Secular A Cappella Concert Music

Setting inspiring words by James Weldon Johnson, this work is poignant and stirring, encouraging singers and listeners to reflect on the challenges of present times and to move forward with courage and

Commissioned by VOCES8 in 2020, this reflective piece is setting of a text from poet Jacqueline Goldfinger. Creating a period of calm during winter storms where we reflect on what we have lost but rise up

Sara Teasdale's lyric poem looks to the stars for serenity and promise, and this handsome setting is superbly crafted by noted composer Frank Ticheli. Tasteful harmonic suspensions and rich choral textures

This unaccompanied piece contrasts a simple unison motif with quick ostinato in the lower voices. The homophonic refrain clearly declaims, "All forces have been steadily employed to complete

This energetic and rhythmic setting of the Sara Teasdale text is a true standout! With both a contemporary a cappella feel and artistic choral integrity, this is a piece that directors will love teaching,

This moving selection features a smoothly flowing harmonic texture that courses throughout the piece. Warm and enveloping, The Song You Loved will be the song you love singing, whether it be for

From the Grammy-nominated work The Lost Birds, this simple melody inspired by children's songs is a setting of Sara Teasdale's poem "In the End." Showcasing her signature pairing of nihilism

From the Grammy-nominated work The Lost Birds, this selection is a setting of Emily Dickinson's poem "The Saddest Noise, the Sweetest Noise". It begins the story of The Lost Birds in spring:

This arrangement of the lesser-known spiritual Long Fare You Well builds on the expressive melody by incorporating fragments of the tune throughout the choral writing and culminates in a glorious

Set in Shaker harmony style, this is a great contribution to an Earth Day celebration. The voice-leading is both accessible and interesting for the singers as well as listeners, and the lyrics speak to our

An exquisite setting of Percy Shelley's famous poem written for the vocal group Apollo5. The accessible dissonances enhance the beauty for both the choir and the listener.

The Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey is now marked with cemeteries; particularly striking are the graves of Australian and New Zealand infantry which are marked with epitaphs provided by the families

In a style that is equal parts contemporary and historic, this unique concert work employs a variety of vocal styles, including contemporary a cappella, overtone singing, vocal jazz, and shape note/sacred

William Wordsworth's text shimmers in this a cappella setting with poignant imagery and gently moving clusters and suspensions in the harmony. "Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting: the Soul that rises

The shades of Finzi and Vaughan Williams are strongly present in these three delightful unaccompanied choral settings, and yet the style and execution are wholly Rutter's own. O Mistress Mine is a

This is an homage to the island of Omey in County Galway, Ireland, done in a modern Celtic and contemporary a cappella style. With background harmonies that weave and flow around the melody, the vocal

Emily Dickinson's poem is set with unaccompanied harmonies that speak to the darkly mysterious quality portrayed in the text. Useful at any time of year, but especially effective for the winter solstice or

Lush harmonic textures are the framework for this beautiful, ethereal piece for mixed choirs. Cluster chords and effectively used dissonances help to evoke the vastness and mystery of space while

Mirroring in the musical texture what poet Kate Wakeling has created in the composition of her poem, the music revolves around a fixed pitch that appears as an ostinato on the syllable "O." Expressing the

The elegant beauty of Francis Ledwidge's poem about the late summer shimmers in this original work for a cappella mixed chorus. Slowly moving harmonies that range between four and six parts ebb and flow

Drawing on our shared humanity, this original work from new composer Peterson encourages us to confront the isolationism that's becoming prevalent in our world due to so many crises, fears, and uncertainty

Written as a tribute for a loved one's wedding, this passionate text from the Song of Solomon is captured beautifully in the music.

This fresh arrangement of a traditional British folksong is a sure favorite! Dashing Away with the Smoothing Iron's independent lines and rich harmonies are a delight for all, from audience to

This selection is about a transgender woman's dream in which she feels that no matter her struggles, everything will be okay. With inspirational lyrics, "I will not let fear become my beacon," this piece is