chorus and orchestra
BEFANA: A CHRISTMAS FABLE
cantata or theater piece
soli: sop. or mz., ten., bar., bass. SATB & SA (children) choruses. Keyboard or chamber orchestra 1221 2110 1 Perc. Hp, Strings
G. Schirmer, 40 min.
SONGS OF THE SLAVE
Suite for 2 soloists, chorus and orchestra from John Brown
G. Schirmer. Various performers. 34 min.
“Compelling, stirring, glorious music. Anger, sadness, hope and joy are reflected in the music . . resounding audience acclaim.” “A fitting celebration of Black History Month or Martin Luther King Day.”
1. Orchestral prelude and Blow Ye The Trumpet: chorus
2. The Songs of The Slave: Frederick Douglass, bass-barit.
3. Dan-u-el: freed slave and chorus, bass-barit.
4. Dear Husband: a slave mother, soprano
5. Speech and Declaration: Douglass and chorus
SEVEN JOYS OF CHRISTMAS
Suite for soprano and chorus with solo harp or keyboard or orchestra. Sung by thousands of diverse choirs—children’s, professional and symphonic—for nearly half a century.
ECS. Stanford Chorale, Orchestra. (Arsis CD403) 14 min.
"Christmas music from England, France, Germany, Japan and Spain. . . The finale was a quodlibet of familiar Christmas tunes, all piled fantastically on top of one another in a wonderful witty shout of joy."
1. This is the truth
2. Din don, merrily on high
3. Joseph Dearest
4. Patapan
5. New Year’s Song
6. Fum fum fum
7. God bless the master (quodlibet)
ONCE TO EVERY MAN AND NATION
Variations on An Old Welsh Melody
SATB Chorus, baritone solo, string orchestra or piano or organ. Traditional words by James Russell Lowell with additions from his original poem.
G. Schirmer. Brookline Chorus. 10 min.
(Slightly revised since this premiere performance.)
THE KING’S CONTEST
Dramatic Cantata for 4 soloists, chorus, chamber ensemble or full orchestra. Text from the Apocrypha
G. Schirmer. Virginia Commonwealth Umiversity Singers. 26 min.
“. . . charming, hilarious and sensuous . . . music of pomp and splendor.” “...immensely skillful...the flamboyance of Belshazzar’s Feast”
SINGING IS SO GOOD A THING:
“An Elizabethan Recreation” for chorus, soloist and chamber ensemble. Text by William Byrd, 1588: “Reasons briefly set down to persuade everyone to learne to sing”
C. F.Peters. Skyline College Chorus. 25 min.
“. . . superb! . . .an ouststanding choral work . . .a glorious conclusion.” “. . . zesty, marvelously vocal . . . received an ovation”
SPEECH TO A CROWD
Cantata for baritone, chorus and large orchestra. Text by Archibald MacLeish. No recording available.
Fred Bock Music. 15 min.
“An articulate setting, displaying Mechem’s impressive compositional craft, his attractive and individual tonal style and genuine lyric gifts”