Choral Works - Emily John, composer
Writing for choirs of all voicings, Ms. John has works published through Pavane Publishing, Cambiata Press and Kandinsky Music.
She is happy to write on commission; creating a work for your choir that meets your specifications. Her works have been performed by community choirs, school ensembles, adult amateur groups and more. All works are currently available, unless otherwise indicated.
New works (unpremiered)
Please use the contact form, if you are interested in perusal copies or commissions.
Garten Mother's Lullaby - SSA (2013) penny whistle or flute (traditional Irish)
Transcendence- SATB, toy piano or harp obbligato (2011) - text by Tamsin Rothschild, dealing with the Christmas season from a new light.
Lux – SATB or SSAA, a cappella performance art (2010) - influenced by Meredith Monk.
My Church –SATB, a cappella, text by Tamsin Rothschild (2010), an amazing poem
depicting the church as each person.
The Mermaid- ATB, optional guitar, Irish folksong (2011)
Jam-Ba-Doo-Nah –SATB, text by Susana Herrera (2010)
“Clotilde greets every woman in the circle by raising both hands open-palmed in front of her chest and asking, “Jam bah doo nah?” It means, “Are you in your skin?” Or a better translation would be, “Is your soul in your body?” The Tapouri women all say, “Yes. Oh, yes, we are alive.”
From Mango Elephants in the Sun: How Life in an African Village Let Me Be in My Skin by Susana Herrera
Selected Performances and Commissions
¡No Nos Moveran! (arrangement) - Special Music School High School Advanced Women's Choir, spring 2018
The Singing Will Never Be Done - Amadeus Chorale Youth Choir, 2015-2016 20th anniversary season, June 2016 (SAB, piano, flute)
Lessons Learned: Scheherezade - East End Women's Choir, Kamilla Ozman, director, January 2016 (SSAA)
Jubilate: Psalm 100 - Accord Treble Ensemble, with guest conductor, Brian Hamer, January 2015 (SSA, harp)
May 2014, Star-Crossed Lovers, Special Music School High School Singers, New York, NY (SAB, SSA version available)
December 2013, Sing On! Connetquot High School Choir, Jimmy Nagle, director
November 2012, commission – Again I say Rejoice - St. Agnes Cathedral of Rockville Center, Girls Chorus,
Michael Wustrow, director
April, 2011 – Fair Phyllis (John Farmer) SSA arrangement performed by Special Music School Select Chorus,
Ann Goodman Recital Hall (published by Carl Fischer)
December, 2010 – Visions of Peace SSAA, a cappella – released on recording by Bella Voce Singers, 10th anniversary CD
June, 2010 – Scat(ter) Joy- SSA, clarinet and cello - Special Music School 5th grade Chorus,
New York, NY (SSA version)
May, 2010 – Scat(ter) Joy – SAB, clarinet and cello - commissioned and premiered by the Brockport High School Chorus, Brockport, NY (SAB version)
December, 2009 – Visions of Peace - SSAA, a cappella - commissioned and premiered by
Bella Voce Singers, Brooklyn, NY
June, 2009 – Get on Board - ATB, 4-hand piano – Special Music School Boys Chorus, New York, NY, now available through Cambiata Press
June, 2009 – Why Would a Kangaroo Sit? (Nova Scotian folksong)– Special Music School
1st and 2nd grade chorus, New York, NY (2-part treble, piano)
now available through Pavane Publishing
May, 2008 – Wild Mountain Thyme - Scottish Folksong for SSA, harp[or piano] – Bella Voce Singers, Brooklyn NY. Published by Kandinsky Music.
February, 2008 – Common Ayre - SSA, piano, marimba, percussion – Orleans All-County Elementary Honor Choir, Holley, NY - Commission (no longer available) Text: Walt Whitman
March 2007 – Sing On! - SATB, piano– Brockport High School Chorus, Brockport, NY.
Text: Col. Henry Hevingham
May, 2006 – Sing on! - SATB, piano - dedicated to and premiered by Mineola Choral Society, Mineola, NY, text: Colonel Henry Heveningham
March, 2005 – Butter-bee-fly - SA, piano premiered by Amadeus Chorale Youth Singers,
Rochester, NY, text: Emily Dickinson
February 2005, - Elijah Rock! - SA, soprano solo, piano – Amadeus Chorale Youth Singers,
Greece, NY
Winter, 2004 – Elijah Rock! - SA, soprano solo, piano – Youth Choir of the Center for Preparatory Studies in Music at Queens College, Flushing, NY
Spring, 2003 – Why Would a Kangaroo Sit? (Nova Scotian Folksong) – (2part treble, piano) - Children’s Choir of the Center for Preparatory Studies in Music at Queens College, Flushing, NY. now available through Pavane Publishing
June, 2002 – Dorian Rondo - SSA, piano – Monica B. Leary Elementary Choir, Rush-Henrietta, NY (no longer available)
June, 2002 – Wild Mountain Thyme - SSA, harp – Greece Arcadia Women’s Chorale, Greece, NY. Soon to be published by Kandinsky Music.
June, 2002 - Rosen Fra Fyn - SA, piano – composed for and premiered by Amadeus Chorale Children’s Choir, Rochester, NY, also available for SA, flute, violin and cello. Finnish folksong, arranged.
June, 2001 – Who Are You? - SA, piano – Amadeus Chorale Children’s Choir, Greece, NY.
