SKU: A0.755123

Cycle of the Spheres honors those who lost loved ones in the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The title reflects both the living earth upon which we live and the fortitude of humanity. The first movement depicts serenity interrupted by bombastic resemblances of earthquakes and tsunamis. The second movement was a hymn song for the souls of the dead and is called Ashes to Ashes as it represents a different cycle, one of death and rebirth. A song of redemption and hope for the survivors is the theme for the third and final movement Resiliency of the Spirit.

SKU: A0.1022082

October 8-9 (©2018) – solo piano.  I was asked to write a short piece for a September 2018 fire survivors performance of monologues about the October 9, 2017 Redwood Complex fire.  The piece depicts events from the afternoon and evening before until the early morning of the fire.  These words fit with the sections: Red Flag Warning, Jaye came home from residency! hot wind, Happy reunion, hot wind, romantic evening, hot wind, warm embrace, sleep, smoke or just a hot night?, sleep, Yanahay texts Potter Valley on Fire, red on our ridge, Fire!, how again?, who to call? Everyone we know between here and Potter, landing ember fires, propane tank booms. In that year we experienced a fire three months earlier which burned most of our land including an orchard; the house was spared.  In this fire it was an achievable goal to water down the small unburned dry grass and protect home and cabin; many others in our community who had not had the first fire had homes and even lives lost as it was a real firestorm with high winds.  In 2019 I wrote an orchestral version with piano that will be published later.  The ending on the audio file is different and was not written; I wrote out a piano part for the symphonic version so improvisation is encouraged to depict a fire out of control and a community's experience of that.  The orchestral version was used in a film From the Ashes

SKU: A0.844330

Easy to learn but fun to sing!  
For 2-part women/men choir with piano accompaniment and optional children's melody.

The presence of children in a choir presentation can be quite charming and encouraging for the congregation.  

These kind of experiences for children can prepare them for a love of choral and exposure to singing with the big choir.  

Plus, as Psalm 8:2 informs us, children can have a ministry that silences the negative influence of the enemy and bring strength and encouragement to all who hear them sing praise!

The children's part in this piece of music is a simple counter melody, no parts.  You do not need an established children's choir, only a few good singers will do nicely.
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This is a wonderful expression of praise based on an amazing story in the Bible.

In II Chronicles 20, word comes to King Jehoshaphat that three nations are coming to attack Jerusalem and the people of Judah.  After prayer, the Lord reveals to them what to do:  Don’t be afraid and don’t panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s...You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the Lord deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the Lord is with you!

The people marched out the next day with choir of ministers leading the way ahead of the warriors.  This is the song they sang, Give thanks to the Lord, for his loyal love endures.

God caused the enemy to attack each other in confusion and they destroyed each other.  The Israelites just picked up the plunder!

The Scriptures tell us in II Chronicles 20,
22 When they began to shout and praise, the Lord suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
 23 The Ammonites and Moabites attacked the men from Mount Seir and annihilated them. When they had finished off the men of Seir, they attacked and destroyed one another.
24 When the men of Judah arrived at the observation post overlooking the desert and looked at the huge army, they saw dead bodies on the ground; there were no survivors!
25 Jehoshaphat and his men went to gather the plunder; they found a huge amount of supplies, clothing, and valuable items. They carried away everything they could. There was so much plunder, it took them three days to haul it off.

SKU: A0.950915

The battle is ended. The smoke begins to clear. As the gray light of day begins to filter through the slowly dissipating haze, the true cost of the war is made evident. Where there were cities…now only ruins and smoldering rubble remain. The survivors search for signs of life on either side, but there is little to be seen so profound is the devastation. This is what I tried to capture in the music: great sorrow, futility and hopelessness. 

SKU: A0.992459

Aftermath was completed in early June 2011; the duration is four minutes and fifty seconds. The piece explores the juxtapositions of chords a semitone apart and poses several technical and musical challenges for the performer, rapid notes, octaves, contrasts of tempi and mood. The title and mood came as a response to the Japanese earthquake and tsunami and to the many heart-rending images that were seen in the media of families coping with the aftermath of violent disaster and shattering loss.It is also a tribute to the courage and fortitude of the survivors.    The work was written as the finalist's test piece for the Singapore National Piano and Violin competition.             .

SKU: A0.1018619

Out of the Darkness is dedicated to cancer survivors, one and all. Composed for concert band and pipe organ, it begins quietly and builds to a triumphant crescendo, ending serenely.