Gentle reminder to listen to your body signals telling you to say “NO!” Especially in the new year, it may be tempting to take on as many new opportunities that come your way as possible. Remember to be patient and kind to your body, and listen for the signals to say “YES!”
“As composers, we tend to live in our heads so much that it’s really hard to read our body signals after a certain amount of time.”
-Reena Esmail
Check out this season one episode wherever you stream your podcasts now!
Saying it again for the people in the back - it is NEVER too late to start composing!!
Our Compose Like A Girl composers: Patti Arntz, Sherry Blevins, and Cecilia McDowall all touch on this subject in each of their conversations with Jocelyn on our podcast! From discovering new skills after retirement to finding more free time after raising children, these incredible women have found their way into the composition world.
Listen to all three of their episodes now on the Compose Like A Girl Podcast wherever you stream your podcasts - and maybe even pull out some staff paper and see where your mind takes you!
Ritika Bhattacharjee speaks on the effects of AI in the arts in our choral series bonus episode of The Compose Like A Girl podcast:
“That is where we come in as artists. Generative AI will never generate new content. It's generative because the language learning model and the algorithm updates. So you and I are the human elements. Like we come in and we will always be needed as artists because we need to speak to things that cater to the human experience and express the human experience. How can you do that if it's just a repeat of what's already been done? I'm sure that art will speak to people and it has its place, but that's so different from doing something that really speaks to us in the times.”
We will ALWAYS be needed as artists! Check out the rest of the episode now by visiting your favorite streaming platform!
Sherry Blevins did not let a closed door stop her in writing her new piece, “When I Become An Old Woman,” featured on our Choral Series at graphitepublishing.com!
Check out our newest episode of the Compose Like A Girl podcast to hear Blevins’ story on how she overcame the obstacles in her way and ended up writing the lyrics she was searching for all along!
Grab a blanket and curl up by the fire while you listen to “A Quilt of Snow” by Patti Arntz!
“It reminds me of my youth and how I looked forward to the first snow of the season. There is a sense of peace when all is quiet. I believe it speaks to all generations as we recall those days of wonderment.”
Available for 2-part treble choir, SSA choir and SATB choir, this piece is perfect for your upcoming winter or holiday program OR playlist!
Check out the Compose Like A Girl podcast wherever you stream your podcasts to hear more of Jocelyn and Patti’s conversation!
Have you had a chance to listen to our first choral series bonus episode yet?
Check out Jocelyn Hagen and Grace Becker’s conversation wherever you stream your podcasts! And enjoy this snippet of Becker speaking on her inspiration for her piece, “Known.”
Written in an accessible singer/songwriter style, “Known” celebrates finding one’s true self. A vocal solo gives way to vocal accompaniment figures, followed by duetting voices and finally an affirming, homophonic choral texture. The piano accompaniment is engaging, yet easy enough for a student to play. Great for high school or college choirs.
We will listen to Becker’s work together in this bonus episode, but you can also find “Known” on the Compose Like A Girl choral series at graphitepublishing.com!
What will you do when you become an old woman or what kinds of ways have you changed as you’ve grown? Will you toss your bras and heels away? Do you dance like nobody’s watching? Comment below!
Celebrate the freedom of growing older and embracing your inner quirks in Sherry Blevin’s, “When I Become an Old Woman.”
This fun, light-hearted piece is available now for SSA choir and piano on our choral series at graphitepublishing.com! Blevins has also included optional body percussion and staging to fully engage singers and audiences in the delightful humor of the piece!
"The Infinity of Space" by Ritika Bhattacharjee
Faith in the unknown becomes a more intentional choice as we grow.
Please enjoy this new recording of Ritika Bhattacharjee’s, “The Infinity of Space,” conducted by Alicia Walker and performed by a group of conductors from her “Facets: A Leadership Retreat for Women Conductors.”
Explore an ever-evolving relationship with infinite abundance and confront your dreams of traveling to space in this exciting work by visiting the Compose Like A Girl choral series on graphitepublishing.com!
"Aurora" by Anna Vtipil
“Aurora” by Anna Vtipil SA div. choir a cappella
“Aurora” is an extended vocalise that explores colors, sounds, and the sheer joy of the treble voice.
Dividing into eight parts, “Aurora” will unite treble choirs in a challenging and communal experience. Choirs will enjoy discovering the most effective timbres and sounds to bring the piece to life. “Aurora” is big, bold, colorful, and ambitious. A great work for an advanced treble chorus to dig into.
Visit the Compose Like A Girl choral series on graphitepublishing.com now to listen to the full piece!
Let it Be Forgotten by Ashley Eyre
As we prepare for the school year, we must release the fires and flowers from the year before to make room for new ones to bloom!
We also must listen and program this new piece by Compose Like A Girl composer, Ashley Eyre, “Let it Be Forgotten”!
“Let It Be Forgotten” cascades like an incantation for inner peace. A gorgeous yet simple setting of Sara Teasdale’s text, this piece is perfect for treble choirs newer to a cappella works and divisi. The vocal parts flow in and out of each other, winding their way toward a new sense of hope and healing.
Find this piece now by visiting the marketplace at graphitepublishing.com!
"In the Morning" by Amy Gordon
Up late scrolling? Full of thoughts about the day you just faced? We hope you get some rest, things will be better in the morning!
Compose Like A Girl composer, Amy Gordon’s, “In the Morning,” is a hopeful piece about finding strength in the midst of hardship.
Gordon’s original text guides us toward peace when things seem most dark. It reminds us that rest and a new day can give us the strength we need to find hope in difficult times. This arrangement would be suitable for any level of SATB Choir and would fit well into a concert about hope and triumph in the midst of trying times.
Check it out now in the Compose Like A Girl choral series at graphitepublishing.com!
"Somewhere Right Now" by Marguerite Samuel
Somewhere right now, we know one of you is looking for the perfect SSAA piece for your next concert…here it is!! Written by Marguerite Samuel, “Somewhere Right Now,” is a piece filled with love and gratitude for all of our first responders.
Marguerite Samuel is a composer with a deep-rooted passion for creating compositions that resonate across various genres. Her works, enhanced by her considerable experience, have been embraced by women’s ensembles, church and community choirs, and university groups.
In addition to her accomplishments as a composer, Marguerite is a proficient vocalist, conductor, and music educator. She holds a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis on voice and a Master of Music in choral conducting from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Find the full score and learn more about Marguerite by visiting our marketplace at graphitepublishing.com!
