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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!May Pieces of the Month: "Follies" A paen to the month of May, this is fun to sing and bursting with imagery. For SATB a cappella, it closes my set of Sandburg poems from the 1990s. The piece starts as a two-part round, then develops into bigger chords and really opens up on the word "May." From Remembering All: Five Sandburg Poems.
"To Elliott" On a more serious note, here is my memorial to Elliott Carter, Dean of American Composers, who passed away last November at age 103. For SATB a cappella, it starts like Carter's famous "To Music" but instead of "Charm me asleep" it urges "Charm me awake." More info about this piece on its individual page.
Video Channel! HohMadeMusic on YouTube includes concert performances and slide shows. Follow this link to the Christopher J. Hoh video channel. This site contains the popular Where Charity and Love Are in its ecumenical version. Please consider subscribing and telling your friends.
HohMade Music a click away! the "Listening Room" offers quick access to featured pieces.
| Old and New Pieces Time's flown; update's overdue! The Stuttgart German-American Community Chorus premieres "Memories of Lincoln" June 9. It's my 7'30" arrangement for SATB and piano of the great art song by William Neidlinger, for a concert commemorating the assassinated Presidents Kennedy and Lincoln. Meanwhile, the Reading (Pennsylvania) Choral Society is reprising "There's A Wideness in God's Mercy" for SATB and organ on March 3. This jaunty favorite dates from 1986! "Ecumenical Meditation" has gotten more performances in Austria, Serbia and Italy, which is exciting for spreading the message of religious tolerance. Next season I have commissions in the works for California and Spain. These include a longer setting of Psalm 27 in Latin for choir and strings as well as a Shakespeare text to be determined for an a cappella performance. And what have I been listening to? Mexican Colonial motets in "stile antico" that could be paired with a modern setting. I think those German part-songs are going to have to wait! | Art Songs Calling After moving back to Arlington, Virgina from Vienna, Austria in August, now I'm nearly unpacked! Despite the big transition, I've gotten some new recordings done, thanks to Composers Choir under Daniel Shaw. Also, I find myself drawn to art songs. One is William Neidlinger's solo "Memories of Lincoln" from the early 20th Century, which I'm arranging for a German-American choir. Another project is translating and adapting a set by Anton Reichel, from 19th Century Switzerland. Somehow, these are affecting my thoughts on a piece yet to be written for a local school choir, which I'm excited about. And I'm putting the final touches on a major work for chorus and orchestra to be announced soon. If I could just find time to finish setting up my desk and printer.... |
