Kile Smith
Composer“His voice is unlike any other”—Craig Hella Johnson
News
Grammy nominations: THE ARC IN THE SKY and CANTICLE
- Best Choral Performance: The Crossing, Donald Nally—THE ARC IN THE SKY
- Blanton Alspaugh, Producer of the Year, Classical—8 CDs, including CANTICLE, Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble, Craig Hella Johnson
The music of Kile Smith is acclaimed nationally and internationally for its strong voice, sheer beauty, and “profoundly direct emotional appeal.”
JUST ANNOUNCED • For 2019/2020, commissions from Conspirare, Piffaro, and iSing Girlchoir, and a Chorus America–auctioned commission for the Choral Arts Society of Washington, as Kile continues work on libretto and music for his first opera, The Book of Job. The Independence Foundation awarded him a Fellowship in the Arts to begin the opera. The Arc in the Sky in London, New York, Boston, and Cincinnati, The Consolation of Apollo in Washington DC, Portland, and New Zealand, Where Flames a Word in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Roanoke, and for ’20/’21, Vespers in Virginia.
FIVE NEW CDs • The Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati recorded and released Canticle and a brand-new Alleluia in 2018. The Crossing releases The Arc in the Sky on CD in July, which they commissioned and premiered June 2018. In May, two releases include Kile’s Where Flames a Word: Estonia’s Voces Musicales and New York City’s Khorikos. In June Lyric Fest releases an all–Kile Smith vocal CD, In This Blue Room, on the Albany label, including his 45-minute cycle of the same name for mezzo-soprano and baritone. Canticle, The Arc in the Sky, and Where Flames a Word are in constant rotation on Classical MPR’s Choral Stream.
PERFORMANCES • After The Crossing brought out the CD and brought down the house at the June 2019 Chorus America national conference in Philadelphia, The Arc in the Sky moves to London with the Cantus Ensemble, New York with the Ghostlight Chorus, Cincinnati with the Vocal Arts Ensemble, and the Northwestern University Chorale in 2019/20.
The Consolation of Apollo continues its run of multiple national and international performances, complete and excerpted, inspired by the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 8. Portland State Chamber Choir takes it to the World Symposium on Choral Music in New Zealand. Choirs include two in England—The 24 and the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain—the Auckland Youth Choir, and the University of Waterloo (Canada), along with Kansas City Chorale, Verdigris Ensemble (Dallas), Ars Nova Singers (Colorado), Red Shift (Baton Rouge), Charlotte (NC) Master Chorale, Choral Arts Society (Washington, DC), Huntsville Community Chorus (Alabama), Stare at the Sun (Chicago), and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 11 Choir. Where Flames a Word receives three performances in Estonia with Voces Musicales, three in Chicago (in May at Northwestern, twice in October by the Chicago Chamber Choir), three in Roanoke, and three by the Madison Choral Project.
Craig Hella Johnson conducts Conspirare in Kile’s concert-length Canticle in March. In June, Donald Nally leads The Crossing in a special performance of The Arc in the Sky for the Chorus America Annual Conference in Philadelphia. Then it heads to London in November with the Cantus Ensemble, and to Cincinnati in January 2020 with the Vocal Arts Ensemble.
The Arcadian Trio commissions and performs Spirituals for Piano Trio in multiple concerts throughout 2019. Anna and Erik Meyer perform their flute and organ commission A Child’s Afternoon in July and October.
The L.A. Choral Lab gives multiple performances, February–April, of Kile’s Shakespeare setting And Good in Every Thing. The New York choral group Khorikos premieres Kile’s setting of the Robert Lax poem my son my son in November 2018 and takes it on tour in Serbia and Montenegro, September 2019. In December 2018 Red Shift commissions and premieres in Baton Rouge his new setting of the carol I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (to be published by Hal Leonard), and Seattle’s Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble gives the West Coast premiere of O Rex Gentium. Ursinus College commissions a Jubilate Deo and the First Presbyterian Church of Barrington (IL) commissions a new Easter anthem, Sing, Choirs of New Jerusalem.
