Secular Archives - Bluedog Music

Where I Sleep

cachefix — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 21:13:28 +0000

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Away in a Manger (“Cradle Song”)

cachefix — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 20:55:07 +0000

Arrangement

Details:

Voicing: TTBB a cappella

Theme: Holiday

Orchestration: Violin

Listen:

To purchase:

Please contact me to purchase this piece!

The post Away in a Manger (“Cradle Song”) appeared first on Bluedog Music.

Gloria

g.gurss — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 17:39:07 +0000

Arrangement

Details:

Text: Sam Smith

Voicing: TTBB

Theme: Secular, sacred, holiday

Orchestration: TTBB, tenor solo

Listen:

To purchase:

Please click here to purchase this piece!

The post Gloria appeared first on Bluedog Music.

Go Rest High on that Mountain

g.gurss — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 17:29:58 +0000

The post Go Rest High on that Mountain appeared first on Bluedog Music.

I Look to You

g.gurss — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 17:26:41 +0000

The post I Look to You appeared first on Bluedog Music.

Stigmata

g.gurss — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 16:53:33 +0000

Prologue
Text from composer

What If Monsters
Text — Composer and anonymous member of TCGMC.
About — After receiving a positive HIV diagnosis, the “what ifs’ arrive. This movement explores them using the metaphor of being haunted as if they were a child’s monsters who live under the bed.

Crucifixus
Text — M. Wilberg.
Translation — crucifixus: crucified/pierced
About — Ms. Wilberg is a woman whose husband was imprisoned, got HIV, and transmitted to her. Her in-laws would not accept her and forced their son to kick her out of the house. She now works for an HIV/AIDS housing nonprofit.

Vinea mea electa
Text — Francisco Martins (1628-1680)
Translation — O vineyard, my chosen one. I planted thee. How is thy sweetness turned into Bitterness. O crucify me and take Barabbas in my place? I protected thee.
About — Work inspired by the Lenten motet by Poulenc. Drawing from more crucifixion imagery, the piece is about how queer folk can turn on other queer folk so quickly once they learn they are HIV positive. The same people fighting to work for equality and justice are then spat upon and degraded by their own. It is the worst betrayal.

Hallelujah, I’m Clean!
Text — Composer
About — This hoe-down is a satire of the ugliness found in communications inside gay dating apps. Many times, one can read, “clean only,” or be asked, “Are you clean?” While that question can be broad – wanting to know that the person with whom they desire to have intimate relations is free of STIs, it generally refers to asking if the person is HIV negative. The notion of clean implies the other: dirty, as if there was an entire untouchable caste system class reserved for those who are HIV positive. As the song states, “some folks are just plain stupid.”

Clara’s Song (Earth’s Loveliness)
Text — Tim Seelig and Michelangelo
About — Corianna Seelig-Gustafson (1977-2018) was an ally who had a passion for erasing HIV stigma. She loved every person and was not afraid to hug them, when they needed human touch. Her daughter is Clara. The song is sung about Corianna form the perspective of Clara. Clara’s grandfather is Tim Seelig, a prominent figure in American choral music. Seelig has worked hard to erase HIV stigma through his openness about his own status from the podium to audiences everywhere.

15 Minutes
Text — Composer and David Anderson (TCGMC member)
About — Many gay men of a certain age can tell you about the 2-week wait time between getting tested and receiving the result. Those two weeks were agonizing and made you question your worth as a gay man. The fear and shame would haunt you into disability. Today, one can learn their status in 15 minutes or less. That convenience can be a contributing factor to more people getting tested. Testing leads to awareness and knowledge. With knowledge comes faster medical response which can prevent people form developing AIDS. This movement is not only about advocacy but also about what happens when someone finds out they are HIV+.

And I Believe
Text — Christopher Harris (StoryCorps) and the composer
About — Oddly, this last movement was written first. It was a stand-alone piece written for TCGMC to commemorate World AIDS Day in 2028. Upon finishing this movement, I knew I wanted to begin the quest to write the larger work, Stigmata. As is my admittedly dangerous tradition, I listen to NPR’s StoryCorps every Friday morning – sometimes right before going into the gym, which is awkward, because one cannot go into the gym crying. I heard Christopher’s story, and I was overcome with sadness for this man who lived in a time when receiving a positive HIV diagnosis was a death sentence. I was also worried that an entire new generation of gay men would never know the cost of their sexuality in a different time and how much people today take for granted medications like “Prep.” Finally, I was moved by how Christopher’s painful experience was used in a touching story to help others learn and feel less alone.

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Star-Spangled Banner

g.gurss — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:58:26 +0000

Arrangement

Details:

Text: Francis Scott Key

Voicing: TTBB

Theme: Secular

Orchestration: A cappella

About:

This arrangement was written for the Midland Men’s Chorus of Columbia, SC. The version is straight-forward and easily learned.

To purchase:

Please contact me to purchase this piece!

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Revenge of the Eggnog

g.gurss — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:46:11 +0000

Arrangement

Details:

Text: Composer

Voicing: SSAA and TTBB voicings available

Theme: Holiday, secular

Orchestration: Chorus and piano, soprano solo

About:

Mozart’s famous “Queen of the Night” aria is reimagined as a fraternity/sorority holiday party where “Becky” has had too much eggnog to drink and starts acting a fool. This piece is clearly tongue-in-cheek, but the TTBB version especially because of context might benefit from a PSA about consent and that Beck was never harmed at the party, but rather, taken care of as she got out of hand.

To purchase:

Please contact me to purchase this piece!

The post Revenge of the Eggnog appeared first on Bluedog Music.

Bridges

g.gurss — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:43:27 +0000

Arrangement

Details:

Text: Calum Scott

Voicing: TTBB

Theme: Secular, queer-specific

Orchestration: TTBB, piano

About:

A powerful anti-suicide ballad. Contact me for sting parts.

To purchase:

Please click here to purchase this piece!

The post Bridges appeared first on Bluedog Music.

A Million Reasons, Still

g.gurss — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 22:38:25 +0000

Arrangement

Details:

Text: Lady GaGa, German carol

Voicing: TTBB

Theme: Sacred, holiday, secular

Orchestration: Double TTBB choir, piano

About:

This is a mash-up of sorts of Lady GaGa’s “A Million Reasons” and the German carol, “Still, Still, Still.” The idea of the text is that we need reasons still to believe the Christmas story from so long ago with all the bad things that happen in our world. It was written for 2018 Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus’ holiday concert.

To purchase:

Please click here to purchase this piece!

The post A Million Reasons, Still appeared first on Bluedog Music.