#REMEMBRANCE SONGS SERIES#

Iowa composer Elaine Hagenberg’s The Music of Stillness exquisitely sets poetry by Sara Teasdale that opens with “There will be rest and pure stars shining.” Minnesota composer Stephen Paulus wrote Hymn to the Eternal Flame in remembrance of all who suffered and perished in the horrors of the Holocaust it begins, “Every face is in you, every voice, every sorrow, every memory, woven into fire.” From the classical music tradition, Johannes Brahms composed an elegy with lush harmonies and expressive melodies entitled Nänie. He wrote this setting of hymn and psalm texts in memory of long-time chorus member Grace Weber ‘79, who passed away in December 2016, and her husband Steve, retired College forester, who passed away in May of this year. The choir will share songs of hope, gratitude, peace, and tribute, including the world premiere of Wings of the Morning by Middlebury College professor Peter Hamlin ‘73. Johnson a song of praise entitled Modimo, arranged by South African composer-conductor Michael Barrett and Ngokujabula! scored for chorus and percussion by contemporary composer Dan Forrest that energetically expresses jubilation with sweeping melodies and driving rhythms. They include Sing Out Your Joy by African-American gospel songwriter Victor C.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the Chorus will also present dynamic settings of historic psalm texts that give voice to gratefulness, celebration, and praise. “This is the sound of one voice, one spirit, one people: voices singing together in harmony, all of us singing with love…” These words by North American composer Ruth Moody, who sings with the Canadian folk-roots trio The Wailin’ Jennys, ring out as the concert opens. for several outstanding unreleased outtakes spanning from 1992 to 2010 including a poignant remake of B.J.’s nostalgic 1972 hit “Rock ‘n’ Roll Lullaby.” Four additional rarities hail from a limited edition, direct response album from the mid-1990s, and from the Warner-Reprise vault comes a treasure trove of eight additional masters, all heard here for the first time.The Middlebury College Community Chorus presents its annual Thanksgiving concert Nov. 23. Veteran songwriter-producer Steve Dorff teamed with B.J. It’s to honor his memory that we release this collection of rare and previously unreleased material recorded in the 1990s and 2000s. was a special friend of ours here at Real Gone Music the emotion, honesty, and heart he expressed in his music were his calling cards in life as well. eagerly looked forward to returning to the stage until cancer claimed his life on at the age of 78.ī.J. His voice and energy remained almost supernaturally strong and B.J.

made countless television appearances and performed thousands of concerts into 2020 until the Corona virus pandemic brought an end to touring. became the first platinum-selling Contemporary Christian recording artist with a string of hugely popular albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s which also won him five Grammys and numerous other awards.Īlong the way, B.J.

#REMEMBRANCE SONGS SERIES#

as he mixed genres effortlessly, joining legendary Memphis producer Chips Moman for a series of smashes (“Hooked on a Feeling,” “The Eyes of a New York Woman,” “I Just Can’t Help Believing”) and he hit paydirt with the #1 Bacharach- David hit “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” the Oscar-winning song from Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid.ī.J.’s cross-over to country was cemented with his 1975 pop/country/adult contemporary million-seller “(Hey, Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song.” Simultaneously, B.J. It began with the Houston-based band The Triumphs, when as lead singer he covered his father’s favorite Hank Williams classic “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” which led to Scepter Records to buy out his contract and take the song to the national top 10. Thomas enjoyed a career that spanned six decades and over 70 million records sold. Born in Oklahoma, raised in Texas, and beloved the world over, B.J.

Remembrance songs