SKU: A0.1081697

[S]tanding by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. After this Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfil the scripture), 'I thirst.' A bowl full of vinegar stood there; so they put a sponge full of the vinegar on hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, 'It is finished'; and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for that sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him; but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, 'Not a bone of him shall be broken.' And again another scripture says, 'They shall look on him whom they have pierced.' --John 19:25-37.

SKU: A0.976734

CONJUNCTION interprets the convergence of Jupiter and Saturn near the end of the year 2020 as a celestial metaphor for the good news of Christ's birth in a replay of the Star of Bethlehem. Hence, its subtitle of The Christmas Star of 2020. The music, along with narration from selected Old and New Testament scriptures, delivers a message of hope amid the turmoil and chaos of current times.

It's written for smaller concert bands hungry for challenging music. Ample cues and doubling allow for flexible instrumentation while mixed meters, varying tempos and textures, and interesting solo lines provide opportunities for strong players to shine. CONJUNCTION is also available with strings for orchestra.

PROGRAM NOTES:

2020 is widely characterized for its maladies: murders, burning cities, riots, a pandemic, economic shocks, and political turmoil. For some of us, it also held personal tragedy such as my brother’s passing from COVID. But, 2020 also brought a sign of hope, namely the celestial phenomenon known as the Great Conjunction of 2020. For earth-bound observers, this was the closest approach of Jupiter and Saturn in almost 400 years as they appeared to almost touch in the early evening sky to produce the most brilliant evening star of our lifetimes. The occurrence of the event in November-December neatly coincided with the Advent season, peaking just before Christmas Day. One could hardly fail to note the parallels with the Christmas star of Matthew’s gospel which gave the conjunction its alternate name, the Christmas Star of 2020. Thus, this star spoke, to those with ears to hear, the same message the prophet Isaiah wrote about the coming Messiah, The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. This star thus served to remind us that the LORD has not rejected us; He will show His favor again; His love has not vanished; His promises have not failed; He has not forgotten to be merciful or compassionate; and we are called to remember His mighty deeds (Psalm 77). CONJUNCTION: The Christmas Star of 2020 is inspired by these particulars.

For the music, I looked to Gustav Holst’s The Planets for themes that would portray Jupiter and Saturn’s pas de deux. I selected several motives from the corresponding movements mixed and matched in sometimes easily recognized quotations and other times in heavily camouflaged derivations. An exuberant polyphonic passage recaps themes from both Jupiter and Saturn when the music resolves from uncertainty into hopefulness. While Holst’s motives provide CONJUNCTION’s foundation I also used Handel’s Messiah for transitory and climactic material. You will hear his The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light in transitions and a short trombone solo. And a re-harmonization of the opening line from For unto us a child is born brings the music to a joyous climax.

Although the music stands firmly on its own, I elected to incorporate some narrative to make the musical sentiment explicit. In a commentary on 2020’s grim events, I took adaptations of Habakkuk 1:2-4 and 2 Tim 3:1-4 and set them over Saturn’s plodding and ominous harmonies. Contrasting replies shimmer with hope as the narration melds Isaiah 9:2 and Luke 1:78-79 over another Saturn motive set against pitch sets from Jupiter’s main hymn theme. Still, it’s the music that tells the story of the Christmas Star of 2020.

Please visit my website for a complete score preview: https://wheatmyermusic.com/conjunction-the-christmas-star-of-2020

I feel somewhat guilty making claim to this music as almost all the building blocks are taken from other composers. But the end result is neither a medley, nor an arrangement, rather it is something clearly new, so I call it my own with deep respect to those giants on whose shoulders I stand.

Robert Myers
S.D.G.

SKU: A0.1081705

[W]hen the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, 'Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?' And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, 'Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.' And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid. Now when [Christ] rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went out and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. --Mark 16:1-11 (RSV-CE).

SKU: A0.1286761

INDIVIDUAL INSTRUMENTS PART 1 of 2 (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion).  This four act contemporary opera, original libretto and music, by 21st century American composer James Nathaniel Holland is the story of the triumph of Love over Evil, however delayed, and the power of keeping steadfast to one’s righteous promise.  

Based on the German fairy tale The Six Swans, in a kingdom, during Saxon times, the murderous daughter of an evil entity, Ravia, infiltrates and takes over the lives of a royal family due to the King’s rash promise to marry her many years before. 

