Marilyn Biery and James Biery February 2012 News
Husband/wife composers, organists, conductors
Marilyn and Jim are pleased to announce the release of Marilyn's first hymnary, Seek a Place of Breathless Beauty. The book contains 25 of Marilyn's hymn texts; eleven of them are sung to Jim's original tunes. Published by MorningStar, the book was introduced at last summer's Louisville NPM convention, during which the Bierys presented a Hymn Festival.
Concert organist Diane Meredith Belcher writes:
I was privileged to preview this most excellent collection of original hymn texts by Marilyn Perkins Biery; about half are set to traditional hymn tunes, and half to original tunes by James Biery. I was personally deeply moved by several of these - and as a set they represent a substantial, dignified, and beautifully crafted addition to the hymn literature. New hymns sometimes scare off churches, and sometimes even church musicians, but these strike the listener at once as original, memorable, likeable, and entirely singable. If you purchase nothing else this summer for your church, you would do well to consider this fine set.
To order, click here.
Marilyn recently completed a new set of hymn preludes entitled "An American Perspective, settings of old and new tunes for organ," featuring pieces based on AZMON, BETHOLD, BOURBON, BREAD OF LIFE, CONVERSE, INNISFREE FARM, NETTLETON and SONG OF PRAISE. The collection is now available from Augsburg Fortress.
Marilyn's arrangement of This Joyful Eastertide, for young voices, has been published by Augsburg-Fortress in the new collection "Children Sing in Worship."
Marilyn compiled a tribute to the Bierys' teacher, Grigg Fountain, in honor of his 90th birthday, and it was published by The Diapason in July 2010.
Marilyn has written a new text, "A little child shall lead them," to BETHOLD, a tune by Mark Sedio. Marilyn has arranged the text and tune into an anthem for children's voices; Augsburg Fortress has published the arrangement and it is now available. The hymn-anthem was premiered at the national conference of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, at a Hymn Festival held at the Cathedral of Saint Paul on July 14, 2009.
Jim's recent commissions
St. Paul's Methodist Church in Omaha has commissioned a choral setting of the text "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" for Lent of 2012. Previously they commissioned an anthem setting of Psalm 121 in honor of the late Roger B. Arnold, former organist at St. Paul's and Jim's organ teacher. The anthem, "My Help Cometh From the Lord," was premiered on All Saints Sunday 2006 in Omaha. Click here to view Jim's YouTube video interpretation of that anthem.
St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, Michigan, has commissioned a setting of the Christmas Gospel (Luke 2:1-20) for choir, two violins, cello, and organ. Dr. Scott Hyslop is Director of Music at St. Lorenz. The piece was premiered at St. Lorenz's 60th annual Christmas Festival concerts on December 11 and 12, 2010. A version for woodwinds and cello was performed at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church on Christmas Eve 2010.
The Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, Virginia, commissioned an anthem for the Feast of Christ the King, celebrating the 40th anniversary of their Cathedral Choir. The anthem, "The Lord Will Reign For Ever," for SATB Choir, organ and trumpet, was first performed at a special concert at the Cathedral on November 20, 2009. Dr. Richard Gibala is Director of Music at the Cathedral. The anthem is now available from MorningStar
Marilyn's New Publications
A Little Child Shall Lead Them (Augsburg Fortress 9780806695914, 2009) LISTEN
Unison voices, organ, violin or oboe, and optional congregation
Composed for and premiered at the Cathedral of Saint Paul Hymn Festival for the 2009 Hymn Society Conference, Marilyn has written a new text based on Isaiah 11:6-9 for Mark Sedio's tune BETHOLD and created a delightful new arrangement featuring children's voices.
Marilyn's collection of organ preludes for Christmas, Cold December Flies Away, was published by Augsburg-Fortress in May 2008. Her organ collection, A British Perspective: Melodies and Hymn Tunes for Organ (settings of eight hymn tunes), is now available from Augsburg.
Marilyn has written an article on the music of Harold Stover, which was published by The Diapason in 2010.
Jim's New Publications
Easter Rejoicing (MorningStar MSM-50-8205, 2011) VIEW LISTEN
SATB Choir, organ, and trumpet
Commissioned by St. Mary's Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where Mary Joy Rieder directs the music and plays the organ, Easter Rejoicing is a joyful anthem for Easter Sunday.
O Savior, Blessed Savior (Adoro te devote) (MorningStar MSM-50-5115, 2010) VIEW LISTEN
SATB Choir, unaccompanied or with optional Handbells and/or C Instrument
A new arrangement of the beloved chant melody Adoro te devote commissioned by St. Anne Catholic Church, Houston, Texas, for their 2007 Pilgrimage to Eastern Europe. May be sung using the original Latin text or the wonderful English text by Godfrey Thring.
Behold, a New Creation (MorningStar MSM-80-580, 2010) VIEW LISTEN
Cantor, Congregation, and Organ, with opt. SAB Choir, 2 woodwinds, or Brass Quartet and Timpani
A festive processional piece commissioned by three parishes in Florida in celebration of the Year of St. Paul, 2008-2009, using texts from 2 Cor. 5:17 and Eph. 1:3-10.
