Hong Kong Children’s Choir 50th Anniversary Choral Selection Winner, 2018 Let the Children Play
Winner, First Prize, International Orange Chorale of San Francisco Choral Composition Contest 2016 (O Euchari)
ACDA Silver Platter Award 2012 for Choral Repertoire of Outstanding Quality (I Bend the Knee)
Winner, Mountainside Master Chorale (Pomona, CA) Composition Contest 2016 (2nd Prize) (Praise the Lord)
“Polifonija”, Lithuania, International Sacred Choral Music Competition 2013 (2nd Prize) (I Bend the Knee)
PROJECT:ENCORE Recommended Choral Work of Exceptional Merit 2013 (I Bend the Knee)
TheC7Prize (Canada) 2014 (Chanukah Tonight! and The Garlic Blessing)
American Prize 2013 for Choral Composition, Finalist (Blake: Innocence/Experience)
Contemporary works for Chorus – a collection of 20th and 21st century choral music by composer David Avshalomov, with sound files and scores.
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| Listen | Score | Title | Voices | Solos | Accomp. | Dur. | Lyrics by | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | The Bear! | TTBB | (opt. Bodhran/hand drum) | 4' | Anon | 2023 | ||
| Download .pdf, use for free | A lively, ribald shanty in mock-Irish/Barbershop style, about a bear and a maiden. | Paraphrase/alternate wording based on a popular tale. | ||||||
| Chanukah Tonight! | SATB (opt. div.) | piano | 2'45 | David Avshalomov | 2011 | ||
| Order This» | TheC7Prize (Canada) 2014 Quick glimpse of the legend, tradition, and observance of the Jewish Festival of Lights. Exuberant syncopated setting building up to the bright celebration on the eighth night. (Also available for solo voice) | Lyrics» | Notes» | |||||
| Candid Video | | Chanukah Tonight! (orch) | SATB (opt. div.) | strings (or mandolines) | 2'45 | |||
| Order This» | Version with string orchestra (or mandoline orchestra) accompaniment . (Video: Stroudsburg (PA) High School Concert Choir and Chamber Orchestra, Lisa A. Rogers, Director) Candid Video | |||||||
| The Chocolate Carol | SATB divisi | piano, opt. solo fl | 3' | David/Randi Avshalomov | 2005 | ||
| Order This» | Humorous tonal Holiday novelty, slow intro, bouncy catchy chorus, mock-operatic ending. Written for Pat Loeb's Music Companie. Hilarious video of this on YouTube » . (See Valentine's version, "Love and Chocolate", below.) | Lyrics» | ||||||
| The Chocolate Carol (orch) | SATB divisi | Orchestra | 3' | David/Randi Avshalomov | 2017 | ||
| Order This» | SATB version with orchestral accompaniment. Recording: U. of Wyoming Symphony, Singing Statesmen, Bel Canto Women’s Chorus, and Civic Chorus, under Dr. Michael Griffith (who commissioned the orchestration). | |||||||
| The Chocolate Carol--women's voices | SSAA | piano, opt. solo fl | 3' | David/Randi Avshalomov | 2005 | ||
| Order This» | Accompanied version for women's chorus | |||||||
| The Chocolate Carol--Carolers' Version | SATB | a cappella | 3' | David/Randi Avshalomov | 2005 | ||
| Order This» | Carolers' version, a cappella | |||||||
| Do You Believe in Angels? | SSAA | brief S1 | 6 vln, 2 vla | 9' | David Avshalomov | 2010 | |
| Order This» | Ecstatic, transcendently beautiful, melodious and harmonically rich setting for older children's or treble chorus and high strings. Original non-sectarian, non-religious poem by the composer on the phenomenon of angelic encounters and the common images of both light and dark angels. Bright start, dark energetic middle, luminous ending. Colorful, evocative string scoring. P/V score gives organ reduction. Youtube video of the premiere by Concerto Delle Donne and string orchestra at Alabama School of the Arts, led by Laura Doss. | Lyrics» | Notes» | |||||
| Enchanted River | SA | Opt. S solo | Harp (or piano), violin (opt.) | 2' | Meredith Kennedy | 2008-9 | |
| Order This» | Sweet, simple Irish-folk-style tune about a river inviting the poet’s wanderlust, leaving a lover behind. Key of Eb (recording is Blue Sky album duet version in Db). | Lyrics» | ||||||
