New Choral Music for Fall 2014

It's August, which means it's time to start listening to Christmas music, right? I've been working on a few new choral projects this summer and am excited to share them with you! Here are four new choral works - anthems and hymn arrangements perfect for your Fall, Advent, and Christmas programs! Take a look at the scores, listen to the recordings, and let me know if you are interested in any of these works. I'd love to hear from you!

Best wishes for a wonderful Fall semester!

For All His Blessings SATB Choir with Piano

This lyrical anthem quotes the text and music from the doxology - "Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" - in a recurring refrain.  D.W. Griffin's text is general enough to be used at any point of the year, but it is especially fitting for Thanksgiving! The final stanza illustrates the richness of textual imagery: "O praise the Lord for all He’s done, for all His blessings, one by one, and see His goodness, mountains high, fill all the earth and sea and sky."

See the score here.

Wake, O My Soul SATB Choir Unaccompanied

A carol-like anthem for the Advent and Christmas season - full of joy, awe, and reverence.  Perfect for Christmas Eve or a special holiday program! The opening stanza reads, "Wake, O my soul, and hail the morn, for unto us a Savior’s born; see, how the angels wing their way, to usher in the glorious day!"

See the score here.

O Little Town of Bethlehem SATB Choir & Organ with optional String Quartet and Congregational Singing

A simple and serene setting of this well-known carol, with the tune FOREST GREEN. This work was written as a hymn arrangement to be used with congregational singing, but may also be used as a choral anthem.  Perfect for a Lessons and Carols service! Use with organ accompaniment or organ and string quartet.  An optional Soprano descant is included for the last verse.

See the score here.

"From Our Happy Home" Now Available through Colla Voce!

My men's choir (TTBB unaccompanied) piece "From Our Happy Home" with text by Louisa May Alcott is now published and available through Colla Voce Music here!  You can order the octavos directly from Colla Voce, and the piece will soon be available on JW Pepper.   If you are looking for a fun Christmas-themed men's choir piece, check it out! You can see the full score on the Colla Voce page here.

A Great Weekend at TMEA

This past weekend I was in Memphis, TN for the 2014 Tennessee All-State conference. I had the pleasure of meeting many wonderful students and teachers from Tennessee, as well as conductors of the all-state ensembles.  The 11-12 (junior/senior) all-state band was premiering a new piece of mine titled "Journeys."  The band was conducted by renown conductor Dr. John Lynch, who really brought the new piece to life along with a band of really strong young musicians.  The students gave a fantastic performance in the Cannon Center on Saturday and it was an honor to be there with them! The day before, Friday, I gave a presentation at the conference titled "Working With Composers: Creative Ideas for Collaboration & Synergy."  I had a nice group of participants who were teachers and students in TN, and we had a great time talking about ideas for interacting with composers.  Also on Friday, the Ooltewah High School band performed "Goodnight, Goodnight" as part of their concert at TMEA.  I had the opportunity to visit with them and tell them the story behind the piece.  It was a lot of fun! Thanks to Joel Denton, Director of the Ooltewah band, and Rick Murphy who guest conducted the piece.

Thanks to everyone at TMEA who made my trip possible, and who made the all-state conference a wonderful experience for all! Here are a few pictures from the weekend:

Happy New Year! Upcoming Performances

Happy New Year! 2013 was a great year and 2014 looks like it is going to be excellent as well! I am excited about a bunch of interesting projects that are in the works, as well as upcoming performances which include the following: January 3-24, 2014 Bethel College Concert Choir - European Tour Directed by Dr. William Eash performing Filled With His Voice

January 8-10, 2014 University of Portland Wind Symphony - Puget Sound Tour Directed by Dr. Patrick Murphy performing Goodnight, Goodnight

January 25, 2014 Western Kentucky Honors Band Directed by Dr. Dan Belongia performing This World Alive

February 1, 2014 Houghton College Symphonic Wind Ensemble Directed by Dr. Justin Davis performing Goodnight, Goodnight

February 1, 2014 Virginia Senior High All-District Concert Band Directed by Duane Hill performing Goodnight, Goodnight

February 14, 2014 Houghton College Symphonic Wind Ensemble Directed by Dr. Justin Davis performing Goodnight, Goodnight

February 18, 2014 Bloomington High School Wind Symphony Directed by Max Chernick performing Magnolia Star

February 22, 2014 Bloomington High School Wind Symphony Directed by Max Chernick performing Magnolia Star

February 26, 2014 Eastman Wind Orchestra Directed by Dr. Mark Scatterday performing This World Alive

February 27, 2014 Texas Tech Concert Band Directed by Duane Hill performing Goodnight, Goodnight

February 28, 2014 Eureka High School Wind Ensemble Directed by Todd Stalter performing Goodnight, Goodnight

March 7, 2014 McNeese State University Wind Symphony Conducted by Dr. Daniel Belongia performing This World Alive

March 8, 2014 McNeese State University Honor Band Conducted by Dr. Daniel Belongia performing Goodnight, Goodnight

March 21, 2014 Bethel College Concert Choir - ACDA Southwestern Division Convention Directed by Dr. William Eash performing Filled With His Voice

