Choral arrangements

I was a church choir director for about nine years.
I often purchased choral arrangements from publishers, but many published arrangements were not suitable for the choir I directed.
I began to make arrangements that enhanced the abilities of the choir singers and were more appropriate for specific liturgical purposes.
Later, rather than writing arrangements to be sung by a particular choir, I began to write arrangements that satisfied me.
Now my arrangements are available for any choir to sing.
-- Kenneth Long

Missa Brevis

Score (PDF) | adapted Mass text with English translation (PDF)

The title of the arrangement is "Missa Brevis". The original music was written by Henry Purcell. It was written for recorders, and it was included as incidental music in his opera "Dioclesian" (1690), movement 16 (Chaconne on a Ground). I first encountered the music in an arrangement for euphonium and two tubas.

I wrote a paraphrase of the Latin Mass Ordinary text to be sung with Purcell's music. Rather than have five separate movements of the Mass Ordinary, I condensed the Mass text into a one-movement work. I have included above a copy of the adapted Mass text with an English translation.

The arrangement is flexible and can be sung by one person for each of the three parts or it can be sung by many people for each of the three parts. Two of the voices sing the same condensed Mass text in canon. Key words of the five movements of the mass text are sung by the third voice on the ground bass. One alternative to the arrangement as written is to have the altos sing the bass part an octave higher. The arrangement can be sung a cappella or with instrumental accompaniment such as a pipe organ or a string trio. A piano could play the first eight measures of the bass line and then play the two upper parts. An arrangement for two soprano parts and one alto part is also available. The accompaniment could also be played as a pipe organ solo.

I understand that both Purcell's music and the mass text are in the public domain, so I grant permission to copy my arrangement if my name remains on the arrangement. I am interested in receiving information about any public performance of my arrangement.

O Blessed Jesus

Score (PDF) | Ave Maria text with O Blessed Jesus text (PDF) | Ave Maria with chant notation (PDF)

Many people, especially Catholics, are familiar with the Latin "Ave Maria" text sung to a Gregorian chant melody. The combination of the words and music is over a thousand years old. Protestants have a different approach to Mary, the mother of Jesus, so to direct attention to Jesus, I wrote a new text to be sung with the "Ave Maria" chant melody. Instead of asking Mary to pray for us, my text is a prayer directly to Jesus. My text also attributes qualities to Jesus and praises him for them. My text paired with the chant music is attached to this email message.

My interest in writing a new text began with listening to "Adoro Te", a recording of Gregorian chant sung by Donna Stewart (found through this link: Adoro Te: Gregorian chant hymns & Marian antiphons | Donna Stewart, Mignarda | Mignarda (bandcamp.com)).

I became fascinated with Stewart's recording of "Ave Maria" on "Adoro Te" (found through this link: Ave Maria from Adoro Te: Gregorian chant hymns & Marian antiphons by Donna Stewart, Mignarda (bandcamp.com)). I used my alto recorder to learn the melody by ear. Later, I acquired a copy of the "Ave Maria" text with modern Gregorian chant notation which I have included above. I have also included above a document which includes the Latin "Ave Maria" text, an English translation of the Latin text, and my new English text related to Jesus.

While I was learning the melody, I began to think of a few words related to Jesus that could be sung to that melody. Instead of the five syllables of "Ave Maria", I thought of the five syllables of "Holy Redeemer". Gradually, I was able to match words about Jesus to all the melody. I was able to match the rhythms of the new words to the rhythms of the old melody.

My text is related to Biblical passages and Christian liturgical elements. "God is with us" is from Matthew 1:23. "Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world" is an English translation from the "Agnus Dei" part of the liturgy. "You are exalted, your name over all names" is from Philippians 2:9. "You are our shepherd who leads us to still waters" is from Psalm 23. "Lord, have mercy" is an English translation from the "Kyrie" part of the liturgy. "Save us from the time of trial" (part of "The Lord's Prayer") is from Matthew 6:13.

"O Blessed Jesus" may be sung by only women or only men. It may be sung by women and men together in their respective octaves. A few singers may sustain the interval of a perfect fifth on a "d" and and "a" while the other singers sing the melody. In a mixed group it may be best to have some men sing the interval of the perfect fifth. "O Blessed Jesus" may be sung a cappella or with an instrument, such as an organ, sustaining the interval of the perfect fifth. The instrument might also play the melody with the singers.

If you leave my name on the version of the music with my text, then you may copy it to share with anyone who is interested in it.

I would appreciate receiving information about any reactions to my work. I would especially appreciate information about any public presentations of my work.

Website by Dan Long