| Father The Tree | SATB | brief S1 | a cappella | 2'30 | Doris Avshalomov | 1981 | |
| Order This» | Serious slow poetic/symbolic memorial to a tall strong father/grandfather. | Lyrics» | ||||||
| Flopsy the Christmas Pup! | SATB | piano (opt. bass, drums) | 5'45 | Doggerel by David Avshalomov | 2011 | ||
| Order This» | Novelty about adopting a pet for Christmas. An old-fashioned, corny but sincere family message for tough economic times, with a subtext promoting responsible ownership. Fun to sing, moderate difficulty, and a sure-fire audience-pleaser. Lively swing chorus, doowop break, rockettes last chorus, ruff ending. | Lyrics» | ||||||
| The Garlic Blessing | SATB divisi | piano | 6' | David Avshalomov | 2009 | ||
| Order This» | TheC7Prize (Canada) 2014 Witty novelty on the wonders of garlic. Recurring sentimental chorale hook. Pungent ending. Guaranteed to bring a smile. (Choral insiders will recognize one obvious parody reference.) | Lyrics» | ||||||
FULL | Gemeinsam | SATBar (spot divisi) | brief S1 | 8' (shorter version 4') | Rose Auslaender | 2020 | ||
| Order This» | (Short) | The American Prize for Choral Composition 2021, professional division, Finalist. A serious exploration of a lovely poem in German, about how we must all travel together on this unified but riven world of ours. (2 versions: a shorter one written in error after misreading the duration requirement for a contest, and the longer one teased out from it to comply. Provides interesting insights into the composers' process.) See VIDEO of the premiere recording by C3LA (assembled remotely during pandemic shutdown); excerpt from H to the end. | ||||||
| Go Ahead and Rejoice | SATB divisi | a cappella | 3' | Doris Avshalomov | 2002 | ||
| Order This» | Joyous rhythmic momentum-builder on the exuberance of entering Autumn, with catchy refrain--"come expecting a miracle"--and astonishing ending. | Lyrics» | Notes» | |||||
| Goodnight Moon | Unison Trebles | pfte or keyboard, also add string quintet/flute | 3' | Margaret Wise Brown | 2002 | ||
| Order This» | A sweet, simple, tuneful setting of the classic children's "nite-nite" book. (Candid recording: San Gabriel Valley Choral Company Kids Choir, Zanaida Robles, Director.) Watch UTube Video of the book with the song. | |||||||
| Happy Anniversary (mixed voices) | SATB | a cappella | 1' | David Avshalomov | 2003 | ||
| Order This» | Cheery tonal canonic anniversary greeting written for the composer's parents Doris and Jacob. Version for mixed voices. | |||||||
| Happy Anniversary (women's voices) | SSAA | a cappella | 1' | David Avshalomov | 2003 | ||
| Order This» | Cheery tonal canonic anniversary greeting written for the composer's parents Doris and Jacob. Version for women's voices. Sound file was recorded for use here by the lead quartet of the Southwest Women's Chorus, Temecula, CA, Bill Paisner, Director. | |||||||
| Happy Anniversary (men's voices) | TTBB | a cappella | 1' | David Avshalomov | 2003 | ||
| Order This» | Cheery tonal canonic anniversary greeting written for the composer's parents Doris and Jacob. Version for men's voices. COMMENDATION, CIMCF International Composers Competition 2021 | |||||||
| I Bend the Knee of My Heart | SSAATTBB | a cappella | 5' | Canticle 14/ Menasseh | 2006 | ||
| Order This» | ACDA Silver Platter Award 2012 for Choral Repertoire of Outstanding Quality “Polifonija”, Lithuania, International Sacred Choral Music Competition 2013 (2nd Prize) PROJECT : ENCORE Recommended Choral Work of Exceptional Merit 2013 Broad artful expression of awe at Gods' power and the unworthiness of a famous sinful Old Testament king. Starts slow, solemn, moves ahead to final fervent peroration on "I will praise you without ceasing all the days of my life." Commissioned by Richard Beatty for the Anglican Chorale of Southern California, James Person, Director | Lyrics» Notes» |
