Bound to the Wave

text by Mark Dietrich
TTBB chorus or quartet, b solo, a cappella

An original sea chanty for men's voices and bass solo. Text by my good friend Mark Dietrich who, incidentally, is the bass soloist on the audio clip.

available from Earthsongs

Deep River

trad. spiritual
TTBB, mezzo-soprano solo, a cappella

For Mezzo-Soprano soloist and four-part men's chorus backup. Low, deep, rich.

order from Fresh Ayre Music

Icicle Blue

music and lyrics by Holly Near
TTBB, piano

Holly Near's love song to her mother.

available from Yelton Rhodes Music, $1.50

Let Peace Fill the Earth

music and lyrics by Ray Makeever
TTTBBB, a cappella

A contemplative, thickly arranged version of the contemporary Lutheran song. For the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus.

available from arranger

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

"Resignation" from Southern Harmony 1853
TTBB, a cappella

This is the shape note 23rd Psalm. One of the great American original tunes. There is a bit of "Amazing Grace" woven in surrounding the final verse.

available from Yelton Rhodes Music / recorded by The Village Waytes: Voice Of the Song

The Scent of Jasmine in the Wilderness

text by Anne Frank, Etty Hillesum, Nazi government, W.H. Auden (Eng., Ger., Fr.)
double TTBB choir, T, bari solo
vla, cello, cb, hrp, pno, perc

Commissioned by The Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus, under the direction of David Lohman. This is my largest piece, in length and an scope. The libretto is a juxtaposition of the writings of Anne Frank and Etty Hillesum, another diarist living in Amsterdam at the same time. Scored for double male chorus, each semi-chorus singing the works of a different author. The first movement includes some excerpts from Nazi legal decrees proscribing the actions and resources of the Jews. The last ends with a fragment of W.H. Auden's poem, 1 September 1939:

There is no such thing as the State
And no one exists alone
Hunger allows no choice to the citizen or the police
We must love one another or die.

available from composer

Seinn O

trad. Scots
TTBB, a cappella

All Celtic cultures have a tradition of "mouth music," wherein voices take on instrumental roles in accompanying dances. This song is a blinding vocal showpiece of mouth music that I learned from the singing of Talitha MacKenzie.Also available for mixed voices.

order from Fresh Ayre Music

Shir L'Shalom

music by Yair Rozenblum, words by Ya'akov Rotblit (Heb.)
TTBB, guitar or piano, TT solos

A popular Israeli peace song. Purportedly the song that Yitzakh Rabin was singing when he was assassinated. Also available for women's and mixed voices.

available from arranger / recorded by The Denver Gay Men's Chorus: Songs For a Winter's Night

Sky Dances

music by Ray Brown, lyrics by Jimmy Durham
TTBB, piano

A lovely tune by Ray Brown on a poem by Native American poet Jimmy Durham. A song of praise to beauty of the Earth, championed by Holly Near. Also available for mixed voices.

available from arranger

The Star-Spangled Banner

music trad. English, words Francis Scott Key
TTBB, a cappella

Great for baseball games. Apparently, I'm related to Francis Scott Key on my mother's side. Also available for mixed voices.

available from arranger

Study War No More

trad. spiritual
TTBB, a cappella

A fairly simple but exuberant arrangement in gospel quartet style. Also for women's voices.

available from arranger

Swing Down, Sweet Chariot

trad. spiritual
TTBB, a cappella, T solo

Not really my arrangement, but a transcription from memory of a traditional gospel quartet arrangement. Requires a lead tenor with a love of the spotlight.

available from arranger / recorded by The Village Waytes: Voice of the Song, The Twin Cities Gay Men's Choir: Hand In Hand

Take Back the Guns

words and music by Therese Edell
TTBB (div), piano, bass, alto sax, percussion

Therese Edell, a singer-songwriter from Cincinnati, wrote this song about gun control in the late 70's. This treatment is inspired by Kurt Weill, with alto sax solo and percussion. Chilling, biting, urban anxiety. Also available for women's voices.

available from arranger

The Twelve Days of Christmas

trad. English
TTBB (div), a cappella

All twelve days in 20 seconds. The only version I ever want to hear. Also for mixed voices.

order from Fresh Ayre Music

Were You There?

trad. American hymn
TTBB, a cappella, T solo

A quartet treatment of this traditional Lenten folk hymn.

available from Colla Voce, $1.55