Catalog sacred music of composer Jesse Ayers

Sacred Music

Band, Wind Orchestra, Wind Ensemble

   Jericho  (16 minutes) (2005)   Biblical Epics Series   Grade 5-6
         The battle of Jericho. Expanded instrumentation. Dramatic. Surround-sound. Narration. Unorthodox audience participation.
        "The most imaginative, unusual and successful work I have ever performed in 33 years of conducting"—Dr. Richard Fischer
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   ...and they gathered on Mount Carmel  (25 minutes) (1995)   Biblical Epics Series   Grade 5-6
         Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal. Surround-sound work. Haunting special effects. Each movement can stand alone.
        "I have conducted this work on several occasions and it always blows the audience away."—Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler
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I. The Incantations of the Prophets of Baal (7.5 minutes) Grade 5-6
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               II. The Prayer of Elijah  (8 minutes)   Band: Grade 3-4; Soloist: Grade 6
                     Solo euphonium or solo horn with band
           Click to listen    Instrumentation    Reviews/comments    More information    Purchase    Print-Your-Own License    Solo part $10

             III. The Fire of the Living God  (9 minutes)   Grade 5-6
                     Performed at 2003 ISCM World Music Days Slovenia & 2005 Society of Composers (SCI) Nat'l Conference.
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   Rachel Weeping for Her Children: September 11, 2001  (3 minutes) (composed 2002)
         "A poignant work that marries the great shock and profound sadness experienced by America following 9/11."—Dr. Neal McMullian
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   Veni Emmanuel  (8.5 minutes) (1997)   Christmas   Grade 3-4
         A Christmas processional for band and/or orchestra, with optional choir or multiple choirs.
         Band and orchestra versions are in the same key to allow for joint ensemble performance.
         "Imaginative scoring, wonderful percussion writing, first-rate woodwind scoring, powerful brass"—Jonathan Willis, conductor          Click to listen    Instrumentation    Reviews/comments    More information    Purchase    Print-Your-Own License    Ask a question

   Fanfare for Christmas Morning    (1.5 minutes) (1995)   Christmas   Grade 3-4
         Ruffles and flourishes on "Joy to the World." A great opener for a Christmas program.
         Also available for orchestra, brass choir, or brass+organ.
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Orchestra

   Jericho  (16 minutes) (2005)   Biblical Epics Series
         The battle of Jericho. Expanded instrumentation. Dramatic. Surround-sound. Narration. Unorthodox audience participation.
        "The most imaginative, unusual and successful work I have ever performed in 33 years of conducting"—Dr. Richard Fischer
         Click to listen    Instrumentation    Reviews/comments    More information    Rental information    Ask a question

   ...and they gathered on Mount Carmel  (25 minutes) (1995)   Biblical Epics Series
         Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal. Surround-sound work. Haunting special effects. Each movement can stand alone.
        "I have conducted this work on several occasions and it always blows the audience away."—Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler
         Click to listen    Reviews/comments    More information    Rental information    Ask a question

I. The Incantations of the Prophets of Baal (7.5 minutes)
Click to listen Instrumentation Reviews/comments More information Rental information Ask a question

               II. The Prayer of Elijah  (8 minutes)
                    Solo euphonium or solo horn with orchestra
                     Click to listen    Instrumentation    Reviews/comments    More information    Rental information    Purchase solo part $10

              III. The Fire of the Living God  (9 minutes)
                     Band version performed 2003 ISCM World Music Days Slovenia & 2005 Society of Composers (SCI) Nat'l Conference.
                     Click to listen    Instrumentation    Reviews/comments    More information    Rental information    Ask a question

   Rachel Weeping for Her Children: September 11, 2001  (3 minutes) (composed 2002)
         "A poignant work that marries the great shock and profound sadness experienced by America following 9/11."—Dr. Neal McMullian
         Click to listen    Reviews/comments    Instrumentation    More information    Purchase $75    Ask a question

   Veni Emmanuel  (8.5 minutes) (1997)   Christmas
         A Christmas processional for orchestra and/or wind band, with optional choir or multiple choirs.
         Band and orchestra versions are in the same key to allow for joint ensemble performance.
         "Imaginative scoring, wonderful percussion writing, first-rate woodwind scoring, powerful brass"—Jonathan Willis, conductor          Click to listen    Instrumentation    Reviews/comments    More information    Rental information    Purchase choral scores

   Fanfare for Christmas Morning (1.5 minutes) (1995)   Christmas
         Ruffles and flourishes on "Joy to the World"
         Also available for concert band, brass choir, or brass+organ.
         Click to listen    Instrumentation    More information    Purchase $75    Ask a question