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| Kedushah | SATB | T or S | piano, fl | 5' | Trad | 1997 | |
| Order This» | Formal, serious blessing, ecstatic end, operatic solo part. Commissioned by Cantor Mark Saltzman, Sha'arei Am Synagogue for the High Holy Days. | Lyrics» | ||||||
| SAB | Let the Children Play | SAA or SAB | piano, opt. fl (2) | 4' | David Avshalomov | 2012 | ||
| Order This» | SAA | Hong Kong Children's Choir 50th Anniversary Choral Selection Winner, 2018. Slow, sweet, lyrical song, sincere and touching, with an appealing and natural pentatonic tune, unison, then 3-part harmony, then easy canon, with a sweet harmony ending. Idealistic, innocent dream about the future of our suffering world and the hope that our children—and their children—may heal both the Earth and human society and live in peace forever. Suitable for youth and community/adult choruses. Can be learned fairly easily. | Lyrics» | |||||
| NEW Light Dawns in the Darkness | SATB divisi | 5' | Psalm 112 | 2020 | |||
| Order This» | A setting of a text that I have recited as a prayer every Sabbath since my wife Randi and I chose to begin a practice of Jewish observance together many years ago. I have always found it a comforting text, particularly the key phrase “Light dawns in the darkness for the upright, for the one who is gracious, compassionate, and just.” | |||||||
| Love and Chocolate | SATB divisi | piano, opt. fl | 3' | David/ Randi Avshalomov | 2005 | ||
| Order This» | Valentine's Day version of the Chocolate Carol, more romantic lyrics. [Also: simplified version for solo quartet SATB/piano.] | Lyrics» | ||||||
| Love and Chocolate | SATB divisi a cappella | 3' | David/ Randi Avshalomov | 2005 | |||
| Order This» | A cappella Valentine's Day version of the Chocolate Carol, more romantic lyrics. | Lyrics» | ||||||
| (live excerpts) | | The Mixed Blessings | SSAATTBB | bar and/or low T | handbells (or vibr, glock), metal wind chimes | 10' | Matthew/Luke | 2010 |
| (MIDI, full) Order This» | Ritualized, dramatic dialectic illuminating the paradoxical contradictions of the two sets of Blessings (and Woes) attributed to the Christ. Formalized semi-medieval quasi-Anglican-style start and end, one angry climax, one romantic climax on the word God. Punctuations, ostinatos, flashes of divine light from handbells. | Lyrics» | Notes» | |||||
| Video | | Now the Hazy Mirage | 6-part mixed chorus | 3' | (composer) | 2015 | ||
| Order This» | Finalist, The American Prize for Choral Composition 2021, professional division. A short neo-impressionistic close-harmony trance piece on a paraphrase text based on a scene in a well-known American novella, describing/embodying the deceptive morning haze over the sea of Cortez near La Paz as seen by a group of 1920s Indio pearl fishers, and how it affects their fatalistic world view. (Candid video of the premiere by C3LA under Alexandra Grabarchuk) | |||||||
| O Euchari Columba | SSATTB | brief S1 | a cappella | 6' | Hildegard von Bingen | 2006 | |
| Order This» | Winner, First Prize, IOCSF Choral Composition Contest 2016 Ecstatic meditation on the virtues and works of a little-known saint. Quiet, slow mystical medieval start and end, fast buildup to quasi-Orthodox climax, gentle denouement like the start. Commissioned by Coro Oddyssea, Gonçalo Lourenço, conductor, Lisbon, Spain. Recording: International Orange Chorale of San Francisco/Zane Fiala. (Parts predominant practice MP3s also available.) | Lyrics» | Notes» | |||||
| Om Nama Shivaya | SSAATTBB | brief S1 | a cappella | 7' (v.2) | Trad. Sanskrit | 2020 | |
| Order This» | A sumptuous yet restrained, respectful “arrangement” of a chant I heard at a gathering for a visiting guru on a very very ancient prayer, a salute to the goddess Shiva and one’s inner heart. Proceeds by repetition with accumulation of upper parts at repeats, richer and richer harmonizations, never actually moving away from the key of D; then 8-part canons, with two peaks, and a long unison thinning of parts and fade-out. The effect is intended to be hypnotic but not numbing, like a gentle expansion of consciousness through gradually enhanced and expanded repetition. Everything comes out of the core chant. Om. Candid Video of World Premiere by C3LA, Tanner Pfeiffer conducting | |||||||
