Bill Reyer, one of my dearest friends and colleagues passed away in his sleep on Sunday, June 7th, at his summer home in Michigan. His passing ends a wonderful relationship that we shared as poet and composer. Over the years, I have set 10 of Bill’s wonderful poems; two others have been used for choral works. His beautiful and perceptive writing style was highly conducive to my instincts as a composer. Please feel free to visit various places on this website where our collaborations can be seen and heard.
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The Ruminations tab features an article about our collaborations and the voice recitals that we presented together
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The Compositions tab lists the songs that resulted from our creative work. If you click on a title, you can see score excerpts from each song.
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The Recordings tab features recorded live performances of four of the Reyer Simple Songs. Upon arrival, scroll down past the section of choral works until you come to the voice section. Bill’s songs are the first set that you will see. ​
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The Summer Lizard
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I Can’t Breathe
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Your Lullaby: Words to a Newborn
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Still the Same
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A Celebration of Life service for Bill will be held on the Heidelberg campus later this summer.
Augsburg/Fortress Press has released a new collection of my own organ works, titled Heavenly Joy. The collection features settings of familiar hymn tunes that are appropriate for the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany seasons. Organists may order this new work through music stores everywhere or directly from Augsburg/Fortress Press. The link below will take you to their website where the new publication is introduced. It includes two sample performances of the 9 works that are features in the collection.
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Check it out here!
WELCOME
​Welcome! I am pleased to announce the release of my new CD and streaming project! While I Run This Race: Music of Hope, Dedication and Celebration, presents music inspired by Black American culture. Two major chamber works frame the recording: Langston's Lot, a song cycle for tenor, alto saxophone and piano, based on the poetry of Langston Hughes, and While I Run this Race, for piano trio, based on the spiritual, Guide My Feet While I Run This Race. The recording is completed with two pieces for solo organ, also based on traditional spirituals.
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The recording is available through AMP Recordings and may also be obtained through major streaming services. For more information, please see the News tab!
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