SKU: FG.55011-372-5

ISBN 9790550113725.

Images of the sea figure prominently throughout my life and memories: from holidays on the Atlantic coast during my Canadian childhood to my current Baltic home, and the imagined, only later experienced Mediterranean of my ancestral heritage. As an immigrant (son of an immigrant) bound to two northern countries, the sea is emblematic of my twin homelands, from the expanses of water surrounding them to those separating them. A Mari usque ad Mare. The sea is also an enduring image of the unknown, of expanses unexplored, of the raw power of nature and, for too many currently, of terror holding a hope of refuge - or the pain of loss.
Such disparate ideas were captured for me in the seascapes of the New York painter MaryBeth Thielhelm, whom I met in 2008 during a residency on the Gulf of Mexico. Her vast, abstract, nearly monochromatic depictions of imaginary seas in wildly varying moods were the catalyst for a concerto where the piano is frequently far from a hero battling a collective, but rather acts as a channel for elemental forces surging up from the orchestra, floating - sometimes barely so - on its constantly shifting surface. There are few themes to speak of, beyond a handful of iconic ideas that periodically cycle upward. Rather, the piano's material is largely an ornamentation of the more primal rhythmic and harmonic impulses from the orchestra below - a poetic interpretation, if you will, of the more immediate experience of facing the vastness of some unknown body of water.
The title Nameless Seas is borrowed from one of Thielhelm's exhibitions, as are those of the four movements, which are bridged together into two halves of roughly equal weight - one rhapsodic and free, the other more single-minded and direct, separated only by a short breath. The opening movement, Nocturne, is predominantly calm, if brooding, darkness and light alternating throughout. Lyrical arabesques sparkle over gently lapping cross-currents in the strings and mirrored timpani, the piano's full power only rarely deployed. The waves gradually build, drawing in the full orchestra for a meeting of forces in Land and Sea, a brighter, more warmly lyrical scene that unfolds in series of dreamlike, sometimes even nostalgic visions, which for me carry strong memories of sitting on rocks above surging Atlantic waves. The third movement, Wake, is a fast, perpetual-motion texture of glinting, darting rhythms and sudden shafts of light, with a prominent part for the steel drums, limning the piano's quicksilver figurations. An ecstatic climax crashes into a solo cadenza that grows progressively calmer and more introspective rather than virtuosic. Much of the tension finally releases into Unclaimed Waters, a drifting, meditative seascape in which the piano is progressively engulfed by a series of ever-taller waves, ultimately dissolving into a tolling, rippling continuum of sound.
It has been a great privilege to realize such a long-held dream as this piece, and to write it for not one, but two great pianists. Risto-Matti Marin and Angela Hewitt, both of whose friendship and support have been unfailing and humbling, share the dedication. Nameless Seas was commissioned by the PianoEspoo festival and Canada's National Arts Centre, with the premieres in Ottawa and Helsinki led by Hannu Lintu and Olari Elts. Thanks are due also to the Jenny and Antti Wihuri fund, whose generous grant provided me with much-needed time, and Escape to Create in Seaside, Florida, the source to which I returned to do a large part of the work.

SKU: BT.GOB-000922-030

When I was approached to compose a work for brassband and church organ I already envisioned the concept I would use. It would indeed literally become a work for brassband and organ. Without the traditional solos, the organ would form an addition to the brassband orchestration as would the brassband provide an extra register for the organ. In short a homogeneous entity. The most important reason for doing this is quite simple. Since this work can only be performed in a church and because of the specific acoustics of the church, the brassband would sound in al its tone colour like an organ. By using certain registers of the organ and combining these with the brassband a wonderfulsound palette can be created. The use of complementary or contrasting tone quality is also possible. The primary theme of this composition is based on these three methods of “colouring”. As far as structure is concerned this work consists of two parts. slow fast. It is built on a number of motifs in which some behave like a consecutive canon. In the fast movement the primary motif develops into a fugue-like section. The canon and fugato are techniques frequently used in classical and contemporary organ literature. The liberal use of structure and motif has lead to the title. “Fantasy for Brassband and Organ”.