The royal children are sent away by their father for safety to a hidden, woodland cottage, but Ravia discovers where they are and hexes the younger siblings, turning them into swallows.  Usha, the eldest, escapes and flees to the wilderness and is visited by the apparition of her dead mother who explains what is going on and that Usha must swear an oath of silence for six years to break the spell and change her siblings back into human form.

Five years pass and a dashing and kind king, Rohric, of another kingdom, finds Usha while hunting, falls in love with and marries her, but Usha must remain silent and cannot reveal who she is.  Ravia, who now is sole queen of the old kingdom, is invited by Rohric’s nobles with hope to secure a “proper� wedding for Rohric.  Usha is accused falsely of killing her own child by the two and is sentenced to be burned at the stake, but as the bell tolls she finally can declare her innocence.  To the crowd’s amazement her siblings change back, all truth is revealed, and for Ravia’s failure, she is dragged back to hell by demons.  

Singers:  King Alfred (bass), Ravia (soprano), Princess Usha (mezzo), Queen Mother Arna (soprano), the royal siblings (children’s/boy’s chorus), King Rohric (Tenor), The Evil Noble (baritone), An angel/a demon (bass), SATB Chorus

Scored for full orchestra.  Instrumentation:  picc/treble recorder, fl12, ob12, eh, cl12, bsn12, hrn 123, tpt123, trom12, tba, timp, perc.12 (bd, crash cym, ride cym with soft mallets and stick, small gong, wood blk, glk, chimes, snar, tri), hrp, strings

Duration:  2 hours
Full Orchestral Score (concert pitch), Piano Vocal Score and Instruments Parts 1 (woodwinds, brass, perc.) and Parts 2 (harp and strings) sold separately.

SKU: A0.1284590

FULL SCORE (Concert Pitch).  This four act contemporary opera, original libretto and music, by 21st century American composer James Nathaniel Holland is the story of the triumph of Love over Evil, however delayed, and the power of keeping steadfast to one’s righteous promise.  

Based on the German fairy tale The Six Swans, in a kingdom, during Saxon times, the murderous daughter of an evil entity, Ravia, infiltrates and takes over the lives of a royal family due to the King’s rash promise to marry her many years before. 

The royal children are sent away by their father for safety to a hidden, woodland cottage, but Ravia discovers where they are and hexes the younger siblings, turning them into swallows.  Usha, the eldest, escapes and flees to the wilderness and is visited by the apparition of her dead mother who explains what is going on and that Usha must swear an oath of silence for six years to break the spell and change her siblings back into human form.

Five years pass and a dashing and kind king, Rohric, of another kingdom, finds Usha while hunting, falls in love with and marries her, but Usha must remain silent and cannot reveal who she is.  Ravia, who now is sole queen of the old kingdom, is invited by Rohric’s nobles with hope to secure a “proper� wedding for Rohric.  Usha is accused falsely of killing her own child by the two and is sentenced to be burned at the stake, but as the bell tolls she finally can declare her innocence.  To the crowd’s amazement her siblings change back, all truth is revealed, and for Ravia’s failure, she is dragged back to hell by demons.  

Singers:  King Alfred (bass), Ravia (soprano), Princess Usha (mezzo), Queen Mother Arna (soprano), the royal siblings (children’s/boy’s chorus), King Rohric (Tenor), The Evil Noble (baritone), An angel/a demon (bass), SATB Chorus

Scored for full orchestra.  Instrumentation:  picc/treble recorder, fl12, ob12, eh, cl12, bsn12, hrn 123, tpt123, trom12, tba, timp, perc.12 (bd, crash cym, ride cym with soft mallets and stick, glk, chimes, snar, tri), hrp, strings

Duration:  2 hours
Full Orchestral Score (concert pitch), Piano Vocal Score and Instruments Parts 1 (woodwinds, brass, perc.) and Parts 2 (harp and strings) sold separately.

SKU: A0.1081709

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, 'Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Par′thians and Medes and E′lamites and residents of Mesopota′mia, Judea and Cappado′cia, Pontus and Asia, Phryg′ia and Pamphyl′ia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyre′ne, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.'� --Acts 2:1-11 (RSV-CE).

