And There Was Light

Dan Welcher’s most enduringly and frequently played orchestral work, Prairie Light is a fascinating musical companion to three of Georgia O’Keeffe’s most unusual paintings, Light Coming on the Plains, Canyon with Crows, and Starlight Night. This work is ideal for performances using visual projections of the paintings, and is frequently programmed for subscription concerts as well as those for educational settings. Duration: 14’ Parts available on rental.
This work for full orchestra was inspired by three paintings of the noted Americanartist Georgia O’Keeffe. These three watercolors were done in 1917 while the artist was living in Canyon, Texas (near Amarillo), and deal primarily with color and shape. Consequently, the music is primarily concerned with broad lines and shapes rather than rhythms, with subtle washes of color rather than constant harmonic movement, and with arching melody instead of linear counterpoint.The first movement, Light Coming on the Plains, is an elliptical-shaped painting, deep blue to indigo with a “horizon” at the bottom that seems flat and unchanging. The sun hasn’t risen yet, although it does in the course of this movement, but it seems instead to be providing light from behind the canvas. The music is unmoving in terms of rhythm or harmony (although there is a modulation midway through), a color-infused mantra of sound that is almost Eastern.At the height of the sun, we proceed to the second movement, entitled Canyon with Crows. The canyon is red-orange, with black crows circling above friendly unfolding hills. The music is gentle but lively and more rhythmic, with the birds represented by solo oboe, clarinet, and sometimes flute. Halfway through, the brass have a chorale version of the opening motive, played very slowly, over the unending triplets of woodwinds and strings. At the end of the movement, the birds return for a duo-cadenza, accompanied by the dying rays of the sun in muted strings and the ongoing triplets of the solo quartet.The stage is set for the final movement, Starlight Night. In O’Keeffe’s painting, the stars are represented by regularly-spaced rectangles of bright pale yellow on a blue-black sky, with the same shape to the field of vision and the horizon that is found in Light Coming on the Plains. The stars become audible: harp, celesta, glockenspiel, and string pizzicati all lend a sparkle while a solo flute introduces a slowly unfolding theme. After this theme has been heard twice and the sky has begun to really brighten, there is a sudden interruption: a xylophone and a piano begin another “mantra” in brittle staccato chords. This is the same mechanical eternity as O’Keeffe’s regularly-spaced square stars, and it continues on its own as the night progresses. The music builds and grows as the moon rises and arcs, then falls as the pre-dawn light that opened the work returns to bring it to a close. Acycle of light, changing with the movements of sun, moon, and stars, appearing differently from various points of view

Choral (TTBB Choir)

SKU: HL.1106056

Composed by David Chase and Judith Clurman. Choral. Chanukah, Holiday, Winter. Octavo. Duration 195 seconds. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.1106056).

UPC: 196288102427. 6.75x10.5x0.036 inches.

Now available for Men's choir! Chanukah is a celebration of freedom. Legend has it that when the eternal light was rekindled, there was only enough oil for one day. It miraculously lasted for eight. Here we celebrate the festival and the miracle.

Choral (Listening CD)

SKU: HL.293402

A Cantata for Christmas. Composed by Joseph M. Martin. Shawnee Sacred. Advent, Cantata, Christmas, Christmas/Advent Sacred. CD. Duration 3000 seconds. Published by Shawnee Press (HL.293402).

ISBN 9781540051042. UPC: 888680936198. 5.0x5.0x0.075 inches.

This cantata is a celebration of light. Filled with time-honored carols and expressive original songs, this work will dazzle and inspire. The first half of the cantata is dedicated to hopeful prophecies associated with the coming Light of the World. With the birth of Jesus, the second part moves forward to declare the tidings of great joy and is crowned with an opportunity for the congregation to join in singing, Joy to the World. Brant Adams and Robert Sterling shine as orchestrators of this truly festive work. Glorious! Songs include: A Festive Call to Christmas; Celebration of Light; Come, Golden Light; Dazzling Joy; Beautiful Name; Dreamer of Stars; Angel Song; Silver and Shadows; Joyous Carols of Christmas. Score and Parts for Full Orchestra (fl 1-2, ob, cl 1-2, bn, hn 1-2, tpt 1-3, tbn, 1-2, tba, timp, perc 1-2, hp, pno, vn 1-2, va, vc, db) available as a Printed Edition and as a digital download. Score and Parts for Consort (fl, cl, tpt 1-2, tbn, perc, kybd str) available as a Printed Edition and as a digital download.

