Choral

Rósa das rósas – Rose of Roses  (2023)  4:19

For SATB chorus and trombone choir. This piece was commissioned by Dr. Clell Wright, the DCA at Valdosta State University. The text of this work is from the Cantigas de Santa Maria (no. 10), compiled during the reign of Alfonso X, King of Castile and Leon (1221-1284). It is in Galician-Portuguese, the language of romance and song during the 13th-century of Portugal and north-west Spain. The selection of the text is in celebration of the cultural heritage of the region through which his ensembles will be travelling during VSU’s spring 2024 tour of Spain and Portugal. The piece will be available for purchase after their tour; but, please listen to the midi version below.

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Déus te Salve Grorïosa Reinna Maria – God Save You, Glorious Queen Mary  (2023)  3:15

For SATB chorus and trombone choir. This piece was commissioned by Dr. Clell Wright, the DCA at Valdosta State University. The text of this work is from the Cantigas de Santa Maria (no. 40), compiled during the reign of Alfonso X, King of Castile and Leon (1221-1284). It is in Galician-Portuguese, the language of romance and song during the 13th-century of Portugal and north-west Spain. The selection of the text is in celebration of the cultural heritage of the region through which his ensembles will be travelling during VSU’s spring 2024 tour of Spain and Portugal. The piece will be available for purchase after their tour; but, please listen to the midi version below.

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Déus te Salve Grorïosa Reinna Maria – God Save You, Glorious Queen Mary

I Know the Plans I Have for You  (2019)

SSAATTBB and piano 4-hands

Dedicated to Lynette Chambers, Lauren and Mark Puckett, and Clell Wright

Text Jeremiah 29:11-4, adapted by Bernie Scherr

Psalm 148  (2016)  3:15

for SATB chorus and organ

This Is My Father’s World  (2015)  3:05

2 Flutes, Oboe, 2 Bb Clarinets, 2 F Horns, 3 Bb Trumpets, 2 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Cymbals, SATB Chorus, and Strings.

This piece was commissioned by Trina Fink in honor of her father, T.W. Dean, whose choral arrangement I preserved and expanded in this orchestration.  The instrumentation is that of FBC Abilene, Texas.

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Immortal Love, Forever Full  (2015)  2:34

2 Flutes, Oboe, 2 Bb Clarinets, 2 F Horns, 3 Bb Trumpets, 2 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Cymbals, SATB Chorus, and Strings.

This piece was commissioned by Trina Fink in honor of her father, T.W. Dean, whose choral arrangement I preserved and expanded in this orchestration.  The instrumentation is that of FBC Abilene, Texas.

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To My Dear and Loving Husband  (2014)

for SATB chorus and piano

Commissioned by Dr. Clell Wright, Director, Abilene Chamber Singers.

My Lord, What a Mornin’  (2014)  3'00''

2 Flutes, Oboe, 2 Bb Clarinets, 2 F Horns, 3 Bb Trumpets, 2 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Cymbals, SATB Chorus, and Strings.

This piece was commissioned by Trina Fink in honor of her father, T.W. Dean, whose choral arrangement I preserved and expanded in this orchestration.  The instrumentation is that of FBC Abilene, Texas.

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How Firm a Foundation  (2014)  3:25

2 Flutes, Oboe, 2 Bb Clarinets, 2 F Horns, 3 Bb Trumpets, 2 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Cymbals, SATB Chorus, and Strings.

This piece was commissioned by Trina Fink in honor of her father, T.W. Dean, whose choral arrangement I preserved and expanded in this orchestration.  The instrumentation is that of FBC Abilene, Texas.

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By Night When Others Soundly Slept  (2014)

for SATB chorus and piano

Commissioned by Dr. Clell Wright, Director, Abilene Chamber Singers.

Daybreak  (2013)

for SATB chorus, children, brass quintet, and organ

Commissioned by the Abilene Classical Chorus.

There Came A Wind  (2012)

for SATB chorus, brass quintet, and organ

Commissioned by the Abilene Classical Chorus.

Cancioneiro Minhoto – five Portuguese folksongs  (2011)

SATB choir, guitar and double bass in five movements

I. Ana Mariana

II. Conde Albano

III. Berde Gaio

IV. Rosa, a pastorinha

V. Ciranda

These Portuguese folksong settings were commissioned and performed by Dr. Clell Wright, Director of Choral Activities at Hardin-Simmons University. Recordings of these folksong texts by a native continental Portuguese speaker are available for download. Please use the “Contact” page to receive a link for downloading these recordings. The link will be made available to those that have purchased the piece. 

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The Lord is My Shepherd  (2010)  4:10

SATB and organ, Psalm 23

This piece was commissioned by the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene, Texas, in honor of the retirement of Conrad Bratton, their long-time music director.