Text: Emily Dickinson. Recorded by the Amadeus Chorale in unison version on Lullabies and Butterflies
She is happy to write on commission; creating a work for your choir that meets your specifications. Her works have been performed by community choirs, school ensembles, adult amateur groups and more. All works are currently available, unless otherwise indicated.
New works (unpremiered)
Please use the contact form, if you are interested in perusal copies or commissions.
Garten Mother's Lullaby - SSA (2013) penny whistle or flute (traditional Irish)
Transcendence- SATB, toy piano or harp obbligato (2011) - text by Tamsin Rothschild, dealing with the Christmas season from a new light.
Lux – SATB or SSAA, a cappella performance art (2010) - influenced by Meredith Monk.
My Church –SATB, a cappella, text by Tamsin Rothschild (2010), an amazing poem
depicting the church as each person.
The Mermaid- ATB, optional guitar, Irish folksong (2011)
Jam-Ba-Doo-Nah –SATB, text by Susana Herrera (2010)
“Clotilde greets every woman in the circle by raising both hands open-palmed in front of her chest and asking, “Jam bah doo nah?” It means, “Are you in your skin?” Or a better translation would be, “Is your soul in your body?” The Tapouri women all say, “Yes. Oh, yes, we are alive.”
From Mango Elephants in the Sun: How Life in an African Village Let Me Be in My Skin by Susana Herrera
Selected Performances and Commissions
¡No Nos Moveran! (arrangement) - Special Music School High School Advanced Women's Choir, spring 2018
The Singing Will Never Be Done - Amadeus Chorale Youth Choir, 2015-2016 20th anniversary season, June 2016 (SAB, piano, flute)
Lessons Learned: Scheherezade - East End Women's Choir, Kamilla Ozman, director, January 2016 (SSAA)
Jubilate: Psalm 100 - Accord Treble Ensemble, with guest conductor, Brian Hamer, January 2015 (SSA, harp)
May 2014, Star-Crossed Lovers, Special Music School High School Singers, New York, NY (SAB, SSA version available)
December 2013, Sing On! Connetquot High School Choir, Jimmy Nagle, director
November 2012, commission – Again I say Rejoice - St. Agnes Cathedral of Rockville Center, Girls Chorus,
Michael Wustrow, director
April, 2011 – Fair Phyllis (John Farmer) SSA arrangement performed by Special Music School Select Chorus,
Ann Goodman Recital Hall (published by Carl Fischer)
December, 2010 – Visions of Peace SSAA, a cappella – released on recording by Bella Voce Singers, 10th anniversary CD
June, 2010 – Scat(ter) Joy- SSA, clarinet and cello - Special Music School 5th grade Chorus,
New York, NY (SSA version)
May, 2010 – Scat(ter) Joy – SAB, clarinet and cello - commissioned and premiered by the Brockport High School Chorus, Brockport, NY (SAB version)
December, 2009 – Visions of Peace - SSAA, a cappella - commissioned and premiered by
Bella Voce Singers, Brooklyn, NY
June, 2009 – Get on Board - ATB, 4-hand piano – Special Music School Boys Chorus, New York, NY, now available through Cambiata Press
June, 2009 – Why Would a Kangaroo Sit? (Nova Scotian folksong)– Special Music School
1st and 2nd grade chorus, New York, NY (2-part treble, piano)
now available through Pavane Publishing
May, 2008 – Wild Mountain Thyme - Scottish Folksong for SSA, harp[or piano] – Bella Voce Singers, Brooklyn NY. Published by Kandinsky Music.
February, 2008 – Common Ayre - SSA, piano, marimba, percussion – Orleans All-County Elementary Honor Choir, Holley, NY - Commission (no longer available) Text: Walt Whitman
March 2007 – Sing On! - SATB, piano– Brockport High School Chorus, Brockport, NY.
Text: Col. Henry Hevingham
May, 2006 – Sing on! - SATB, piano - dedicated to and premiered by Mineola Choral Society, Mineola, NY, text: Colonel Henry Heveningham
March, 2005 – Butter-bee-fly - SA, piano premiered by Amadeus Chorale Youth Singers,
Rochester, NY, text: Emily Dickinson
February 2005, - Elijah Rock! - SA, soprano solo, piano – Amadeus Chorale Youth Singers,
Greece, NY
Winter, 2004 – Elijah Rock! - SA, soprano solo, piano – Youth Choir of the Center for Preparatory Studies in Music at Queens College, Flushing, NY
Spring, 2003 – Why Would a Kangaroo Sit? (Nova Scotian Folksong) – (2part treble, piano) - Children’s Choir of the Center for Preparatory Studies in Music at Queens College, Flushing, NY. now available through Pavane Publishing
June, 2002 – Dorian Rondo - SSA, piano – Monica B. Leary Elementary Choir, Rush-Henrietta, NY (no longer available)
June, 2002 – Wild Mountain Thyme - SSA, harp – Greece Arcadia Women’s Chorale, Greece, NY. Soon to be published by Kandinsky Music.
June, 2002 - Rosen Fra Fyn - SA, piano – composed for and premiered by Amadeus Chorale Children’s Choir, Rochester, NY, also available for SA, flute, violin and cello. Finnish folksong, arranged.
June, 2001 – Who Are You? - SA, piano – Amadeus Chorale Children’s Choir, Greece, NY.
Text: Emily Dickinson. Recorded by the Amadeus Chorale in unison version on Lullabies and Butterflies
