SKU: PR.362034230

ISBN 9781598069556. UPC: 680160624225. Letter inches. English.

When the Texas Choral Consort asked Welcher to write a short prologue to Haydn's The Creation, his first reaction was that Haydn already presents Chaos in his introductory movement. As he thought about it, Welcher began envisioning a truer void to precede Haydn's depiction of Chaos within the scope of 18th-century classical style - quoting some of Haydn's themes and showing human voices and inhuman sounds in a kind of pre-creation melange of color, mood, and atmosphere. Welcher accepted this challenge with the proviso that his prologue would lead directly into Haydn's masterpiece without stopping, and certainly without applause in between. Scored for mixed chorus and Haydn's instrumentation, Without Form and Void is a dramatically fresh yet pragmatic enhancement to deepen any performance of Haydn's The Creation. Orchestral score and parts are available on rental.
When Brent Baldwin asked me to consider writing a short prologue to THE CREATION, my first response was “Why?”  THE CREATION already contains a prologue; it’s called “Representation of Chaos”, and it’s Haydn’s way of showing the formless universe.  How could a new piece do anything but get in the way? But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense.  The Age of Enlightenment’s idea of “Chaos” was just extended chromaticism, no more than Bach used (in fact, Bach went further).Perhaps there might be a way to use the full resources of the modern orchestra (or at least, a Haydn-sized orchestra) and the modern chorus to really present a cosmic soup of unborn musical atoms, just waiting for Haydn’s sure touch to animate them.  Perhaps it could even quote some of Haydn’s themes before he knew them himself, and also show human voices and inhuman sounds in a kind of pre-creation mélange of color, mood, and atmosphere. So I accepted the challenge, with the proviso that my new piece not be treated as some kind of “overture”, but would instead be allowed to lead directly into Haydn’s masterpiece without stopping, and certainly without applause.  I crafted this five minute piece to begin with a kind of “music of the spheres” universe-hum, created by tuned wine glasses and violin harmonics.  The chorus enters very soon after, with the opening words of Genesis whispered simultaneously in as many languages as can be found in a chorus.  The first two minutes of my work are all about unborn human voices and unfocused planetary sounds, gradually becoming more and more “coherent” until we finally hear actual pitches, melodies, and words.  Three of Haydn’s melodies will be heard, to be specific, but not in the way he will present them an hour from now.  It’s almost as if we are listening inside the womb of the universe, looking for a faint heartbeat of worlds, animals, and people to come.  At the end of the piece, the chorus finally finds its voice with a single word: “God!”,  and the orchestra finally finds its own pulse as well.  The unstoppable desire for birth must now be answered, and it is----by Haydn’s marvelous oratorio. I am not a religious man in any traditional sense.  Neither was Haydn, nor Mozart, nor Beethoven.  But all of them, as well as I, share in what is now called a humanistic view of how things came to be, how life in its many forms developed on this planet, and how Man became the recorder of history.  The gospel according to John begins with a parody of Genesis:  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”   I love that phrase, and it’s in that spirit that I offer my humble “opener” to the finest work of one of the greatest composers Western music has ever known.  My piece is not supposed to sound like Haydn.  It’s supposed to sound like a giant palette, on which a composer in 1798 might find more outrageous colors than his era would permit…but which, I hope, he would have been delighted to hear.

SKU: WD.080689878121

UPC: 080689878121.

Jesus made an astounding claim in Luke 4. When He proclaimed that He was the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, it was more than a resume of credentials; it was a mission statement. In fact, it was a commitment - to you and to me - that there would be a place where sinners can find mercy; the afflicted can find healing; the broken can find compassion, and the outcast can find dignity. Behold the cross of Christ...it is the place where love and mercy meet.

This profound spiritual theme is movingly captured by veteran arranger Marty Parks in Where Love & Mercy Meet, the latest offering from Simply Word Easter. Combining popular songs by Michael W. Smith, Bill and Gloria Gaither, and Darlene Zschech and Reuben Morgan with beloved classics, this musical features engaging worship sequences with easy-to-learn SATB choral parts and arrangements for one male and one female solos (with optional men/women unison), making it ideal for smaller choirs or those with limited rehearsal time. A well-designed accompaniment DVD is available to enhance your production, as well as an optional small-cast dramatic script by Kim Messer that will bring the themes of the musical into a powerful contemporary focus. This Easter, invite your congregation and community to come to the place where love and mercy meet - the cross of Jesus Christ.

SKU: LP.765762083103

UPC: 765762083103.

South ern gospel enthusiasts rejoice! Here is an outstanding collection of your gospel favorites. These are songs of testimony fellowship and the hope of heaven - vital components for each of us in our walk of faith. Features Easy 2 Excel Flexible choral format for choirs of all sizes; Includes a complete Keyboard Accompaniment Edition; Pieces from today's most trusted (and revered) gospel arrangers. Choirs will find this book to be a staple in their choral diet and a refreshing addition to their customary worship collection. Southern Gospel Favorites is an ideal resource for summer choirs revivals camp meetings or any gathering place where southern gospel music is loved!

SKU: WD.080689769726

UPC: 080689769726.

