A Cappella Americana

Four poems sharing a common motif of 'Night' provide the texts for my choral cycle Nocturnes, the American Choral Directors Association's commissioned work for its 2005 national convention. For Rilke's atmospheric ?Sa nuit d'ete,? several melodic themes are supported by dense, colorful harmonies in both the choral and piano parts, leading to a climactic section where all are combined and stated simultaneously. Neruda's ?Soneto de la Noche,? from his Cien Sonetos de Amor, speaks of an eternal love that transcends death while reaffirming life. My a cappella setting of this gorgeous poem is predominantly quiet, serene and folk-like, utilizing direct harmonies accompanying long, lyrical vocal lines. Agee's wondrous ?Sure on this Shining Night? is set much like a song from the American musical theater, a genre for which I have held a life-long esteem. Rilke's poignant ?Voici le soir? recalls the opening bell sounds and jazz-tinged chords of the first movement and serves as an epilogue, quietly concluding this cycle of night songs as darkness descends.

Lux Nova sees Eric Whitacre's best-selling 'Lux Aurumque' re-imagined with a middle section of new material from his musical 'Paradise Lost'. Lux Nova works best with a pure balanced shimmering tone with strict attention to the dynamic colors and a slow luscious pacing. This piece for unaccompanied SATB Choir incorporates poetry by Edward Esch translated into Latin by celebrated American lyricist Charles Anthony Silvestri. Eric Whitacre's Lux Nova was featured in the 2014 iTunes festival. Duration: approx. 4:20.

A sorrowful American song that explores the themes of loneliness and loss. Simple and extremely effective arranging allows singers to express the text with tremendous drama. From the Amanda Quist Choral Series. / Choeur Mixte (SATB)

Opus 70-Three short pieces for mixed chorus a cappella: 1. Fire and Ice 2. Richard Cory 3. sweet spring is your

Par ZIMMERMANN HEINZ WERNER. Das Te Deum Deutsch 'Herr Gott, Dich loben wir' for 12-part mixed Chorus a cappella (SSMezMezAATTBarBarBB). The Te Deum in the translation of Martin Luther 1529. Heinz Werner Zimmermann (born 11 August 1930 in Freiburg im Breisgau) is a German composer. Zimmermann had his first composition instruction from 1946 to 1948 with Julius Weismann and studied from 1950 to 1954 in Heidelberg with Wolfgang Fortner as well as at the Kirchenmusikalisches Institut Heidelberg (Institute for Church Music) there. After passing his examinations at the Freiburg Conservatory under Harald Genzmer, he became Fortner's successorin Heidelberg. Here he maintained close contacts with the musicologist Thrasyboulos Georgiades, whose rhythm and language studies influenced him the most, along with his occupation with American spirituals and jazz. From 1963 to 1976 Heinz Werner Zimmermann was director of the Spandauer Kirchenmusikschule (Spandau school of church-music) in Spandau, and then from 1975 to 1996 as successor to Kurt Hessenberg as composition teacher at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts (Brusniak 2001). Zimmermann 's best-known works are his sacred motets with plucked Double Bass, his Organ psalms, and his 'Prosalieder'. Among his chief works are his Missa profana, the sacred oratorio The Bible of Spirituals as well as his Symphonia sacra. Amongst other honors, Zimmermann has been awarded the Music Prizes of the cities of Stuttgart and Berlin, a Villa Massimo Stipend in 1965/66, and received in 1982 the Johann Sebastian Bach Prize. The American Wittenberg University in Springfield bestowed upon him an honorary doctorate, Zimmermann wrote three American theses, including one at the Stanford University in California. (Source: Wikipedia)/ Répertoire / 12 Parties de Choeur a Cappella

Selected by the National Endowment for the Arts as an one of the American Masterpieces of choral music. / Choeur Mixte (SATB) A Cappella

Arrangeur : Kirchner, Shawn / No. 3 from Heavenly Home: Three American Songs / mixed choir (SSATBB) a cappella

A modern interpretation and setting of the Christmas text about the Immaculate Conception by the award winning American composer Matthew Brown, who has had his choral works premiered all over the US. / Choeur Mixte (SATB) A Cappella

A Spiritual Reflection is an African-American spiritual piece which has been beautifully arranged by Moses Hogan for SATB (divisi) a cappella. The song is based on I Am A Poor Pilgrim and Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child and a piano accompaniment is scored for rehearsal purposes.

A shimmering a cappella refrain provides an especially memorable highlight at the end of Mark Hayes', otherwise accompanied, choral arrangement. Originally penned by the 'Father of American Music,' this beloved song has long been associated with the grand pageantry of the Kentucky Derby. / Choeur TTBB

American Folk Song-From a set of three a cappella American folk hymns full SSAATTTTB and rippling fun to do!