Daniel Pinkham~Boston’s Prolific Composer Celebrates His 75th Birthday
Daniel Pinkham is a prolific and versatile composer whose catalog includes four symphonies and other works for large ensembles, cantatas and oratorios, concertos and other works for solo instrument and orchestra. He has produced theater works and chamber operas, chamber music, electronic music, and twenty documentary television film scores. However, his greatest outpouring and what he is best known for is fine choral music.
Pinkham was born in Lynn, Massachusetts on June 5, 1923. He entered Phillips Academy in 1937 and today is considered one of Phillips’ most illustrious music alumni. During his time in Andover, Pinkham studied withCarl Pfatteicher and made a special study of Baroque keyboard works. He entered Harvard in 1940 and studied with some of the same teachers as Leonard Bernstein, composers such as Walter Piston and A. Tillman Merritt, as well as Aaron Copland. He received his bachelor and masters degrees from Harvard University, then went on to study composition with Arthur Honegger and Samuel Barber at the Berkshire Music Center and with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. His harpsichord teachers included such prestigious figures as Claude Jean Chiasson, Putnam Aldrich, and Wanda Landowska. His primary organ teacher was E. Power Biggs. He also studied choral conducting with G. Wallace Woodworth and orchestral conducting with Stanley Chapple.
With this prestigious training, Pinkham has gone on to be one of the most distinguished composers in this country, teaching at a number of major universities and conservatories and winning such notable awards as the Fulbright and Ford Foundation Fellowship and numerous honorary doctorates. He is senior professor of Musicology at N. E. Conservatory and in 1990 he was awarded Composer of the Year by the American Guild of Organists. Most of his compositional activity and performances of major works such as the Christmas Cantata for SATB voices have taken place at Kings Chapel in Boston, where he has been organist/choir master since 1958. However, he has also written some very important works for children.
Pinkham’s catalogue of secular music for treble voices is limited but quitespecial. There are two major works of note that have been composed recently:Bugs was published in 1996 by ECS (5036) for SA a cappella. It was premiered on March 5, 1995 in Fitzwilliam, NH, by mezzo-sopranos Marya Danihel and LisaSheppard. This clever charmer is one of Pinkham’s best for the intermediatechildren’s chorus. The prosody by the composer is developing as it encourages the singer to sing the words and the harmonies. It is much more accessible than some of his other works. This short, five-movement work is perfect for the school chorus. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
Love’s Yoke was published in 1994 by ECS (2844) for SA, 2 horns, and piano. Rhythmic and intervalic challenges dominate this wonderful set of love songs to English texts by Thomas Lodge, Sir Philip Sidney, nd John Wootten. It is the perfect piece to program with the Four Songs, op. 17 of Johannes Brahms, which is scored for horns and harp. This short extended work requires an accomplished choir that can easily sing major and minor seconds. The romantic harmonies of the Brahms will complement the contemporary harmonies of the Pinkham. Difficulty rating 4. $1.55
Pinkham’s sacred output for treble voices is quite substantial, with a number of pieces that should enter the standard repertory:
Angels Are Everywhere, published by ECS (4235) for SSA and piano, was commissioned by three major children’s choirs (Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus, Phoenix Boys’ Choir, and American Boy Choir) through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Treble Chorus of New England first performed the five-movement work in December of 1993 on WGBH classical radio with the composer interviewed as part of the live broadcast. The prosody by Pinkham is filled with marvelous humor. The piece is filled with wonderful intervalic challenges, bright vocal scoring, and changing meters. This 15-minute work without question will enter the standard repertory and has already had numerous ACDA convention performances. It has been recorded by both the TCNE and the Phoenix Boys’ Choir. Difficulty rating 4. $4.20
