Do You Love for Beauty? : Liebst du um Schönheit

Do You Love for Beauty? (Liebst du um Schönheit) is the second of Mahler's Rückert songs arranged by Stanley M. Hoffman for mixed chorus, the first one being Into This World I Came As a Lost One (Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen), 5755. This latest arrangement features a new English singing translation by the arranger, and sumptuous Romantic harmonies inspired by the piano accompaniment provided by the composer. Duration: 2:50

Ye Children Who Do Serve the Lord

All People that on Earth do Dwell

Who Do You Say That I Am?

The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd

The text is Sir Walter Raleigh's response to The Passionate Shepherd by Christopher Marlowe. The two poems are worlds apart in philosophical viewpoints. The Passionate Shepherd is all about promises, promises, and more promises of constant daily joys in the sharing of love, almost to the point of frenzy. In contrast, The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd is serene and philosophically realistic, yet it seems to yearn for the idealism of the shepherd’s promises. The music is written in both a lighthearted and frenzied manner so as to deliver on the moods of the text. Duration: 3:12 Flute part included.

Jesu, We Do Worship You : Christe, adoramus te

This five part C major motet has a Latin text from the Antiphon from the Good Friday Liturgy. Notated on five staves, the soprano 1 and 2 parts have their own staves. An optional continuo part for organ is provided. Note values of the original editions have been halved for easier reading. Durations at cadences are clearly edited for precise cut-offs. The English version by Jean Lund has been updated, removing archaic words such as "thee" and "thy." Duration: 2:45

Do not stand at my grave and weep

Mother to Son

Mother to Son is based on the powerful poem by Langston Hughes. The mother (voice) is a strong woman, one who has persevered and is still climbing, still surviving: "Well, son, I'll tell you: / Life for me ain't been no crystal stair." -Gwyneth WalkerDuration: 3:45

To Meet a Flower

Poet Emily Dickinson loved writing about nature and wrote many poems about flowers, three of which are celebrated in this song cycle. Flowers of various descriptions and personalities are included in this colorful collection, one of two song cycles in which composer Juliana Hall has set Dickinson’s flower poems to music.

The Rose Led Us to Our Eyes

The Rose Led Us to Our Eyes is a setting of a text by poet Ghalib (1797 1869) as adapted by the composer. The music is relatively uncomplicated and mellifluous.

How Do I Love Thee : 5 Songs For Soprano and Piano

How Do I Keep on Feelin' in This Mean, Mean World?

Be Thou My Vision: Homage to an Ancient Hymn

The beloved hymn Be Thou My Vision has long been part of our rich musical heritage of hymnody. The text is by St. Dallan Forgaill (6th Century Irish), and the tune is Slane (Traditional Irish) which was added somewhat later to the text. Each verse is set differently, giving variety and expressiveness to the text, which sometimes departs from the original. The composer's intent was an expansive paraphrase of the tune and text, and the result is one of the most rewarding settings of this hymn that you will encounter. Duration: 6:00

To Pray and To Hope

Three Impudent Arias

The texts for these songs are adapted from Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914), one of America’s most fearless and biting satirists. It is safe to say that these songs are probably not for every performer. They require a good dose of theatrical dash and a bit of raw nerve, not exactly your formal recital staples. While they do have a suggestively masculine tone, a female singer with the right irreverence and attitude could certainly bring them off. (The composer suggests that these three songs be performed as a set as opposed to individually. They were constructed to achieve a certain balance as a set.)

Be Known to Us : The Road to Emmaus

To Troubled Friends

Listen to Me

Hymn to Joy

Down to the River to Pray: A Song of Celebration

Sing to the Lord

To God on High