Choir Directors Page

Choir Pieces

ORCHESTRA pieces, Midnight Fantasy and Christmas Sentimentale have been moved to the main tab "Orchestra Pieces."

All compositions or arrangements listed here are by Steve Dallas. Most pieces on this page are ready with piano accompaniments for choir directors and soloists. They may be printed for perusal for no charge. If you want to duplicate for your choir, orchestra, or use with your assembly please contact me for permission and fees. Please tell fellow directors of this page, and let me know if you are viewing the page. I hope Scorch works O.K. for you. It is becoming the primary means of distribution. When I say "View" below, if it is a Scorch page, you can listen as well, and even transpose before you print! - S.D.

SATB CHOIR AND PIANO

Ding Dong Merrily on High SATB

Advent Hymn - This is a new composition this month. Melody is an Irish flair and text is a mixture of traditional formulas and mildly adventuresome ideas pressing the Spirit for a more "lucid" journey, waking the "sleeping gifts" and a happier, less exhausting lifestyle. Thoughtful readers will sense the mild tension between the tendency to let God do all the rescuing and a little self reliance. My solution: God gives the tools - use them - our lives are an "active" waiting. I contemplated a 2 or 4 measure break for flute starting on the last note and may add that later. Here are the Scorch files: Choir version, /// Assembly unison version for bulletin printing. Usage is free for the time being, but please let me know if you use it for my own encouragement! Please display Copyright by Steve Dallas 2003, stevedallas.com. Thanks! Note: This piece has been selected for publication by Oregon Catholic Press. Get it now before I sign the contract!

I Will Extol Thee (Psalm 30) for Soprano and Baritone. An exciting composition in three short movements. Total length under 8 minutes. This was later arranged for SATB choir which is available by request. Scorch.

You Who Wait Upon the Lord. Scorch SATB with piano accompaniment. by Steve Dallas. a very expressive piece to the words of Isaiah 40:28-31 "Have you not heard, have you not known the Lord is an everlasting God the creator of the ends of the earth, he does not sleep, neither does he grow weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak and to those who have no might, He increases their strength. Even the youths shall faint, even the youths shall grow weary and the young shall fall exhausted. [but] They who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like the eagles. They shall walk and not faint. They shall run and not be weary. You who wait upon the Lord. You who wait upon the Lord." This is a nice challenge for a special occasion. Works well as a tenor or soprano solo also. Here is an arrangement for Sop and Alto only.

Advent Psalm Refrain - Here's another attractive piece I wrote last year. It was designed to sing as a refrain to the chanting of the psalmody. It can get lengthy so only sing it at the beginning and end of the chanting of the psalm. My choir has asked to do it again so I know it was well received. Scorch

The Exsultet - Scorch. a traditional text of the Catholic Church that is sung at the Easter Vigil, the Saturday night before Easter. It has become a tradition at St. Joan of Arc since it was written ten years ago. Not for the fainthearted.

Blessed Assurance Yes, Fanny J. Crosby! This arrangement starts out straight out of the old time hymnbook then moves into some surprising contrapuntal development. Enjoy.

Love is the Melody (Christian lyric to "Santa Lucia") S.A.B. Tenors sing melody. A great way to celebrate Italians in your church. Text suitable for funeral also.

Only You Could Had Done it, Lord. Written in 1979, this piece was written at the request of a man who had a lot to be thankful for. He handed me legal pad with his life story and said "Put my life to music." It was supposed to be a group of at least three songs but this was as far as it got, and really, it was all that was needed. Be sure to request my CD "The Music of Steve Dallas" to hear a great recording of it. Here is the full piano vocal score with the refrain harmonized SATB and the verse SA. Here is a condensed version for ease of duplicating for a choir. Be sure to print the composer (yours truly) in your bulletin when you perform it.

Wonderful Peace - SATB Scorch A old timer, but a great meditation tune.

Let us Break Bread Together - Cello solo - Scorch

Great is Thy Faithfulness - Cello solo - Scorch

Stewardship Song -scorch This was written as a response to our Capital Campaign at Church. I hope you find it useful in your church. Contact us for permission to use. No charge this year; only correct copyright notice.

A New Commandment - an attractive setting of the gospel text "a new commandment I give unto you that you love one another as I have loved you. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another." Makes an attractive short meditation. I use it every Holy Thursday for sure. Scorch Use the tempo slider in Scorch to slow it down a bit for playback.

The Lord's Prayer - Full piano vocal score Here. Here is a lead sheet of the same for convenience Scorch. Here is an mp3 to Download which is on Steve's new CD "The Music of Steve Dallas." This is a good alternative to the standard Mallote version. Consider it for your next wedding. It uses the verse that precedes "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet..." as the "intro" to the very familiar - "Our Father..." Try it !

This Cup - New. Just written March 2003. Our CCD director has used this many times since it was written. Use of the double clap after "this cup" (clap, clap) "this bread" (clap, clap) has become standard fare. Scorch /// Listen to Steve sing it. Here is the track only: MP3 to "This Cup"

Lift Her Up - Scorch File - a baby dedication song. (added November 2002) Listen to an MP3 file just recorded early February 2003. Of course one can change the gender reference easy enough.

Every Time I Feel the Spirit - an energetic arrangement first done by the Canton Civic Opera Chorus in 1996 at the Palace Theatre in Canton Ohio. View and play the score here in the Scorch format. If you are interested here is a copy of the piece minus the piano part for choir use. If you want to get started learning the parts here's a bass rehearsal MP3 This piece was edited and you may do the same: For the bass feature on page 3 I trimmed the ladies down to just ladies singing ppp. It's a cool bass line and no need to compete with anyone else. Sopranos drop out in meas. 52 so they can blast in with the tenors at 53.