Biblical Book of Beasts, published by ECS (4077) for SA, string quartet or piano, was commissioned by the All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma and premiered on April 13, 1986 with the composer conducting. This charming set of six pieces to poems by the composer is ideal for the young choir or capable treble soloists. Much of the work is in unison and contains some challenging meter signatures and intervalic relationships. Difficulty rating 3. $2.40
Company at the Creche, published by ECS (2838A) for SSA, handbells (glock), organ or harp, was commissioned by the Worthington United Methodist Church, Worthington, Ohio, and is set to amusing texts by Norma Farber. Written in seven movements, shifting meters and challenging partwriting dominate the music fabric. Recorded by the Dale Warland Singers, this piece is wonderful for children’s voices. Difficulty rating 3. $2.35
Cantate Domino, To God Come Merrily Singing, published by Thorpe (Presser, 392-03019), for SA, brass, and piano, is set to an English text from Psalm 98:4-9 with English paraphrases by the composer. Commissioned by the Phoenix Boy’s Choir, this Festival Intrada is filled with provocative harmonies in the brass parts. The playful setting of the text contains challenging intervals and rhythms. Difficulty rating 3. $1.20
Manger Scenes is published by ECS (2849) for SA or solo medium voice and piano in three versions; 2838A for piano or organ and handbells; 2838B for harp and handbells or glockenspiel; and 2838C, handbell part. Commissioned for a December 24th wedding, these Seven Views of the Nativity as seen through the eyes of animals are set to texts by Norma Farber. The melodic writing is quite straightforward but accompanied by a complex, independently written piano part. Difficulty rating 3. $3.55
Missa Domestica, published by ECS (4892) for unison, flute, and guitar or piano, was written for D’Anna Fortunato. The work premiered July 20, 1993, on Nantucket Island. This four movement, six minute mass with Latin text is filled with haunting melody lines in the voice and guitar with a unique flute obligato. The piece will work beautifully on unison treble voices. Difficulty rating 4. $1.65
Three Introits for Christmastide, published by Thorpe (Presser, 392-03018) for SA or TB a cappella, was issued in 1993 in honor of Pinkham’s 70th birthday. These wonderful introits to English texts taken from Isaiah last only 2’30”. Difficulty rating 3. $1.00
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New Releases ~ Sacred SATB Voices ~ Sacred
A Hymne to Christ, by Imogen Holst, English text, Boosey, OCTB6825, SATB a cappella. This quiet prayer to Christ is filled with shifting meters and surprising intervalic relationships in predominantly homophonic partwriting. Written by Gustav Holst’s only daughter, the piece uses a rising melodic structure that seems to reach towards heaven. Difficulty rating 3. $1.40
Lead, Kindly Light, by Ned Rorem, English text, Boosey, OCTB7088, SATB a cappella. A quiet setting of a text by John Henry Newman, numerous key changes dominate the melodic and harmonic texture. Rorem begins this wonderful text setting on a simple 1-3-5 chord in the key of E flat. A homophonic setting, this anthem draws singers into a vital musical world of this major American composer. Difficulty rating 3. $1.40
Lift Your Hearts, Rejoicing, by Johannes Herbst (1735-1812), German/English text, Hinshaw, HMC-1523, SATB & organ. This joyous piece is one of over 100 anthems and 200 sacred songs written by Herbst for the Moravian Church in the United States. Straightforward harmonies dominate this mostly homophonic setting edited by the Moravian Music Foundation. The soprano section must learn to sing with ease in the upper tessitura. Difficulty
rating 3. $1.75My Days are Gone Like a Shadow, by Anthony Palmer, English text, Boosey
OCTB6994, SATB a cappella. Unusual harmonies dominate this setting of Psalm
102:11-13. The intervalic structure and prosody show the influence of Palmer’s studies in Japan, where he learned to incorporate both Western and Eastern compositional traditions. Difficulty rating 3. $1.40The Great Spirit of Love, by David Conte, English text, ECS, 5108, SATB & piano. Unison partwriting in contrast to contrapuntal sections of increased difficulty with complex rhythms fill the harmonic fabric of this piece. The sopranos and tenors often split into two parts requiring a choir of large forces. Difficulty rating 4. $1.50