March 22, 2014 Monroe, NY All-County Honor Band Directed by Dr. Jared Chase performing Magnolia Star

March 27, 2014 Macon County High School Band Directed by Mr. Joey Wilburn performing Goodnight, Goodnight

March 28, 2014 University of British Columbia Concert Winds Directed by Dr. Christopher Unger performing This World Alive

April 12, 2014 Tennessee All-State Band Directed by Dr. John Lynch premiering Journeys

April 24, 2014 UCONN Wind Ensemble Directed by Dr. Jeffrey Renshaw performing This World Alive

May 10, 2014 Seton Hill University Symphonic Winds Directed by Dr. Reed Chamberlin performing This World Alive

May 10, 2014 College of St. Rose Symphony Orchestra Directed by Dr. David Bebe performing The Star Spangled Banner

May 13, 2014 University of Delaware Wind Ensemble Directed by Dr. Chad Nicholson performing Flash Black

Consortium Opportunity! Soprano & Chamber Winds

I am very excited to be organizing a consortium of ensembles to support the composition of a new song cycle scored for soprano and chamber winds octet!  You can read all about the project background and details <a title="Alcott Songs – Consortium for Soprano &amp; Chamber Winds" href="http://www.stevedanyew.com/alcott-songs-winds/">here</a>.  You can also listen to a couple of the songs (voice &amp; piano versions) below! VI. Lullaby

[audio http://www.stevedanyew.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/song6.mp3]

I. Awake! Awake!

[audio http://www.stevedanyew.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/song1.mp3]

If you are interested in joining the consortium, or if you have a question about the project, please send me a message via the form at the bottom of <a title="Alcott Songs – Consortium for Soprano &amp; Chamber Winds" href="http://www.stevedanyew.com/alcott-songs-winds/">this page</a>.

Upcoming Performances

Thanks to all these ensembles and directors who are including my work on their programs this fall!  If I left out a performance, please email me and I will add it to this list! October 7, 2013 Escape Ten Virginia Tech University performing Chorale Variations (world premiere)

October 11, 2013 University of British Columbia Wind Ensemble Directed by Dr. Robert Taylor performing Lauda

October 21, 2013 Eastman Wind Orchestra Directed by Dr. Jared Chase performing Magnolia Star

November 9, 2013 Nazareth College Wind Symphony Directed by Dr. Jared Chase performing This World Alive (co-commissioner world premiere)

November 19, 2013 Troy University Concert Chorale Directed by Dr. Diane Orlofsky performing Filled with His Voice

November 21, 2013 Illinois State University Wind Symphony Directed by Dr. Dan Belongia performing Lauda

November 23, 2013 University of Portland Wind Symphony Directed by Dr. Patrick Murphy performing This World Alive (co-commissioner world premiere)

December 3, 2013 Wesleyan University WesWinds Directed by Sarah Bouchard Stockton performing Goodnight, Goodnight

Upcoming National Anthem Performances

My arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner, commissioned by the Idaho State Civic Symphony and conductor Chung Park a couple of years ago, will receive two performances this coming weekend: September 14, 2013 Lake Norman Orchestra Mooresville, NC Additional info here

September 14, 2013 Murray State University Symphony Orchestra Murray, KY Additional info here

Thanks to these ensembles for including my arrangement on their concert, and thanks to Chung Park and the Idaho State Civic Symphony for helping to create it!

Alcott Songs - New Work for Soprano & Piano

I am currently finishing up a new song cycle for soprano and piano titled Alcott Songs. The piece sets six short poems of Louisa May Alcott, most of which are very whimsical and fun.  Much of Alcott's poetry is about nature - flowers, birds, etc.  After spending some time reading through much of her work, I chose six poems that I thought would work best for this piece.  I also ordered them in a way that I thought could communicate a summer's day; the first poem begins with "Awake! Awake!" and the last poem is titled "Lullaby."  In between there are short tales of sunrise, flowers, lily pads, acorns, and finally sunset and sleep.

I am having a lot of fun with the poems and trying to write music that is as whimsical and fun as these poems are.   You can read the texts here.

More soon!

Listen to the U.S. Coast Guard Band's Recorded Performance

You can listen to the US Coast Guard Band's performance of Flash Black (from their June 9, 2013 concert) and a number of other works here.  Enjoy!

U.S. Coast Guard Band to Perform "Flash Black" June 9th

I am honored that the United States Coast Guard Band will be performing Flash Black on their June 9, 2013 concert, conducted by Dr. Jeffrey Renshaw.  Details are listed below and available here on the Coast Guard Band website. Academy Concert Captain Lewis J. Buckley Guest Artist Series Dr. Jeffrey Renshaw

June 9, 2013 - 2:00pm Leamy Concert Hall U.S. Coast Guard Academy 15 Mohegan Ave. New London, CT Free admission

Dr. Renshaw is the Professor of Conducting at UCONN Storrs and an internationally recognized conductor, pedagogue, arranger and author. He has selected a program of some of his favorites from the colorful repertoire of music for winds.