Gesamtausgabe of Dennis Edward
Northway
Section Three: Secular, Largely Undated, Poetry
Section Four: Undated Musical Works and Drafts
Nativity
For SATB chorus and probably
accompanied. Commissioned by Jennifer
Cantrell
and currently being composed in August, 2008. The text is a poem I wrote returning from
Nativity
Sing of a mother
Sing of a Child
Sing of a night that is holy
and wild.
Sing for the shepherds
Sing of the LAMB
Sing of one born who is
called the “I AM.”
Tell of a stable
Tell of three kings
Tell of the WORD of salvation this brings.
Tell of the angels
Telling of LOVE
Telling mere animals of LOVE from above.
Weep for the virgin
Weep for her Son
Weep of a soul-rending story
begun.
Weep for all mortals
Weep for all time
Weep until faith shines!
Immortal! Sublime.
Kneel here in silence
Kneel in awed love
Kneel and consider the peace
from a DOVE.
Kneel here forever
Kneel with heart torn
Jesus the Christ to us
humans is born.
(the first time)
SATB unaccompanied written in celebration of the life of Iris Anderson, the mother of Lascelles Anderson. The poem is by Lascelles Anderson and in August, 2008 the piece is almost complete.
TO IRIS
LOVE IS NOT
LOVE IS WARM
LOVE IS NOT
FRISKY LIKE A NERVOUS GOD
LOVE IS
LOVE IS NOT
FLEETING AS THE
NOONTIME
LOVE, EVER
LOVE IS NOT
ALALYTIC LIKE THE GLANCE
LOVE IS YOU.
Scored for unison
trebles (a few divisi) and organ and dedicated to the Schola Choir of Grace
Church and the Rev. Dr. Robert Hughes of Sewanee, The University of the
South. It was premiered on the spring
2008 tour and is dated S.D.G. Completed Easter Friday, 2008,
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; for he has looked
with favor on his lowly servant. From
this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great
things for me and holy is his Name. He
has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has
scattered the proud in their conceit. He
has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty. He
has come to the help of his servant
Scored for flute solo and reader (who might be the same person) and written for Marcia Hustad in March, 2008 for the Easter Vigil.
Thus says the Lord God: I
will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bing you into your own land.
I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean from al your
uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you,
and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the
heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be
careful to observe my ordinances. Then
you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my
people and I will be your God.
As
for me, I know that my Redeemer lives and that at the last he will stand upon
the earth. After my awaking, he will
raise me up; and in my body I shall see God.
I myself shall see, and my eyes behold him who is my friend and not a
stranger.
Congregation, Organ and descant. Composed for the Celebration of Mutual Ministries and Installation of Shawn Schreiner as Rector of Grace Episcopal Church 30, October, 2007. The text is a careful reworking to remove masculine references to God done by me with consultation by Dr. Randall Warren.
Glory to God in the highest,
And peace to all people on
earth.
Lord God, sovereign One
Almighty God, Creator,
We worship you, we give you
thanks,
We praise you for your
glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, One and
only begotten,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
You take away the sin of the
world:
Have mercy on us;
You are seated at the right
hand of the Sovreign:
Receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
You alone are the Lord,
You alone are the most High,
Jesus Christ,
With the Holy Spirit,
In the glory of God. Amen.
Vocatus et Non Vocatus – Canone @ 5 Voci
Composed in
Dated
It could be translated:
bidden, or not bidden, God is.
What does the Lord require of you?
SATB Unaccompanied. A motet on the occasion of the anniversary of the ordination of
Shawn Schreiner. Completed
What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? – Micah 6:08
SATB unaccompanied
The Reproaches, or
the Improperia, are part of a most ancient tradition around the Good Friday
Liturgy. The Improperia are a series of
lamentations from the Hebrew Scriptures about the ingratitude of the Jewish
people; they prefigure the Passion of Our Lord.
Composed in 2006, burned in house fire
[Modern
refrain] My people, what wrong have I done to you? What good have I not done
for you? Listen to me!
[Ancient
refrain] My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer
me!
I
am your creator Lord of the universe, I have entrusted this world to you, but
you have created the means to destroy it.
I made you in my image, but you have degraded body and spirit and marred
the image of your God. You have deserted
me and turned your backs on me. I filled
the earth with all that you need, so that you might serve and care for one
another as I have cared for you; but you have cared only to serve your own
wealth and power. I made my children of
one blood to live in families rejoicing in one another; but you have embittered
the races and divided the nations. I
commanded you to love your neighbor as yourself; to love and forgive even your
enemies; but you have made vengeance your rule and hate your guide. In the fullness of time I sent you my Son
that in Him you might know me, and through Him find life and peace; but you put
him to death on a cross. Through the
living Christ, I called you into my church to be my servants to the world, but
you have grasped at privilege and forgotten my will. I have given you a heavenly gift.
See Grace Nuptial Processional, 1995.
Soprano descant for Hail Thee, Festival Day for Easter, 2006
A
SATB unaccompanied motet on the occasion of Stephen Legendre’s baptism
We will not hide God’s laws
from our children; we will tell to the generation to come
the praises of the Lord, and his strength and the wonderful works that He has
done. So that they
might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his
commandments.
SATB
unaccompanied. A motet written in
celebration of Sarah and Clifford Hunt’s 50th wedding anniversary
and dated
I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. –
Song of Solomon 6:3
Sustain
us, O Lord, in your holy spirit. Give us
an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a
spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your
works.
Scored for Congregation, Descant and Organ – a stunning setting of the text ca. 2005.
Scored for Soprano, Tenor and Piano and dedicated to Alice Kwamie on the occasion of her wedding and dated simply 2005. The text is from the Psalms and was sung by Gloria Grev and myself.
Lord, you have been my
helper, cast me not away, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation. Though my father and my mother forsake me,
the Lord will sustain me.
SSAATTBB unaccompanied and written for the 40th wedding anniversary of Linda and Howard Hutchinson. The verse texts are also by me.
In piquant devotion all come
to the Son
For better, for wanting we
live and proclaim
Our union our passion to One
God the same.
We wrestle, we struggle, to
live to the Lamb;
Without reservation to serve
the “I AM.”
Tomorrow and yesterday both
are the same
To live to the calling of
Christ, to His name.
Immortal, invisible, to live
our lives
In simple devotion and be
truly wise;
To be loved and love is a
holy decree,
For life, and for Christ,
and for family be.
SATB unaccompanied, the text is Isaiah 58:6-8a, 9 and written in celebration of the ordination to the Diaconate of Dale Bennett and dated S.D.G. 8 January, 2004.
Is not this the fast that I chose:
To loose the bonds of
injustice,
To undo the thongs of the
yoke,
To let the oppressed go free
And to break ev’ry yoke?
Is it not to share your
bread with the hungry,
And bring the homeless poor
into you house
When you see the naked to
cover them,
And not to hide yourself
from your own kin?
The your light shall break
forth like the dawn,
And your healing shall
spring up quickly
Then you shall call and the
Lord will answer;
You shall cry for help and
He will say,
“Here I AM.”
Scored for SATB (with divisi) choir and incidental soloist it was commissioned by the Heritage Choral on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of their founding and dated simply 2004.
Of your love and tenderness
Sealed up until your friends
are dead.
Fill their lives with
sweetness.
Speak, approving,
Cheering words
While their ears can hear
them,
And while their hearts can
be thrilled
And make happier by them.
The kind things you mean to
say
When they are gone . . .
Say them now
Before they go.
Scored for Brass Quartet and dated simply 2004 (I suspect in November in preparation for the Boar’s Head Feast of Grace Church).
v Fanfare Six
v Fanfare Seven
v Fanfare Eight
SATB unaccompanied. Dedicated to the Madrigal Choir of Grace Church and composed to be sung at the evensong sung by them at Washington National Cathedral, Spring 2004.
The manuscript draft of it has Suffer the Little Children draft on the reverse.
Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; for these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you have prepared for all the world to see: a Light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Composed for Phil and Amy Spressart’s wedding. 2004?
With love’s light wings did
I o’erperch these walls. For stony
limits cannot hold love out; and what love can do, that dares Love
attempt. – William Shakespeare
Descant on Salve Festa
Dies
Soprano descant from April, 2004 for the hymn known as “Hail Thee, Festival Day.”
