Strength

Strength was commissioned by the Kentucky Music Educators Association - originally for the 2021 KMEA All-State High School TTBB Choir, but delayed due to COVID-19 and eventually premiered at the 2022 KMEA conference under the direction of Dr. Eugene Rogers (University of Michigan).

Scoring: TTBB, piano
Text: Rabindranath Tagore
Duration: 4:30
Publisher: manuscript

Sample score: coming soon

Recording: coming soon

Sing with Me

We have faced a relentless series of heartaches in 2020, one right after another. The uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the anguish of not being able to sing together, disturbing social justice issues… all of these have tested our resolve.

During the summer, I composed Sing with Me as my own personal response to these concerns; it is the first piece for which I have also written the text. At the time, I was unsure of what the fall semester would look like for my own choir. Would we be in person? If so, how long might that last? Would we have to transition to online learning again? Therefore, I designed the piece to be accessible and adaptable to whatever situation we faced. 

My wonderful students at EKU recorded this piece as a virtual choir. It premiered on Monday, November 23 on YouTube (see below).

Scoring: SATB, piano
Text: Richard Waters (see below)
Duration: 2:00
Publisher: manuscript

Sample score

Recording (ChoralTracks)

World Premiere (EKU Combined Choirs)

Text:
Sing with me, as I sing with you,
Let the music revive us anew;
Yearning for beautiful harmony,
Come and sing with me.

All the world is longing for peace,
For all meaningless hatred to cease;
Joining together, your hand in mine,
Let our voices shine!

Dream with us, together as one,
For the day when the battle is done;
Fervently striving for unity,
Come and dream with me.

Come and sing with me.

(c) Copyright 2020 by Richard Waters. All rights reserved.

Beethoven Choral Festival commission

I'm thrilled to announce that I have been commissioned by Music Celebrations International to compose a piece for choir, organ, and brass for the Beethoven 250 251 Choral Festival. Using the Jubilate text, the piece will incorporate various motifs from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. It will be premiered on June 10, 2021 at St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna.

10/2/2020

Now on MusicSpoke!

I am delighted to have been added to the roster of talented composers on MusicSpoke. Three of my pieces are now available:

• Come, Sweet Peace (commissioned by James Madison University; Harrisonburg, VA)
• Great Is the Lord (composed for Delta State University; Cleveland, MS)
• My Song (commissioned by Hopkins High School; Minnetonka, MN)

3/16/2020

"The Courage for Love" world premiere

The Eastern Kentucky University Choirs and Symphony Orchestra presented the world premiere of The Courage for Love - my first extended work for SATB choir, soprano & baritone soloists, and orchestra - on March 2, 2020 at the EKU Center for the Arts. The program also included Handel's Zadok the Priest, Ravel's Bolero, and the Finale from Bruckner's Eighth Symphony.

CONCERT PROGRAM  |  PROGRAM NOTES