SKU: A0.1315331

Duration : Approx. 30 minutes
Instrumentation
Flutes 1&2
Piccolo/Flute 3
Oboes 1&2
Cor Anglais
Clarinets 1&2 in Bflat
Bass Clarinet in Bflat (To Low C)
Bassoons 1&2
Horns 1 – 4 in F
Trumpets 1&2 in Bflat
Tenor Trombones 1&2
Bass Trombone
Tuba
Timpani – 4
Bass Drum, Sleigh Bells, Temple Blocks, Maracas, Cymbals – Crash and Suspended Snare Drum,Tambourine Triangle Tubular Bell (only 1 B bell required) Glockenspeil Xylophone
Celesta
Harp
Violins 1&2
Violas
Cellos
Double Basses

About The Work
On Tuesday March 24th 2020, one day into the first UK national Lockdown at the start of the worldwide Covid-19 Pandemic, my Mum died! She was 91 and had been poorly with many different illnesses for the previous 6 months, so we knew it was coming. But the timing and unfathomable sadness of her death, together with the start of a worldwide pandemic, little did I know it at the time, was to bring forth from me a tsunami of music the likes of which I hadn’t written for many years. A set of six solo studies for various members of the clarinet family came first, written between March 20th and April 20th. As I wrote them they were orchestrating themselves in my head and forming something else as well. That “something else� grew and grew, as the Six Studies intertwined themselves around each other and expanded together, joining forces with two brand new themes to form what soon was to become an immense orchestral work. The title was easy. Glastry is a tiny district in the middle of the Co.Down countryside of Northern Ireland, where my Mum was born and brought up. And Pearl was her name. Her full name was actually Margaret Mary Ward (eventually to become Denny when she married my Dad, Colum Denny, from Belfast), but everyone always called her Pearl. The nickname was bestowed upon her just after she was born on February 28th 1929 and stuck ever since.

The Glastry Pearl is a tribute to my Mum and the great and mighty person she was to me and all who knew her. It employs at least one theme or motif from each of the Six Studies For Various Solo Clarinets and uses them throughout the work in the from of Leitmotifs. It was only when the work was nearing completion that I began to wonder how to describe it. Freddy Naftel, a good composer friend of mine, suggested that Tone Poem was a fitting description and I immediately agreed. The music itself is completely tonal and highly Romantic, yet also peppered with exciting contemporary disonance. I believe it to be a good, and hopefully fun, challenge to symphony orchestras, both professional and high standard amateur alike. It offers everything from the the somber opening to the hilarious and wildly energetic central Waltz, to the glorious soaring final section, so plenty of variety to please many palates.

SKU: A0.1440683

A dramatic film-type composition capturing the journey of a novice monk during 15th Century Scotland. For orchestras of an intermediate standard. Ahaunting french horn solo is followed by a dramatic trek utilising the whole orchestra to the end where the horn to round the piece off.

Inspired by an old ruined church in my town called the 'Cross Kirk' the history of which can be found here: https://www.britainexpress.co.uk/attr...

Part 1 (0 - 2:24) It is around the year 1650. A novice monk awakes from his slumber to the echoes of prayers and holy chanting coming through the cloisters. After he rises, he readies the oxen for a trek down the St. Andrews Road to the nearby satellite site of the priory - the site of the modern day St Andrew's cemetery.

Part 2 (2:26 -3:37) It is an arduous trek over a muddy, rocky, unprepared track with heavy carts, with oxen straining to pull the load. They stop for a breather (3:09) and the impressive vistas are observed and the flag at 'Auld Neidpath' is just visible, reflected in the noble theme between the arduous oxen trekking theme.

Part 3 (3:37 - 6:02) The caravan starts to speed up; the oxen being startled by the sounds of fanfare trumpets coming from behind - a brave group of knights have broken through English lines and speed towards Neidpath to reinforce the besieged occupants. As they pass the wagon train, the fanfares get louder until the party reach the head of the train (4:30) where the lead Knight halts to show piety to the Hieromonk who blesses him and his knights (4:55). The novice looks on awe-inspired at the brave knights, with noble faces, resplendent in shining armour, with banners flapping in the wind. (5:02) No time to stop! The knights remount and continue on, the fanfares trailing off into the distance. The wagon train slows down having reached its destination.

Part 4 (6:03 - 8:12) The novice is back at the priory, reflecting on seeing knights for the first time (receiving their blessing); their nobility and bravery impressed upon him and retires to his cell for the evening, the evening prayers and chants again echoing through the cloisters (6:30). As he closes his eyes, his mind returns to the knights and a smile crosses his face (8:01) as he gently drifts off to sleep, as the final bell of the day tolls.

SKU: A0.1081583

[W]hile [Joseph and Mary] were there, the time came for her to be delivered. And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, 'Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!' When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.' And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (Luke 2:6-20 RSV-CE).