I Won't Be Afraid

Benedictus for Strings

Duet for Guitar and Violin, Mvt II. - Labyrinthine

This piece is a custom-built Max/MSP application to control the acoustic Utopa and Sauer organs in the Orgelpark, Amsterdam, NL (https://www.orgelpark.nl/en/Instrumenten/Our-Instruments). Performed live by Isaac Barzso, November 26, 2022.

and then nothing turned itself inside-out (live) // Orgelpark Hyperorgan

Commissioned in commemoration of Barren County, Kentucky’s 225th Anniversary

Recording Choir: University of Louisville University Chorus, Benjamin Carter, conductor

When I was asked to arrange this, I immediately began to delve into the canon of Scottish folk music in search of appropriate choices for this piece. While I encountered a lot of different tunes, I kept returning to these two because of their unique juxtapositions between texts regarding an afterlife and rather joyous melodies. In Scottish folk music, there is an all-at-once mesmerizing yet heartbreaking nostalgic remembrance that mourns the dead while still embodying the warmth of the memories.

In addition to these two songs being stellar examples of that, they are both fairly well-known songs with many arrangements sung by choirs around the world. In fact, I sang arrangements of both of them while growing up in Kentucky public schools. Thus, in addition to the immense beauty, there was also a personal connection tying back to my choral upbringing in the Commonwealth that seemed all too fitting for current Kentucky high schoolers to premier.

Two Scottish Folk Songs

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

String Quartet no. 1 - "Vespers" III. Jubilations

KANYE IN MY HEAD

Quarter Past Four (by Avriel and the Sequoias)- Cover

Reverie is a lyrical, contemplative piano solo with a beautiful melody and interesting, chromatic harmonies.

This is a perfect piece to introduce intermediate students to the key of G-flat major because it’s carefully crafted for ease of playing, with the deliberate goal to ensure the player’s success. The hands remain rooted to the G-flat major pentascale position throughout much of the piece. Movements outside the position are minimal and mostly step-wise, making the piece very accessible.

The piece comes with a Getting Started Guide that will help players navigate and practice the piece efficiently.

This is a digital download that comes with a studio license, allowing for unlimited use with students you personally teach.

https://daniel-light.com/product/reverie/

Reverie, by Daniel Light

Composer, Conductor, Pianist, Vocalist, UofL BM ‘23, UofL MM ‘25

Two Scottish Folk Songs

Benjamin Carter

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