Song
SATB unaccompanied on
a text of Christina Rosetti dedicated to Nancy Smiley on her 60th
birthday and dated
When I am dead, my dearest,
sing no sad songs for me;
Plant thou no roses at my
head, nor shady cypress tree:
Be the green grass above me
with show’rs and dewdrops wet;
And if thou wilt, remember,
and if thou wilt, forget.
I shall not see the shadows, I shall not feel the rain;
I shall not hear the
nightingale sing on as if in pain:
Be the green grass above me
that doth not rise or set;
Haply I may remember and
haply may forget.
SATB Unaccompanied. Composed for Bradley Wolfe Reichardt on the occasion of his baptism from his Godfather, Dennis E. Northway – November, 2004. The manuscript draft of it has Nunc Dimittis draft on the reverse.
Suffer the little
children to come to me, and forbid them not; for such is the
How Do I Love Thee?
Scored for soprano and voice and was written around 2003. The text is by Elizabeth Barrett Browning [1806-1861]. I have no recollection of why this was written. It appears to be incomplete?
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love the to the depth and
breadth and height
My soul can reach, when
feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and
ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of
every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and
candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men
strive for Right;
I love the purely, as they
turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion
put to use
In my old griefs, and with
my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I
seemed to lose
With my lost saints, - I
love the with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my
life! –and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better
after death.
Dance
Scored for brass quartet and simply dated 2003.
Psalm 121
SATB with divisi; written for the baptism of Rosalind Lee and dated S.D.G. 5 April, 2003. Great piece, perhaps redo TTBB part to clarify.
My help comes from the Lord,
the maker of heav’n and earth.
God will not let your foot
be moved, and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.
Behold, God who keeps watch
over
The Lord himself watches
over you;
The Lord is your shade at
your right hand,
So that the sun shall not
strike you by day nor the moon by night.
The Lord shall preserve you
from all evil;
It is God who shall keep you
safe.
The Lord shall watch over
your going out and your coming in,
From this time forth for
evermore.
Seek God Who Made the
Pleiades and Orion [Sea cod]
SATB
divisi unaccompanied. Written for Linda and Steven Coberly on the occasion of the baptism
of their lovely and beloved daughters Grace and Isabel. It is dated
Seek God who made the
Pliades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the
day into night; who calls for the water of the sea, and pours them out upon the
surface of the earth.
The LORD is God’s name.
Song
Scored for voice and
piano on a text of William Browne. It is dedicated to
Susan McMillan and Amelia Fonti on the occasion of their wedding and is dated
It is beautiful.
For
her gait, if she be walking;
Be
she sitting I desire her
For
her state’s sake and admire her
For
her wit if she be talking;
Gait
and state and wit approve her’
For
which all and each I love her.
Be
she sullen I commend her
For
a modest, be she merry,
For
a kind one her prefer I.
Briefly
everything doth lend her
So
much grace and so approve her
That
for everything I love her.
Wave Upon Wave of Grace
SATB unaccompanied and
written on the occasion of Maybien and Don Wardlaw’s wedding and dated S.D.G. 7
October, 2003, You are in my heart. You
are loved. Bless You. Love, Dennis. The text is Don Wardlaw’s wordplay with John
1:16, “From his (Christ’s) fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”
Wave
Upon Wave of Grace
Lord
Christ, whose fulsome love on us o’erflows
In
wave upon wave of grace,
Fill
full our wedded love to draw us close,
With
wave upon wave of grace.
The Poor Shall Eat and Be Satisfied
Scored for SATB
unaccompanied and dedicated to Jon Baumgarten on the occasion of his ordination
to the Diaconate. It is dated S.D.G.
The poor shall
eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the LORD shall praise him: “May your heart live forever!”
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all
the families of the nations bow before him. – Psalm 22:25-26
O Taste and See
SATB unaccompanied
written on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Michael A.
Johnston to the Priesthood. This was
written in a time of intense crisis in my professional life; the Rev. Dr. Don
Wardlaw helped me with the text of Psalm 34:8 and is dated S.D.G. 8 January,
2002 at
O taste and see how
gracious the Lord is. Blest are we who
find haven in you.
- Psalm 34:8
A Prayer of St. Francis – Dennis Northway
SATB unaccompanied
written on the occasion of the Baptism of Samuel Peter Skean and simply dated
2002. It has a magnificent “B” section.
Lord, make me an
instrument of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord,
union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is darkness, light; where there
is sadness, joy. Grant
that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as
to understand; to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are
pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
From Here
SATB unaccompanied; an anthem written for commencement, dedicated to my beloved Kentucky Wesleyan Singers and sung 11 May, 2002. Composed April, 2002; the text is by the composer.
Your life is like the story
of a book;
With pages in the future yet
still blank –
Inscribe upon the pages of
your life – Words!
Words like Charity,
Integrity, Compassion, Joy.
Write Dignity, Kind and
Honorable, Loving and Christ-like.
With alma mater, God and
you, transform our world with love,
With peace.
Psalm 149
For congregation,
unison choir, organ and flute it is a responsorial Psalm written on the
occasion of the Ordination of Meigan Thiel and sung
Entrata for a Madrigal Feast
For brass quartet and unison choir.
The text is of my own
creation. Composed
while in the
(1) Make we joy now in this
fest! Gracious ladies be
at rest! Noble lords are welcome all; to
our pleasant banguet hall! (2) Ladies we
are here, as you; joyful, as with honor due.
Lords are we to sport and play on the festive joyful day! (3) I the mistress of this feast welcome you,
please be my guest. I, the master of
this hall; be at leisure! One and all!
For brass quartet.
v
Fanfare Two Dated
v
Fanfare Three Dated
v
Fanfare Four Dated 12 November, 2001 theme
derived from
v
Fanfare Five Dated
SATB unaccompanied
written for the Baptism of Julianna Rose Krebasch on
calm my mind, that i might hear
Thee
light my vision, that i might see
Thee
unveil my heart, that i might
truly love Thee
bend my knee, that i might adore
Thee
loosen my tongue that i might
exalt Thee
come within, that i might know
Thee
give me wings, that i might ever
sin Thee
Second Poem
Good morning Holy Spirit, I
need you this day.
Fill me with you presence
and guild me on my way.
O precious Holy Spirit, I
need you every day.
Fill me with you love and in
my heart please stay.
SATB unaccompanied written for Katherine Woodworth on the occasion of her baptism in 2000. The motet uses the same music for a Latin and then English presentation of the text.
You will sprinkle me, O
Lord, with hyssop and I shall be cleansed.
You will wash me, and I
shall be whiter than snow.
SATB unaccompanied fragment in manuscript dated simply 2000 and marked Tenderly, Introspectively.
SATB with piano accompaniment, was written for the marriage of Cacia McHale to Robert Sit, both members of the Park Forest Singers. It is dated 2000.
Into hymns and canticles of
praise with music
That is set by night to be
sung in the day.
Here LOVES longing draws
back the veil
And illumines the heart
bringing joy that none can surpass
Save that of the soul when
she embraces God.
For congregation,
unison choir and organ, it was written for the wedding of Colleen (nee) Cichon
and Peter and is dated
SATB unaccompanied on
a text by Caryl A. Porter, it was written on the occasion of Katrina Krebash’s
baptism and is dated
Who is not caught and held
only by what she knows
How can she know the ways of
the sun if she does not know the ways of the moon?
Sunflowers need not count
their seeds nor bees reveal the secrets of their hives
She goes in peace who
listens well
The planet turns on one long
perfect ton and woman’s song echoes the planets turning
She is secure in Love which
is the other name.
Blest is she who learns the
mysteries.
Scored for unison
refrain for congregation, unison choir and organ and written for
Composed for the
baptism of Curtis Pinnell Reichardt on Pentecost, 1999 and dated
I will pour out my spirit on
all people.
Scored for brass
quintet, organ with optional percussion (Timpani, Gong and Cymbal) it is
dedicated to Sue and Charles Wells in thanks for their support and dated
Scored for SATB
unaccompanied chorus and dedicated to David Zizic. It is dated
Love is a blighting cherub
boy with quiver full or wiles,
Some tip’d with sorrows
(some enjoy!) while others promise smiles.
To dodge the arrow meant for
you may lead to some surprise;
ill-omened matches doth produce. True pairings compromised.