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Scenes from the Nativity – SATB chorus, soprano soloist, orchestra  (2008)  @24':29"

for orchestra and chorus in 6 movements (2 flutes-2nd piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 Bb clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 C trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, SATB chorus, glockenspiel, strings)

I. The Annunciation

II. The Visitation

III. The Magnificat

IV. The Canticle of Zechariah

V. The Gloria

VI. The Canticle of Simeon

This set began as a single-movement commission from Dr. Loyd Hawthorne, former director of the Hardin-Simmons University Concert Choir. A few years after The Gloria was premiered (the original title was “Today a Savior is Born”), Dr. Clell Wright, the new director of the same group commissioned a second, single-movement piece, The Annunciation. Following its premiere, I decided to complete the set on the biblical infancy narratives of Jesus. These pieces vividly evoke the Gospel scenes. There is a piano reduction of the orchestra part for conventional choral performances.

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Scenes from the Nativity  (2003-2008)  24:16

The Annunciation – Luke 1:28-38

The Visitation – Luke 1:42-45

The Magnificat – Luke 1:46-55

The Canticle of Zechariah – Luke 1:68-79

The Gloria – Luke 2:11-14

The Canticle of Simeon – Luke 2:29-32

The Gloria was originally commissioned by Dr. Lloyd Hawthorne, but the remaining pieces were composed for the HSU concert Choir directed by Dr. Clell Wright.

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Today A Savior Has Been Born  (2003)

SATB, Luke 2:11-14

“The Gloria” is now a movement of “Scenes from the Nativity.” This piece was commissioned by Dr. Loyd Hawthorne, former conductor of the Hardin-Simmons University Concert Choir.

Agnus Dei for SATB chorus, English horn, and Violoncello  (2001)  6:04

This piece was recognized in the Waging Peace through Singing Project in Oregon. 

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Agnus Dei for SATB chorus, English horn, and Violoncello

The Spirit of Our God Rests in Christ Jesus  (1999, revised 2022)  3:16

SATB, assembly, text based on Isaiah 61

This piece was commissioned by St. Thomas More Newman Center in Eugene, Oregon. It is appropriate as a liturgical hymn.

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Sweetest of Sweets  (1996)  3:16

SATB, text by George Herbert

Church-musick

Sweetest of sweets, I thank you: when displeasure
Did through my bodie wound my minde,
You took me thence, and in your house of pleasure
A daintie lodging me assign’d.
Now I in you without a bodie move,
Rising and falling with your wings:
We both together sweetly live and love,
Yet say sometimes, God help poore Kings.
Comfort, I’le die; for if you poste from me,
Sure I shall do so, and much more:
But if I travell in your companie,
You know the way to heavens doore.

George Herbert (1593-1633)

This piece was commissioned by Dennis Davenport, former director of the Adult Choir, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Eugene, Oregon.

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Six Songs on Rose Texts  (1995-98)  12:36

for SATB choir

I. Roses (1995), SATB, text by Louise Chandler Moulton

II. Nobody Knows This Little Rose (1995), SATB, text by Emily Dickinson

III. A White Rose (1998), SATB, text by John Boyle O’Reilly

IV. Fifty‑fourth Sonnet (1998), SATB, text by William Shakespeare

V. The Last Rose of Summer (1998), SATB, text by Thomas Moore

VI. A Single Rose (1998), SATB, text by Rainer Maria Rilke

Several of these pieces were premiered by the University of Oregon Chamber Choir. Several others saw their premiere by the Hardin-Simmons University Concert Choir.

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God, Father for SATB chorus and piano  (1993‑94)  3:30

God, Father; Spirit, Lover;

Son, Savior, hear my prayer.

Come to me, touch my soul,

in this hour of Mystery.

 

I hear the sighs of wife and son;

I hear the scattered noises of the city.

I search the ceiling above my place,

I pray you reveal thy wondrous face.

 

Hunger, shame; sadness, joy;

these rush through me as I grasp for thee.

I ache to do thy will each day,

constantly reminded of my failings.

 

Dwell in me; take my soul;

let thy songs spring forth in me.

Let me feel thy presence, and thy love;

overwhelm me with thy infinite beauty.

 

Amen

This piece was premiered by the University of Oregon Chamber Choir under the direction of Kathryn Olson. The text was written by the composer.

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Psalm 22 for chorus and organ  (1991)  5:50

SATB and organ, text adapted by Bernard Scherr

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Fanfare for Easter for SATB chorus, brass septet, and timpani  (1987)  7:22

Scored for SATB chorus, 2 Bb trumpets, 2 F horns, 2 trombones, tuba, and timpani

Below is the text of this piece. As you can read, it is a compilation of the writings of Saint Paul and the Nicene Creed. There are repetitions of certain works or phrases in this setting, and the stanza breaks align with the musical sections.

 

He is risen, He is Christ, our King.

He is risen, He is Lord and Savior.

Now one in union with the Father,

He is the Light of the world.

 

He suffered, died, and was buried.

The pain He endured to remove our sins for our salvation.

He is salvation for mankind, mankind is saved.

He suffered, died, and was buried, on the third day He arose, and saved.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We are justified by His grace as a gift through His redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

 

We have been crucified by Christ,

and it is no longer we who live, but Christ lives within us;

and the life that we live, we live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved us and delivered Himself up for us.

 

Christ was raised from the dead through the Glory of the Father,

so we too might walk in newness of life.

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

and that believing you may have life in His name.

 

He is risen, He is Christ our, King.

Jesus Christ is our Lord now and forever.

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