SKU: SU.91480570

Text: Angier Brock.

SATB Chorus, Organ Duration: 7' Text: Angier Brock Composed: 2010 Published by: Subito Music Publishing YouTube: Ms. Brock’s moving poem is lyrical throughout. Even in its beautiful originality, the poem invokes The Book of Common Prayer and biblical scripture (the latter through references to dust and breath from Genesis 2 to the final line of the poem invoking the opening of Psalm 62). Ms. Brock’s poetry is also filled with wonderful twists on traditional texts (such as in the creative and reverse naming of the Trinity in speaking of Inventing Wind, Generous Christ, and Luminous God). Musically, the main melodic material of the piece is immediately heard on a solo organ color accompanied by organ strings over a recurring pedal pulse on the pitch C. The chorus soon enters with the first stanza of the text. As this stanza unfolds, the harmony starts to gradually change as the pulsing pedal rhythm begins to move upward by step. An organ interlude, reflective of the opening introduction, soon emerges (though now over a C-sharp recurring pedal pulse), and leads to a similar choral setting as found in stanza one. As the poem’s second stanza moves forward, it eventually folds into the more harmonically rich stanza three. A fast, dance-like section evolves at Inventing Wind, what a lively dance your energy creates! eventually bringing the work to its climax point. The spirit of dance soon subsides and leads to a quiet and gentle close on the words …for you alone my soul in silence waits.


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SKU: PR.312419020

ISBN 9781491131862. UPC: 680160680474. 6.875 x 10.5 inches. English.

Commissioned by the San Francisco Choral Society and the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir, Terra Nostra is a 70-minute oratorio on the relationship between our planet and humankind, how this relationship has shifted over time, and how we can re-establish a harmonious balance. Part I: Creation of the World explores various creation myths from different cultures, culminating in a joyous celebration of the beauty of our planet. Part II: The Rise of Humanity examines human achievements, particularly since the dawn of our Industrial Age, and how these achievements have impacted the planet. Part III: Searching for Balance questions how to create more awareness for our planet’s plight, re-establish a deeper connection to it, and find a balance for living within our planet’s resources. In addition to the complete oratorio, stand-alone movements for mixed chorus, and for solo voice with piano, are also available separately.
Terra Nostra focuses on the relationship between our planet and mankind, how this relationship has shifted over time, and how we can re-establish a harmonious balance. The oratorio is divided into three parts:Part I: Creation of the World celebrates the birth and beauty of our planet. The oratorio begins with creation myths from India, North America, and Egypt that are integrated into the opening lines of Genesis from the Old Testament. The music surges forth from these creation stories into “God’s World” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, which describes the world in exuberant and vivid detail. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “On thine own child” praises Mother Earth for her role bringing forth all life, while Walt Whitman sings a love song to the planet in “Smile O voluptuous cool-breathed earth!” Part I ends with “A Blade of Grass” in which Whitman muses how our planet has been spinning in the heavens for a very long time.Part II: The Rise of Humanity examines the achievements of mankind, particularly since the dawn of the Industrial Age. Lord Alfred Tennyson’s “Locksley Hall” sets an auspicious tone that mankind is on the verge of great discoveries. This is followed in short order by Charles Mackay’s “Railways 1846,” William Ernest Henley’s “A Song of Speed,” and John Gillespie Magee, Jr.’s “High Flight,” each of which celebrates a new milestone in technological achievement. In “Binsey Poplars,” Gerard Manley Hopkins takes note of the effect that these advances are having on the planet, with trees being brought down and landscapes forever changed. Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “A Dirge” concludes Part II with a warning that the planet is beginning to sound a grave alarm.Part III: Searching for Balance questions how we can create more awareness for our planet’s plight, re-establish a deeper connection to it, and find a balance for living within our planet’s resources. Three texts continue the earth’s plea that ended the previous section: Lord Byron’s “Darkness” speaks of a natural disaster (a volcano) that has blotted out the sun from humanity and the panic that ensues; contemporary poet Esther Iverem’s “Earth Screaming” gives voice to the modern issues of our changing climate; and William Wordsworth’s “The World Is Too Much With Us” warns us that we are almost out of time to change our course. Contemporary/agrarian poet Wendell Berry’s “The Want of Peace” speaks to us at the climax of the oratorio, reminding us that we can find harmony with the planet if we choose to live more simply, and to recall that we ourselves came from the earth. Two Walt Whitman texts (“A Child said, What is the grass?” and “There was a child went forth every day”) echo Berry’s thoughts, reminding us that we are of the earth, as is everything that we see on our planet. The oratorio concludes with a reprise of Whitman’s “A Blade of Grass” from Part I, this time interspersed with an additional Whitman text that sublimely states, “I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love…”My hope in writing this oratorio is to invite audience members to consider how we interact with our planet, and what we can each personally do to keep the planet going for future generations. We are the only stewards Earth has; what can we each do to leave her in better shape than we found her?

SKU: MN.50-5012

UPC: 688670550126. English. Scripture: Daniel 3:57-88.

A triumphant anthem of praise featuring fresh harmonic language typical of Cherwien's style. The steady rhythmic drive, varied motivic figures, and differing choral textures propel the music from beginning to end, while the organ is also given its own spotlights throughout. Commissioned by the American Guild of Organists for the 2016 National Convention.

SKU: GI.G-5965

UPC: 785147596509. English. Text Source: 1) Billings, William, Bringle, Mary Louise, 2) Bringle, Mary Louise. Text by Mary Louise Bringle.

This early American “fuguing tune” allows singers to let loose with rustic and boisterous joy. If your choir has never sung indigenous shapenote style, this arrangement would make a fun and satisfying introduction. Poet Mary Louise Bringle provides two new hymn texts for this lively music. It’s easy to catch on to the style. Don’t be afraid, try it! “Wake Every Breath” is suitable for a Sunday of Ordinary Time, Eastertide, or celebrations of music in worship. An alternative text, “Let Heavens with Gladness Ring,” is specific to Christmas. Optional keyboard part can double voices.

Christmas and general texts by Mary Louise Bringle.

SKU: GI.G-8207

UPC: 785147820703. English. Text by Liam Lawton.

Featuring images of God calling us by name as he shows his great love for us, this edition can be used at various times throughout the year. The beautiful choral harmonies can be effectively performed by an SATB choir or by a smaller group of voices. The C instrument part may be used alone or in conjunction with the string quartet parts, bringing added texture and beauty to the piece.