Lips ne’er intended to
embrace shall rapple passions deep,
and only glimpse their true
love’s face in yearning, dream-wracked sleep!
Scored for Organ, 2
Trumpets, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba or 2nd
Trombone, with optional Timpani, Gong and Cymbals and dedicated to John Seaton
and dated
Scored for SATB
unaccompanied choir and dedicated “to a wonderful and wonder-filled gentleman”
Brad Jelinek with thanks. It is dated
“from
O Lord increase my faith,
strengthen me and uphold me in Thy true faith.
Endue me with wisdom,
charity and patience an all my adversity.
Sweet Jesu, say “Amen.”
Three part round for
Scored for 2cl, 2 a
sax, 3 tpt, 2 tbn, tba written for St. Patrick High
School Band and dated
For
unison choir, congregation and organ.
This Psalm was used for Lent at
For unison choir, congregation and organ this Psalm was used for the Mass of the Holy Spirit. There is no date; 1998? Lovely. The Psalm is Geleneau-like.
SATB unaccompanied
and written for the wedding of John Trilik and Linda Spicer Trilik and is dated
Entreat me not to leave you,
or to return from following you; for where you go, I will do, and where you
lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall
be my people and your God my God.
For unison choir, congregation
and organ, this Psalm was used for the Mass for the Faithful Departed at
Simply magical
descant dated
For Mezzo, Trumpet and Organ
Composed in 1997, the B section is a canon for organ, voice and trumpet.
Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary,
Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen
SATB unaccompanied setting of a Peter Abelard (1079-1142) poem and dedicated with love to John Efting and in celebration of the life of Mr. Carl Burger and dated simply 1997. I wrote the piece, perhaps my first, on a notation software at Vandercook College of Music while I was Associate Professor of Choral Activities.
O what their joy and their glory must be, those endless Sabbaths the
blessed ones see!
Crowns for the valiant, to weary ones rest; God shall be all and in all
ever blest.
In new Jerusalem, joy shall be found, and
blessings of peace shall forever abound;
Wish and fulfillment are not severed there. Nor the thing prayed for come short of
prayer.
We where no trouble, distraction can bring, safely the anthems of
While for you grace Lord, their voices of praise your blessed people
shall ever more raise.
Now let us worship our Lord and our King, with joy we raise then our
voices to sing,
Praise to Creator, and praise to the Son, praise
to the Spirit, to God, three in one.
Dedicated to Rev.
Linda Packard from 1997, composed to celebrate her completion of 3 ½ years of
interim ministry at Grace Church on a text by the Rev. Catherine Candlish of
God Singing
May God sing to you a new song:
Sing silence and calm, sing
new leaves
Sing fragrance of lilac,
sing ease
Sing Redbud, Magnolia and
dew
Sing springtime and summer
to you
Sing love, showing where you
belong,
May God sing to you a new
song!
May God sing to raise you above:
Sing water in sunlight, sing
rain
Sing death of doubt, sing
hope again
Sing kindness and courage,
sing loud
Sing soft where faith’s
reverence is bowed
Sing Spirit in fire, wind
and dove,
May God sing to raise you above.
May God sing you close to
His heart:
Sing friendship, sing
handclasps and smiles
Sing children at peace and
run wild
Sing rest for your mind and
your soul
Sing labour that makes your
life whole
Sing mysteries of which
you’re a part,
May God sing you close to
his heart.
-Catherine Candlish
Scored
for two-part choir, conga, bells, triangle, finger cymbals and organ. On a text of
Come, Holy Ghost, who ever
one art with the Father and the Son.
Come, Holy Ghost, Our souls
possess with Thy full flood of holiness.
In will and deed, with heart
and tongue, with all Thy pow’rs Thy praise be sung:
And Love light up our mortal
frame ’til others catch the living flame.
Almighty Father, hear our
cry through Jesus Christ our Lord Most High,
Who with the Holy Ghost and
Thee both live and reign eternally.
Unaccompanied SATB (divisi) and cantor versicles used for advent wreath candle lighting at Grace Church using the versicles from the 1994 Book of Occasional Services and dated November, 1997.
Scored for
unaccompanied SATB chorus and dated
The Silver Swan who living
had no note, when death approached unlock’d her silent throat.
Leaning her head against the
reedy shore, thus sang her first and last and sang no
more.
Farewell all joys, O Death,
come close mine eyes, more Geese than Swans now live;
More fools than wise.
For SATB choir and organ and dedicated to Randi Ravitts Woodworth and Mark Woodworth in celebration of the adoption of Madeline Xiang Woodworth and simply dated 1996. The text is Psalm 126: 2-3.
Our mouths were filled with
laughter,
Our tongues with songs of
joy.
Then it was said among the
nations,
“The Lord has done great
things for them.”
The Lord has done great
things for us
And we are filled with joy.
Initial sketch for Mezzo, and Organ or Piano.
Dedicated to Evelyn Czaja and dated 1996.
Hail Mary, full of
grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the
fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary,
Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen
For baritone and
piano, on the text from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, this was
commissioned by Phil Kraus for a set of Shakespeare songs presented as part of
a faculty recital at
O stay
and hear your true loves coming
That can sing both high and
low;
Trip no further pretty
sweeting journeys end in lovers meeting
Every wise man’s son doth
know.
What is love?
‘Tis not hereafter,
Present mirth hath present
laughter.
What’s to come is still
unsure.
In delay there lies no
plenty.
Then come kiss me sweet and
twenty, youth’s a stuff will not endure.
Actually
three different settings of seven amens.
One is SATB choral, one is rhythmic and one employs tone clusters and
are dated (1)
Scored for SATB
unaccompanied choir and written for the wedding of Janette & Roderick Smith
on a challenging and beautiful text by Clive Staples Lewis; it is
inscribed “ to the distant Beloved! O Glaube . . . J.J!
Love's as warm
as tears, Love is tears: Pressure within the brain, tension at the throat,
Deluge, weeks of rain, Haystacks afloat, Featureless seas between Hedges, where
once was green. Love's as fierce as
fire, Love is Fire: All sorts infernal heat Clinkered with greed and pride,
Lyric desire sharp-sweet, Laughing even when denied and that empyreal flame
Whence all loves came. Love's as fresh
as spring, Love is spring: Birdsong in the air, Cool smells in a wood, Whispering 'Dare! Dare! To sap to blood
Telling 'Ease, saftey rest, Are good; not best.' Love's as hard as nails, Love is nails;
blunt, thick, hammered through the medial nerves of One, Who having made us,
knew The things He had done, Seeing (with all that is) Our cross, and His. - Clive Staples Lewis
A
movement for flute and harpsichord from what was to be, obviously, a suite of
movements. It is dedicated to
Carol Brey and named “Bon Bini” and dated
The Grace Nuptial Procession
Originally in Gb major for organ and trumpet, it was dedicated to Paul Nelis
on the occasion of his wedding at Grace Church and dated
Wayne Leupold Project- Organ
Pieces for Beginning Organists
A
series of compositions for the early organist with revisions, additional pieces
and comments. I was invited by
Wayn Leupold to write and submit them; they were subsequently never used. Correspondence with the compositions spans
v
Chromatic Two-Manual Study on “Sakura” [
v
Oriental Acrostic – Flats & Sharps Fun [
v Tone Clusters or “Paws” on Rock of Ages [6 Mar., 23 Ap. 1995]
v
Prelude on “
v Scalar Study in D: Questions and Answers [6 Mar., 22 Ap. 1995]
v Bicinium Ostinato on “Jesus Loves Me” [27 Jan., 22 Ap., 1995]
Kyrie from Mass for Grace
(An die Ferne Geliebte)
Unison congregation and organ in Gb
major.
Composed
The One Remains
On a text from “Adonais” by Percy Bysshe Shelley, this is set for SATB unaccompanied chorus. There is no date, and I suspect was from my atheist & vegetarian days in approximately summer of 1995.
The One remains, the many
change and pass;
Heaven’s light forever
shines,
Earth’s shadows fly;
Life, like a dome of many
coloured glass,
Stains, stains white
radiance of Eternity,
Until Death tramples it to
fragments.
Blessing
For
SATB and trebles and organ. It is
dated
May the road rise up to
meet you, may the wind be always at your back; may the sun shine on your face,
and the rains fall soft upon your fields.
