Variants on a Shaped Note Tune was commissioned by the Homewood Middle School Band (Homewood AL) and was premiered at the Alabama Music Educators Association Conference in January 2006. The title refers to a traditionalearly American singing style based on reading a system of shapes rather than musical notes. Based on the Scottish tune “Pisgah” from the shape note songbook The Sacred Harp the Variants begin simply with astatement by unison clarinets. From there begins a series of distinctive variations featuring an ingenious mix of styles tempos and instrumentation. Destined to become a staple on required contest lists for years to come thiswork provides an exceptional complement for any program or festival. Dur: 5:00 (Includes Full Performance CD)

(Suite of Shaped Note Tunes for Band)-Shaped note singing is an early American tradition handed down from colonial times and still thrives today thanks in part to the well-known book The Sacred Harp. (Songs from this book were featured in the 2003 motionpicture Cold Mountain.) In creating this distinctive and attractive setting for band Johnnie Vinson uses the following traditional shaped note songs: The Morning Trumpet Hallelujah I'm Going Home andWarrenton. Dur: 8:15