Jesus made an astounding claim in Luke 4. When He proclaimed that He was the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, it was more than a resume of credentials; it was a mission statement. In fact, it was a commitment - to you and to me - that there would be a place where sinners can find mercy; the afflicted can find healing; the broken can find compassion, and the outcast can find dignity. Behold the cross of Christ...it is the place where love and mercy meet.

This profound spiritual theme is movingly captured by veteran arranger Marty Parks in Where Love & Mercy Meet, the latest offering from Simply Word Easter. Combining popular songs by Michael W. Smith, Bill and Gloria Gaither, and Darlene Zschech and Reuben Morgan with beloved classics, this musical features engaging worship sequences with easy-to-learn SATB choral parts and arrangements for one male and one female solos (with optional men/women unison), making it ideal for smaller choirs or those with limited rehearsal time. A well-designed accompaniment DVD is available to enhance your production, as well as an optional small-cast dramatic script by Kim Messer that will bring the themes of the musical into a powerful contemporary focus. This Easter, invite your congregation and community to come to the place where love and mercy meet - the cross of Jesus Christ.

SKU: WD.080689479090

UPC: 080689479090.

Jesus made an astounding claim in Luke 4. When He proclaimed that He was the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, it was more than a resume of credentials; it was a mission statement. In fact, it was a commitment - to you and to me - that there would be a place where sinners can find mercy; the afflicted can find healing; the broken can find compassion, and the outcast can find dignity. Behold the cross of Christ...it is the place where love and mercy meet.

This profound spiritual theme is movingly captured by veteran arranger Marty Parks in Where Love & Mercy Meet, the latest offering from Simply Word Easter. Combining popular songs by Michael W. Smith, Bill and Gloria Gaither, and Darlene Zschech and Reuben Morgan with beloved classics, this musical features engaging worship sequences with easy-to-learn SATB choral parts and arrangements for one male and one female solos (with optional men/women unison), making it ideal for smaller choirs or those with limited rehearsal time. A well-designed accompaniment DVD is available to enhance your production, as well as an optional small-cast dramatic script by Kim Messer that will bring the themes of the musical into a powerful contemporary focus. This Easter, invite your congregation and community to come to the place where love and mercy meet - the cross of Jesus Christ.

SKU: LP.765762076129

UPC: 765762076129.

Split -channel accompaniment CD can be used for both rehearsal and performance. Each contains the instrumental accompaniment on one channel, vocals on the other. For performance purposes, only the accompaniment channel is normally used. Includes multiple r.

SKU: HL.48022495

ISBN 9781476871486. UPC: 884088669676. 6.75x10.5 inches.

Texts: Latin and English

Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes

Difficulty level: 3

The Ceremony of Carols is one of Britten's best-known and most-performed works. It is a brilliantly conceived and dramatic concert work which sees the voices process to their places singing unaccompanied plainsong and, at the end, processing out again to the same chant. These movements can also be accompanied but strictly only if the voices do not process. The final Alleluia can be repeated as many times as necessary to get the singers to and from their destination.The carols are for three-part children's voices (though, of course they can be sung by female adults as well) and they form a two-part work around a central Interlude for harp which is based on the plainsong from the Procession. Variety is the key word here as all the carols have such individual identities. The forthright Wolcum Yole!, the deliciously lyrical There is no Rose, the swinging Balulalow, the fiery and dramatic This little Babe all contribute to a work which is a feast of discovery throughout. Lovely solos and duos add further colour and the harp part, an inspired choice of accompaniment, enriches, colours and surrounds the voices with its pictorial musical imagery. If anything shows Britten's genius for writing for voices it must be this work.

The challenges here are in creating a real equality between voice parts, fielding a confident pair of soloists, and making the most of the wonderfully colourful poems Britten has chosen to set. Pronunciation is not really an issue, but when I recorded this work with the Finzi Singers I decided to follow the example of Sacred and Profane and use authentic medieval pronunciation for which an expert coach was necessary. It brings an added element of colour to a familiar aural experience.

Durati on: 22 minutes

Paul Spicer, Lichfield, 2011.

SKU: WD.080689802720

UPC: 080689802720.

Veter an arranger and respected leader in the field of contemporary evangelical church music, Marty Parks once again lends his pen and arranging expertise to bring us his latest Senior Adult Choir Musical for Christmas, When Earth Received Her King. Hallmarks of his distinctive arranging style include thoughtful, Biblically-inspired songs and narration; accessible, easy-to-sing vocals; and inspiring orchestrations, all composed with that special blend of Marty Parks wit, spirit, wisdom, and musical sensibility, purposed by His love for the Church, its music, and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

SKU: WD.080689706028

UPC: 080689706028.

Veter an arranger and respected leader in the field of contemporary evangelical church music, Marty Parks once again lends his pen and arranging expertise to bring us his latest Senior Adult Choir Musical for Christmas, When Earth Received Her King. Hallmarks of his distinctive arranging style include thoughtful, Biblically-inspired songs and narration; accessible, easy-to-sing vocals; and inspiring orchestrations, all composed with that special blend of Marty Parks wit, spirit, wisdom, and musical sensibility, purposed by His love for the Church, its music, and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.