‘Til we meet again may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Psalm 100
For
soprano or treble solo and SATB choir and organ. Composed while in the
Make a joyful noise unto the
Lord all ye lands, serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before His presence
with singing. Know ye that the Lord, He
is God; it is He that hath made us and not we
ourselves. We are His people, and the
sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates
with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Be thankful unto Him and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is
everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations.
A descant on the song
“Silent Night” is dated
Angels in flight, soar
through the night!
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gladness and mirth,
Bring peace to earth!
Melody and harmony
solo song, text by me as well. Dated Solstice,
Sleeping Child,
Quiet night,
Peace all around
Enter our hearts O Light of
the Earth!
Advent light
Solstice night,
Quiet and Joy;
Transform our being with
Transcendant Love.
Holy times,
Pious Joy,
Longing for Love
Searching for centeredness
day after day
Turbulence,
Restlessness,
Drastic response
Miracles glisten to show us
a way.
Hymn Tune “Wortman”
9.10.9.10 tune dated
S.D.G. 29 April, 1994 at
Liturgical Amen for the
Grace Choir
SATB unaccompanied and dated S.D.G. 7 September, 1994 at 9 am.
Bicinium
For organ (or piano)
this is a didactic piece written for Eileene Tomachevski and dated S.D.G. 16
September, 1994,
Look Upon a Little Child
For
soprano and piano. On a text by
Charles Wesley, this art song is dated S.D.G. 17 February, 1993 at
Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,
Look upon a little child;
Pity my simplicity,
Suffer me to come to Thee.
Fain I would to Thee be
brought
Dearest God forbid it not:
Give me dearest God, a place
In the kingdom of Thy grace.
Put Thy hands upon my head,
Let me in Thine arms be
stayed;
Let me lean upon Thy breast,
Lull me,
lull me, Lord to rest
Fain I would be as Thou are;
Give me Thy obedient heart.
Thou are pitiful and kind;
Let me have Thy loving mind.
Let me above all fulfill
God my heav’nly will;
Never His good Spirit grieve
Only to His glory live!
Thou dids’t live to God
alone,
Thou dids’t never seek Thine
own;
Thou Thyself
dids’t never please.
God was all Thy happiness.
Loving Jesu, gentle Lamb,
In Thy gracious hands I am,
Make me, Saviour, what Thou
art,
Live Thyself
within my heart.
Passacaglia Opus 3
For organ; 34 statements of a Passacaglia melody with canon, double canon and various techniques of the craft employed. Published H. W. Gray Publications in 1995. The manuscript is currently lost. I would date this ca. 1993?
There is a Flower (from Two
for Susan Christmas 1991)
For
soprano and piano or harp. Dated
S.D.G! May 11, 1992 at
There is a flow’r sprung of
a tree, the rood of it is called Jesse,
A flow’r of price, there is
none such in paradise.
The flow’r is fresh and fair
of hue, it fadeth never but is ever new
The blessed stalk whereon it
grew it was Mary that bare Jesu.
A flow’r of grace against
all sorrow it is solace.
When that flow’r began to
spread and the blossom began to breed,
Rich and poor of ev’ry lede
marveled how the rose might spread;
And kingès three come that blessed
flow’r to see.
Angels came out of their
tow’r to look upon that fresh hele flow’r
How fair He was in His
colour and how sweet in His savour
And to behold how such a
flow’r might spring in gold.
Of lily white and rose of
ryse, of primrose and of fleur-de-lys,
Of all flow’rs in my demise
that flow’r of Jesse beareth the prize
For most of all to help our
souls both great and small.
I praise the flow’r of good
Jesse of all the flow’rs that ever shall be;
Hold up the flow’r of good
Jesse and worship it for its beauty
And best of all that ever
was or e’er be shall.
Came He To
a World Forlorn – Christmas 1989
SATB
unaccompanied. Though dated 1989
it, this da capo carol, at the end, states S.D.G!
Unto us a boy is born! King of all creation,
Came He to a world forlorn, Lord
of ev’ry nation.
Cradled in a stall was he
with sleepy cows and asses.
But the very beasts could
see that He all men surpasses.
Herod the King with fear was
filled: “A prince” he cried “in Jewry”
All the little boys he
killed in
Now may Mary’s son, who came
so long ago to love us
Lead us all with hearts
aflame unto the joys above us.
Omega and Alpha He! Let the organ thunder
While the choir with peals
of glee doth rend the air asunder.
Unto us a boy is born! King of all creation,
Came He to a world forlorn, Lord
of ev’ry nation.
These Two
Scored for voice
[soprano or tenor] and organ or piano; the style is like a sea chantey. The manuscript is dedicated for Karen Gotsch
and Frank Rohde on the occasion of their wedding
Now joined together from
above
REFRAIN: Forevermore, always to be
as one:
One flesh, one life, one
hope, one love.
This man, this woman,
destined now
To have, to hold in this
true vow; REFRAIN
No more to wander far and
near,
No more to search, no more
to fear. REFRAIN
May God’s choice gifts their
union bring
That from their lives new
life may spring. REFRAIN
To seek, to find, each one
to know. REFRAIN
The Carnal and the Crane – A
Christmas Carol,
SATB Unaccompanied
marked Allo Gay and S.D.G! begun
As I passed by a riverside
and there as I did rein,
In argument I chanced to hear
a carnal and a crane.
The carnal said unto the
crane if all the world should turn,
Before we had the Father,
but now we have the Son.
From whence does the Son
come? From where and from what place?
He said: In a manger,
between an ox and ass.
I pray thee, said the
carnal, tell me before they go,
She was the purest virgin,
and the cleanest from sin;
She was the handmaid of our
Lord, and mother of our King.
Where is the golden cradle the
Christ was rocked in?
Where are the silken sheets, that Jesus was
wrapt in?
A manger was the cradle that
Christ was rocked in;
The provender the asses
left, so sweetly he slept on.
Festival Setting of
“Hyfrydol”
For Congregation,
Children’s choir, Brass Quintet, Finger Cymbals, 2 Handbells, Timpani, Cymbals,
optional Gong and Organ. Commissioned by
the Concordia Mutual Life insurance company for performance at the closing
concert at which I was conductor on
The Aaronic Blessing
SATB
unaccompanied. A magnificent
setting marked “Hushed, slow, thoughtful” and dated “
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon
you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
The Passion According to
For unaccompanied
SATB choir and the Evangelist is sung by a women’s
trio singing in tone clusters; the part of Jesus is also sung by a woman in
choral melodies. Finished at
When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth
with his disciples across the Kidron valley, where there was a garden, which he
and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who
betrayed him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with his
disciples. So Judas, procuring a band of
soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there
with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Then Jesus, knowing all that was to befall him, came forward and said to
them, "Whom do you seek?"
They answered him, "Jesus of
Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to him,
"Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others
say it to you about me?" Pilate
answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed
you over to me; what have you done?"
Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship
were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to
the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." Pilate said to him,
"So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king.
For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness
to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is
truth?" After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again, and told
them, "I find no crime in him. But
you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover; will
you have me release for you the King of the Jews?" They cried out again, "Not this man, but
Barab'bas!" Now Barab'bas was a robber. Then Pilate took Jesus and
scourged him. And the soldiers plaited
a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple robe;
they came up to him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and struck him
with their hands. Pilate went out again,
and said to them, "See, I am bringing him out to you, that you may know
that I find no crime in him." So
Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to
them, "Behold the man!" When
the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, "Crucify him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Take him
yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law,
and by that law he ought to die, because he has made himself the Son of
God." When Pilate heard these
words, he was the more afraid; he entered the praetorium again and said to
Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer. Pilate
therefore said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I
have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no
power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who
delivered me to you has the greater sin." Upon this Pilate sought to
release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not
Caesar's friend; every one who makes himself a king sets himself against
Caesar." When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on
the judgment seat at a place called The Pavement, and in Hebrew,
Gab'batha. Now it was the day of
Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews,
"Behold your King!" They cried
out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to
them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered,
"We have no king but Caesar."
Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing
his own cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in
Hebrew Gol'gotha. There they crucified
him, and with him two others, one on either side, and
Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote a
title and put it on the cross; it read, "Jesus of
Peace, dear heart
S.A.T.B.
unaccompanied on a text by Dr. Irving S. Cutter and given to me to set by
Linnae Heinz to whom it is dedicated. It
is dated S.D.G. 29 December, 1988
Peace, dear heart,
The bugle has blown,
Life’s music has faded away;
But there echo still those
joyous airs
That you would have us play.