Jan Bosveld zegt:Toen mij gevraagd werd een compositie te maken voor brassband en kerkorgel stond mij direct een duidelijk concept voor ogen. Het zou inderdaad een werk gaan worden voor brassband en orgel in de letterlijke zin vanhet woord. Geen traditioneel solowerk maar het orgel als uitbreiding van de brassbandbezetting en de brassband als een extra register van het orgel. Kortom, een homogeen geheel. De belangrijkste reden hiervoor is simpel. Het werkkan eigenlijk alleen in een kerk worden uitgevoerd en een brassband, in een kerk met zijn specifieke akoestiek, klinkt in al zijn kleurschakeringen als een orgel. Door het orgel in een bepaalde registratie te laten klinken kan,in combinatie met de brassband, een prachtige mengklank tot stand worden gebracht. Ook kan worden gekozen voor een klank die aanvullend is of contrasterend. Deze drie manieren van “kleuren” is het belangrijkste thema van de compositie.Wat vorm betreft bestaat het werk uit twee delen. langzaam snel. Het is opgebouwd uit een aantal motieven waarvan sommige zich gedragen als een snel opvolgende canon. In het snelle deel wordt het belangrijkste motief uitgebreidtot een fugato-achtig gedeelte. De canon en het fugato zijn technieken die zowel in de klassieke, als de hedendaagse orgelliteratuur veel worden gebruikt. Het vrij omgaan met de vorm en de motieven heeft geleid tot de titel.Fantasy for Brassband and Organ”.

SKU: GI.G-7864FS

UPC: 785147786498. English, Latin, Spanish. Text Source: Revised Order of Mass 2010, Lectionary for Mass

Commissioned by the Maryknoll Community to celebrate its centenary of papal approval in 2011, Missa ad Gentes was composed with a particular vision – to create a Mass setting with the 2010 revised English texts representing both Maryknoll’s United States heritage as well as the diverse cultures in which Maryknoll missioners serve in Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.   With each piece of the Mass, Fr. Joncas honors the musical heritage of a different culture, creating a truly unique setting celebrating the Church’s diversity.  The title, meaning “Mass ‘to the peoples’” draws on the text of the Second Vatican Council’s document on missionary activities. “It is my hope that the Missa ad Gentes will assist English-speaking Roman Rite Catholics to worship with new liturgical texts, faithful to their heritage but enriched by the great diversity of languages and cultures that make up the Church Catholic.” -Michael Joncas Keyboard accompaniment and guitar chords are printed in the edition.

SKU: BT.PMC3865

The Two Songs on American Poems were composed in late May and early June of 2011 by candlelight at my rustic waterfront cabin on a remote island off the northwest coast of Washington State. It was in this locale that I havecompleted a number of works over the years, including the Lux Aeterna, O Magnum Mysterium, Nocturnes, Canticle/O Vos Omnes and others. Prayer was written in memory of Michael Jasper Gioia, Dana and Mary Gioia's infant son, whosebrief life was tragically ended by SIDS.Mr. Gioia served as Chair of the National Endowment for the Arts from 2003-2010 and has authored several books of poems, numerous anthologies, articles, essays and two opera libretti. Amonghis many awards are the American Book Award and Presidential Citizens Medal. He currently holds the Judge Widney Chair of Poetry and Public Policy at the University of Southern California. Sure on this Shining Night was originallycomposed as a choral piece, the third movement of my Nocturnes on poems by Rilke, Neruda and Agee. Rod Gilfry, an international star of opera, recital and musical theater, premiered the mixed duet version with his daughter, Carin,in 2009. He is Professor of Vocal Studies at the USC Thornton School of Music. Both he and Mr. Gioia are national treasures. The Two Songs are designed as a pair but may be sung independently - when paired, Sure On This ShiningNight should begin immediatelyfollowing the final, sustained chord of Prayer with no break in between the songs. Both of these songs, premiered by Mr. Gilfry accompanied by the composer at a USC Visions & Voices tribute to DanaGioia on September 27, 2011, have their roots in the American musical theater and should be sung as such.

SKU: HL.35032268

ISBN 9781540027191. UPC: 888680746780. 5.0x5.0x0.066 inches. Joseph M. Martin/Heather Sorenson.

The Christmas story is told with fresh perspective in this collaborative cantata from Joseph Martin and Heather Sorenson. Throughout time, God has touched and motivated hearts through dreams and visions. Christmas Dreams visits these moments in scripture and connects the experiences of ancient times with our modern journey of faith, pointing to Christ, in whose birth the hopes, yearnings and dreams of all the world are fulfilled. Using traditional carols, newly composed seasonal selections and thoughtful narration, this rich work delivers a tapestry of sound and emotion. Share this cantata with your people and help them discover God's graceful touch in their lives! Songs include: Christmas Dreams Overture; Advent Dreams; The Promise and the Prayer; A New Morning of Promise; Zechariah's Song; Mary's Dream; All Through the Night; Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; The Magi's Epiphany; Christmas Dreams; A Gentle Christmas Blessing.