A rough in-performance recording of a short piece I wrote in the spring of 2013, now available from Alliance Music.

From the inside cover:
 “Lord, afford a spring to me
   Let me feel like what I see
   Speak, and by thy gracious voice
   Make my drooping soul rejoice”
                           - John Newton
   Kindly Spring Again is Here (1779)

This piece was composed on the request of Jay Carter, director of the Schola Cantorum of William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. It aims to evoke both the immediate freshness that spring brings, as well as the possibilities inherent in the coming of a new season, whether that change be actual or spiritual.
Throughout the piece, choirs should maintain a sweet and delicate sound, especially in the melody as sung by the upper parts. The piece is designed to leave room for the individual and group artistry of the director and choir to flourish, so do not be afraid to be flexible with the tempo and interpretation.
What should result is a natural, organic artistic offering, one that lifts the soul and nourishes the heart.                        
                                                                                      Stewart Duncan

Truly this piece is a wonderful example of how the maximum effect can be achieved with the most modest means.
Soloist and chorus should sing the lines with delicacy and a particular sensitivity to the rhythm of the text. Be sure to let the final unison note float away into the silence and try to dissuade listeners from applauding too soon!
                              
                                                                                   Simon Carrington 
Available for purchase online here:
http://www.jwpepper.com/Lord-Afford-a-Spring-to-Me/10459220.item#.U2YYlV5q7y8

and here:
http://www.alliancemusic.com/product.cfm?iProductID=1144

"Lord, Afford a Spring to Me" - Grace & Holy Trinity Cathedral Choir

The Magnificat of my Evening Service in E Major, written for the Choir of St. John's College, Oxford. Premiered by the choir on June 8th, 2014, under the direction of the composer.

Magnificat, Evening Service in E Major - The Choir of St. John's College, Oxford

The Nunc Dimittis of my Evening Service in E Major, written for the Choir of St. John's College, Oxford. Premiered by the choir on June 8th, 2014, under the direction of the composer.

Nunc Dimittis, Evening Service in E Major - The Choir of St. John's College, Oxford

A hymn I recently wrote for a church in Virginia, sung here by the Choir of St. John's College, Oxford, in the evensong service of Sunday, June 8th, 2014.

The recording starts in the middle of the first verse.

God, We Gather

Commissioned by William Jewell College and composed by Stewart Duncan to celebrate 40 years of the Pillsbury Music Center and the leadership of Drs. Don and Helen Brown. Performed at the 2014 William Jewell College Choral Reunion by the William Jewell Concert Choir and audience members, with Dr. Ann Marie Rigler on the organ. 

Tune: PILLSBURY, 11.10.11.10.11.10
Text: "Create New Worlds" - Terry W. York, ascap

Create New Worlds

"Within These Walls" is the second in my triptych of short pieces on John Newton hymn texts, published by Alliance Music on Simon Carrington's choral series. 

“Within these walls let holy peace,
And love, and concord dwell;
Here give the troubled conscience ease,
The wounded spirit heal.”
–John Newton
Olney Hymns, Book II, Ordinances, Hymn XLIII

This piece continues my work on short settings of John Newton's hymn texts, following Lord, Afford a Spring to Me (AMP 0934). The text is found in Newton's Olney Hymns titled “Hymn XIII – On opening a place for social prayer”, and is built around the idea of marking a space as a place for worship. Adding the phrase “Lord, hear our prayer” to Newton's text is an intentional suggestion that when we gather for worship, we are both offering our praises to God and asking that he receive our needs and desires in His mercy. The supplication of the added text speaks to the fact that often, when we come to worship, we are in need of reassurance, fulfillment, or healing and may find praise hard to muster.

Available from Alliance (http://www.alliancemusic.com/product.cfm?iProductID=1196) and J.W. Pepper (http://www.jwpepper.com/Within-These-Walls/10509274.item#.VShJzlxFqhY)

The William Jewell College Concert Choir recorded the work in Gano Chapel, at William Jewell, in Liberty, MO.

Within These Walls

The William Jewell College Concert Choir performing in York Minster Cathedral on Tuesday, May 26 2015. (Live Recording)

0:02: Mendelssohn - Jauchzet dem Herrn, alle Welt! (Psalm 100)
5:59: Kalinnikov - Svete tihiy (Gladsome Light)
10:03: Henson - My Flight For Heaven
15:48: Miskinis - Lucis Creator Optime
21:46: Pack - Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen

York Minster Performance Complete - LIVE

The Wall Breaks Asunder
TTBB, piano, percussion ensemble

The Wall Breaks Asunder was composed for the Miami University Men's Chorus under the direction of Dr. Jeremy Jones.  It was premiered as part of their performance at the Intercollegiate Men's Choruses National Seminar held at the University of Illinois, Champagne-Urbana on March 18, 2016. 

