Ghetti’s 9/11 memorial, “3,000 Tears.” This artwork is on display at the New Britain Museum of American Art, where “Who Will Give Me Tears?” received its premiere on March 25, 2017.

The piece is specifically a lament for the victims of 9/11, though it is also intended to be a general expression of deep anguish. To convey the depth of this grief, excerpts from multiple texts are used throughout the piece (listed below); the singer is so overcome that he cannot even string multiple cohesive thoughts together. The well of his tears has run dry, so he repeatedly asks the lonely, haunting question, “Who will give me tears?” Yet in spite of the pain, the piece closes with a foreshadowing of hope, even for those weep. Melody may expire, but a quiet confidence remains.

Who Will Give Me Tears?

This work was written for the 2017 Novi Cantori Composers' Forum. This performance is by the Hartt School Chamber Singers under the direction of Dr. Ed Bolkovac on November 19, 2017.

I Shall Not Live In Vain

Ensemble: The Hartt School Orchestra
Conductor: Edward Cumming

This is a reading of my recent brief orchestral work, "River of War," which I wrote for an orchestration class. The orchestra had just a few minutes to tackle this fast-paced piece; I appreciate them navigating the rapids!

River of War (orchestral reading)

Snowfall

This hymn by Andy Gleiser (lyrics) and Josh Sparkman (music) is a corporate prayer for revival based on Isaiah 64. Vocals by Olivia Wallace.

Click here for a free download and more resources: https://www.joshsparkman.com/come-down-o-lord/

Copyright 2019 by Andy Gleiser and Josh Sparkman. All rights reserved. Hymn may be freely distributed but not sold for profit.

A Revival Prayer (Come Down, O Lord)

Free congregational song by Josh Sparkman based on Psalm 57, a Psalm where David cries to God for help, expresses confident dependence on the Most High, and makes music in praise to His Rescuer. Vocals by Olivia Wallace.

Click here for a free download and more resources: https://www.joshsparkman.com/psalm57/.

Words: Adapted from Psalm 57 by Josh Sparkman | Music: Josh Sparkman

Copyright 2018 by Josh Sparkman. All rights reserved.

Psalm 57

Composer, music educator, and pianist

www.joshsparkman.com

Josh Sparkman

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