This piece is dedicated to my wife Olivia. The inspiration for this piece comes from a fond memory of watching the sun rise over the mountains in Banff National Park with my partner. Later that day, we hiked up one of those mountains and I asked her to marry me. This piece relies on theContinue reading “Sunrise, August 11”
Category Archives: Composition
Be Swift to Love (a Benediction)
This choral benediction is a setting of a wonderful alternative text, based upon the words of Henri-Frédéric Amiel. I first heard this benediction given by Rev. Pat Johnston at St. John’s Anglican church in Ottawa, and it stuck with me ever since. I admire how direct and impactful this text is, and in my settingContinue reading “Be Swift to Love (a Benediction)”
Short Songs
Short Songs is a collection of 8 short (sometimes very short) songs, written to be a loosely-related collection of miniatures. The songs can be performed in any order, and performers are encouraged to order them as fluidly or jarringly as they wish. The songs are each shorter than 2 minutes, with the shortest being aboutContinue reading “Short Songs”
Phos Hilaron
This ethereal setting of the Phos Hilaron is set for 7 independent vocal parts, unaccompanied. The Phos Hilaron is one of the oldest Christian hymns that are known today, and was traditionally sung at the lighting of the first lamps at Vespers in the Orthodox tradition. This setting does not attempt to clearly convey theContinue reading “Phos Hilaron”
Blueprints: for Solo Ride Cymbal
Blueprints: for Solo Ride Cymbal was written as a part of the Western University Composition Competition in 2018. The piece explores unconventional performance practices on the Cymbal, and does not require any mallets or sticks to perform. The unfolding of the piece highlights the differing overtones possible in the resonance of the cymbal when struckContinue reading “Blueprints: for Solo Ride Cymbal”
to wait; dreaming
to wait; dreaming is a percussion quartet written for and dedicated to the Kairos Percussion Quartet. This piece explores unconventional performance practices and approximate notation for the quartet, in an effort to create a reactive aggregate sound with an inhuman, yet distinctly vocal quality. This piece is heavily inspired by the dream sequence in TheContinue reading “to wait; dreaming”
Tantum Ergo
This Communion Motet is a setting of the final two verses of St. Thomas Aquinas’ chant Pange lingua, scored for mixed voices without division. The text is an adoration of the Eucharist, and is suitable to be sung during communion at any time of year. This setting quotes the chant directly in the soprano line,Continue reading “Tantum Ergo”