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: CF.CM9608

ISBN 9781491154304. UPC: 680160912803. 6.875 x 10.5 inches. Key: E major. English. Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892).

The beauty in Alfred, Lord Tennysons poem is reflected by the music with the use of text painting. The piano creates the sound of moving water in m. 19, providing the first instance of text painting. When the men enter, they continue this idea of the ocean tide while the descent into the word deep in m. 27 gives another instance of text painting. Take advantage of the minor second suspension on the word dark in m. 38 in order to achieve a feeling of suspense. The entrance at m. 41 is full, and while still minor, the text gives us hope for a change. The change comes in m. 45 with the staggered entrances creating a sense of building and ascent until the climax of this moment at m. 47 on the word embark, which is to be an ascent to Heaven. The melody moves between voice parts, even as early as m. 14 where the altos have the melody for only a single measure; it is then handed back to the sopranos. From mm. 5764, the altos trade the melody back and forth with the sopranos. Take note that the alto melody should be brought out, but the line does not actually begin until the word when. Lastly, be intentional with syllabic stress (no two eighth notes or quarter notes alike) and to give direction to any note longer than a quarter. I hope you enjoy learning and performing Crossing the Bar as much as I enjoyed writing it. ~Jamey Ray.
The beauty in Alfred, Lord Tennysonas poem is reflected by the music with the use of text painting. The piano creates the sound of moving water in m.A 19, providing the first instance of text painting. When the men enter, they continue this idea of the ocean tide while the descent into the word adeepa in m. 27 gives another instance of text painting. Take advantage of the minor second suspension on the word adarka in m. 38 in order to achieve a feeling of suspense. The entrance at m. 41 is full, and while still minor, the text gives us hope for a change. The change comes in m. 45 with the staggered entrances creating a sense of building and ascent until the climax of this moment at m. 47 on the word aembark,a which is to be an ascent to Heaven. The melody moves between voice parts, even as early as m. 14 where the altos have the melody for only a single measure; it is then handed back to the sopranos. From mm. 57a64, the altos trade the melody back and forth with the sopranos. Take note that the alto melody should be brought out, but the line does not actually begin until the word awhen.a Lastly, be intentional with syllabic stress (no two eighth notes or quarter notes alike) and to give direction to any note longer than a quarter. I hope you enjoy learning and performing Crossing the Bar as much as I enjoyed writing it. ~Jamey Ray.
The beauty in Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem is reflected by the music with the use of text painting. The piano creates the sound of moving water in m. 19, providing the first instance of text painting. When the men enter, they continue this idea of the ocean tide while the descent into the word deep in m. 27 gives another instance of text painting. Take advantage of the minor second suspension on the word dark in m. 38 in order to achieve a feeling of suspense. The entrance at m. 41 is full, and while still minor, the text gives us hope for a change. The change comes in m. 45 with the staggered entrances creating a sense of building and ascent until the climax of this moment at m. 47 on the word embark, which is to be an ascent to Heaven. The melody moves between voice parts, even as early as m. 14 where the altos have the melody for only a single measure; it is then handed back to the sopranos. From mm. 57-64, the altos trade the melody back and forth with the sopranos. Take note that the alto melody should be brought out, but the line does not actually begin until the word when. Lastly, be intentional with syllabic stress (no two eighth notes or quarter notes alike) and to give direction to any note longer than a quarter. I hope you enjoy learning and performing Crossing the Bar as much as I enjoyed writing it. ~Jamey Ray.
The beauty in Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem is reflected by the music with the use of text painting. The piano creates the sound of moving water in m. 19, providing the first instance of text painting. When the men enter, they continue this idea of the ocean tide while the descent into the word deep in m. 27 gives another instance of text painting. Take advantage of the minor second suspension on the word dark in m. 38 in order to achieve a feeling of suspense. The entrance at m. 41 is full, and while still minor, the text gives us hope for a change. The change comes in m. 45 with the staggered entrances creating a sense of building and ascent until the climax of this moment at m. 47 on the word embark, which is to be an ascent to Heaven. The melody moves between voice parts, even as early as m. 14 where the altos have the melody for only a single measure; it is then handed back to the sopranos. From mm. 57-64, the altos trade the melody back and forth with the sopranos. Take note that the alto melody should be brought out, but the line does not actually begin until the word when. Lastly, be intentional with syllabic stress (no two eighth notes or quarter notes alike) and to give direction to any note longer than a quarter. I hope you enjoy learning and performing Crossing the Bar as much as I enjoyed writing it. ~Jamey Ray.
The beauty in Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem is reflected by the music with the use of text painting. The piano creates the sound of moving water in m.  19, providing the first instance of text painting. When the men enter, they continue this idea of the ocean tide while the descent into the word “deep” in m. 27 gives another instance of text painting.Take advantage of the minor second suspension on the word “dark” in m. 38 in order to achieve a feeling of suspense. The entrance at m. 41 is full, and while still minor, the text gives us hope for a change. The change comes in m. 45 with the staggered entrances creating a sense of building and ascent until the climax of this moment at m. 47 on the word “embark,” which is to be an ascent to Heaven.The melody moves between voice parts, even as early as m. 14 where the altos have the melody for only a single measure; it is then handed back to the sopranos. From mm. 57–64, the altos trade the melody back and forth with the sopranos. Take note that the alto melody should be brought out, but the line does not actually begin until the word “when.”Lastly, be intentional with syllabic stress (no two eighth notes or quarter notes alike) and to give direction to any note longer than a quarter.I hope you enjoy learning and performing Crossing the Bar as much as I enjoyed writing it.~Jamey Ray.

SKU: LO.10-5556L

ISBN 9780787772635.

This story-telling anthem centers around the early life of Jesus found in Luke 2:41-49 and celebrates our love and desire for gathering together in worship as was told in this portion of scripture. This piece is a wonderful way to prepare the hearts of your choir and congregation at the beginning of a service.

SKU: GI.G-9002

UPC: 785147900207. English. Text by Delores Dufner.

Though intended for Communion, each setting has its own theme, making them suitable at other times—whether in praise of the risen Christ, as a song to answer Christ’s invitation to the banquet, or when we gather in his name and then go forth to share his life with the world. While scored for SATB voices, the settings are versatile enough for use by cantor and assembly or by smaller, unison choirs. The accompaniments work well on organ, piano, or guitar. Contents: Alleluia, Alleluia, Praise the Risen Son!, Happy Are All Who Are Called to the Feast and Where Two or More Have Come.