Music For Friends

Much of my work is on commission, collaborations with new colleagues I’ve recently become acquainted with (or not yet met), or close friends with whom I have shared a long professional and personal history.  There are other times, however, when a new work happens for no reason other than I want -- and need -- to write something for someone dear to me. 

WELL SUNG SONG for my “second mom”, Sarah Schutte, is the most recent gift, just bestowed a few weeks ago.  It says what words alone cannot.  Friend and poet Scott Lounsbury describes our shared journeys and destiny in beautifully musical words.

ALL I WAS DOING WAS BREATHING was a dreamed-of project with my good friend Sandra Snow and her women’s chorus at Michigan State University, which she premiered at the 2009 national ACDA convention in Oklahoma City.  I was so taken by Dessislava Nenova’s cello performance in this piece, that I wrote a short solo cello work for her last year.

A LIVING SONG for Doreen Rao celebrated the occasion of the 20^th anniversary of the Choral Music Experience Institute for Choral Teacher Education in York, England in 2006.  IN THE BEAUTY WAY was also for Doreen at the 1997 Institute and TWO FOR FUN (Eletelephony and Mrs. Snipkin & Mrs. Wobblechin) were a gift of early pieces when I was an assistant director with her marvelous Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus.

I wrote a few birthday greetings and a wedding gift for long-time friend Jeff Reynolds.  He also initiated the THREE SONNETS OF JOHN DONNE (Batter My Heart, Three-Personed God, A Hymn to God the Father, At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners), the SATB version of O MUSIC, and the large scale choral/orchestral work ODE TO THE PRESENT AND FUTURE DAYS, which he premiered at Canterbury Cathedral in the summer of 2000.

I THANK YOU GOD FOR MOST THIS AMAZING was written for Stephanie Mitchell Nash and her Women’s Glee Club, when she was a doctoral student at the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.

O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM was a surprise Christmas gift for my mom, sister and niece a few years back.

IF I COULD FLY was a gift for Bill Worrell, sculptor and friend from Art, Texas, whose work moves and inspires me.  This is actually an arrangement of a song he wrote and sent me.  A recording of him singing to his own guitar accompaniment with pinon fire crackling in the background is a treasured memento.

WINTER CHANGES was written for Dr. Robert E. Thomas, mentor and friend, who first introduced me to the young poet Emily Clare Forsythe by sending her poem in a Christmas card, saying she said I “had permission to set it to music if I liked”.  He, too, introduced me to ageless poetry, known by heart.  His recording of favorite poems is another special keepsake.  ACCEPTANCE was also written for Dr. Bob.

AFTER THE FIRE and IF I CAN HELP SOMEBODY were written for my own choirs at the University of Central Florida and first performed by them (and me).

THE US OF ME, my only authored text, was for Scott Sells, partner and friend.

Most of my Christmas music has been for me.  Whether there are fewer collaborative projects at this time of year, or because I have been drawn to interesting poetry of this season, many happened “just because”.  CHRISTMASTIDE, BEAUTIFUL STAR OF BETHLEHEM, THE SHEPHERD’S CAROL, WELCOME ALL WONDERS, CHAUNTECLEERE, DOWN IN YON FOREST, THE FRIENDLY BEASTS, STILL, STILL, STILL, IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER and NEVER A CHILD AS HE are all works I’ve just wanted to write.