“Shepherd’s Gloria”

I composed this anthem for the Choral Arts Society of Southeastern Wisconsin (conducted by James Schatzman)  for a concert consisting of various settings of the ‘Gloria.’  Not long before the commission, I had the pleasure of soloing with the group in a performance of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” a wickedly difficult work- especially in its rhythm.  Their assured and skilled singing inspired me to compose the most rhythmically complicated work I have ever written-  with time signatures within the work like 7/8, 10/8 and 11/8.   The Tremper High School Chorale (under the direction of Polly Amborn) sang it as well.  The piece has been published by Hal Leonard,  albeit in a slightly simplified arrangement.

Here are two recordings of the piece.   The first is by the Tremper High School Chorale.