Choral (Studiotrax CD)

SKU: HL.293400

A Cantata for Christmas. Composed by Joseph M. Martin. Shawnee Sacred. Advent, Cantata, Christmas, Christmas/Advent Sacred. CD. Duration 3000 seconds. Published by Shawnee Press (HL.293400).

ISBN 9781540051028. UPC: 888680936174. 5.0x5.0x0.197 inches.

This cantata is a celebration of light. Filled with time-honored carols and expressive original songs, this work will dazzle and inspire. The first half of the cantata is dedicated to hopeful prophecies associated with the coming Light of the World. With the birth of Jesus, the second part moves forward to declare the tidings of great joy and is crowned with an opportunity for the congregation to join in singing, Joy to the World. Brant Adams and Robert Sterling shine as orchestrators of this truly festive work. Glorious! Songs include: A Festive Call to Christmas; Celebration of Light; Come, Golden Light; Dazzling Joy; Beautiful Name; Dreamer of Stars; Angel Song; Silver and Shadows; Joyous Carols of Christmas. Score and Parts for Full Orchestra (fl 1-2, ob, cl 1-2, bn, hn 1-2, tpt 1-3, tbn, 1-2, tba, timp, perc 1-2, hp, pno, vn 1-2, va, vc, db) available as a Printed Edition and as a digital download. Score and Parts for Consort (fl, cl, tpt 1-2, tbn, perc, kybd str) available as a Printed Edition and as a digital download.

Preview Pack (SATB Book/Listening CD) Choral (Preview Pak)

SKU: HL.293404

A Cantata for Christmas. Composed by Joseph M. Martin. Shawnee Sacred. Advent, Cantata, Christmas, Christmas/Advent Sacred. Softcover with CD. Duration 3000 seconds. Published by Shawnee Press (HL.293404).

ISBN 9781540051066. UPC: 888680936211. 6.75x10.5x0.388 inches.

This cantata is a celebration of light. Filled with time-honored carols and expressive original songs, this work will dazzle and inspire. The first half of the cantata is dedicated to hopeful prophecies associated with the coming Light of the World. With the birth of Jesus, the second part moves forward to declare the tidings of great joy and is crowned with an opportunity for the congregation to join in singing, Joy to the World. Brant Adams and Robert Sterling shine as orchestrators of this truly festive work. Glorious! Songs include: A Festive Call to Christmas; Celebration of Light; Come, Golden Light; Dazzling Joy; Beautiful Name; Dreamer of Stars; Angel Song; Silver and Shadows; Joyous Carols of Christmas. Score and Parts for Full Orchestra (fl 1-2, ob, cl 1-2, bn, hn 1-2, tpt 1-3, tbn, 1-2, tba, timp, perc 1-2, hp, pno, vn 1-2, va, vc, db) available as a Printed Edition and as a digital download. Score and Parts for Consort (fl, cl, tpt 1-2, tbn, perc, kybd str) available as a Printed Edition and as a digital download.

By Michael Skloff. Arranged by Bob Cerulli. Orchestra. String Orchestra. Pop Beginning String Orchestra. Light Concert; TV. Grade 1. Conductor Score and Parts. Duration 2:25. Published by Alfred Music . Score and Parts. Light Concert; TV.

Arranged by Joel Raney. For Solo voice or Unison choir, SAB choir, and Piano accompaniment. The Joel Raney Choral Series. Sacred, General, Hymntune, Blues/Gospel, Celebration, Commitment, Dedication, Hymntune, Light, Outreach, Rock'n'Roll, Service, Spiritual. Octavo. 12 pages. Published by Hope Publishing Company.

By Mumford and Sons. Arranged by Mark A. Brymer. Pop Choral Series. Folk/Rock, Light Concert, Pop, Show Choir. Octavo. 12 pages. Published by Hal Leonard

(A Candle Lighting Ceremony for Advent). By Joel Raney. For SAB choir with optional 4 handbells and congregation. The Joel Raney Choral Series. Candle Lighting, Advent, Sacred. Octavo. 12 pages. Published by Hope Publishing Company

No. 3 - Is There a Place?. By Aaron Jay Kernis. (SATB). Choral. 16 pages. Published by Associated Music Publishers, Inc.

For voice and C instrument. Format: fakebook (spiral bound). With vocal melody, lyrics, piano accompaniment, chord names and leadsheet notation. Hymn. Series: Hal Leonard Fake Books. 494 pages. 9x12 inches. Published by Hal Leonard.