Choral

   The Seventh Seal  (10 minutes) (2003) SATB   Biblical Epics Series
         Not a church anthem. A major choral concert work. An intensely dramatic setting of the apocalytic text from Revelation chapter 8.
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   Veni Emmanuel  (8.5 minutes) (1997) SSAATTBB   Christmas
         A Christmas processional for choir or multiple choirs with optional orchestra and/or band accompaniment
         "The most beautiful version of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel out there today."—Jonathan Willis, conductor          Click to listen    More information    Purchase    Print-Your-Own License    Rent orchestral parts    Purchase band parts
         Instrument requirements for standard and reduced instrumentation

   Arise, My Soul, Arise (extended version)  (10 minutes) (2007) SSAATTBB plus optional organ, brass and percussion
         Large festive anthem for dedication ceremonies, such as new buildings, pastor installations, or inaugurations. Includes audience
         singing and three narration "voice-over" passages for texts such as quotes from founders or important institutional history.
         Scored for SSAATTBB & piano plus optional organ, brass quintet, timpani, percussion, and 3 surround-sound trumpets.
         Click to listen    Order choral/piano octavos    Order organ part    Rent brass & percussion parts    Ask a question

   Arise, My Soul, Arise (short version)  (4 minutes) (2007) SSAATTBB plus optional organ, brass and percussion
         A formal anthem with optional brass quintet and percussion.
         Scored for SSAATTBB & piano plus optional organ, brass quintet, timpani, and percussion.
         Click to listen    Order choral/piano octavos    Order organ part    Rent brass & percussion parts    Ask a question

   Hymns We All Knew  (16 minutes) (2004)
         A range of styles from rich harmonic traditional choral writing to hand-clapping, foot-stomping, tent-meeting gospel styles.
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           1. Softly and Tenderly   (5 minutes)  SATB+piano
           An beautiful, introspective setting over a Copland-esque accompaniment.
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           2. There Is A Fountain/Are You Washed/Nothing But the Blood  (4 minutes)  SATB (a cappella)
           Begins with beautiful, quiet reflection and progresses to a camp-meeting, revival style.
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           3. When I Survey The Wondrous Cross   (2 minutes)  SATB (a cappella)
           Austere and stately. The first verse is the traditional harmonization; the second is dramatically re-harmonized to paint the text.
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           4. Amazing Gospel Grace   (4.5 minutes)  SATB+piano
           An energetic, up tempo, Gospel style. A tour de force of lines from other hymns -- not a medley -- but an interleaving of lyrics.
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Voice

   Come Sing God's Song (1993)
         From a child's book, a mother sings to her child throughout the different hours of the day.
         Composed in memory of Andrew Joseph Reeve (March 2 - May 26, 1992)
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   Prayers of Anguish  (14 minutes) (1991)
         Grappling with the "why?" questions, solo voice and piano
                 I. Deep Waters (Psalm 69)
                 II. We Hung Our Harps (Psalm 137)
                 III. I Waited (Psalm 40)
                 IV. My Soul Thirsts for Thee (Psalms 63 and 32)
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Woodwinds

   Susanna and the Elders  35 minutes (1977)
         A major work for clarinet quartet in the vein of Stravinsky's L'Histoire.
         Clarinet Quartet (3+1), Percussionist, Soprano, Dancers, and Storyteller
         A theater piece similar to Stravinsky's L'Histoire. Most of the eight dances may be performed alone.
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Brass

   The Dancing King  (6.5 minutes) (1988)
         Performed at 1990 International Tuba-Euphonium Conference Japan and 1992 ISCM World Music Days Warsaw.
         Solo tuba and prerecorded accompaniment. Energetic and fresh. Challenging to the performer, accessible to the audience.
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   The Prayer of Elijah  (8 minutes) (1995)
         Solo euphonium or solo French horn with wind band or orchestra
         An out-of-the-ordinary, surround-sound piece with haunting special effects.
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         Purchase BAND set    Rent ORCHESTRAL set

   Fanfare for Christmas Morning (1.5 minutes) (1995)   Christmas   Grade 3-4
         Ruffles and flourishes on "Joy to the World"
         Brass choir or brass+organ. Also available for concert band or orchestra.
         Click to listen    Instrumentation    More information    Purchase $35    Ask a question

Percussion

   Caribbean Fantasy on Joy to the World  (3.5 minutes) (2003)   Christmas
         Steel drum band. Christmas in Trinidad! A festive, uptempo setting of this familiar carol.
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African Fantasy on Joy to the World (PerMus Publications) Christmas
Marimba solo. Unique Christmas arrangement.

   Susanna and the Elders  (35 minutes) (1977)
         Multiple Percussion (1 player), Clarinet Quartet (3+1), Dancers, and Storyteller
         A theater piece similar to Stravinsky's L'Histoire. Most of the eight dances may be performed alone.
         Click to listen    More information    Ask a question