New Publications

Dr. Joel Tranquilla digs into this beautiful piece with special guest Rob Workman. Enjoy!

This is to announce a new choral/vocal composition website at www.donaldcallenfreed.com. This website features choral compositions, sacred and secular, in all voicings, though primarily SATB. There are also links to compositions from other publishers.

STEPHEN FOSTER MEDLEY

This is Jon Washburn at his best with a witty combination of well loved folk songs from the lyrical laureate of the 19th century south, Stephen Foster. Audiences and singers will love this medley. Enjoy!

In anticipation of returning to school and choir, Excelcia Music Publishing has published 24 new inspiring choral pieces, including two new pieces from Voctave, from many beloved composers as well as talented and wonderful new voices in its 2021 Choral music release.  The new release is rich with educational resources, including live professional recordings of each piece (safely recorded), which can be used as a tool with students in the classroom as well as for remote learning, and, new this year, the publisher is providing separate part-track recordings for each voicing.

The publisher’s 2021 release includes patriotic pieces, folk songs, hymns, holiday songs, a cappella pieces, and pieces for contests and festivals.  To address the ongoing challenges with in-person choir rehearsals and performances, Excelcia Music Publishing is offering a “virtual” choir bundle of the necessary reference tracks so students can record at home and educators can easily set up virtual choir recordings.

“It is my sincere hope that Excelcia Music Publishing’s 2021 Choral release will provide much needed inspiration to choir directors and singers during these times,” said Jamey Ray, Choral Music Editor.  “I couldn’t be more proud of the work created by this stellar group of composers and arrangers that comprise this year’s Choral release.”  

The publisher’s 2021 release includes pieces from composers Karen Crane, Patti Drennan, Greg Gilpin, Blake R. Mitchell, Steve Parsons, Jamey Ray, Russell Robinson, John Maclane Schirard, Connor Warren Smith, Bruce W. Tippette, Duncan Miano Wambugu and Marshall Webb.

Each new octavo is meticulously edited and beautifully set for ease of reading. Published in Excelcia Music Publishing’s color-coded voicing series, these works vary from unison/two-part up to SATB divisi.  In addition to the professional and part-track recordings, the publisher is providing Score Videos and preview scores for each piece on its website.  

Excelcia Music Publishing’s 2021 Choral music is available from music retailers everywhere and from the publisher at www.excelciamusic.com  [Read more…] about 2021 Choral Music Release Launched by Excelcia Music Publishing

This week on Repertoire Wednesday Dr. Joel Tranquilla and Dr. Julia Davids dig into the wonderful piece “I Asked of God” by Emily Walker. Enjoy!

Is this not the time to have something happy to sing about: I think so. This re-voiced SA version of the infectious Ron Cadmus lyric is the perfect antidote for these difficult times. For further info and a perusal copy, please contact Bob Cohen at .

The Beauty of Life

Flowers in the field
Fish in the sea
Fireflies dance to the cricket symphony
Eagles in flight
Starlight at night
The Beauty of Life;
Ours to see
It’s good to be alive
To be happy and free.

Bright verdent leaves
Fall from the trees
Sail on the songs of the whisp’ring breeze
Over babbling brooks
And flowing streams
Searching for their magical mystical dreams
Humming birds, loons,
Frisky baboons
The Beauty of Life
Ours to see
It’s good to be alive
To be happy and free.

Soft Queen Ann’s lace
The moon’s smiling face
Grasshoppers, beetles and bugs
Spiders and ants
Salamanders that dance
Daddy long legs and slimy black slugs

Croak, Chirp, Cuckoo, Meow, Hooo

Tall meadow grass
Storm clouds that pass
Leaving the scent
Of a sweet tranquility
Sunrise at dawn,
Springtime’s new spawn
Bringing the promise of possibility
Joy in each face
As the whole human race
Longs to safeguard our planet from harm

Nurturing trees
Cleansing the seas
Saving the whales,
Dolphins and snails
For pure crystal skies,
Open your eyes.
So life’s beauty all children may see.
It’s good to be alive
Where all creatures can thrive
In a world that is happy and free.