The Good Samaritan

SKU: PR.110418140

ISBN 9781491129432. UPC: 680160640379.

Matheson’s five-movement work is a setting of stained glass windows created by Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse for a rustic country church adjoining the Rockefeller estate near Sleepy Hollow on the Hudson River. Matheson’s suite draws from four Chagall windows: 1. Jeremiah, 2. Isaiah, 3. Crucifixion, 4. The Good Samaritan, and culminates with Matisse’s 5. The Rose.
In 1954, the Rockefeller family asked Henri Matisse to create a stained glass Rose Window for the Union Church of Pocantico Hills, New York as a memorial to Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, the great art patroness and a founder of the Museum of Modern Art. It was to be the artist’s last work. A few years later, Mrs. Rockefeller’s youngest son, David, acting on behalf of the family, commissioned Marc Chagall to create an entire series of stained glass windows to fill the rest of the small church resulting in the large, majestic “Good Samaritan” window and eight sublime smaller windows, each depicting a biblical figure or scene. In 2015, Premiere Commission commissioned James Matheson to compose WINDOWS to celebrate the centennial of the Union Church of Pocantico Hills and the 100th birthday of David Rockefeller. This deeply touching, epic cycle distills into music the intimate, often heart-rending, visions of Chagall as well as the powerful simplicity of Matisse’s modern design which utilizes the striking collage forms he employed in his final years. Matheson’s work also reflects the influence of Olivier Messiaen’s own theologically-inspired music. Like the French master, Matheson utilizes large-scale blocks of harmonies with organ-like sonorities to support and shift the music’s kaleidoscopic planes of color and set into relief the work’s piercing motifs and intricate patterns. The universal themes of love and sacrifice (“Jeremiah” and “Isaiah”), loss and altruism (“Crucifixion” and “The Good Samaritan”) and the jubilant celebration of life and nature (“The Rose”) are memorably portrayed in this poignant tribute to the human spirit.—Bruce Levingston.

SKU: KJ.JB118F

UPC: 084027053553.

Written as a companion piece with Border Dance (JB117), Stranger At My Door is written in memory of Peg Bowden, a resident of southern Arizona, who was active in groups assisting migrants by providing food, shelter, clothing and medical assistance. Peg's book Stranger At My Door chronicles her involvements with a migrant who appeared at her doorstep one Christmas Eve in desperate need. Composer Jack Stamp opens this tone poem with a rendition of O Little Town Of Bethlehem accompanied out of time by a haunting melody in the low winds. An original melody, Peg's Theme and the hymn tune Bera (The Hymn of the Good Samaritan from 1849) are first presented plainly, then interwoven in a rhythmic fantasia of fugato fragments. Peg's Theme returns in its fully-harmonized form and the work ends in peaceful introspection. Solos for Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon, and Bass Clarinet, as well as solis for trumpets and trombones are featured. Although Stranger At My Door incorporates a well known Christmas carol, it is appropriate for all seasons due to its timeless message of selflessness in the face of danger.

SKU: WD.080689784125

UPC: 080689784125.

In this follow-up to their best-seller Fish Tales, Kathie Hill and Melody Morris share the stories of Balaam's donkey, the Good Samaritan, and Jesus riding into Jerusalem. Through these Donkey Tales, children will learn about the obedience God requires, the love we can show our neighbors and the humility that led Jesus to the cross. Kids will love the Tex's Dude Ranch setting where they help owner Tex Arkana tell her Donkey Tales to the accompaniment of the Ranch Hand Band. The country, western swing, bluegrass and rockabilly styles will enhance the setting and energize your choir while the storybook format allows for multiple narrators and simple drama. Best of all, Donkey Tales can be presented in full or as mini-musicals of four to five songs each. So quit horsing around...order Donkey Tales today!

SKU: SU.32040041

Baritone Voice & Piano Duration: 17' Composed: 2014 Published by: Amy Mills Music, LLC These three art songs can be performed independently or in sequence, at any time of the year. Stuart McAlpine’s profound text explores three men from the Christmas story, Joseph, the Inn-keeper, and Simeon. The creative and beautiful musical settings allow for powerfully dramatic interpretation and performance. To Joseph (who taught me how to look at art) The singer sings to Joseph, …you beheld a work of art, the making of a holy heart… and watching through Joseph’s eyes, when hung at last, its meaning was decreed. (4:40) The Inn-keeper’s Lament McAlpine brilliantly explores the possibility…what if the inn-keeper who turned away Mary & Joseph later became the inn-keeper who accepted the injured man brought in by the Good Samaritan? This powerfully dramatic piece depicts the Bethlehem inn-keeper’s bravado, Caeser’s decree was heaven sent, as guests raised glasses, I raised rent! But as the enormity of his mistake became apparent, in later years he bemoans, …if I’d known then what I know now… and finally declares at the end, I know now! (7:50) Simeon’s Last Prayer Simeon sings of being summoned to the temple where he holds his infant Savior. …then as grandfathers do, rejoiced as if he were my one-and-only too. As he leaves he whispers his final prayer, …dismiss your servant, to find You face-to-face. (4:30) Difficulty Level: Baritone/Mezzo-Soprano 6 (Professional) (Baritone Range: low A (optional low G) to high F# (optional high G,A) (Mezzo Range: low A (optional low G) to high G (optional high A) Piano 6 (Professional)(Same level as Debussy or Ravel) See also the version for Mezzo-Soprano and Piano See composer website for audio sample.

SKU: GI.G-CD-489

ISBN 9781579991449.

Debuted at the 2000 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, The Feast of Life reminds us of the fourteen banquets mentioned in Luke's Gospel and invites us once again to hear and experience the stories of Jesus. In this new musical by Marty Haugen, a diverse group of adults and children gather around a banquet table to retell the parables in Luke's Gospel. The group tells and sings of The Good Samaritan, The Prodigal Son, The Journey to Emmaus, and other parables, as well as the birth and the Passion of Jesus.

SKU: FG.55009-927-2

ISBN 979-0-55009-927-2.

SKU: MN.56-0022

UPC: 688670220272. Latin. Luke 10:33; Isaiah 66:13.

Written for the Enchanted Voices CD, this is one of many settings of texts either from the Beatitudes (or springing from them) available from this composer. For soprano solo and SSA voices, cello, organ, and synthesizer, the music has a light, ethereal feeling. “Beati” can be taken as a sort of “Blessed are they” prefix for the movements which are not direct quotes from the Beatitudes. This is piece is a Latin setting of Luke 10:33 (“A certain Samaritan being on his journey came near him”) and Isaiah 66:13 (“As one whom the mother caresses, I will comfort you”). Quick, florid, and leaping passages begin in the solo voice as the chorus comments and then repeats those passages. After that the piece is basically a duet structure with only two measures where the sopranos divide. Duration 4:44