| Praise the Lord | SSAATBB | org, opt. sus. cym | 5' | Psalm 150 | 2008 | ||
| Order This» | Winner, Mountainside Master Chorale (Pomona, CA) Composition Contest 2016 (2nd Prize). Wild, slightly modern, fast, rhythmic (5/8) setting of Psalm 150, with a "Bulgarian Jazz" organ solo middle. Big bright ending. Commissioned by the choir of Westwood United Methodist Church, Los Angeles for their retiring director Gina Shaw. (Parts predominant practice MP3s also available.) | Lyrics» | Notes» | |||||
| Song for Late Summer | SATB | a cappella | 3'30 | Doris Avshalomov | 1962 | ||
| Order This» | Shy romantic yearning likened to the cricket's wistful cries. Episodic, with appealing madrigalisms, slow haunting end. Pure tonal. | Lyrics» | ||||||
| The Star Spangled Banner (arr.) | TTBB qtt or ens. | a cappella | 1'45 | F. Scott Key | 2004 | ||
| Order This» | Purple harmonization for the Santa Monica HS Barbershop Gentlemen of 2004--and my son Zack. Available in C, B, Bb | |||||||
| There's a Wind | SSAATTBB | brief S1 | a cappella | 4'30 | David Avshalomov | 2009 | |
| Order This» | Folk-tonal, madrigalistic depiction of the rise, climax, and diedown of a wild bay windstorm at a dramatic turn in a famous American novella. Commissioned by Meredith Kennedy for Camerata Singers of Long Beach. Wind-whistling effect at start. Candid Video with C3LA 2019, David Rentz conducting | Lyrics» | Notes» | |||||
| There Was Another Song to Sing | SATB | Alto (or Mezzo) | Piano, cello, opt. harp | 4' | Chaim Bialik | 2017 | |
| Order This» | Touching memorial to those who die too young. Slow solo voice start with choral echos, livelier reminiscing middle section, cello interlude, slow reprise with long-arch choral/solo close. Commissioned by St. Edward's Episcopal Church, La Canada, CA. | Lyrics» | ||||||
| This Sacred Space | SSAATTB | brief A | organ, 2 tpt 2 tbn, timp (3 dr) | 5'30 | Holy, Holy, Holy, other lyrics by David Avshalomov | 2008 | |
| Order This» | Tonal consecration anthem with congregational hymn, showy organ part. Mystical start, buildup to big bright celebratory Alleluia ending. | Lyrics» | ||||||
| Order This» | | NEW THREE WATER SONGS | SSAATTBB | opt. perc | 13' total | 2022 | ||
| Commissioned by Ember Choral Arts, Deborah Simpkin King, Conductor, and The Greenwich Village Chamber Singers, Michael Sheetz, Conductor. Recordings from GVCS. Candid video of second-night premiere by Ember | Lyrics» | Notes» | ||||||
| All Day I Hear the Sound of Waters | ||||||||
| A super-gloomy, mediocre existential-woe-genre poem with obvious imagery, but so nice to set. Setting is suitably slow and dour in mode and manner. | 3:40 | James Joyce | ||||||
| Waterfall at Lu-Shan | ||||||||
| The setting evokes the sunlight on the glistening stones, water plunging into the bottom pool, then the sparkle and splash of many rivulets of falling water in sunlight, the central Milky Way image, and again the energetic falling waters, with a big homophonic climax on “Heaven.” | 2:15 | Li-Po | ||||||
| GPGP (The Great Pacific Garbage Patch) | ||||||||
| A trillion plastic microparticles and growing daily. . . how do you even wrap your mind around that? A sardonic scolding rant about a real problem, sometimes slightly goofy; satirical when seeming enthusiastic, and in the end slightly grim–even a bit cynical. Applies late 20th-century modernist techniques like wobbling pitch clusters to evoke the Patch environment: its shallow depth, its density, its ickyness, its vast spread. Also squeaky voices, pretentious narration, spoken chant, gesture. Like a sound track with narration for a creepy short documentary video. | 7' | David Avshalomov | ||||||