It is a setting of a text by famed Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) and evokes images of crumbling walls, cascading light, and the triumphant victory over death.

The poem can be read here: https://www.thetagoreproject.org/compositions/index/4057

Photo credit: Publicdomainpictures.net http://publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=18568&picture=ruins-and-the-setting-sun



 



April 30, 2016  Hall Auditorium

The Wall Breaks Asunder by Anthony J. Maglione

The William Jewell College Concert Choir recorded my setting of Fanny Crosby's "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior" text at the conclusion of their Spring 2013 tour. I chose to set this text in a way which highlights the progression of the narrator's spirit from the resignation of the first stanza to the joyous reassurance of the final verses. The final product (intentionally) has nothing to do with the well known and loved old hymn by the same name. The piece makes use of a few soloists, sung here by Jeff Howe, myself, and Sarah Reed.

Thank you to Dr. Maglione and the WJC Concert Choir for programming the piece and allowing me to conduct this (rough!) recording. Everyone involved did an excellent job working with a very short amount of rehearsal time.

Copyright Stewart Duncan 2013

Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior (2013 Version)

About the work: 
"Set Me As A Seal Upon Thine Heart"  was commissioned for the wedding of conductors Daniel Bara and Deanna Joseph on June 30, 2012.  It is a setting of portions of Song of Songs 8: 6-7.  The solo quartet, which is set in English, is answered by the SATB choir on the identical text set in Hebrew. 

It has been slated for publication and should be available within the next few months.  
GIA Publicatsions G-8583.

About the performance:

William Jewell College Concert Choir
Anthony Maglione, conductor

Soloists
Haley Hibbeler, flute
Renee Taylor, soprano
Katie Baker, alto
Jeff Howe, tenor
David Sanchez, bass

Recorded at St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church, Belton, MO.
Jason Scheulfer, recording technician

Set Me As A Seal Upon Thine Heart by Anthony J. Maglione

Comprised of six ensembles, the William Jewell College Choral program is open to all students by audition.

Our Ensembles:

The Concert Choir - Dr. Anthony J. Maglione, conductor
The Concert Choir is a highly selective ensemble comprised of the very best choral singers at William Jewell College. In addition to multiple Kansas City area engagements each semester, this ensemble makes an annual United States concert tour and, since 1985, they have traveled triennially to England and Scotland for a fourteen-day concert tour. Since 2010, the Concert Choir has participated in two regional premieres and five world premieres, performed with the Canadian Brass and recorded, in conjunction with the GKCAGO Schola Cantorum, an internationally distributed recording on Centaur Records.  

The Choral Scholars - Dr. Anthony J. Maglione, director
Composed of recipients of Jewell's highest vocal music scholarship, the Choral Scholars serve as a core to the Concert Choir and also perform in their own chamber ensemble.  

Cardinalis - Dr. Anthony J. Maglione, conductor
Cardinalis is a newly-formed professional choir under the auspices of William Jewell College. Directed by Anthony J. Maglione, Our membership pairs Jewell's Choral Scholars with college voice faculty and experienced professional singers from the Kansas City area.

Schola Cantorum - Jay Carter, Artist in Residence
Schola Cantorum specializes in the period and period-informed performance of Early Music (music written before 1750).  The group performs both unaccompanied repertoire and is at times joined by baroque instruments for the presentation of chamber repertoire.  Recent performances include a Choral Evensong of Elizabethan Music, Vivaldi's Gloria, and Handel's Chandos Anthems.  A high degree of independence and proficiency is required. 

The Chapel Choir - Nicole Murray, conductor
The Chapel Choir is an open women's ensemble  including upperclass students who choose this ensemble and first year students who are music majors and/or receive music scholarships. More than half the current members of The Chapel Choir are not music majors, but students who enjoy singing great music and possess a desire to learn more about singing. The Chapel Choir performs challenging music of many styles and genres, with frequent solo opportunities. 

The Men's Chorus - Dr. Anthony J. Maglione, conductor
The Men's Chorus is a volunteer choir comprised of tenors and basses.  The ensemble meets once a week and is open to all men that wish to sing regardless of major or vocal experience.  Conducted by  Dr. Anthony Maglione, this eclectic ensemble performs a wide range of literature from traditional Glee Club music and classical men's chorus literature to folk song arrangements and lighter fare.

York Minster Performance Complete - LIVE

William Jewell Choirs

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