Title: Text of poem by Brethren author published in anthem Dec. 14, 2006 Church of the Brethren News Service Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford, News Director 800-323-8039 ext. 260 -- cobnews@brethren.org
MORSE POEM PUBLISHED IN ANTHEM
(Dec. 14, 2006) Elgin, IL -- A poem written by the late Ken Morse, a well-known Church of the Brethren writer and editor, is the text for "Listen to the Sunrise," a choral anthem just published by Alliance Music Publications, Inc. Sheet music is available through Brethren Press for $1.70 each, plus shipping and handling. The voicing is SATB with children's choir a capella.
The anthem by Canadian composer Eleanor Daley was commissioned by the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay and premiered in 2003. That concert is available on "Cathedral Classics," a CD from the Master Chorale (www.masterchorale.com/cd-cc.htm).
The text comes from the title poem of "Listen to the Sunrise," a book of poetry by Morse and published by Brethren Press in 1991, and is combined with words from St. Francis of Assisi.
The poem made its way to the Master Chorale through Robert N. Durnbaugh, publisher of Brethren Press in the 1980s and later executive director of the Elgin Choral Union. He became acquainted with Richard Zielinski, who spent a year with the choral union before becoming music and artistic director of the Master Chorale in Tampa Bay. When the Master Chorale was preparing to commission the work, Zielinski asked Durnbaugh for suggestions of texts; "Listen to the Sunrise" was one of the suggestions.
The sheet music can be ordered from Brethren Press by calling 800-441- 3712 or visiting www.brethrenpress.com (go to www.brethrenpress.com/store/bpress/AMPI.html).
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in community. The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts about 130,000 members across the United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Nigeria.
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For more information contact:
Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford Director of News Services Church of the Brethren General Board 1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120 800-323-8039 ext. 260 cobnews@brethren.org
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