| U.S. 30 in Idaho | SSAATTB | a cappella | 1' | Doris Avshalomov | 1961 | ||
| Order This» | Ironic nature/highway roadkill observation, over in a flash. | Lyrics» | ||||||
| The U.S. Air Force Fugue | TTBB | a cappella | 3' | USAF/ David Avshalomov | 1972 | ||
| Order This» | Parody fugue based on "Off we Go, Into the Wild Blue Yonder." | Lyrics» | ||||||
| Where You Go, I Will Go | SSAA | brief S, A | a cappella | 13' | Ruth and Naomi | 2003 | |
| Order This» | Mini-oratorio on the story of Ruth and Naomi. Dramatic, expressive, epic-narrative style, tender ending. Commissioned by Chris Rhodes, Santa Monica HS | Lyrics» | Notes» | |||||
| SECULAR ORATORIO--PRINCIPLES | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (piano/vocal score) | | PRINCIPLES (mixed chorus/orchestra) | Bar | Orchestra | 32' | Thos. Jefferson | rev. 2017 | |
| Order This» (full orchestra score) | | Secular oratorio, tuneful, populist, rousing, on themes of liberty, social justice, and religious freedom from a Founding Father. Accessible, thinking person's patriotic music. Texts: His creed, Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, Declaration of Independence, epitaph, letters. (Also available with concert band accompaniment; some keys differ. See WORKS/BAND page. ) | Lyrics» | Notes» | ||||
Mvt. 1 (v2 chor/piano) Mvt. 1-2-3 (v3 MIDI orch/vox) | 1. Creed: "I Have Sworn" | 4' | Thos. Jefferson | |||||
| Brilliant ringing opening, hortatory middle in polymeters on the evils of forced false religions; big unresolved cadence. | ||||||||
Mvt. 2-3 (solo bar., v2 chor/piano) | 2. Our Civil Rights | Bar | 3' | Thos. Jefferson | ||||
| Bitter, dignified solo elaboration of the relationship between religious choice and civil rights. Choral echos. Grim ending. | ||||||||
| 3. The Opinions of Men | 2' | Thos. Jefferson | ||||||
| Serious, energetic repudiation of government control of opinion. | ||||||||
| 3a. We Do Enact | 4' | |||||||
| Pure choral, gentle statement of the formal text of the Statute. | ||||||||
Mvt. 4 (chorus a cappella) | 4. The Truth is Great (fugue) | 2' | Thos. Jefferson | |||||
| Tight, lively, chromatic rhetorical fugue on Truth. (Possible a cappella.) | ||||||||
(solo bar./piano) | 5. Rebellion to Tyrants | Bar | 2' | Thos. Jefferson | ||||
| Shay's Rebellion letter, solo recitative. | ||||||||
(chorus/piano) | 6. We Hold These Truths/ | 7' | Thos. Jefferson | |||||
| Taut, dramatic setting of the salient parts of the Declaration of Independence with brave, strong, inspiring conclusion on "and our sacred honor." | ||||||||
Mvt. 6 end-7 (v3 MIDI Orch/vox) | 7. Here Was Buried/All Eyes Are Opened | 8' | Thos. Jefferson | |||||
| (End of 6.) Bright joyous brass tattoo cadence; Quiet unison setting of his self-penned epitaph. 7. Populist, revival-style exhortation to remember and honor the Principles of the Declaration. Several accompaniment interludes, drum line break. Big peroration on the refrain, "All Eyes are Opened to the Rights of Man," skyrocket ending. | ||||||||
| (piano/vocal score) | | PRINCIPLES (mixed chorus, piano/percussion) | SSAATTBB | Bar | piano/perc (6-7) | 32' | Thos. Jefferson | 1993-4/rev. 2022 |
| Order This» (full score) | | Same mixed chorus parts as the revised orchestral version, but with piano and percussion only | Lyrics» | |||||
| (piano/vocal score) | | PRINCIPLES (men's chorus, concert band) | TTTTBBBB | Bar | concert band | 32' | Thos. Jefferson | 1993-4 |
| Order This» (band score) | | Original male chorus version, written for the Singing Sgts. of the USAF band. (See WORKS/BAND page.) | Lyrics» | Notes» | ||||
| SONGS OF INNOCENCE AND OF EXPERIENCE--William Blake | I | |||||||
| SONGS OF INNOCENCE AND OF EXPERIENCE | SATB occasional divisi | few, various, short | a cappella | 104' total | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order Set» | American Prize 2013 for Choral Composition, Finalist 45 individual settings of Blake's amazing symbolic, ironical, and mystical poems. Some also suitable as madrigals (one on a part). Can be performed separately, or complete as a double cycle with alternating/combining double chamber choir and breakout solo quartets. | All Lyrics» | Cycle Notes» | |||||
