Skyland

in memory of Alex Greene and Ben Darneille

nozomi imamura, trumpet
steven franklin, trumpet
eric huckins, horn
daniel schwalbach, trombone
andrew doub, tuba

premiered april 4, 2016. 
conner gray covington, conductor.
curtis institute of music.

Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele
JS Bach, BWV 654

Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele,
Laß die dunkle Sündenhöhle,
Komm ans helle Licht gegangen,
Fange herrlich an zu prangen;
Denn der Herr voll Heil und Gnaden
Läßt dich itzt zu Gaste laden.
Der den Himmel kann verwalten,
Will selbst Herberg in dir halten.
-- Johann Franck, 1649 --


Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness,
Leave the gloomy haunts of sadness;
Come into the daylight’s splendor,
There with joy thy praises render
Unto Christ whose grace unbounded
Hath this wondrous banquet founded.
Higher o’er all the heav’ns He reigneth,
Yet to dwell with thee He deigneth.
-- translation by Catherine Winkworh, 1863 --




Blur for brass quintet + orchestra

in honor of Ms. Jeanette Lerman Neubauer's birthday 
premiered April 20, 2016 at the Curtis Institute of Music
jean-michel richer, tenor
gloria ferry-brennan, violin
chen cao, cello

CONUNDRUM
A woman seeks the highest truth.
A light shines, seducing.
Light.  Shining light.
Where is revelation?  
Pure truth.  Pure light.
Come close to see.
The highest truth is without image.
But without image, how can the truth be known?
The light blinds.  The woman fails.
She turns to words for solace.
Words seduce.  
The highest principle is without words.
But if there are no words, how can the principle be known?

Lyrics by Jeanette Lerman

Based on a Zen koan allegedly found on a Buddhist sculpture, quoted in English, and discovered by the author on the Internet.


Conundrum -- tenor + vln + vcl + loop pedal

Slosh (2016)

Premier performance by the Ottawa Hills Choraliers.
October, 2016

A Family Blessing

“I bless you and I love you. 
God cares for you and loves you. 
God was with you when your heart first started beating. 
You are a precious child of God. 
God blesses you.”


A Community Blessing

“You are a blessed, beloved, beautiful child of God 
in whom Christ dwells and delights. 
You live safely and securely in a Kingdom that has no end.”

God's Eternal Blessing

Op. 18
for Solo Flute

Performed by Hong-Da Chin.

Curiosities - Flute Solo

Curiosity Squared - for flute duo

"Please Stay" by Jake Runestad. Performed by the Capital University Chapel Choir. Lynda Hasseler, conductor. More info: jakerunestad.com/store/please-stay

In 2013, suicide took the lives of 41,149 people in the USA alone. Depression affects about 20 million people in the USA, 350 million worldwide. Mental health disorders are serious issues in our culture and it is important that we have open conversation about their existence and that we show support to those who are battling them.

To Write Love On Her Arms is a nonprofit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. Their 2016 campaign for World Suicide Prevention Day was titled “And So I Kept Living.” Using the hashtag #IKeptLiving, thousands of individuals who battle depression shared their stories on Twitter as to why they chose to life over death. I read through and collected hundreds of the tweets and used them to inspire the text for this work.

“Please Stay” is an anthem for hope — an attempt to destigmatize mental illness and challenge all of us to support those who are battling depression and thoughts of suicide. You are not alone. We can make a difference. We can be the support system that saves a life.

Text:

No, don't go! Don't go!

Don't let your worst day be your last.
The storm is strong, but it will pass.
You think you can't go on another day,
but please stay. Just stay.

Hope is real, help is real.
You are breath, you are life,
you are beauty, you are light.

Your story is not over.
You are not a burden to anyone.

Please stay. Just stay.

3.25.17 Concert

Please Stay

for Mixed Chamber Ensemble
Flute, violin, cello, piano, percussion (crotales, vibraphone, and triangle). 
Performed by doctoral students at Bowling Green State University.
Dr. Marilyn Shrude, conductor.


Imagine you are looking up at the sky. Shimmery silver objects that are ethereally blissful, eternally beautiful, reflective, and surprising catch your attention. These objects carry you into the sky to discover clash, clutter, and chaos as you speed faster and faster through the clouds. Just when it becomes too much you are thrown from the sky and end up floating downward in time to see the ethereally blissful, eternally beautiful, reflective, and surprising objects rise out of sight.

Celestial Decorations - for mixed chamber ensemble

Commissioned by Composers and Schools in Concert, REVOLT OF THE BRAVE was premiered in Louisville, KY by the 2016-2017 Frederick Law South Academy 8th grade String Orchestra and the University of Louisville Symphony Orchestra in March 2017 under the batons of Kimcherie Lloyd and Courtney Schisler.

The piece is inspired by feminine strength and perseverance.  Current society does not often associate the idea of strength with women, but it is a very natural quality among us all.  The same could be said of a string orchestra.  Strength shows itself in many forms, and string instruments also offer an incredibly wide color palette and require an immense amount of discipline and perseverance to be played well.

Revolt of the Brave is a strong, rhythmic piece written for grade 2+.  The piece explores some extended techniques (percussive taps, slaps, stomps) and provides an opportunity to refine intonation in the key of D-minor.  While the piece is strong enough to stand on its own, an orchestral accompaniment is available (as in the recording), which features the string ensemble as soloist.

Revolt Of The Brave for Grade 2+ String Orchestra and Full Orchestra

based on a poem by Robert Sergeant Sr.
premiered by Darius Thomas, countertenor and Will Rand, piano
written for the 2017 Season of the Brevard Music Center

Skyland

Sam Scheibe