Songs that Celebrate Life

Rhythmic, driving, and intense, this arrangement of the traditional spiritual with themes of home, journey, and trial is based on the 1950s Mahalia Jackson version with an Afro-Cuban beat. Add string bass

Lovely lyrical melodic lines are paired with Sara Teasdale's text that celebrates the beauty of life. Available in a variety of voicings, it is an ideal piece to develop tone, phrasing, and artistry in

"What will I do with the portion given to me? I will sing." This fantastic work, written in a gospel style with an ecumenical text that challenges each of us to make the most of the lives we've been given,

Robert Frost's celebrated poem finds a worthy home in this lush musical setting. The melodic lines mirror the travelled road, and the rich divisi harmonies bring a depth and poignancy to the lyrics that

This sweet and simple original song, with a lilting melody and folk-like harmonies, illustrates the impact of the relationships that we build throughout our lives. Optimistic about the future, the text

The joyful, cascading introduction begins from a unison note, setting the tone for this setting of the famous Teasdale poem. Like a heartbeat, the rhythmic call and response between treble and tenor-bass is

With a text by the composer, this is a beautiful piece about optimism, companionship, and the belief that "all will be well." Todd's gentle melodies are supported by a delicate, pulsing piano accompaniment

This hauntingly beautiful ballad comes from the time of the Civil War. It captures the loneliness of a soldier who has been away from home for too long and seen too much of war. He wishes for just a glimpse

This delightful medley of beloved children's songs is set in mixed and asymmetrical meters with a tempo indication that says "as fast as possible!" Mixed and treble choirs will enjoy the challenge of

Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo tells the extraordinary story of Nujeen Mustafa, a Kurdish teenager with cerebral palsy forced by war to flee her home and embark on an arduous journey to

This a cappella original uses an uplifting text to express the joy of living life to the fullest. Using legato phrases, rubato, divisi, and jazz-influenced harmonies, the rich choral writing is emotional

This stunning work for mixed choirs has its roots in jazz. The repetition of the word "love" throughout allows singers and audiences to focus on its various meanings and implications. A challenging work

The sentiment of this work reminds us to look all around for examples of love and beauty. Acting as a benediction or prayer, Live Long and Prosper will make a thoughtful concert closer for mixed

This is an imaginative a cappella setting of a sequence of nine poems by Judith Jesch. The war poems are formal and celebratory, making vivid use of figures of speech known as "kennings," while the love

"I can hear the sound of the music. I can hear the rhythm of life. I can hear the voice of creation. I can hear the song of life." This vibrant affirmation of the joys of living includes a positively

Capturing the wonder, joy and optimism of winter with words and music of possibility and the energy of life in motion. Unlike many of Sara Teasdale's poems which struggle with depression, here she

The work opens with a sardonic take on the title line, the first reaction being one of malice towards recollection. The piece then transitions to a nostalgic perspective, as continued pondering gives way to

Text painting abounds in this setting of a Dickinson poem concerning the brief time gifted to our human condition. With its sensitive text setting, interesting harmonic palette, and atypical accompaniment,

The artistic setting of Amy Ludwig VanDerwater's poem Leaving was a prize winner for this young composer. An elegant piano accompaniment frames this work and creates an additional voice in the

This is the perfect graduation anthem - a celebration of life, confident and strong, a look to the hopeful future ahead.  Scored for mixed chorus with piano and ocean drum, the work would also be

With a text based on Psalm 150, this a cappella anthem uses spiritual, jazz, and gospel elements. After a contemplative opening, the music shifts to upbeat and declamatory as the basses lay down an ostinato

Tree of Life is an expansive setting for mixed voices and piano of David Warner's evocative text depicting the sacred archetype of the life-giving tree through the seasons. The vocal texture

"A life that's full of wonder is a wonderful life." Zendaya's powerful ballad from the animated movie "Smallfoot" encourages us all to be curious about the unknown. The beautiful choral adaptation

Based upon a deeply moving secular text by Emily Dickinson, this four-part mixed divisi work opens with an extended a cappella section. Then the piano accompaniment enters as the voices cascade, washing