Original Works Archives - Bluedog Music

Tiny Letters: Anonymous Letters to God Written by Children

cachefix — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 21:23:12 +0000

Sunset
Imagine a child seeing the colors of a radiant sunset for the first time. The beauty they absorb in that moment is often taken for granted in our adulthood. Take a moment and go see a sunset; each is a unique gift, crafted by nature every day.

New Shoes
I’m not gonna lie; even as an adult, I still get very excited about new shoes! But kids … they cannot wait to show you their new shoes, especially if they light up! This movement is jazz-inspired, and incorporates repetition, because if you’ve ever been around an excited child, they do not just tell you once.

The Kiss!
As a child, kisses are taboo and gross (if you were raised Southern Baptist, anyways). Imagine seeing a kiss happen in a wedding right there in front of God!

Borders
This movement begins with an innocent question. Who (does) draw the borders around the countries? The emotion of the piece changes from innocence to rage as I imagine families fleeing persecution, seeking refuge, or simply trying to live, only to be limited by the imaginary construct of borders we have drawn on this planet.

Do Unto Others?
Isn’t it hard to be kind to those who are not kind? I’ve always found a sort of “catch-22” with the “do unto others” rule.

I Think About You
In our lives, prayer is one way to be connected to God. Another is to simply be thankful and to live out the principles of the faith you follow.

The post Tiny Letters: Anonymous Letters to God Written by Children appeared first on Bluedog Music.

The Gift for the Lowly

g.gurss — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 18:13:11 +0000

Original Works

Details:

Text: Psalm 8, composer

Voicing: SATB

Theme: Sacred

Orchestration: Cello, piano

Listen:

To purchase:

Please contact me to purchase this piece!

The post The Gift for the Lowly appeared first on Bluedog Music.

The Gift to Sing

g.gurss — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 18:08:11 +0000

The post The Gift to Sing appeared first on Bluedog Music.

Tom and Dean

g.gurss — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 18:00:55 +0000

Original Works

Details:

Text: Dean Schlaak, Tom Degree, composer

Voicing: TTBB, youth soloist

Theme: Queer-Specific

Orchestration: Piano, acoustic guitar

About:

Tom and Dean are a Twin Cities couple who have been together since the year 2000. In 2019, Tom was involved in a critical car accident, after which, he spent six weeks in the hospital recovering from serious internal and external injuries. Tom would wake up to the news that his right leg was amputated below the knee. But with his husband, Dean, by his side, Tom made a successful recovery and is adjusting well to life in a somewhat-different body.

Recently, I sat down with Tom and Dean at a local diner where they shared their story with me. From their words, I was inspired to write this piece — based on their perseverance, the strength of their hope, and of course, their love for each other. Because of his reckless courage (akin to that of a child who has not yet learned that life comes with limitations), Tom is portrayed by his younger self. Dean’s story is told in the present.

Listen:

To purchase:

Please contact me to purchase this piece!

The post Tom and Dean appeared first on Bluedog Music.

Fairy Tale Blues

g.gurss — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 17:47:47 +0000

Original Works

Details:

Text: Composer

Voicing: SATB

Orchestration: Piano, bass, percussion

About:

What happens when we are stigmatized for the way our bodies look? The Big Bad Wolf, Tooth Fairy, and Wicked Witch tell you all about it.

Listen:

To purchase:

Please contact me to purchase this piece!

The post Fairy Tale Blues appeared first on Bluedog Music.

Surely, He’s Holding You

g.gurss — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:35:25 +0000

The post Surely, He’s Holding You appeared first on Bluedog Music.

Stand Up

g.gurss — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:32:08 +0000

Original Work

Details:

Text: Charles Anthony Silvestri

Voicing: TTBB

Theme: Secular

Orchestration: TTBB, piano

About:

Commissioned by the Turtle Creek Chorale under Sean Baugh. The poet requested that the piece have a ballad/anthem feel. The result was this gospel-inspired anthem. Growing up Southern Baptist, I knew where to take the piece!

Listen:

[ai_playlist id="787"]

To purchase:

Please contact me to purchase this piece!

The post Stand Up appeared first on Bluedog Music.

Silent Night, Maiden

g.gurss — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:27:36 +0000

Original Work

Details:

Text: Composer

Voicing: SATB

Theme: Sacred, secular, holiday, queer-specific

Orchestration: SATB, piano

About:

This was written shortly after a pastor at a church in Maiden, NC went on a viral rant of hate speech in 2012, where he invited children to the front of the church to join in the slanderous rant against LGBTQ people.

To purchase:

Please contact me to purchase this piece!

The post Silent Night, Maiden appeared first on Bluedog Music.

Shout With Thanksgiving

g.gurss — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:23:53 +0000

Original Work

Details:

Text: Christian Bible, Psalm 42 & 100

Voicing: SATB

Theme: Sacred

Orchestration: SATB, organ

About:

A rousing introit for a celebratory service. This was written for the White Bear Lake Chancel Choir (Minnesota).

Listen:

To purchase:

Please contact me to purchase this piece!

The post Shout With Thanksgiving appeared first on Bluedog Music.

I Will Remember You

g.gurss — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:18:38 +0000

Original Work

Details:

Text: Composer

Voicing: SATB

Theme: Sacred

Orchestration: A cappella

About:

A short introit for any reembrace-type Sunday or service. This piece was written for White Bear Lake UMC Chancel Choir (Minnesota) for All Saints Sunday.

To purchase:

Please contact me to purchase this piece!

The post I Will Remember You appeared first on Bluedog Music.