Contemplations of Four English Hymn Tunes (MorningStar MSM-10-621, 2010) VIEW LISTEN
For solo organ
Settings of REPTON, LAUDATE DOMINUM (both commissioned by Stephen Rosenberg of St. Paul, MN), KINGSFOLD, and KING'S LYNN.
Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding (MorningStar MSM-10-637, 2009) VIEW LISTEN
For solo organ
A fanfare, variations, and toccata on the Advent hymntune MERTON. Commissioned by and first performed at the 2009 Sewanee Church Music Conference at the University of the South.
Two Motets for Worship (MorningStar MSM-50-2518, 2010) VIEW LISTEN
SATB unaccompanied
These two short motets are settings of the traditional Catholic benediction hymns "O Salutaris" and "Tantum ergo" and were commissioned by St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church in Augusta, Georgia. For this edition, alternate English texts were provided: "O rise and sing" and "Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing."
An Old Irish Blessing (MorningStar MSM-50-8913, 2009) VIEW LISTEN
Unison voices and piano (or keyboard)
A simple and lovely setting of the traditional Irish blessing, "May the road rise to meet you..." Suitable for choirs of all ages. An organ accompaniment is available in Jim's collection of vocal solos, "The Peace of Christ."
O Sanctissima: A Carol Trio (Augsburg Fortress 9780800663902, 2009)
Settings of Still, Still, Still, What Is This Lovely Fragrance, and O Sanctissima. The extended setting of O Sanctissima, concluding with a brilliant toccata, was commissioned by Margaret Kemper, former national president of the American Guild of Organists.
Sing Praises to God (MorningStar MSM-50-2603, 2009) VIEW LISTEN (performance by the Cathedral of St. Paul Choir with Martin Hodel, trumpet, and Marilyn Biery, organ)
SATB, Trumpet, and Organ
A festive anthem for Ascension or general use. Commissioned by Michael Silhavy for the Church of St. William in Fridley, Minnesota.
Wondrous Cross: Three Organ Pieces for Lent (MorningStar MSM-10-429, 2009) VIEW LISTEN
Settings of ROCKINGHAM (for Roger Burg), PASSION CHORALE (for Michael Quimby), and VEXILLA REGIS PRODEUNT (commissioned by Lawrence Lawyer in honor of Nancy Lancaster)
Other recent projects and publications
Both Marilyn and Jim have completed introductions and free accompaniments for the 26 volume series being published by Augsburg-Fortress as a resource for the new Lutheran hymnal. They also composed descants for another Augsburg project, a volume of descants for the new hymnal.
Husband/wife composers, organists, conductors
Marilyn and Jim are pleased to announce the release of Marilyn's first hymnary, Seek a Place of Breathless Beauty. The book contains 25 of Marilyn's hymn texts; eleven of them are sung to Jim's original tunes. Published by MorningStar, the book was introduced at last summer's Louisville NPM convention, during which the Bierys presented a Hymn Festival.
Concert organist Diane Meredith Belcher writes:
I was privileged to preview this most excellent collection of original hymn texts by Marilyn Perkins Biery; about half are set to traditional hymn tunes, and half to original tunes by James Biery. I was personally deeply moved by several of these - and as a set they represent a substantial, dignified, and beautifully crafted addition to the hymn literature. New hymns sometimes scare off churches, and sometimes even church musicians, but these strike the listener at once as original, memorable, likeable, and entirely singable. If you purchase nothing else this summer for your church, you would do well to consider this fine set.
To order, click here.
Marilyn recently completed a new set of hymn preludes entitled "An American Perspective, settings of old and new tunes for organ," featuring pieces based on AZMON, BETHOLD, BOURBON, BREAD OF LIFE, CONVERSE, INNISFREE FARM, NETTLETON and SONG OF PRAISE. The collection is now available from Augsburg Fortress.
Marilyn's arrangement of This Joyful Eastertide, for young voices, has been published by Augsburg-Fortress in the new collection "Children Sing in Worship."
Marilyn compiled a tribute to the Bierys' teacher, Grigg Fountain, in honor of his 90th birthday, and it was published by The Diapason in July 2010.
Marilyn has written a new text, "A little child shall lead them," to BETHOLD, a tune by Mark Sedio. Marilyn has arranged the text and tune into an anthem for children's voices; Augsburg Fortress has published the arrangement and it is now available. The hymn-anthem was premiered at the national conference of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada, at a Hymn Festival held at the Cathedral of Saint Paul on July 14, 2009.
Jim's recent commissions
St. Paul's Methodist Church in Omaha has commissioned a choral setting of the text "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" for Lent of 2012. Previously they commissioned an anthem setting of Psalm 121 in honor of the late Roger B. Arnold, former organist at St. Paul's and Jim's organ teacher. The anthem, "My Help Cometh From the Lord," was premiered on All Saints Sunday 2006 in Omaha. Click here to view Jim's YouTube video interpretation of that anthem.