Yes! Play and keep on
playing,
Our spirits blithe and gay,
For you loved life and its
living,
With
nature in full panoply.
We hear you say,
“Let no one mourn:
For me let no one weep.
The wind is in the treetops.
Hark! It has gone
Let me sleep.”
Capriccio for Flûte Seule
For
flute stop on an organ with a pedal note and datedS.D.G.
8.7.8.7. and dated S.D.G.,
SATB
unaccompanied. For a number of
years, I held the tradition of my teacher Ronald Arnatt and scored a Christmas
carol. This one is dated
King Jesus hath a garden
full or diverse flowers,
Where I go culling posies
gay all times and hours.
Refrain: There naught is heard but paradise bird,
Harp, dulcimer, lute, with
cymbal, trump and tymbal,
And the tender soothing
flute.
The lily, white in blossom
there, is Chastity:
The violet, with sweet
perfume, Humility.
The bonny Damask rose is
known as Patience,
The blithe and thrifty
Marygold, Obedience. Refrain.
The Crown Imperial bloometh
too in yonder place,
‘Tis Charity, the flower of
grace.
Yet, ‘mid the brave, the
bravest prize of all may claim,
The Star of
Ah! Jesu Lord, my heal and
weal, my bliss complete
Make Thou my heart Thy
garden plot, fair, trim and neat.
That I may hear this musick
clear:
Harp, dulcimer, lute, with
cymbal, trumpet and tymbal,
And the tender soothing
flute.
Hymn tune: Christian
Two
settings of an 8.7.8.7. meter hymn melody; the
first is with generally quintal harmonies, the second a four-voice chromatic
setting. This is really quite well done
and dated
Hymn Tune: Arthur
Setting of 8.7.8.7. meter hymn melody; probably dedicated to Arthur White and dated S.D.G. 3 August, 1988. It is a lovely tune.
Chorale Prelude on: Herr,
Ich Habe Misgehandelt
Organ chorale prelude composed during a matinee performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Sorcerer” and dated S.D.G. 3 March, 1987. N.B. I think I have been the only tenor in history to perform the tenor lead in Sorcerer in two sequential productions in a row. The piece is haunting and dedicated to Timothy La Croix. There is actually a draft for a second and more elaborate version in the file; it however, is not complete. It was intended to be included in an Organ Technique book by Wayne Leupold; I am not sure if it was included.
Chorale Prelude on: Herzliebster
Jesu
Choral prelude
dedicated to Cathy Kaufmann and dated
O Magnum Mysterium
Scored for SATB
unaccompanied and dated S.D.G! Begun
O great mystery, and wondrous sacrament, that animals should
see the new-born Lord lying in their manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus
Christ. Alleluia!
Choral Prelude on O
Sacred Head Now Wounded or Herzlich Tut
Canonic
chorale prelude. Pencil score;
page 1 lost in fire
Bataille Processionale
For organ solo;
dedicated to Kevin Fink and dated S.D.G. 2 August, 1987 at
God’s Love Comes Alive [Deitzy]
Congregational Hymn
text (13.9.12.9.10.8.10.8) and tune (Deitzy, for the nickname of Linnae
Heinz currently of
God’s love comes alive when
we look into His word, His countenance of peace shines on us.
Blessed moments that we
spend there with Christ our Lord;
Walking in the beauty of his
word.
Refrain: Walking in the Word with
our hand in His,
Blessings and wisdom come
our way.
God’s wondrous blessings
shower down on us,
Walking in the light of His
word.
In His word we find grace,
we see battles fought and won, great miracles and plagues and despair.
Precious truths and
mysteries, Satan’s deeds undone,
All as signs of God’s great
love and care. REFRAIN
We find peace for our hearts
and a blessing in our lives, we learn the way to know
right from wrong.
To become a better servant,
we work and strive,
Praising God and joining now
in song. REFRAIN
To our God, three in one,
all our praises we now bring, we magnify your name and adore.
Holy God the Father, Spirit
and Christ the King,
Glory to you now and
evermore. REFRAIN
Kyrie I – V
A Set of five Kyrie settings all for SATB choir unaccompanied.
v
Kyrie I (doldrums) is dated: S.D.G.
v
Kyrie II (Dolores) is marked Tiefe und Innig and
is dated S.D.G.
v
Kyrie
v
Kyrie IV is marked Warm, Non-Vibrato, was begun
in 1988 but was not completed until
v Kyrie V begins in 7/8 time and is marked Quickly, Rhythmically, is in Greek and is incomplete though exciting.
Scoring as indicated on a text for Dorothy F. Gurney (1858-1932) written for Pam Pettibone for a family wedding the only date is 1987 and the Score is Pam’s handwriting. The text is the traditional wedding text.
Variously scored for SATB choir with or without organ. This was a major project and the pieces are of very high quality. They were scored on different days but are collected here as an intended cycle for the entire liturgical year. The texts are the suggested gradual words from the Lutheran tradition. They include:
Ø
Oh, the depths of the riches –
Ø
These are they –
Ø
A Gradual for Thanksgiving – the eyes of all
look to you –
S.D.G!
Ø
Gradual for Advent – Rejoice Greatly –
Ø
Gradual for the Nativity of our Lord – To us a
child is born –
Ø
Gradual for Epiphany – Praise the Lord –
Ø
Gradual for Lent – O Come Let us Fix our Eyes –
Ø
Gradual for Holy Week – Christ Entered the most
Holy Place –
Ø
Gradual for Eastertide – Christ has Risen –
Ø
Gradual for the Day of Pentecost – I will Pour
out my Spirit –
SATBSATB
unaccompanied double chorus dedicated to the Lutheran Choir of Chicago and
commissioned by Linnae Heins and
God of majesty, whom saints
and and angels delight to worship in heav’n: be with your servants who make art
and music for your people, that with joy we on earth may glimpse your beauty
and bring us to the fulfillment of that hope of perfection which will be ours
as we stand before your unveiled glory.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia, amen.
For unaccompanied
SATB chorus, dated
Lord God, we come in awe and
gratitude. We remember your redeeming
love upon this day, for by Hist stripes we are healed, He was bruised for our
Iniquity. Amen.
The First Word
Luke 23:33-34
And when they were come to
the place, which is called
Father forgive
them for they know not what they do.
The Second Word
John 19:25-27
Now there stood by the cross
of Jesus, his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and
Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His
mother, and the disciple whom He loved, He saith unto His mother: Woman behold
thy son!
Then saith He to the
disciple:
Behold thy mother!
And from that hour the
disciple took her unto his own home.
Trope I
O perfect love, all human
thoughts transcending, save us O Lord.
Amen
The Third Word
Luke 23:39-43
And ond of the malefactors
which were hanged, railed on him saying: if thou be the Christ, sve thyself and
us! But the other rebuked him saying:
dost not thou fear God, seeing thou are in the same condemnation? And we indeed
justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this man hath done nothing amiss.
And he said unto him: Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy
kingdom. And Jesus said unto him:
Verily I say unto thee,
today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
The Fourth Word
Matthew 27:45-46.
Now from the sixth hour
there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried saying:
Éli, Éli, lama sabachtháni?
That is:
My God, my God, whay hast
Thou forsaken Me?
Trope II
Behold and see if there be any sorrow, like unto his sorrow.
The Fifth Word
John 19:28
And Jesus knowing that all
things were now accomplished, that the scriptures might be fulfilled, he said:
I thirst.
The Sixth Word
John 19:29-30
Now there was set a vessel
full of vinegar; and they filled a sponge and put it upon a hyssop, and put it
to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had
received the vinegar, he said:
It is finished.
The Seventh Word
Luke 23: 45-46
And the sun was darkened,
and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And Jesus cried with a loud voice saying:
Father, into thy hands I
comment my spirit.
And having said thus, he
gave up the ghost.
Closing Chorale
Lamb of God, pure and holy,
who on the cross didst suffer,
Ever patient and lowly, Thyself to scorn didst offer,
All sins Thou borest for
us. Else had despair reigned o’er us:
Thy peace be
with us, O Jesu!
