Just something a little different, a melody I improvised one day years ago, sitting at my new grand piano.  Wrote it down much later, just now got around to recording it.  It doesn't pretend to be anything more than s-i-m-p-l-e..... because in music, more often than not, that is enough.

Of all my works, including orchestrally massive movements, this is my personal favorite and most clearly reflects the emotional and  moving power of music.

WILSON "Simple Ayre"

Eirene is a queen of peace, diplomacy, and trade.
It is dismaying that we still cannot fulfill this ideal.
A Lamento for all who suffer from war, displacement and loss....
Peace for all people of the world.

"Eirene's lament" For Violin And Piano Mvt 2

A movement from a larger  musical work, this is for children on stage.
It was commissioned by the city of Price, UT for its Centennial celebration,  
“A Century of Dreams" by Russell Wilson.  The production was presented 
by the Castle Valley Community Theater.

This is a live recording of a performance by the Price Children’s Choir

Let Them Dream

This is the brass Fanfare that opens PTG. It introduces the 7-note theme that appears through the various movements.  It is followed by the Hymn of Freedom, which reappears in the final movement, but with chorus singing the lyrics.

1. Fanfare & Hymn of Freedom

This is a recording of my best-selling piece, performed by one of my fabulous students I was privileged to know in my college teaching.  ...And yeah, that's him on all eight parts, through the magic of music technology. Thanks, Scott Anderson!

OnQ Tracks

The Peace of God - SATB choir demo from www.onQtracks.com

This well-known piece for string orchestra, which arguably may be the most significant piece in all of string literature, although it was not originally written for full string orchestra, but string quartet.   The pivotal 1971 recording of the expanded version by the NY Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein virtually changed the way audiences have come to think of orchestral strings, and would also prove to change string writing for film scores forever.  It's no coincidence that its climactic peak  features what is probably the longest, loudest, highest chord ever required in classical string literature.  No wonder audiences insist on hearing it from their orchestras on a

BARBER "Adagio for Strings"

My midi-therapy session for today....... another Vivaldi.  Man, I just love that guy.....  so much beauty in so few bars!  The interplay of the oboe and flute is pure genius, Vivaldi-style.

The strings here are Kirk Hunter CS2 "Legato" patch with solo cello on the bottom.


VIVALDI "Domine Deus" from Gloria in D

I have written several pieces for children's choirs. It is one of my favorite ensembles, and I have established two of them during my career, including one at Utah State University, the Cache Children's Choir, now boasting some 180 singers in five choirs. in Logan, Utah. They just celebrated their 30th year.

This is a demo of a newly commissioned piece for children's choir (or SSA women) and strings. It has mostly unison singing, with optional solos and 3-part writing.  The text is adapted  from The Beatitudes in Matthew:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, who come unto me, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed Are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall have mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the makers of peace, for they shall be called the children of God. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven. Rejoice and be glad, blessed are they."

If you are a Baroque music fan  you may find the style a bit familiar.  This is indeed a takeoff of the style of Handel's many Largos, which often start with a single sustained tone.... My humble Homage to Handel.  -- RW

WILSON "Blessed Are They" for children's choir & strings

This is just my latest project for fun.  It's a work in progress, and this is really my third draft, so to speak.  I'll work on a better mix as time allows.  
    It's such amazing music! When I discovered this piece I was a young kid of nine or ten. It took my breath away.  I heard the horns on the high moving parts, the suspensions and on those marvelous triplets against duples and I was smitten.  I had to play horn.  And so I did.
   This sequence uses Kirk Hunter's Concert Strings 2, horns from his Concert Brass 2 and a bassoon from VSL.  I have played the Horn part of this movement in performance, and it is thrilling. I will never know exactly what it feels like to play the violin parts on a real instrument, but playing them in on a keyboard with today's amazing sample libraries has got to be pretty close.  I find it exhilarating. Playing ALL the parts in one at a time --- every note Bach wrote --- gives me an incredible understanding of his music and perhaps a glimpse into his soul and musical mind.

BACH "Brandenburg Concerto No. 1"  - Allegro

Hola a todos!
Después de dos semanas bastante duras de exámenes finales tenía muchas ganas de componer y, más concretamente de acabar este tema que ya había empezado hace algún tiempo.
Me gustaría dedicárselo a una persona, o más bien a un ser sobrenatural, que ha estado aguantándome y escuchando toda mi música, desde fragmentos de 15 segundos hasta temas semi-elaborados y que ha tenido la infinita paciencia de darme su opinión y proporcionarme ideas para cada uno de ellos, siempre con una amabilidad desbordante.
Una persona que una vez me dedicó el que probablemente ha sido el mayor halago que he recibido o, por lo menos, el que más ilusión me ha hecho. Un ser que adora las gaitas y un auténtico ilustrado en la música de cine. Sus comentarios siempre gozan de un ingenio característico y su música es siempre un referente a escuchar, pues es de los mejores orquestales de esta web.
Como él suele poner sus temas en descarga, este también estará disponible para descargarlo. Al fin y al cabo, como una vez él mismo dijo:
“La música es para disfrutarla sin que el bolsillo constituya una barrera natural a nuestras emociones” (Klos)
Sobre el tema, pues como siempre espero que os guste y que lo disfrutéis tanto como yo haciéndolo.

Un abrazo!

Sam

Imagen: Joseph J. Scherchell (National Geographic)

The Dawn of Life

Simple, orchestral track of my arr. of Silent Night, for my choir at FFUMC

Silent Night  instrumental

Russell Wilson is currently a free-lance composer. He served as the Director of Music at Fullerton First United Methodist Church (California).He is a retired professor of Music from Utah State University Eastern, where he conducted choir and orchestra, and taught Music Theory and Composition.  He is a prolific composer, and his most popular large work is Prelude To Glory, for chorus and orchestra.  It was premiered by the National Symphony in Washington DC. 

He is also a photographer who specializes in Abstract images and Floral portraits, at
www.russell-wilson.artistwebsites.com

WILSON "Blessed Are They" for children's choir & strings

Russell Wilson - composer

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