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The Unexpected SATB - Alto Muted - Joshua Fishbein - 1/1

This piece was written for Project: Sound under Robert Heath.

"Americana Variations" is a composition/arrangement/compilation of eight Stephen Foster songs. Each song is written in the style of eight prominent American composers since the mid-1800s. Besides the first song, "Old Folks at Home," being in the style of the original
composer, the seven composers are John Phillip Sousa, Charles Ives, George Gershwin,
Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber, Philip Glass, and John Wililams. All of them have unique voices that has influenced Western music. There were few others in consideration, such as John Cage, but that would've added another 4 minutes and 33 seconds to this piece. Being a fan of both high-brow and low-brow humor, I hope this chamber wind ensemble work will
be enjoyed by both performer and listener.
P.S. There is a "mystery composer" hidden towards the end. Try and see if you can find it.

Instrumentation: 
1 Piccolo
1 Flute
1 Clarinet in Bb
1 Bass Clarinet in Bb 
1 Soprano Saxophone
1 Alto Saxophone 
2 Trumpets in Bb 
2Horns in F
1 Trombone
1 Euphonium 
1 Tuba
1 Piano

Americana Variations ('Murica!) for wind ensemble

The Unexpected
for SATB Chorus and Piano
Music by Joshua Fishbein
Words by Paulo
(Note: Paulo is one of several talented young poets served by Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop. Free Minds uses books, creative writing, and peer support to awaken DC youth incarcerated as adults to their own potential. Through creative expression, job readiness training, and violence prevention outreach, these young poets achieve their education and career goals, and become powerful voices for change in the community.)

Commissioned and Premiered by the Thomas Circle Singers with support from the Nora Roberts Foundation
James Kreger, Artistic Director
Aaron Goen, Piano
Recorded live at Church of the Epiphany, Washington, DC on May 18, 2019

The Unexpected
by Paulo

The doors open and I am escorted in
Wearing an oversized orange jumpsuit
I glance around and find myself being stared at
The air circulating the room 
Brings goose bumps to my skin
I just want to run away
I want to hide
And erase the moment
The judge calls out my name
Within minutes, my future is called out
I am left speechless
Escorted out, I struggle to move my legs
My knees want to give up on me
I cannot hold myself together
I am still adding the numbers 

From The Untold Story of the Real Me, 84. 
Washington, DC: Shout Mouse Press, 2015. 
Copyright © 2015 by Free Minds Book Club 
& Writing Workshop. Used by permission.  

The Unexpected (2019)

Al Hanisim (For the Miracles)
for SATB Chorus unaccompanied
Music by Joshua Fishbein
Words in Hebrew from Jewish Liturgy for Chanukah and Purim

Performed by Chicago a cappella
Jonathan Miller, Artistic Director
Paul Nicholson, Guest Music Director
Recorded Live at Pilgrim Congregational Church, Oak Park, IL on December 15, 2019

Transliteration: 
Al hanisìm, v'al hapurkàn,
v'al hag'vuròt, v'al hat'shu-òt,
v'al hamilchamòt, she-asìta la-avotèinu v'imotèinu, bayamìm hahèm baz'màn hazèh. 

Translation: 
[We thank you] for the miracles, for the redemption,
for the victories, for the saving acts,
for the wars, which You waged for our forefathers and foremothers, in those days at this season.

Al Hanisim (For the Miracles)

Joshua Fishbein, composer

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