SATB
unaccompanied chorus in a Distler-esque style including a double canon. Dated S.D.G! 15 November at
Hail, true
Body, born of the Virgin Mary who has truly suffered, was sacrificed on the
cross for mortals, whose side was pierced, whence flowed water and blood: be
for us a foretaste of heaven during our final examining. O Jesu sweet, O Jesu pure, O Jesu, Son of
Mary, have mercy upon me. Amen.
Setting for SATB choir and piano on traditional Sacred Harp text.
According to the
pencil
i am a little church
Scored for SATBSATB
and Soprano Solo on a text by e. e. cummings. Commissioned by the Pro Arte Choral of
Chicago, Dan Johnson, Conductor and premiered
Psalm CXVII from the King
James Psalter
For piano and soprano
or tenor and dated S.D.G!
Partita on “Erhält Uns
Herr” – Opus 2
For organ solo. Written in 1981/1985, this was published in the September, 1989 edition of The Organist’s Companion (p.24). Not each movement is dated, so the dates are in the manuscript as follows. The six movement work is dedicated to Timothy La Croix and is organized as follows:
Thema
I. Trio – Pastorella – Grazioso
II. Bicinium – Presto
III.
Trio – Phrygian Canon @ 2 over an Ostinato
IV.
Bicinium – Presto
V. Duo – 4’ Flutes October, 1981 / October, 1985
VI. Finale – Toccata – Allegro spiritoso
Chorale Prelude on “Schmücke
dich, O liebe Seele”
For organ solo; probably written in 1984 and published in The Organist’s Companion (p.6-7) in February, 1986. The published version has the repeat signs in the wrong place. It is a lovely, simple setting. At present, no manuscript survives.
True God of Majesty [tune: Goldstrom]
Hymn text L.M. (8.8.8.8.) and tune (in Eb minor) of mine written approximately 1984.
Exultant shouts of loudest
praise,
Whom saints and angels with
delight,
In awe adore the God of
might.
Awake the viol and touch the
lute
Raise strong the voice and
play the flute,
Upon a thund’rous organ
crown
The music that rings heav’nward
bound.
Enkindle in musicians, Lord
Moved by your Spirit like a
sword,
To raise in holy worship
high,
A loud and pow’rful triumph
cry.
They lead your flock your
chosen band
Like saints, in whitest
robes, they stand,
Commissioned by your cross
they strive,
To holy life and worship
give.
Kind God please consecrate
their work,
As ministers of music mark
Their labors, that they glorify
Our King, as ruler, reigns
on high.
Hurl heav’nward the cries of
love
For peace, fulfillment,
goodness; serve
Our potentate of time and
space
In ev’ry land and ev’ry
place.
To Lord and King and Master,
we
Alleluias, eternally
To Father, Spirit and the
Son
Repeat forever, and anon.
Congregational hymn dated S.D.G. 22 June, 1984 and marked broadly. It is dedicated to Glen Boisclair, hence the tune name, the text is by me.
With all the saints that
live on earth,
And all the host of Heav’n
We magnify you glo’rious
name,
And Praise you singing:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Praise
to the King!
Before mankind you did
create
The Angels, earth and stars,
They sang to you with one
clear voice,
The universe sang:
Alleluia, Alleluia, You made
us all.
To finish your creation Lord
You then created man,
They put you on a cross, you
died,
You rose and then sang:
Alleluia, Alleluia, I am the
Life.
Eternal life and all good
things
You have provided man,
To Father, Son and Holy
Ghost
We endlessly sing:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia! Amen.
A choral cycle for Chorus, Organ and incidental soloists finished in 1982. It was my Master’s thesis.
I.
I called to the Lord, in my
distress, the Lord answered by setting me free.
It is better to rely on God,
than to put any trust in flesh, it is better to rely on God that to put any
trust in rulers.
I was pressed so hard that I
almost fell but the Lord came to my help.
There is a sound of
exultation and victory in the tents of the righteous: the right hand of the
Lord has triumphed. The right hand of the
Lord is exalted.
I shall not die, but live
and declare the works of the Lord.
Open for me the gates of the
righteous, I will enter them, I will offer thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord, he who is righteous may enter.
-Psalm 118
II.
For I know that my Redeemer
lives, and at last stand upon the earth.
After my skin has been thus destroyed, then from my flesh shall I see God.
-Job
None of us lives to himself,
and none of us dies to himself. If we
live, we live to the Lord. If we die, we
die to the Lord; so whether we live or whether we die we are the Lord’s.
IV
I am the Resurrection and
the Life says the Lord; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.
And, whoever lives, and
believes in me, shall never die.
V
To Him who loves us and by
His blood, has freed us from our sins, and has make us a kingdom and priests
serving his God and Father, to Him be glory and power
forever. Amen.
Look, He is coming in the
clouds, and every eye shall see Him, even the men who pierced Him and all the
people on earthy will mourn over Him. So
it will be. Amen
I am the Alpha and Omega,
says the Lord God, who is and was and is coming, the Almighty.
VI
As I say this, I heard
around the throne, with the four living beings and the elders, the voices of
many angels, numbering ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of
thousands who called out loud: the Lamb who was sacrificed deserves to get
poser and wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise.
Then I heard every creature
in heaven, on earth, under the earth and on the sea, and all that are in them
saying: to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory,
might, forever.
The four living beings said
amen, and the elders bowed down and worshipped Him.
SATBSATB double choir
piece begun but not finished. The
original composition was to be fitted with an English singing translation. In the file is a literal translation by the sainted
Hilmar Miessler long-time member of
This SATB and later
SATTB setting was written by Johann Walther (1496-1570). I did an English translation and added the
Gregorian alternating verses in English as well. From my days at
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit
rejoices in God my Savior; for he has regarded the lowliness of his
handmaiden. For behold from this day all
generations will call me blessed: for He who is mighty has done great things to
me and holy is his Name. And His mercy on those who fear Him throughout all generations. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has
scattered the proud in their own conceit. He has put down the mighty from their seats,
and exulted the humble and meek. He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away. He has
remembered His mercy and sustained His servant
Monodic plainchant dated 7 April, 1981 and later used in The Seven Words from the Cross, Opus 7 in 1987.
Lord God, we come in awe and
gratitude. We remember your redeeming
love upon this day, for by Hist stripes we are healed, He was bruised for our
Iniquity. Amen.
Trope I
O perfect love, all
humanthoughts transcending, save us O Lord.
Amen
Trope II
Behold and see if there be any sorrow, like unto his sorrow.
Hymn tune and text by me. Textual meter is 11.11.11.5 Graded by Carl Schalk. Circa 1981. Hymn tune name is “Edward”
Lord, Christ, You suffered
all our sins atoning,
We stand and watch your
cruel fate bemoaning,
It is our fault, that You should bear this burden,
God’s body broken.
Savior, You
battled all satanic forces,
You stemmed the flood of
darkness pouring o’er us,
In glory coming from the
tomb, the prison,
God is arisen.
When Christ, You meet us at Your banquet table,
Help us remember,
through Your cross we’re able
To be released from sinful,
earthly passion;
God’s new creation.
Lord, let the mystery of
Your Spirit’s presence
Refresh our hearts and guide
us in obedience.
Oh, Lord, Creator, You in
love forgive us,
Dwell always in us.
To God the Father, King of
Earth and Heaven,
To Jesus Christ, the Son to
us was given,
To God the Holy Ghost, our
Soul’s Preserver,
Be praise forever.
SATB
with Organ written approximately 1979 or 1980 for Metropolitan United Methodist
Church Choir in
I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the ending,
Who is and who was and who
is to come, The Almighty!
Behold!
The tabernacle of God is
with men, and He shall swell wit them
And He shall be their God,
and they shall be His people.
For Piano, Alto Sax Mouthpiece, Tenor, Bassoon, Tuba or Baritone and Snare Drum.
Circa 1980, uses aleatoric elements and theater effects.
Music theory assignment apparently for piano in c minor and dated November, 1977.
A Carol
(See above)
Sleeping Child,
Quiet night,
Peace all around
Enter our hearts O Light of the Earth!
Advent light
Solstice night,
Quiet and Joy;
Transform our being with Transcendent Love.
Holy times,
Pious Joy,
Longing for Love
Searching for centeredness day after day
Turbulence,
Restlessness,
Drastic response
Miracles glisten to show us a way.