One page vocal scores in the Scorch format:

Give /// I Will Greatly Rejoice /// Call to Me /// Beloved I Wish Above All Things

PSALMS

Bread of the Angels Scorch Psalm 78. Uses a fragment from Franke's Panis Angelicus. Nice. I used it on the 18th Sunday.

"This is the Day" S.D. LISTEN //// Print Scorch. Here's the same thing in realAudio format Listen and the same thing in a bitmap file: Print.

I Waited For the Lord. A setting of Psalm 40. Not strictly responsorial but I have used it for several years and it has become a favorite of our church. The text is my paraphrase, and it had a special inspiration. View /// Listen. The full piano part is in progress now. Let me know if you need it and I'll hurry on it. I Waited for the Lord - duet lead sheet. Scorch File.

NEW!! Lord, Send Out Your Spirit. This has become a standard at St. Joan of Arc. This is gospel swing, so no holding back! I've just finished a complete arrangement with piano part. View /// Listen to an MP3. /// Listen to a RealAudio (not as good) View and Print a bmp file (will bring up Paint probably)

The Heart of the Just (Children's Psalm) View this is a jpg for now. /// Listen A playful song with 2 verses and Bridge. Works well.

The Lord is My Shepherd. I know there are hundreds of settings of this Psalm 23, but take a look at this. It is particularly pensive and worshipful. ..."and in his presence, my cup overflows." View ///

The Stone Rejected By the Builders by S. Dallas Scorch format.

SONGS

Sparrow Song A nice little Calypso melody I wrote initially as a worship chorus. It became a favorite of children also. I arranged it for SATB and my adult choir loves singing it. I'm lucky to have a wonderful bongo player in my group, and it sounds great. Listen, View SATB

"Call to Me" S.D. Listen /// Print. Full piano part is available in Scorch format as of now. I have this already in a nice octavo type format which you can order.

Here is the piece I wrote for Michelle Beighley's wedding. The Miracle of Love. Print out and play the Scorch file Thanks to the choir for a job well done. (Unfortunately Carlton Cards at this point has refused permission to publish this text.)

Pentecost Sequence - this will be used as a meditation. LISTEN to MP3 /// Listen to RealAudio

The Harvest is Plenty - Scorch - a great sending forth piece or nice at Thanksgiving.

SERVICE MUSIC

New GLORIA Scorch

Lamb of God - Contemporary Scorch

Mass of Praise Holy - Acclamations . Alternate Holy - longer tones - works well with guitars and bass.

Gloria in the Classic Style - Scorch.

OTHER SONGS BY OTHER COMPOSERS and some standards ARR. FOR CHOIR:

O How I Love Him (to the tune of O Sole, O Mio.) I have used this at Italian funerals with much appreciation. Scorch

Panis Angelicus - (Franke) a new translation by Steve Dallas. Adheres to the original Latin more closely and renders it even more appropriate for presentation of the Gifts. Lead Sheet only for solo vocalist For the choir version which includes the Latin please be sure to down load this one: Cannon version of Panis Angelicus.

Rest Little One. Christmas composition by Mark Johnson who works with me in the music ministry at St. Joan of Arc in Canton. Listen.

Birthday of a King. A one page SATB voicing of a familiar Christmas song. Scorch Nothing fancy. Someone needed it and you may, too.

EASY PIANO SOLOS

Morning has broken - Slightly reminiscent of Cat Stevens arrangement.

Audio Only

Here's some original Steve Dallas tunes to listen to. Most are in *.wma format (Windows Media Player) If the score is not above, please request. See email link on home page.

Only You Could have Done it country gospel.

Born Again to Win - country gospel (lyric by my late father - Rev. Al Dallas)

World of Difference - gospel swing (lyric by my late father - Rev. Al Dallas)

Lift Her Up Baby dedication song I wrote for my niece when I couldn't attend her dedication.

I'll Tell the World - Dixieland beat. My youth choir loves this piece!

The Lord is My Shepherd - soothing with a little backbeat on the bridge (scripture paraphrase)

This Cup - cool communion song (verses are scripture paraphrase)

The Lord's Prayer - solo open, easy beat for main song (scripture KJV, good alternative to Mollotte)

Beloved I Wish Above All Things - good calypso - (scripture KJV)

The Harvest is Plenty - missions, dissmissal

Give - short chorus. (scripture KJV) The kids sing it on stewardship Sunday and shout, "Give!"

Sparrow Song - for children or adults (scripture paraphrase)

I Will Greatly Rejoice - Jewish type worship

Let us Run the Race - goal setting or all saints day

Call to Me suitable for worship with solo verse.

True Vine

The Scorch files immediately below were especially designed for singer to play to learn the music of the True Vine. Written in 1980 while in South Bend, Indiana at Lester Sumrall's church, this oratorio type piece is a setting of John Chapter 15 and 16. A wide gamut of styles is embedded in the work. It is challenging but worth the effort. Duration 35 minutes. I am developing it as an annual Lenten project and St. Joan of Arc. A beautifully bound edition of this music is available for $25.

Singers, Don't forget to use the tempo slider to adjust the the speed for ease in learning this score.

Also, the score can be stopped and started with a click of the mouse at any point in the score.

Section 1 I am the True Vine

Section 2 If The World Hate Me

Section 3 These Things Have I Spoken

Section 4 Then Said Some of His Disciples

Section 5 Up To Now You've Asked Nothing in My Name

Section 6 Jesus Answered Them "Do You Now Believe?"

Below are the final typeset copies for printing of the entire Score of True Vine.

TV1 - TV2 - TV3 - TV4 - TV5 - TV6