| Ah! Sun-Flower | SATB | a cappella | 2'10 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Wistful, poignant Air with slow, limp, soft energy. Subject: Death, time, yearning for release. Good for single voices also. | |||||||
| The Angel | SSA, women only | a cappella | 3' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Mysterious, slow-fast-slow Melodrama. Subject: Aging womanhood and love, depicted in a Dream. | |||||||
| The Blossom | SATB | a cappella | 1' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Fun, light, playful Madrigal, fast and rhythmic. Subject: Nature and yearning for love. Excellent for single voices also. | |||||||
| (Excerpts) | | The Chimney Sweeper I | SATB (opt. divisi) | a cappella | 4' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | |
| Order This» | Ironic, ecstatic Melodrama, slow-fast-slow. Subject: Child labor, dream of flying and redemption. | |||||||
| The Chimney Sweeper II | SATB | a cappella | 2' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Bitter Melodrama, moderate speed. Subject: Child labor in the snow. | |||||||
| The Clod & the Pebble | SATB | a cappella | 2' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Ironic, formal Madrigal, moderate speed. Subject: Love's illusions. Good for single voices also. | |||||||
| A Cradle Song | SATB | a cappella | 3'15 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Sweet Lullaby with a middle twist; slow, soft and steady. Subject: Baby's/Christ's innocence, mother's worry. Good for single voices also. | |||||||
| The Divine Image I | SATB | a cappella | 2' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Reverent Prayer, moderate speed. Subject: Tolerance/diversity. Good for single voices also. | |||||||
| A Divine Image II | SATB | a cappella | 1'30 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Bitter, profound, ironic Aphorism; slow, solid, and full. Subject: Darkness of the soul. | |||||||
| A Dream (the Lost Ant) | SATB (B div. At end) | a cappella | 2' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Play-spooky Melodrama; moving and rhythmic. Subject: The lost ant's children rescued from a home fire. | |||||||
| Earth's Answer | SATB | a cappella | 2'30 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Dark Plaint, slow and strong. Subject: Forbidden love. Pairs with Hear the Voice of the Bard. | |||||||
| The Ecchoing Green | SATB | a cappella | 2'31 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Exuberant Carol/glee with rhythmic high energy; opening bell tones, sleepy-bye ending. Subject: Children's play, then off to bed | |||||||
| The Fly | SATB | a cappella | 1'20 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Witty, playful Madrigal, lively and rhythmic. Subject: Are you Fly or Man? Excellent for single voices also. | |||||||
| Freedom/Uhuru | SATB | opt. Bar | a cappella | 4'15 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | |
| Order This» | Proud African Affirmation, high energy, strong and rhythmic, with a chant background. Optional clapping, minor rhythmic movement. Subject: Divine soul of a slave child | |||||||
| The Garden of Love | SATB | a cappella | 2'30 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Bitter, intense, poised Moral Madrigal, moderate speed. Subject: Forbidden free love. Good for single voices also. | |||||||
| Hear the Voice of the Bard | SATB | a cappella | 2'45 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Strong, hortatory Prophecy with a gentle ending. Subject: Mystery, the end of night | |||||||
| Holy Thursday I | SATB | a cappella | 2' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Hopeful, steady Hymn. Subject: Processional of orphaned children into St. Paul's Cathedral. Long-melisma final cadence. | |||||||