Despotic Crafter of the
Stars
8.6.8.6.
Despotic Crafter of the stars
Create a living creed;
Bring truth and peace and brotherhood
To modern man’s great need.
For now, two thousand years have passed
Since You on hearth have walked,
For times to come, five hope of love
As new frontiers evolve.
Recalcitrant and evil-minded,
Purposefully blind,
Give us a healing of our soul,
A clearing of the mind.
Refresh our hearts in dismal days
And from our minds remove
The apathetic view of need,
Contrasted by Your love.
In ever-stressful lives of fear,
No solitary sound;
Give grace, relief, fair peace impart,
Ennoble truth profound.
Regard you persons of all time,
Especially today;
Give us the wisdom to believe,
Your changeless vital way.
From pills and pain, from hate and greed,
From booze and sluts and lust,
Recall our mind to solid truth,
That man is merely dust.
In ministry, society
In full shall not partake,
Of ever-changing benefits,
Our selves to re-awake.
Redemptive Pow’r, Transcendent Peace,
Inspire our hearts today.
Restructure life, trade strife for joy,
The Life, the Truth, the Way.
Create like-minded selflessness
Unite us all as one;
Give introspective servant hood
Focused on the Son.
Our Hope, our Strength, our Confidence,
Old themes return again,
Until celestial beings cry
A soul-rending “Amen!”
Immortal God of timeless Realm
Inspire us, show us how.
Still Father, Son and Holy One.
Eternity is now!
11.11.11.11. (See 2004 above)
In piquant devotion all come to the Son
For better, for wanting we live and proclaim
Our union our passion to One God the same.
We wrestle, we struggle, to live to the Lamb;
Without reservation to serve the “I AM.”
Tomorrow and yesterday both are the same
To live to the calling of Christ, to His name.
Immortal, invisible, to live our lives
In simple devotion and be truly wise;
To be loved and love is a holy decree,
For life, and for Christ, and for family be.
Light!
8.8.8.8.
The dancing flames of Advent light
Have given way to Christmas glow;
In kingly splendor, westward-let
Come some the star’s great Light to know.
The sullen, dank, descending hues
Are beckoned by an ash-filled Lent;
The brightness now no longer sensed,
In cryptic mystery is spent.
The blackness hurls
itself at
On bad Good Friday’s day;
Obsidian is all around –
Perforce, complete dismay.
Incendiary, shocking Light
Comes from the stone-cold tomb;
In blinding transcendental might,
Flames afresh exhume!
The flames of hell are nothing more
Or nothing less maybe,
Than cataclysmic separateness
From the great One in Three.
In worship, celebration, song,
In daytime and at night,
Give us the knowledge absolute
That You alone are Light.
In cyclic dancing, round and round
Seasons of light go past;
An endless panoply of time
Our Rock, to whom, we grasp.
Lord, Christ, You suffered all our sins atoning
11.11.11.5.
Lord, Christ, You suffered all our sins atoning,
We stand and watch your cruel fate bemoaning,
It is our fault, that You should bear this burden,
God’s body broken.
Savior, You battled all satanic forces,
You stemmed the flood of darkness pouring o’er us,
In glory coming from the tomb, the prison,
God is arisen.
When Christ, You meet us at Your banquet table,
Help us remember, through Your cross we’re able
To be released from sinful, earthly passion;
God’s new creation.
Lord, let the mystery of Your Spirit’s presence
Refresh our hearts and guide us in obedience.
Oh, Lord, Creator, You in love forgive us,
Dwell always in us.
To God the Father, King of Earth and Heaven,
To Jesus Christ, the Son to us was given,
To God the Holy Ghost, our Soul’s Preserver,
Be praise forever.
True God of Majesty
8.8.8.8. (see
above)
Exultant shouts of loudest praise,
Whom saints and angels with delight,
In awe adore the God of might.
Awake the viol and touch the lute
Raise strong the voice and play the flute,
Upon a thund’rous organ crown
The music that rings heav’nward bound.
Enkindle in musicians, Lord
Moved by your Spirit like a sword,
To raise in holy worship high,
A loud and pow’rful triumph cry.
They lead your flock your chosen band
Like saints, in whitest robes, they stand,
Commissioned by your cross they strive,
To holy life and worship give.
Kind God please consecrate their work,
As ministers of music mark
Their labors, that they glorify
Our King, as ruler, reigns on high.
Hurl heav’nward the cries of love
For peace, fulfillment, goodness; serve
Our potentate of time and space
In ev’ry land and ev’ry place.
To Lord and King and Master, we
Alleluias, eternally
To Father, Spirit and the Son
Repeat forever, and anon.
With all the saints that live on earth,
And all the host of Heav’n
We magnify you glo’rious name,
And Praise you singing:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Praise to the King!
Before mankind you did create
The Angels, earth and stars,
They sang to you with one clear voice,
The universe sang:
Alleluia, Alleluia, You made us all.
To finish your creation Lord
You then created man,
They put you on a cross, you died,
You rose and then sang:
Alleluia, Alleluia, I am the Life.
Eternal life and all good things
You have provided man,
To Father, Son and Holy Ghost
We endlessly sing:
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Amen.
Wandering in a Panoply of ceasless motion;
Frequently without a clue – dichotomies of conflict
Whir in swirling turbulence,
Directionless direction combine with undulating pain;
But I have a point, a light, a focus, -
I found him in an unexpected place.
Benign presence guides me to hope from despair –
Enticing me serenely to greater maturity to life.
My lighthouse is a man who, though ordinary in many ways,
Combines masculine strength, feminine tenderness,
Gripping poignant intensity and cat-like indifference.
Give me love; only if it be him –
Give me life; if through it I find Light –
GIVE ME LIGHT – it draws me to my one.
The one who is my center, my source –
My Lighthouse.
Love is a blighting cherub boy with quiver full or wiles,
Some tip’d with sorrows (some enjoy!) while others promise smiles.
To dodge the arrow meant for you may lead to some surprise;
ill-omened matches doth produce. True pairings compromised.
Lips ne’er intended to embrace shall rapple passions deep,
and only glimpse their true love’s face in yearning, dream-wracked sleep!
Ode to Joy
Desolation hums with intricate patters of lonely pilgrimages.
Travels to and from the wellspring of the original
Source of pain.
Chacun
à son gout.
The miraculous, poignant reality is that
With many solitaries,
None junctures.
Love can die
Hope has already vanished.
Et
tu Brurte?
Wrong, in sickly imitation,
Assumes a pallid luster often thought to be right.
Suicide is better
Than hope
When the latter betrays.
Blood is thicker than water and
Peace is nothing but a tale for the dull orthodox.
My end is not my beginning –
My end is the end.
Sepulchral Joy.
Moribund Peace –
Tomb – love,
Reality.
One Alone
In solitary convalescence
Discovered by divine providence
By yet another
One Alone.
United Strengths
Bring lovely unions
Warm together, soft moments
In intoxicating joy – such
United Strengths.
Quiet Love
Carrying its way through years
Embracing soft conflict, tender emotions
Fervent gentility, workaday productivity begets
Quiet Love.
One Alone
Never to be solitary,
A peaceful need for permanent joy
And never, never be
One Alone.
I love you. Valentine’s day
1989.
Lost in nature’s panoply;
A lover’s touch.
The breath-taking awe
of sunset at the
A soft part in contact with another soft part.
The pageantry of desert;
A bitten lobe.
The heights of
A hand where no one else may touch.
Distracted by verdure inescapable, incomprehensible;
The incapacitating realization that one is truly loved.
Overcome by the monstrous, endless universe;
The desolation when that love leaves forever.
Please approach my portals –
But gently.
I feel tenderness,
I rejoice in innocence,
Though perhaps old or older,
A giggle is still splendid.
The first time you hold my hand –
Please mean it.
Liking me, simply liking me,
Is a good place to start.
I have seen too much and
Too little of the world;
Love can grow.
Re-create me young and
I will do so to you.
The world has grown too dirty
Let us play and sport like children.
Please, may we hug and laugh
And kindly tease
‘Till our hearts burst with joy!
I dream that you would re-create me young
And I promise to do so to you.
Requiescat – non Pacem
Like the hard crack of an angry sentence
Death walks down the cobblestone alley.
It slows;
Anxious ears and pounding hearts never
Really take it all in; until it is
Too late.
