I just found out about a very creative programming of Words From Paradise. The Chamber Singers from Eastern Mennonite University built their spring concert (and tour) around all five movements, interspersing (troping?) various other pieces having to do with each word, after each movement. I never would have thought of something like this, but it’s a really creative idea.
in paradisum… is still being well received, via the recording and bju.edu feature, for which I’m thankful. We’re all looking forward to the full concert CD, and the ForrestWorks CD this fall which will include Words From Paradise, all of last October’s ForrestFest, and the full recording of in paradisum…
Meanwhile, time marches on, and I’m finally getting to some other projects that have been waiting…
First of all, I have three commissioned church anthems being premiered this summer- which I’ll highlight when the premieres occur…I’m also finishing up a fourth church anthem that I wrote of my own volition. 
I cranked these out, this spring, after a long break of not writing much church choir music. It was fun to be back at it.
I just finished the music for my dear wife’s second Christmas program, and it’s sent off to Soundforth now- it’ll be in print this fall.
Beckenhorst Press is now publishing some of my orchestrations from the King of Love Soundforth CD, including my own King of Love, Mark Hayes’s Fairest Lord Jesus, and Craig Courtney’s Amazing Grace (string quartet version).
I have a couple new choral anthems in print- see the NEWS or Church Choral pages for more info… I should, Lord willing, have some anthems going into print this fall, too, with all the writing I’ve been doing.
Now, summer projects:
BJU has posted an article about the premiere of in paradisum on its website- and it includes a 3 minute set of excerpts which we hastily mixed and montaged yesterday… you can go take a listen by clicking here.
in paradisum was premiered tonight- by a 60-member wind band and a 100+ voice choir, for an audience of nearly 7,000. It was a fabulous performance- far and away better than any of the rehearsals. It did what it was supposed to do, and said what it was supposed to say, powerfully. Once again, I observe my life, and thank the Lord for these blessings that I don’t deserve.
The “surprise” that we were saving for the audience, was a set of 8 handbell players, hidden in the balcony of the hall- and at the end of the piece, (after 10-11 minutes!), they echoed motives played by onstage bells. I purposely wrote something in the program notes about eternity calling from “on high”- which I hope the audience understood in retrospect- it was a little clue about what was going to happen.
The recording of the entire concert will be available from the BJU Campus Store, sometime later this summer. in paradisum, itself, is slated to be include on the “ForrestWorks” CD which should be forthcoming from Soundforth Music, later this fall. More on that, and other upcoming events, later…
For now, to my dear students and friends that performed tonight, who are reading: Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for tonight’s performance. You’ve overwhelmed my ears and heart, and have made me proud!
