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My name is Chris Hoh and I have written the music here. Thanks for checking it out! Mostly choral, these compositions include religious texts, American poetry, Shaker hymns and environmental sayings. The writing goes from few to many parts -- with a few vocal solos and instrumental ensembles. Style/influences? Poulenc, Rheinberger and Britten from abroad along with Americans Billings, Ives, Copland, A. Parker, Paulus and Rorem. You'll find evocative texts, vivid harmonies and intriguing counterpoint. I hope you like this music and you send me your comments!March Piece of the Month: "No Temple Now" Here's a moving meditation for Holy Week and especially Good Friday. The deep text by Timothy Dudley-Smith is presented with a haunting melody and modal harmony. The piece ends confidently, however, as befits the message. The organ plays a prominent role, while the choir parts are not too demanding. The first verse works as a soprano solo or sectional passage. More info about "No Temple Now" on the piece's individual page.
HohMade Music to see and hear! click the "Listening Room" for quick access to new and featured pieces.
Winter Weather Advisory! Order "Snow-Flakes" from the Made in the Americas CD via ERM Media or Amazon.com. Or check out details of the piece on the Snow-Flakes page.
| And Now For Something Completely Different Three months have flown since my last update. Where does the time go? In my case travel, family events, visitors, house projects, tax filing -- oh yes, and a demanding day job that I love! So I'm counting my blessings and just wishing a day had more than 24 hours. Hope you too are living life to the fullest and finding time for family and friends. In addition, I have brought two bigger compositions to conclusion. The "Credo" of my mass goes back to 1991, with most of it written in 1994. But I never got it into the computer (all those words) or worked out the kinks. Now it's done, all 9 minutes 45 seconds and I'm happy with the result, which accompanies the choir with strings, organ or both. It's satisfying to look back and see how little I have changed; for better or for worse, the themes, structure, harmony still resonate within me. Now I take a deep breath and wait to find out what others think. A few other sections are final, e.g. the "Sanctus & Benedictus" recorded by ERM in Prague last year and due out on CD in 2010. Other sections remain in a ... pre-conceptual stage. The other project only started last year. "A Few Plain Hints: William Walker's Words for Singers" sets advice from the preface to "The Southern Harmony." At times quaint, practical or funny, eleven short excerpts add up to 25 minutes of fun for soloists, chorus and optional piano. Yes, although the piano is a true accompaniment and adds much, each segment was written to work a cappella if desired. There's flexibility too in sectional and solo passages, even in mixing and matching among the movements. So it should be easy for teachers and directors to program this work and in the process choristers and audience may become curious about "Singing Billy" Walker and the spread of hymnody and vocal instruction in 19th century America. You can check out both works here, although only with synthesized (wordless) voices at this point. | Holiday Greetings In this busy time for musicians, best wishes for peace and joy in the holiday season. Thanks to my friends in the Reading (PA) Choral Society, Peter Hopkins, Director, for what I heard was a wonderful performance including "There's A Wideness In God's Mercy" for SATB choir and organ. Appreciation too to Mt. Calvary Lutheran choir in Santa Clarita, CA, programing "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus" this month (see above). New on this website is "Aromimcha, Adonia, Ki Dilitani," for tenor solo and SATB choir, which King's Chapel, Boston, will premiere at a concert January 24. Also, new is "Angele Dei," the prayer to the guardian angel. It alternates between four and six parts and serves as a companion to the a cappella "Dona Nobis Pacem," both being good New Year's wishes. |
