Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) SATB chorus or TTBB chorus and piano or organ or chamber orchestra.
A lyrical but also very chromatic setting of the traditional mass text, adapted from a movement in Santa Rosalia, Cantata for Four Solo Voices, Woodwind Quintet and Harpsichord, based on the Palmer Museum painting by Fernando Botero.
View score. Listen to midi.
Watch video of Wilmington Children’s Choir conducted by Philip Doucette.
And It Is Good SATB or SAB chorus and piano or organ. Text by Jason Charnesky. 2003 (3 min.)
Read the moving and profound text of the unity of Nature and God, culminating in a grand “Halleluia!”
View SATB score. View SAB score. Listen to midi.
A Ballad of Trees and the Master SATB chorus and piano. Poem by Sidney Lanier (1842-1881).
View the score. Listen to midi.
The native son of Georgia’s best-known and most moving poem is a lyrical evocation of Good Friday:
Clean forspent, forspent,
Into the woods my Master came,
Forspent with love and shame.
But the olives they were not blind to Him,
The little gray leaves were kind to Him:
The thorn-tree had a mind to Him
When into the woods He came.
Out of the woods my Master went,
And He was well content.
Out of the woods my Master came,
Content with death and shame.
When Death and Shame would woo Him last.
From under the trees they drew Him last:
‘Twas on a tree they slew Him - last
When out of the woods He came.
Celtic Blessing SATB chorus or Solo voice and Unison Congregation and piano or organ. 2005 (3 min.)
The traditional blessing: And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. Amen.
View the SATB score. Download the Solo voice and Unison Congregation score. Listen to midi.
Christmas Bells SATB chorus and optional keyboard or organ. Poem by John Keble (1792-1866). 1992 (2 min.)
Keble was an English Anglican priest and poet who was one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.
Wake me tonight, my mother dear that I may hear the Christmas bells, so soft and clear.
View the score. Listen to the midi.
God Is Our Hope and Strength SATB chorus or Unison Congregation with keyboard.
Hymn setting of Psalm 46 paraphrase. Tune: Baxter, composed and arranged by Bruce Trinkley.
Commission and Premiere: Massed choir at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral, Harrisburg, PA, in honor of The Right Rev. Dr. Nathan Baxter in Thanksgiving for his service as Bishop of the Diocese of Central PA.
Download score. Listen to midi.
In the Beginning Communion meditation from Gospel of John I. SAB and piano or organ.
Dedicated to the Memory of Alice Sturdy, my 11th Grade Choir Director whose mantra for diction was: "In the Beginning was the Word."
View score. Listen to midi.
Kyrie from Missa Santa Rosalia SATB chorus or TTBB chorus and piano or organ or chamber orchestra.
A lovely lyrical setting of the traditional mass text, composed for the cantata Santa Rosalia, based on the Palmer Museum painting by the Colombian painter Fernando Botero.
View SATB and keyboard score.
Watch video of Wilmington Children’s Choir directed by Philip Doucette.
Lamb of God from Mass of Pentecost. SATB chorus and piano or organ.
A noble lyric setting of the traditional text. Melody easily learned by congregation to perform with choir.
View score. Listen to midi.
May All Beings Everywhere from Shantideva's Bodhicharyavatara (the Dalai Lama’s favorite invocation). SATB chorus and keyboard. A stirring anthem appropriate for an ecumenical service or when the Dalai Lama visits the community.
Plagued by sufferings of body and mind,
Obtain an ocean of happiness and joy
By virtue of my merits.
May the powerless find power
And may people think of benefitting each other.
A Prayer for a Safe Journey Home SAB chorus and keyboard. Text from St. David’s Cathedral, Wales.
Lyrical anthem wishing the traveler well. Concludes with a noble and stirring “Amen” in the manner of the great Welsh hymns.
Lord Jesus Christ, you travelled once by hard and dangerous roads;
you drew near to your friends as they journeyed on their way home to Emmaus,
walking with them and sharing with them your truth.
Be present with us as we travel from this place;
guard us in every danger;
make us aware that you are with us and bring us safe and well to our homes;
for your own name's sake, Amen.
Psalm 121 Festival setting for SATB chorus and organ. Text from 21st Century King James Version.
Commission and Premiere: by Laurance Dent for the 60th Anniversary of St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, TX. 2010. Duration: approximately 3'15".
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help!
View score. Listen to St. Stephen’s Choir in the premiere performance.
A Psalm of Faith and Love Text arranged by Jason Charnesky from The Letter to the Hebrews and The First Epistle of John.
SATB chorus and organ. Extended anthem of celebration. (4 min.)
Commission and Premiere: 125th Anniversary of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Millheim, PA. October 2002.
Faith is the substance of all that we hope for . . . For God is Love.
View the score. Listen to midi.
The Shepherd’s Tale For SAB and Keyboard. Text by Jason Charnesky from A Communion of Saints.
A lyrical, but also quite chromatic and contemporary choral version of a solo song. A perfect centerpiece for a holiday program. Published in the very progressive catalogue of Harrock Hall, which, alas, never garnered enough sales to remain viable. Now I am pleased to make it available again via this website.
Download score. Read the lyrics. Listen to midi.
Listen to Suzanne Roy and Steven Smith perform the solo voice version.