Three 16th Century Spanish Lyrics, anonymous, ed. Arthur Sjögren, Spanish text, Peters, 67747, SATB & percussion. These three simple pieces, two for Christmas and one secular song of sorrow, are charming. Beautifully edited from a large collection from the library at Uppsala, Sweden, the pieces with added percussion part are translated by Nicholas Shumway. Difficulty rating 2. $2.50
Treble Voices ~ Sacred
Let Us Praise the Lord, by Lloyd Pfautsch, English text, Santa Barbara, SBMP 215, SSA, flute, & keyboard. Set to a text by John Milton, this cheerful, dance-like piece has shifting meters with unison sections that split into partsinging that must be carefully analyzed to be sung perfectly in tune. The flute part gently weaves through the voice part and can be played by an amateur. Difficulty rating 3. $1.35
Simple Song, by Leonard Bernstein, English text, Boosey, OCTB6916, unison &
piano with optional flute. Edited by Doreen Rao, this is a wonderful addition to her series for children. It is a powerful piece for children’s voices as they learn to sing this famous aria from Bernstein’s Mass set to great lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Difficulty rating 3. $1.80Teach Me Now, O Lord, by Benedetto Marcello, English text, MorningStar, 50-9418, SA & keyboard. Arranged by Dale Grotenhuis, this charming duet is set to a text from Psalm 119. The piece is dominated by crossing voice parts and lies in the mid-range of the voice. The piece is a wonderful addition to the Baroque repertoire for treble voices. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
Nunc Dimittis, by Charles Collins, English text, Boosey, OCTB6982, unison & organ. This peaceful setting set to texts from Luke 2:29-32 is perfect for the conclusion of an evensong or special evening service as a benediction. The piece contains simple, elegant melodic lines set over a supportive, independently written organ part. Difficulty rating 2. $1.40
Men’s Voices ~ Sacred
Praise, by Karl Jenkins, Latin text, Boosey, 60-10746-7, TTBB & keyboard. This grand song of praise is filled with sonorous harmonies. Commissioned by the BBC for the Black Mountain Male Chorus, the piece requires a chorus of larger forces that can produce a brilliant sound with no vibrato. Difficulty rating 4. $3.75
Extended Work~SATB
Lux aeterna, by Morten Lauridsen, Latin text, Peer Music, 0044444, SATB & organ (orchestra). Commissioned by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, this piece is absolutely stunning. Difficulty rating 3-4. $7.95
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New Releases ~ Secular SATB Voices ~ Secular
Four Gaelic Folksongs, arr. Eric Robertson, English/Gaelic texts, Warner, SATB & piano. All four of these pieces are charming settings of the original tune. Each has a pronunciation guide for the Gaelic texts. Three of the four pieces have some Gaelic words combined with English poetry; number one is the only setting in English. Mairi’s Wedding~VG-490, My Faithful Fair One (Mo Rùn Gael, Dìleas)~VG-491,
A Boat Song (Leis An Lurgainn)~VG-492, Ho Ro, My Brown-haired Maiden (Ho Ró, Mo Nighean Donn, Bhòidheach)~VG-493 Difficulty rating 3-4. $1.95-4.95Plena Nectare (Full of Nectar), Salve Invecta (Hail to Judith) by Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741), Italian/English text, Lawson-Gould, 52809 & 52810, SATB & keyboard. Taken from Juditha Triumphans which was premiered in Venice in 1716, both pieces are mostly homophonically set. One of the few secular oratorios Vivaldi composed, these pieces are perfect for the high school choir or amateur choral society. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
Song: We Are the Darkness in the Heat of the Day, by Benjamin Britten, English text, Boosey, 10585, SATB a cappella. Britten set Edith Sitwell’s poem “Still Falls the Rain” as his Canticle III in 1954 for tenor, horn, and piano. Two years later, Britten set three more Sitwell texts under the title “The Heart of the Matter.” Canticle III was published in 1956 but the additional numbers did not appear in print until 1994. Imogen Holst suggested to Britten that this text setting be arranged for five-part a cappella mixed chorus that she might use with her Purcell Singers. That arrangement was made, but the work was never performed in the composer’s lifetime. Difficulty rating 4. $3.75