Such a simple and loving act really;
The vengeance of evil mortality wrapped up in a
Lover’s touch;
Salva me – No! Luceat eis – Hardly.
To live and love and smile and cry
All alone.
The all-fortelling knell is swiftly tolled.
The self-fulfilling prophesy is turned
To me.
The Eternal separation – from Love,
From God, from Emotion, from Hope before
Physical death.
Limbo seems a silly term for little ones,
Taught in guilt-ridden classes of religion;
Death dances.
Peace takes on a moribund, sickly, caste
Life sputters, momentarily agitated then
Is gone.
Will the circle be unbroken bye and bye?
I shake my soul and subtly indicate
Never more.
Exquisite lacerations of the buoyancy
Of the human condition show a herniation of
The Eternal.
Like the hard crack of an angry sentence
Death walks down the cobblestone alley.
It slows;
The quick, casual, quizzical glance
Is caught by Death – This time it is here
For you.
Individual moments of breathtaking beauty-
Flickers and sparkles and lovely sights.
My life is so full of these moments
Given and shared by my life’s one bright light.
These incendiary, dazzling gleams
Seem infinite in their momentary time.
Duration becomes confused with exultation
As love and passion mingle.
My one, my love, my heart
With me shares these seconds of rapture –
In alternation with obsidian-like conflict
Hiding the twinkles.
None-the-less, the ultimate product glistens
Retrospectively obscuring the blackness
The tiny gleams, twinkles, sparkles –
I live for them, no, we live for them –
Sparkles.
With all my love on
Valentine’s Day 1989
To My Ganymede
Such unexcelled radiance beams from his face
The boy alone is mine
Together with charity, brusqueness and grace
His Countenance defines –
Oh, tiding s of comfort and joy.
A playmate unmatched is the youth that I love
Such fun we always share
A trustworthy chum that will ever more prove
He always will be there –
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.
As a man he handles his life with aplomb
Professionally fine
Respected, revered, to criticism dumb
My beloved is mine –
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.
In giving, my lover of course, has no match
Unquenchable his love
In even, smooth, tenderness never a catch
Rapturous touch to prove
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.
Forever, I hope or much longer, I’m sure
His love with me will bind,
A confidant, lover, my dear trusted friend,
Life’s mysteries we’ll find
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.
At times an approximate date is estimate; these date may not be correct.
SATB unaccompanied and written for Phil and Amy Spressart’s wedding. Text by Shakepeare, perhaps 2004?
With love’s light wings did I
o’erperch these walls,
For stony limits cannot hold
love out;
And what love can do,
That dares love attempt.
For
Picc,
How Do I Love Thee?
Scored for voice and piano on the famous text of Elizabeth Barret Browning. I have no recollection as to why this was written or when. It is a lovely setting.
How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and
breadth and height my
soul can reach,
When feeling out of sight for the ends of being and ideal
grace.
I love thee to the level of
ev’ry day’s most quiet need by sun and candle light.
I love thee freely, as men
strive for right;
I love thee purely, as they
turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion
put to use in my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I
seemed to lose with my lost saints.
I love thee with the breadth,
smiles, tears of all my life!
And, if God chose, I shall
but love thee better after death.
Christ Enthroned in
Splendor’s Rays 7.5.7.5
Text and tune by me and I would guess it is from the 1980’s pencil manuscript; unrefined.
Christ enthroned in splendor’s
rays
Coming from the tomb,
Rapturous angels giving
praise,
Rending light from gloom.
Wondrous Works
SATB unaccompanied. One of my favorite works, and has never been performed, the text is a Middle English carol and dates from ca. 1985?
When Jesus Christ was twelve
years old,
As holy
scripture plainly told,
He then disputed brave and
bold
Amongst the learned doctors.
REFRAIN: Then praise the
Lord both high and low,
‘Cause
he his wondrous works doth shew,
That we at last to heav’n
might go,
Where Christ in glory
reigneth.
At thirty years he then
began
To preach the gospel unto
men,
And all
To hear his heav’nly
doctrine:
REFRAIN
The woman’s son that dead
did lie,
When Christ our Saviour
passed by,
He rose to life immediately
To her great joy and
comfort:
REFRAIN
Likewise he healed the
lepers ten,
Whose bodies were full
filthy then;
And there returned back but
one
Him humble thanks to render.
More of his hear’nly might
to shew,
Himself upon the sea did go;
And there was none that e’er
did go:
But only Christ our Saviour:
REFRAIN
When they bereaved his life
so good,
The moon was turned into
blood,
The earth and temple shaking
stood,
And graves full wide did
open.
Then some of them that stood
thereby
With voices loud began to cry
This was the Sond of God
truly,
Without any fear or
doubting:
For, as he said, it came so
plain,
That in three days he rose
again;
Although he suffered bitter
pain,
Heavena dn
earth he conquered:
REFRAIN
Then afterwards ascended he
To heaven in glorious
majesty;
With Him, God grant us all
to be
In heaven with him rejoicing:
REFRAIN
Mary, Woman of the Gospel
Ink manuscript of
perhaps hymn text I was to write? Fairly
damaged by water from
Soprano Descant on “Walther”
(He’s risen, he’s risen, L.W. 138)
Descant probably from the early 1980’s.
Untitled Chorale in C# Minor
11.12.8.8.9.
Undated manuscript copy. This sort of handwriting was characteristic of my early 1980’s style. There is a very dark, incomplete hymn text draft on the reverse.
Once in Royal David’s City
Irby tune arranged for two part children’s choir unaccompanied and quite easy. Mid- 1980’s?
Specks of Music
A song cycle on the magnificent and transcendent texts of R. Tagore in manuscript by Pamela T. Pettibone who introduced me to his poetry. This was set to be sung by Philip A. Kraus, baritone. I am guessing this is from the mid 1980’s. The work is highly organized and cyclic. It has never been performed.
The first flower that
blossom’d on this earth was an invitation to the
unborn song.
There are seekers of wisdom
and seekers of wealth, I seek thy company so that I
may sing.
Let the touch of thy finger
thrill my life;s strings and make the music thine and
mine.
Those thoughts of mine that
are never captured in words perch upon my songs and dance.
The world speaks to me in
pictures, my soul answers in music.
Leave out my name from the
gift if it be a burden, but keep my song.
The earth gazes at the moon
and wonders that she should have all her music in her smile.
I touch God in my song as
the sea touches the faraway sea with its waterfall.
The center is still and
silent in the heart of an eternal dance of circles.
The unseen dark plays on his flute and the rhythm of light eddies into stars
and suns, into thoughts and dreams.
My life’s empty flute waits
for its final music like the primal darkness before the stars came out.
As the tree it leaves, I
shed my words on the earth, let my thoughts unuttered flower in thy silence.
When the voice of the silent
touches my words I know him and therefore I know myself.
Life sends up in blades of
grass its silent hymn of praise to the unnamed light.
My songs are to sing that I
have loved thy singing.
I feel that the ferry of my
songs at the day’s end will bring me across to the other shore from where I
shall see.
When death comes and
whispers to me, “Thy days are ended,”
Let me say to him, “I have
lived in love and not in mere time.”
He will ask, “Will thy songs
remain?”
I shall say, “I know not,
but this I know that often when I sang I found my eternity.”
A Song to Sing
SATB unaccompanied probably written in the late 1980’s, the only copy remaining is in the hand of Pamela T. Pettibone. It is a fine, fine work.
Laus honor virtus Gloria, et tibi decus Maria.
A song to sing have I good right, and mirth to
make in this presence,
For now is forn a baron of
might,
Mundum pugillo continens.
This babe was born on Yule
night, in
The name of Him is called
right
Verbum Patris altissimi.
That now is come peace for
to make between the Father of heav’n and us,
And now for that child’s
sake,
Exultet celum laudibus.
Our sin to slay He took the
way, Into the world for heaven’s rike bliss,
And therefore both night and
day,
Resultet terra gaudis.
The Child felled all the
fiend’s pride and with hard iron bound him close
And with the blood of His
dear side
Solvit a pena
miseres.
Now Jesus Christ that comes
so still into the wormb of Mary free,
We pray Thee, if it be Thy
will
Mane nobis cum Domine.
Pencil manuscript probably done for North Shore Women’s Chorus ca. 1983 or 1984.