Works for Choir
Be Music, Night
2.5', for SATB choir with divisi, a cappella
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
3', for SATB choir, cello, and piano, and optional congregation
This three-verse arrangement of the tune "Nettleton," like the arrangement of My Shepherd Will Supply My Need below, was written for my wife Hailey Anthum Hunter for our wedding and was premiered by our dear friends during the ceremony.
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
3', for SATB choir (with tenor and baritone solos), cello, and piano
This three-verse arrangement of the tune "Resignation," like the arrangement of Come, Thou Fount above, was written for my wife Hailey Anthum Hunter for our wedding and was premiered by our dear friends during the ceremony.
Order physical or PDF copies of the choral score and cello part to My Shepherd Will Supply My Need
Ah, Holy Jesus
5', for SATB choir, organ, orchestra, and optional congregation
This arrangement of Ah, Holy Jesus was commissioned by Steven A. Newberry and the Music Ministry of St. John the Divine, Houston, TX, for their Good Friday service in 2014. A video of the premiere performance can be found on the Look / Listen Page.
The arrangement was written to follow the reading of the Passion Gospel, and begins with a solo cello and string introduction, followed by the five verses from the Episcopal 1982 Hymnal with optional congregational participation. Ah, Holy Jesus was premiered by the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra and the St. John the Divine Chorale, Steven A. Newberry conducting, on April 18, 2014.
Order physical or PDF copies of the choral score and/or full score and parts to Ah, Holy Jesus
Personent Hodie (arrangement)
2.5', for SATB choir, organ, handbells, and brass quintet
This arrangement of Personent Hodie (sung in English) was commissioned by Steven A. Newberry and the Music Ministry of St. John the Divine, Houston, TX, and was premiered by the St. John the Divine Chorale, Steven A. Newberry conducting, on Christmas Eve 2013.
The arrangement is written for handbells (to be played by the choir), organ, and brass quintet, but can be performed by choir and organ alone (or choir, handbells, and organ) using the suggested reduction provided in the choral score.
Order physical or PDF copies of the choral score and/or full score and parts to Personent Hodie
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
4', for SATB choir, tenor solo, and organ (version for SATB choir, tenor solo, string quartet, and piano available)
Jesus Christ the Apple Tree was commissioned by Steven A. Newberry and the Music Ministry of St. John the Divine, Houston, TX, and was premiered by the St. John the Divine Chorale, Steven A. Newberry conducting, in December of 2012. The string excerpt above is from a performance in Houston, TX, in the Spring of 2013.
The text of Jesus Christ the Apple Tree is strangely beautiful, and this setting reflects its depiction of its peace and fulfillment. Most settings of this poem utilize only five of the seven written verses, while this adds in a sixth, beginning "This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, / it cheers my heart like spirit'l wine".
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Alma Redemptoris Mater
for SATB choir (divisi) and soprano solo cappella
Alma Redemptoris Mater was commissioned by Pastyme, a professional chamber choir in Asheville, NC, on the occasion of the retirement of two of their long-time members, and was premiered by the group at a performance in the winter of 2012. The above excerpt is from a performance in Houston, TX, in the spring of 2013.
Alma Redemptoris Mater is one of the most famous Marian antiphons in the Catholic tradition, praying for forgiveness on "sinners who have fallen, but are seeking to rise again." The work was written for an eight-voice chamber ensemble and makes use of all eight singers as individuals, passing solo lines between sections and individual voice parts throughout.
Order physical or PDF copy of Alma Redemptoris Mater
Child of the Dawn
3.5', for SATB choir and organ
Child of the Dawn was commissioned by Dr. Homer Ferguson for the Emmanuel Choir of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Southern Pines, NC, and was premiered by the group in September of 2011. A video of the premiere performance can be found on the Look / Listen Page.
Child of the Dawn is appropriate for most four-voice church choirs: the text is sacred but non-liturgical, the choir is mostly homophonic, keeping the voices together throughout, but the work still presents challenges for the choir in rhythm and tonality.
Order physical or PDF copy of Child of the Dawn
Sweeter Far than Honey
6', for SATB choir (divisi) and organ
Sweeter Far than Honey was commissioned by the Association of Anglican Musicians for their 2011 National Conference in North and South Carolina and was premiered by combined conference choir during the Summer of 2011.
The work is a virtuosic setting of Psalm 19, written for large choral forces and a sizable organ. It is dedicated to Todd Donatelli, the Dean of All Souls Cathedral, Biltmore Village, NC.
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White Wings
for SATB choir a cappella
White Wings was written as a wedding gift for a dear friend and was premiered at Furman University in the Spring of 2011.
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Duo Seraphim
for SATB/SATB double choir a cappella
Duo Seraphim is a work for double-choir on a text from the Matin Responsory for Trinity Sunday. The text describes two angels calling back and forth across the throne of God, imagery that evoked the grand tradition of responsorial double-choir works by Gabrieli and Scheidt. The work was written during the fall of 2010 and is dedicated to maestro Mauro Marchetti, conductor of the Coro Città di Roma.
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The Starlight Night
4.5', for SATB choir (divisi) and organ
The Starlight Night was written during the spring of 2010 and was premiered by the Furman University Chamber Choir under the direction of the composer in a performance for the Furman Music Department Spring Honors Recital of 2010. It is a fun, rhythmic setting of a text by Gerard Manley Hopkins and is dedicated to my first composition professor, Mark Kilstofte.
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Farewell and Thanksgiving
1', for SATB choir (divisi) a cappella
Farewell and Thanksgiving, on a poem by Mark van Doren, was written for the singers of the 2010 Furman Singers European Tour to Spain. It is dedicated to Bingham Vick Jr., on the occasion of his retirement from 40 years of distinguished service to Furman University and to his students, and was premiered in Spain during that tour.
Click here to download a free copy of Farewell and Thanksgiving, distributed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND License
Neither Slumber nor Sleep
3.5', for SATB choir (divisi) and organ
Neither Slumber nor Sleep was commissioned by Ernest Theodor Ahl in memory of Carroll Dean Ensley for the Cathedral Choir of the Cathedral of All Souls, Biltmore Village, NC, and was premiered by the choir in a performance in the Spring of 2010. The work is a peaceful setting of Psalm 121, a psalm with particular residence for those of us who grew up and live in the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains.
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Cantico Delle Creature
32', for SSATBB choir, soprano solo, organ, and woodwind quintet
see the Works for Large Ensemble page for more information
Evening Prayer
3', for SATB choir and organ
Evening Prayer was written after a series of conversations with J. Phillip Newell, the celebrated author and theologian. This text immediately struck me, being full of charged words, a dream for a composer. The piece was commissioned by Emily Brown on behalf of the Chancel Choir at Furman University. The piece is slow, meditative, and maintains a solemn but steady tempo throughout.
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Littlemore Tractus
2.5', for SATB/SATB double chorus a cappella
Littlemore Tractus is a piece written in 2008 for double SATB choirs on a text by John Henry Newman. It is dedicated to Kyle Ritter, Canon for Music at the Cathedral of All Souls in Biltmore Village, NC.
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Love
3', for SATB choir a cappella
My first performed work; a simple setting of 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 for four unaccompanied voices.