| Holy Thursday II | SATB | a cappella | 3'15 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Tragic slow Sermon. Subject: Grinding poverty and despair | |||||||
| The Human Abstract | SATB | a cappella | 3'30 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Bitter, sharp, slow Moral Madrigal. Subject: Mean selfishness. Good for single voices also. | |||||||
| Infant Joy | SATB | light S1 | a cappella | 2' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | |
| Order This» | Sweet Air/rocking song, moderate then rhythmic. Subject: Innocence and mother's joy in her newborn. | |||||||
| Infant Sorrow | SATB | a cappella | 2'15 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Soulful Blues moan, slow and heavy. Subject: Pains of birth. | |||||||
Video/Quartet» | | The Lamb | SATB | a cappella | 2'20 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | |
| Order This» | The sweetest Prayer, gentle and sustaining. Subject: The Lamb and Christ. Good for single voices also (see video). | |||||||
| Laughing Song | SATB | a cappella | 3'40 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Hilarious playful Madrigal, lively, rhythmic and full. Subject: Laughter and youth. Stage business: actual laughter/hilarity breakdown and recovery before the end. | |||||||
| The Lilly | SATB | a cappella | 1'30 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Esthetic nature Madrigal, slow and soft. Subject: The Lily vs. the Rose. Excellent for single voices also. | |||||||
| The Little Boy Lost/Found | SATB | a cappella | 3'30 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Worried Melodrama, restlessly moving, rhythmic. Subject: A little boy lost in the night marsh, rescued by his Father. | |||||||
| A Little Boy Lost [II] | SATB | a cappella | 4' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Righteous bitter Sermon, moderate speed. Subject: A little boy burned at the stake for questioning religion. | |||||||
| A Little Girl Lost (Ona) | SATB | a cappella | 3' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Light, then heavy Madrigal/Melodrama, lively then slow. Subject: Forbidden young love. Good for single voices also. | |||||||
| The Little Girl Lost/Found (Lyca) | SATB | a cappella | 4' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Varied Story Madrigal, moderate speed. Subject: A lost girl, symbolic nature rescue--by the lion! Snoring section in the middle. | |||||||
| The Little Vagabond | SATB | a cappella | 1'45 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | High-spirited Glee, lively and rhythmic. Subject: The need for ale in church. | |||||||
| London | SATB | a cappella | 2' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Slow, gloomy Sermon. Subject: Degradation in the city. | |||||||
| Motto to the Songs of Innocence & Experience | SATB | a cappella | 2'15 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Ironic tangled-canonic Conundrum, lively and rhythmic. Subject: The twisting of human nature as we mature--'til the Eagle is known from the Owl. | Gloss on poem» | ||||||
| Night | SATB | a cappella | 2' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Sweet Prayer, moderate speed. Subject: Angels protecting us from wild beasts while we sleep, lion lies down with lamb. | |||||||
| Nurse's Song I | SATB (SSAATT-B div end) | a cappella | 2'45 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Innocent Vignette, moderate speed, with fade-out echo-effect divisi at the end. Subject: Children playing on the green, not ready for sleep. | |||||||
| Nurse's song II | SATB | a cappella | 1'30 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Bitter, cynical Vignette, moderate speed. Subject: Mortality | |||||||
| On Another's Sorrow | SATB | a cappella | 1'30 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Sweet sentimental variation-Hymn, moderate speed. Subject: Compassion (ours and Christ's). Good for single voices also. | |||||||
