Church Music
Hymns
I grew up in a family that loved singing together. Our repertoire included a lot of great 19th century hymns. So for Christmas in 1978 I decided to write a hymn for each member of my family. These pieces are in a traditional style and lots of fun to sing.
I Gave My Life for Thee
How Glorious, Full of Wonder
Give to Us Peace In Our Time
Hark, Ten Thousand Harps
Olden Times
Choral Anthems
Hark What Means These Holy Voices: A polyphonic choral piece for Christmas (SATB).
Dark Was the Night: A Lenten Anthem (SAB) Written like a madrigal.
Quem Pastores: A simple setting of a beautiful old Latin poem for SATB chorus.
Simple Gifts: In a nod to my Shaker ancestors, I've made a short, florid anthem out of this famous song.
Large Choral Works
Ah, Precious Jesus (Cantata): A Lenten Cantata for Soprano and Alto soloists and SATB Chorus. Based on the German hymn “Herzliebster Jesu”. WATCH ON YOUTUBE a video of Hunter Hollingsworth singing "Among the Mountain Trees"
Draw Near to God (Cantata): A Lenten Cantata for three sopranos, SATB chorus, 5-octave handbells, oboe, two trumpets and organ. Watch You Bore the Smiting. WATCH ON YOUTUBE being sung by soprano Deborah Tonella.
Calvary - A Jazz Cantata: This piece for 5 soloists (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Tenor and Baritone) plus chorus tells the story of the arrest, conviction and execution of Jesus. Suitable for concert performance or as a Lenten Tenebrae service. HEAR IT ON SOUNDCLOUD
Where He Leads Me (Cantata): A Lenten Cantata for three sopranos, SATB chorus, 3-octave handbells, soprano saxophone, two trumpets, two violins, cello and organ. Hear the final chorus at soundcloud.com
Harden Not Your Hearts (Oratorio): An oratorio telling the story of the ‘Apostolic Council’ advocating for the acceptance of homosexuals by the church. For soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass soloists, SSAATTBB choir, piano and organ.
Missa L’Homme Arme (Mass): An anti-war mass. For soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass soloists, SATB choir and orchestra.
HANDBELLS, HANDCHIMES AND NARRATOR
The Road to Bethlehem – for narrator and 3 octave handbells, 3 octaves handchimes: This piece is a musical representation of Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, contrasting their tiredness and worry with the magnificence of coming incarnation. Quotes “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “Once in Royal David’s City. GET SHEET MUSIC NOW
Children’s Anthems
God’s Not Through With Us Yet: A funny song about the trials of raising children.
Tapestry: A reflective song about the Annunciation
Solo, Duet, or Solo with Chorus
Christmas Night (7/8): A dancing, joyous celebration for two sopranos, SATB chorus and piano. GET SHEET MUSIC NOW
Angel Calypso: A solo soprano announces the birth of Jesus to an SATB chorus of shepherds. In a calypso style.
Motetus: For two singers with piano. One sings “Amazing Grace” in long note values while the other tells a story of personal salvation. In a jazzy style. It employs some techniques from medieval isometric motets.
Jesus and John at the Jordan: A call and response anthem with drum accompaniment telling the story of Jesus’ encounter with John the Baptist.
Magnificat: A duet for two sopranos (Mary and Elizabeth).
The Hunger in Your Soul: Alto solo with piano accompaniment. Suitable for communion. GET SHEET MUSIC NOW
Millennium: Written in 1999 to welcome in the new century. For soloist and SATB chorus. A joyous anticipation of the Rapture.
Jesus and the Pharisees: I was commissioned to write this by my good friend Bill Sevald. His only request was that I write something “raucous and savage”. What I wrote is a sort of shouting match between the Pharisees and Jesus’ disciples. For Palm Sunday (SATB) GET SHEET MUSIC NOW
O Dove, O Spirit, O Tongue of Flame: An SATB anthem for Pentecost with a prominent organ part which quotes the ancient hymn: “Veni Creator Spiritus”.
Come, Pilgrim, Join the Victory Feast: This a joyous choral introit for Easter with optional additional parts for Flute, two trumpets and Cello.
Handbells
TWO-OCTAVE PIECES
Two octave handbell choirs often have difficulty finding pieces specifically written for their limited resources. These five pieces are simple and tailored for the small handbell choir.
Hope – 2 octaves: A slow, meditative piece, suitable for an offertory. GET SHEET MUSIC NOW
O That I Had the Wings of a Dove – 2 octaves: Inspired by Psalm 55 GET SHEET MUSIC NOW
Solemn Peal – 2 octaves: Suitable for a Call to Worship
GET SHEET MUSIC NOW
Meditation – 2 octaves: Simple melodic lines weave together in this emotional piece. GET SHEET MUSIC NOW
In Humble Prayer – 2 octaves: Another slow, meditative piece. A few bell changes are required, but at a slow tempo. GET SHEET MUSIC NOW
MORE ADVANCED
Orison – 3 octaves: A fervent prayer. GET SHEET MUSIC NOW
Supplication – 3 octaves: This piece’s slow tempo makes its advanced chromaticism and shifting harmonies manageable. The effect is like successive waves of yearning. GET SHEET MUSIC NOW
Jacob’s Ladder – 5 octaves: An unusual setting of the revered spiritual, capturing the other-worldly aspect of Jacob’s dream. GET SHEET MUSIC NOW
HANDBELLS AND CHOIR
Children of the Heavenly King – Unison choir and 4 octave handbells: The first verse of the famous “Pleyel’s Hymn” in a simple setting. Suitable for a Call to Worship GET SHEET MUSIC NOW