St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, Michigan, has commissioned a setting of the Christmas Gospel (Luke 2:1-20) for choir, two violins, cello, and organ. Dr. Scott Hyslop is Director of Music at St. Lorenz. The piece was premiered at St. Lorenz's 60th annual Christmas Festival concerts on December 11 and 12, 2010. A version for woodwinds and cello was performed at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church on Christmas Eve 2010.
The Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington, Virginia, commissioned an anthem for the Feast of Christ the King, celebrating the 40th anniversary of their Cathedral Choir. The anthem, "The Lord Will Reign For Ever," for SATB Choir, organ and trumpet, was first performed at a special concert at the Cathedral on November 20, 2009. Dr. Richard Gibala is Director of Music at the Cathedral. The anthem is now available from MorningStar
Marilyn's New Publications
A Little Child Shall Lead Them (Augsburg Fortress 9780806695914, 2009) LISTEN
Unison voices, organ, violin or oboe, and optional congregation
Composed for and premiered at the Cathedral of Saint Paul Hymn Festival for the 2009 Hymn Society Conference, Marilyn has written a new text based on Isaiah 11:6-9 for Mark Sedio's tune BETHOLD and created a delightful new arrangement featuring children's voices.
Marilyn's collection of organ preludes for Christmas, Cold December Flies Away, was published by Augsburg-Fortress in May 2008. Her organ collection, A British Perspective: Melodies and Hymn Tunes for Organ (settings of eight hymn tunes), is now available from Augsburg.
Marilyn has written an article on the music of Harold Stover, which was published by The Diapason in 2010.
Jim's New Publications
Easter Rejoicing (MorningStar MSM-50-8205, 2011) VIEW LISTEN
SATB Choir, organ, and trumpet
Commissioned by St. Mary's Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where Mary Joy Rieder directs the music and plays the organ, Easter Rejoicing is a joyful anthem for Easter Sunday.
O Savior, Blessed Savior (Adoro te devote) (MorningStar MSM-50-5115, 2010) VIEW LISTEN
SATB Choir, unaccompanied or with optional Handbells and/or C Instrument
A new arrangement of the beloved chant melody Adoro te devote commissioned by St. Anne Catholic Church, Houston, Texas, for their 2007 Pilgrimage to Eastern Europe. May be sung using the original Latin text or the wonderful English text by Godfrey Thring.
Behold, a New Creation (MorningStar MSM-80-580, 2010) VIEW LISTEN
Cantor, Congregation, and Organ, with opt. SAB Choir, 2 woodwinds, or Brass Quartet and Timpani
A festive processional piece commissioned by three parishes in Florida in celebration of the Year of St. Paul, 2008-2009, using texts from 2 Cor. 5:17 and Eph. 1:3-10.
Contemplations of Four English Hymn Tunes (MorningStar MSM-10-621, 2010) VIEW LISTEN
For solo organ
Settings of REPTON, LAUDATE DOMINUM (both commissioned by Stephen Rosenberg of St. Paul, MN), KINGSFOLD, and KING'S LYNN.
Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding (MorningStar MSM-10-637, 2009) VIEW LISTEN
For solo organ
A fanfare, variations, and toccata on the Advent hymntune MERTON. Commissioned by and first performed at the 2009 Sewanee Church Music Conference at the University of the South.
Two Motets for Worship (MorningStar MSM-50-2518, 2010) VIEW LISTEN
SATB unaccompanied
These two short motets are settings of the traditional Catholic benediction hymns "O Salutaris" and "Tantum ergo" and were commissioned by St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church in Augusta, Georgia. For this edition, alternate English texts were provided: "O rise and sing" and "Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing."
An Old Irish Blessing (MorningStar MSM-50-8913, 2009) VIEW LISTEN
Unison voices and piano (or keyboard)
A simple and lovely setting of the traditional Irish blessing, "May the road rise to meet you..." Suitable for choirs of all ages. An organ accompaniment is available in Jim's collection of vocal solos, "The Peace of Christ."
O Sanctissima: A Carol Trio (Augsburg Fortress 9780800663902, 2009)
Settings of Still, Still, Still, What Is This Lovely Fragrance, and O Sanctissima. The extended setting of O Sanctissima, concluding with a brilliant toccata, was commissioned by Margaret Kemper, former national president of the American Guild of Organists.
Sing Praises to God (MorningStar MSM-50-2603, 2009) VIEW LISTEN (performance by the Cathedral of St. Paul Choir with Martin Hodel, trumpet, and Marilyn Biery, organ)
SATB, Trumpet, and Organ
A festive anthem for Ascension or general use. Commissioned by Michael Silhavy for the Church of St. William in Fridley, Minnesota.
Wondrous Cross: Three Organ Pieces for Lent (MorningStar MSM-10-429, 2009) VIEW LISTEN
Settings of ROCKINGHAM (for Roger Burg), PASSION CHORALE (for Michael Quimby), and VEXILLA REGIS PRODEUNT (commissioned by Lawrence Lawyer in honor of Nancy Lancaster)
Other recent projects and publications
Both Marilyn and Jim have completed introductions and free accompaniments for the 26 volume series being published by Augsburg-Fortress as a resource for the new Lutheran hymnal. They also composed descants for another Augsburg project, a volume of descants for the new hymnal.
