Choral Works
the story of eve Five choruses from the opera Eve's Odds for SSAA chorus and piano or organ.
Texts by Jason Charnesky.
the story of eve is drawn from the one-act opera eve's odds. The cycle tells the story of the opera but in condensed form. In Alleluias, a celestial choir sings a song of stately praise that evolves into a rollicking cha-cha before they remember their dignity. O Eve, Beware is a song of warning to Eve as she contemplates eating the apple proffered by the Snake. Luckily, her Guardian Angel arrives to protect her. But ultimately Eve does partake of the apple and the angel choir sings The Lament of Fallen Man, the heart and message of the opera. In Childhood Ends the choir sings of how the Fall has changed the world and mankind's destiny. the story of eve can be performed as a church cantata or a concert selection. Your Guardian Angel may be excerpted to be performed by or for young listeners.
View notes and full score. View eve’s odds on Youtube.
Song of Ruth For SSA chorus and piano or organ. Ruth 1: 16-17 King James Version.
This choral version is especially appropriate for wedding cermonies and anniversaries. The chromatic lyricism perfectly expresses the powerful Biblical verses.
View score. Listen to midi.
for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge:
thy people shall be my people, thy God my God.
Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried:
the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
Thy people are mine.
The Winter Tree Sermon For SSAA chorus and piano or marimba(s). Text by Jason Charnesky (4 min.)
Also available for SATB or TTBB chorus and piano or marimba(s).
Premiere: Penn State Glee Club. Winterfest 2003.
This significant choral setting is joyous, rhythmic and moves freely through tonalities to celebrate life and love. The first and last of the elegant 7 verses give evidence to the poetic richness of the text:
View text and score. Listen to midi.
The winter wind blows cold and gives the trees a voice
and though the year be old the branches sing “Rejoice!”
“Despite the term decreed to earth in ice and mud,
we harbor still the seed of spring and guard the bud . . . .
But what these branches spoke reminded me of what
I almost had forgot: I love. I live. I love.
All that we thought was lost does not forsake us, but returns.
Beneath the frozen plot a fiery pasture burns.
Arrangements of Hymns and Spirituals
All Through the Night Welsh folksong arranged for SSAA chorus unaccompanied. Also available for SATB and TTBB voices.
Arranger’s note: The sustained pitches replicate the lingering sonorities in a cathedral or very resonant space.
The tune to All Through the Night was first recorded in Edward Jones' Musical and Poetical Relics of the Welsh Bards (1784). The most commonly sung Welsh lyrics were written by John Ceiriog Hughes (1832-1887), and have been translated into several languages, including the familiar English version by Harold Boulton (1859–1935).
View score. Listen to The Penn State Glee Club sing the TTBB version on P.S.- Happy Holidays.
Two Thanksgiving Songs
Traditional songs for the Fall festival of Thanksgiving, marking the first celebration of the Pilgrims in the Plymouth Colony when the Native Americans, led by Massasoit (c.1581-1661), the Great Sachem, helped the Pilgrims survive the winter. Ideal for church or community celebrations.
Carol of Beauty (Praise Ye the Lord) SSA with piano or organ. Old French melody with words by Steuart Wilson (1898-1966).
Dedicated to Suzanne Roy with gratitude and affection.
The sturdy hymn is given a festival setting easily accessible to amateur choirs. Lots of unison and two-part writing with fresh harmonies. A fine Thanksgiving anthem.
View the score. Listen to midi. Listen to the Royal Choral Society.
Prayer of Thanksgiving (
We Gather Together) SSA with piano or organ. Old Dutch melody. Lyrics by Dr. Theodore Baker (1851-1934).Arranged for and dedicated to Arietta Women's Chorus, Jan Mianulli, ConductorThis grand old hymn tune has long been a staple of Thanksgiving celebrations.
View score. Listen to midi. Listen to the Joslin Grove Choral Society.
In Bright Mansions Above Spiritual SSA a capella. Also available for SAB and TTBB.
Rarely heard but lovely, simple and easy.
In bright mansions above, in bright mansions above, Lord, I want to live up yonder in bright mansions above.
View score. Listen to midi.
My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord Spiritual also available for SSAA, SATB and TTBB and piano. Augsburg Choirbook for Women
The Augsburg Choirbook for Women offers diverse musical selections for choirs of all ages and abilities from high school through adult. The high quality and yet accessible music in this volume will be useful to church, college and community choirs. The volume contains a cappella settings as well as gospel settings with piano and voicings from unison to SSAA. Composers include Nancy Grundahl, Carolyn Jennings, Anne Krentz Organ and Bruce Trinkley. This will be a wonderful addition to a choral library.
View sample pages. Listen to midi.
Holiday Carols and Songs
Adeste Fideles Carol arrangement for SSAA chorus acappella. Also available for SATB and TTBB.
Attributed to J. F. Wade (1711-1786), an English Catholic hymnist and noted Jacobite who became known as the “father of the English plainchant revival.”
A traditional but also fresh harmonic take on the venerable classic carol. Verse 1 in Latin, verses 2 and 3 in English.
View score. Listen to midi. Listen to the TTBB version sung by The Penn State Glee Club on P.S. – Happy Holidays.