The Cricket Sang, by Hubert Bird, English text, Hal Leonard, 50483120, SATB & piano. Open fourths and fifths dominate the harmonic fabric of this piece set to a poem of Emily Dickinson. The intervalic structure suggests an empty feeling which adds to the declamation of the text. The piece was written for the Anthony, Kansas High School Choir. Difficulty rating 3. $1.40
Yosokoi, arr. Francis Baxter, Japanese/English text, Lawson-Gould, 52898, SATB & piano. Pentatonic scales dominate the melodic fabric of this beautiful folk tune. The piece contains simple, yet elegant counterpoint. Difficulty rating 3. $1.25
Treble Voices ~ Secular
How Like a Winter Hath My Absence Been, by Matthew Harris, English text, Hal Leonard, 50483325, SSSAAA a cappella. Filled with shimmering harmonies that are constructed through the use of major and minor seconds, this piece will ring on women’s voices. The extremes in range and contrapuntal vocal writing make it difficult for children. Difficulty rating 4. $1.40
Moon at the Ruined Castle (Kojo No Tsuki) by Rentaro Taki, arr. Audrey Snyder,
English/Japanese text, Hal Leonard, 08551267, SA & piano. This poetic Japanese song captures the mystical quality of a ruined castle in the moonlight. A haunting melody, the voices are supported by an atmospheric piano part. The simple partwriting is ideal for a middle school choir. Difficulty rating 2. $1.25Rise Up, My Love, My Fair One, by Imant Raminsh, English text, Boosey, OCTB7066, SA, viola, & piano. Set to a text from Solomon, this rendition is filled with crossing counterpoint on ascending and descending melodic motives. Complex intervalic relationships dominate the harmonic fabric that concludes with glittering chords where the sopranos must sing a b flat 2. The piece requires an accomplished violist. Difficulty rating 4. $2.40
The Moon, a Butterfly and Us, by Walter Buczynski, English text, Boosey, OCTB6949, unison & piano. These three pieces are a great vehicle for developing children’s understanding of scale progressions and score articulations. All three pieces are filled with unusual intervals over an independently written piano part. Difficulty rating 2. $1.80
The Rose Tree, by Charles Collins, English text, Boosey, OCTB6975, unison & piano. This is a setting of a poem by brother and sister Charles and Mary Lamb that was first published in 1809. The melody is highly chromatic with varied meters that fit the poetry. Difficulty rating 2. $1.80
There is a Garden (from Trouble in Tahiti), by Leonard Bernstein, English
text, Boosey, OCTB6816, Unison & piano. This is the perfect piece to teach children to sing a powerful text with artistic expression on shifting meters and changing key signatures. Difficulty rating 3. $1.40Extended Works
Six Choruses, op. 15, by Sergei Rachmaninoff, Russian/English text, ECS, 5183, SA & piano. Written in 1894-96 for children’s or women’s voices, these remarkable pieces created during a time when the composer was teaching at the Maryinsky Academy are written mostly in thirds or unison. Using texts by various poets, a complete guide to the pronunciation of the Russian text is provided by editor Anthony Antolini. The English poetry has been determined by N. Nekrasov and closely follows the vowels and consonants that correspond to the Russian words. The rhyme schemes of the Russian poems have been retained as much as possible. This edition is a major contribution to the treble repertory. Difficulty rating 3-4. $3.85
Three Songs on Native American Texts, by Victoria Ebel-Sabo, English text, Boosey, The Trees Stand Shining (OCTB6964), Pima Wind Song, (OCTB6966), Mad Coyote (OCTB6965), Unison or SA & piano. Set to texts collected by Ms. Hettie Jones and entitled The Trees Stand Shining, these wonderful pieces are filled with atmospheric text painting that will ring on children’s voices. The piano parts require an accomplished accompanist. Difficulty rating 3. $1.20-1.80
Three Japanese Lyrics, by Wayland Rogers, English text, Boosey, LCB0294 (A Pleasant Landscape), (A Dog Walks), (Butterflies) SA & piano. These pieces use poems by the famous Japanese children’s poet, Michio Mado, with an English translation by the Empress Michiko of Japan. The first movement uses two contrasting musical ideas, the second is a fugue, and the final movement combines graceful and delicate themes. Difficulty rating 3. $5.50
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