| Piping down the Valleys Wild | SATB (div. End) | whistler | a cappella | 2' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | |
| Order This» | Cheery, playful Madrigal, lively and rhythmic, big Disney end. Subject: The Poet's inspiration to write songs for children. Solo whistling intro. Good for single voices also. | |||||||
| A Poison Tree | SATB | a cappella | 3'45 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Bitter Moral Madrigal, slow and intense with a dramatic ending. Subject: Revenge. Good for single voices also. | |||||||
| My Pretty Rose Tree | SATB | a cappella | 1'45 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Ironic Madrigal, moderate and gentle, sudden turn from pleasant to dark. Subject: Spurned love. Excellent for single voices also. | |||||||
(Excerpt) | | The School Boy | SATB | a cappella | 3'30 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | |
| Order This» | Ironic Madrigal, lively and rhythmic, loud bitter end. Subject: Summer School trapped boredom/misery. Good for single voices also. | |||||||
Video/Quartet» | | The Shepherd | SATB | a cappella | 1'30 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | |
| Order This» | Sweet Prayer, rocking gently. Subject: Guarding the flock. Solo whistling intro and end. Good for solo voices also (see video). Audio is solo quartet with organ during communion. | |||||||
| The Sick Rose | SATB | a cappella | 1'45 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Bittersweet slow Madrigal. Subject: Love/death (or death of love). Excellent for single voices also. | |||||||
| Spring | SATB | a cappella | 1'30 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Charming, playful Madrigal, lively and rhythmic. Subject: Children and lambs in Spring. Excellent for single voices also. | |||||||
| To Tirzah | SATB | a cappella | 2'45 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
Order This» | Bitter steady variation-Chorale. Subject: Misogyny | |||||||
| Tyger Tyger Burning Bright | SATB | a cappella | 2'10 | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Sharp Paean, lively, rhythmic, fierce, finally dire. Subject: Fearsome nature. | |||||||
| The Voice of the Ancient Bard | SATB | a cappella | 2' | Wm. Blake | 2001-2 | ||
| Order This» | Hortatory Sermon, moderate speed. Subject: Folly. Good for single voices also. | |||||||
| I | ||||||||
CHORAL ARRANGEMENTS
| Listen | Score | Title | Composer | Voices | Key | Accomp. | Dur. | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (vocal score/COMBO reduction) | | SERGEANT PEPPER MEDLEY | Lennon/McCartney | TTBB chorus, Tenor, Baritone soli (or solo quintet) | combo (or concert band) | 14-16' | 1970-72 | |
| Request This» (See BAND Works for full band score) | Fun transcription medley from the Beatle's amazing first concept album. Created for and premiered by the USAF Band and Singing Sergeants, Col. Arnald D. Gabriel, Commander/ Conductor. Can be performed with men’s chorus and soloists, or with amplified solo quintet/sextet of good vocal Beatles imitators. | |||||||
| NJ | 1. Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | Lennon/McCartney | Recording: Orpheus Men's Choir, Ridgewood Band, New Jersey | G | 1'30 | |||
| NJ | 2. With a Little Help from My Friends | Lennon/McCartney | E | 2' | ||||
| NJ | 3. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds | Lennon/McCartney | A G | 1'20 | ||||
| NJ | 4. It's Getting Better All the Time | Lennon/McCartney | C | 1'45 | ||||
| USAF | 5. She's Leaving Home | Lennon/McCartney | Recording: USAF Band DC/Singing Sgts./Gabriel | E | 1'30 | |||
| USAF | 6. When I'm 64 | Lennon/McCartney | Db | 1'45 | ||||
| USAF | 7. Lovely Rita Meter Maid | Lennon/McCartney | E | 1'40 | ||||
| USAF | 8. Sgt Pepper Reprise | Lennon/McCartney | F G | 1'25 | ||||
| 9. A Day in the Life | Lennon/McCartney | G E | (with concert band only) | 2'15 | ||||