Away in a Manger Carol arrangement for SSAA and piano or organ based on the two familiar tunes.
Lyrics by William J. Kirkpatrick (1838-1921). Also available for SATB, TTBB and solo voice.
View SSAA score. Listen to midi.
The Praise of Christmas English secular carol for SSAA chorus acappella with solo soprano. From The Oxford Book of Carols.
“The first two verses (of which 12 exist) are by Tom Durfey (1653-1723), the dramatist and friend of Charles II, in his Pills to Purge Melancholy.” Durfey was important to the development of the ballad opera, the precursor to the modern musical comedy; he wrote 10 of the songs in John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera (1728). (The arranger includes this information since his first theatre piece was The Bawd’s Opera, the Columbia Varsity Show of 1966, which was written in imitation of an 18th Century ballad opera but with contemporary political and social allusions.)
The traditional tune of The Praise of Christmas is a perfect setting of Durfey’s text with its elegant interior rhyme scheme. The text praises the joys of conviviality and community. Perfect for all holiday celebrations, especially the winter solstice and multicultural and ecumenical observances.
View SSAA score. Listen to SSAA midi. Listen to TTBB version sung by The Penn State Glee Club with Kevin McMahon, tenor, on P.S.– Happy Holidays.
All hail to the days that merit more praise
Than all the rest of the year,
And welcome the nights that double delights
As well for the poor as the peer!
Good fortune attend each merry man’s friend
That doth but the best that he may,
Forgetting old wrongs with carols and songs,
To drive the cold winter away.
When Christmas tide comes in like a bride,
With holly and ivy clad,
Twelve days in the year much mirth and good cheer
In every household is had.
The country guise is then to devise
Some gambols of Christmas play,
Whereat the young men do best that they can
To drive the cold winter away.
'Tis ill for a mind to anger inclined
To think of small injuries now;
If wrath be to seek, do not lend her thy cheek,
Nor let her inhabit thy brow.
Cross out of thy books malevolent looks,
Both beauty and youth's decay,
And wholly consort with mirth and with sport,
To drive the cold winter away.
This time of the year is spent in good cheer,
And neighbours together do meet,
To sit by the fire, with friendly desire,
Each other in love to greet.
Old grudges forgot are put in the pot,
All sorrows aside they lay;
The old and the young doth carol this song,
To drive the cold winter away.
Santa Claus Secular chorus for 2 treble voices and piano (with optional flute, clarinet, violoncello and percussion).
Words anonymous, from Christmas (1907) edited by R. H. Schauffler (1879-1964).
A joyous and dramatic saga of Santa on Christmas Eve.
View score. Listen to midi.
Verse 1 of Four VersesHe comes in the night!
He comes in the night! He silently, softly comes;
While little brown heads on pillows so white
Are dreaming of bugles and drums.
He cuts through the snow like a ship through the foam,
While the white flakes around him whirl;
Who tells him I know not, but he findeth the home
Of each little good boy and girl. . . . .
The Sussex Carol Arranged for SSAA unaccompanied. Also available for SATB and TTBB.
The Sussex Carol is a sonorous and noble a cappella version of the familiar English carol employing simple canonic variations to embellish the modal tune. Appropriate for the choir on Christmas eve and throughout the holiday season.
View score. Listen to midi.
To hear the news the angels bring
News of great joy, news of great mirth,
News of our merciful King's birth.
Then why should we on earth be sad,
Since our Redeemer made us glad,
When from our sin he set us free,
All for to gain our liberty?
When sin departs before his grace,
Then life and health come in its place;
Angels on high with joy may sing,
All for to see the new born King.
All out of darkness we have light,
Which made the angels sing this night:
“Glory to God and peace to all.
Now and forevermore. Amen.”
Villancico Spanish Christmas carol arranged for SSAA and piano. Alfred Publishing 23975
Also available for SATB and piano and TTBB and piano.
Alfred says: This stylish arrangement of a traditional Spanish carol includes an effective optional English text and is a unique choice for men's, women's, and mixed ensembles. Skillfully incorporates rich choral harmonies and captivating rhythms with multicultural flavor. Distinctive repertoire for holiday programs. Alfred site includes score and audio tab with performance.
View and listen.
De lejanas tierras venimos a verte. Nos sirvió di guía la Estrella de Oriente.
Al niño lo llevan con mucho cuidado, porque el rey Herodes quiere degollarlo.
Let us go, ye men, to Bethlehem we hurry, where the child is born. To God's own Son we journey.
From far distant fields we travel here to see you, using as our guide the Eastern Star of wonder.
You must take the Child away from mad King Herod, who desires to harm the newborn infant Savior.
¡El aguinaldillo, Señora, por Dios! Que venimos cuatro y entraremos dos.
Hear our Christmas song! O Lady, blessed Virgin. Women who have come to greet the Holy Child.
Your Guardian Angel from the opera Eve's Odds for three-part treble or children’s chorus and piano or organ.
Lyrics by Jason Charnesky from a traditional text.
This gentle and lyrical prayer/lullaby may be performed by or for young listeners.
View score. Listen to midi.
To whom God's love commends you here.
Everyday I'm by your side
To light and rule, to guard and guide.
To whom God's love commends you here.
To whom God's love commends you here.