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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!Pieces of the Month: Musica Dei Donum An ode to music, this setting is for 12 a cappella voices, i.e. three SATB choirs or quartets. Composers from the Renaissance on have found inspiration in the words about music, a gift of God, taming beasts, cheering depressed people and even moving trees. My version provides either English or Latin text. Conductor Matthew Robertson and The Thirteen premiered it in October and I gladly dedicate it to them. Audio and score at this page at J.W. Pepper MyScore.
Music at the Heart of Creation: Ten brass players and Vox Futura choir sounded fabulous recording this exciting composition in November! Now we need to produce the CD and still need funds for it. Please go to this Fractured Atlas page for a video and info. Your tax-deductible contribution can help make this project happen. Thank you!
O Suavitas et Dulcedo Phillipe de Monte was the leading composer of the Hapsburg Court. Here's his extraordinary eight-voice motet O Suavitas et Dulcedo brought to you by HMM Editions. Along with other Renaissance masters and early American gems, it is available from JW Pepper MyScore.
Evolutionary Spirits! Details here about the terrific new CD by The Crossing under Donald Nally. It includes To Elliott, my homage to composer Elliott Carter, and My Mistress' Eyes, Shakespeare's funny and ultimately tender Sonnet 130.
Video Channel: HohMadeMusic on YouTube includes concert performances and slide shows. Follow this link to the Christopher J. Hoh video channel. I hope you'll subscribe and tell your friends.
| Winter Update Best wishes for Christmas and all the holidays you may be celebrating! I’ll keep this short in this busy season. 2020 includes a commission for Washington’s GenOUT Chorus, C. Paul Heins, Artistic Director, for their February 22 Youth Invasion concert. That’s followed by a set of three pieces commissioned by the Alexandria (VA) Choral Society under Artistic Direct Brian J. Isaac to premiere March 7 as part of their 50th anniversary season. That event includes artwork and the Alexandria Kinderchoir, Benjamin Hutchens, Artistic Director. A Connecticut church with a new organ has asked for something later in the year for their choir — stay tuned. Meanwhile, fall saw the premiere of A Little More Peace for mezzo and piano by Solmaaz Adeli and Daniel Weiser in her East Coast performances, along with the 12-part Musica Dei Donum premiered by The Thirteen under Matthew Robertson at their gala (October was busy). I recorded Music at the Heart of Creation for choir and brass decet with Vox Futura and conductor Andrew Shelton in Boston; look for that CD next year and please considering donating (tax deductible) to make it possible. Project : Encore named Come, Love We God and For the Children or the Grown-Ups? to its database of worthy new works. Two very different approaches to Christmas, but both delightful, so I’m glad to see them recognized. Finally, I see people are ordering my music from JW Pepper, but I don’t learn where the performances take place. So whether for me or another living composer, please drop a quick note to tell us! It’s nice to make the personal connection and it’s helpful to keep track of public concerts. Thanks in advance! | New CD, Commissions, Etc. and Tax-Deductible My big news is the June 28 release by The Crossing of Evolutionary Spirits. This CD includes To Elliott and My Mistress’ Eyes. Of course the Grammy-winning ensemble under Donald Nally sounds terrific on them. King’s Chapel Boston premiered my parody mass on When Jesus Wept in March. Thanks to Heinrich Christensen there. I’m excited about four commissions scheduled for 2019-20, including by ensembles closer to where I live. Stay tuned! And The Thirteen, another outstanding professional ensemble led by my friend Matthew Robertson will perform the 12-voice Musica Dei Donum at an October gala; lots of fun. In addition, my church choir is premiering the spiritual arrangement Hallelujah, I Been Down Into the Sea June 30. Meanwhile, I’ve reached a dozen HMM Editions available via JW Pepper MyScore, e.g. Palestrina, Monte from the European Renaissance and Billings, Holden, Southern Harmony from America. There’s also Antonio de Salazar’s double-choir O Sacrum Convivium, bridging these worlds. I’m glad to announce Fractured Atlas is sponsoring my work, meaning you can contribute and it’s tax-deductible! That will make possible recording of Music at the Heart of Creation for choir and ten-part brass. With newfound time after retiring from diplomatic service, I recently composed a symphonic piece for mezzo, chorus & orchestra and a string quartet. And there are more large works in the pipeline. I also have more time to answer mail, so let me hear from you! |