PUBLICATIONS • Kile’s new arrangement for choir, organ, and brass, Of the Father’s Love Begotten, premiered at Westminster Choir College December 2018, is published by GIA in its Westminster Choral Series. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day and Alleluia will be published by Hal Leonard under the Craig Hella Johnson Series. Kile continues to add to his catalog of works distributed by MusicSpoke. (Photo credit: A. J. Waltz)
Performances, events
10 Mar. Spirituals for Piano Trio. Arcadian Trio. East Brunswick, NJ, 2:00
10 Mar. Alleluia. Classical MPR Playlist
16 Mar. The Stars Shine from The Consolation of Apollo. Westminster Schola Cantorum, James Joseph, First Baptist, Washington, DC
17 Mar. The Stars Shine from The Consolation of Apollo. Westminster Schola Cantorum, Christ Church, Easton, MD
18 Mar. The Stars Shine from The Consolation of Apollo. Westminster Schola Cantorum, Trinity Lutheran, Hagerstown, MD
23 Mar. Yes, It’s Beautiful from The Consolation of Apollo. University of Waterloo Choir, Liska Jetchick, Trillium Lutheran, Waterloo, ON, Canada
31 Mar. Canticle. Conspirare, Craig Hella Johnson, cond. Austin, TX
6 Apr. Yes, It’s Beautiful from The Consolation of Apollo. Huntsville Community Chorus, Ian Loeppky
6 Apr. And Good in Every Thing. L.A. Choral Lab. Los Angeles
7 Apr. And Good in Every Thing. L.A. Choral Lab. Los Angeles
13 Apr. The Waking Sun. Cornell University Chamber Singers, Steve Spinelli
28 Apr. Jubilate Deo. Premiere. Ursinus College Choir & Meistersingers, John French
May–Jun (2 Easter–Trinity Sunday). Mass for Philadelphia. Holy Trinity Lutheran, Abington, PA
7 May. Reflection for organ. Paul Fejko, AGO Philadelphia Tuesday Noon Recital Series, St. John UCC, Lansdale, PA
10 May. Where Flames a Word. Madison Choral Project, Albert Pinsonneault. St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee
11 May. Where Flames a Word. Madison Choral Project. Christ Presbyterian, Madison, WI
12 May. Jubilate Deo. Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia
12 May. Where Flames a Word. Madison Choral Project. Christ Presbyterian, Madison, WI
15 May. Where Flames a Word. On the CD release, A Black Birch in Winter, Voces Musicales (Estonia), David Puderbaugh, MSR Classics
17 May. The Waking Sun, excerpts. Northwestern University, Donald Nally
25 May. Where Flames a Word. On the CD release, Joy and Grief and Rest, Khorikos (NYC), Alec Galambos, Bandcamp
25 May. “The Stars Shine” from The Consolation of Apollo. Aoide Chamber Singers, Andrew Major. First Baptist Church of Bozeman, MT
26 May. “The Stars Shine” from The Consolation of Apollo. Aoide Chamber Singers, Andrew Major. First Baptist Church of Bozeman, MT
May–Jun (2 Easter–Trinity Sunday). Mass for Philadelphia. Holy Trinity Lutheran, Abington, PA
26 Jun. Where Flames a Word. Broadcast on Classical Discoveries, Marvin Rosen, WPRB 103.3 FM Princeton NJ, 5–11 AM
28 Jun. The Arc in the Sky. The Crossing. Chorus America 2019 Annual Conference, Philadelphia
29 Jun. Where Flames a Word. Voces Musicales, David Puderbaugh, Keila, Estonia, 2:00
29 Jun. Where Flames a Word. Voces Musicales, David Puderbaugh, Nissi, Estonia, 6:00
30 Jun. Where Flames a Word. Voces Musicales, David Puderbaugh, Talinn, Estonia
30 Jun. “I know you, you are the deeply bowed” from Where Flames a Word, Iowa Public Radio, Barney Sherman
1 Jul. A Child’s Afternoon. Pre-premiere. Anna Meyer, flute, Erik Meyer, organ. Mid-Atlantic AGO Regional Convention, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Moorestown NJ
8 Jul. “Before your late face” from Where Flames a Word, Iowa Public Radio, Barney Sherman
13 Jul. Poems of Stephen Berg from In This Blue Room CD, broadcast on Mark Pinto’s New Releases, WRTI 90.1 FM Philadelphia
27 Jul. The Arc in the Sky. The Crossing @ Tinworks Art with Aoide Chamber Singers. Bozeman, MT
30 Jul. Where Flames a Word, Iowa Public Radio, Barney Sherman
13 Aug. The Consolation of Apollo. National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, Robert Hollingworth, cond. Snape Proms, Snape Maltings Concert Hall
19 Aug. Where Flames a Word, WWFM, Trenton, NJ, Ross Amico
11–20 Sep. my son my son, Khorikos, tour of Serbia and Montenegro
15 Sep. The Heavens Declare and “Aurora” from In This Blue Room. Suzanne DuPlantis, Laura Ward, et al. Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral Food Pantry Benefit Concert
18 Sep. The Nobility of Women. WWFM The Classical Network, Ross Amico
20 Sep. Where Flames a Word. Collective Euphonia, Scott Williamson. Temple Emanuel, Roanoke, VA, 7:30
21 Sep. Where Flames a Word. Collective Euphonia, Scott Williamson. Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, VA, 7:30
22 Sep. Where Flames a Word. Collective Euphonia, Scott Williamson. Taubman Museum of Art, Roanoke, VA, 2:00
4 Oct. A Child’s Afternoon. Premiere. Anna Meyer, flute, Erik Meyer, organ. Christ Church, Philadelphia
8 Oct. The Bremen Town Musicians. Market Square Concerts, Harrisburg, PA
12 Oct. Where Flames a Word. Chicago Chamber Choir, Christopher Windle. St. Ignatius Church, Rogers Park
13 Oct. Where Flames a Word. Chicago Chamber Choir, Christopher Windle. St. Ita Catholic Church, Edgewater
19 Oct. “Jerusalem” from The Arc in the Sky CD, The Crossing. WRTI-FM Philadelphia and wrti.org, between 8 & 9:30 am, Debra Lew Harder
26 Oct. The Arc in the Sky. Ghostlight Chorus, Evelyn Troester DeGraf. Church of Notre Dame, NYC
26 Oct. The Arc in the Sky, excerpt. The American Sound, Jennifer Hambrick, WOSU Public Media, Columbus, OH, 6 pm
27 Oct. The Word of God. Word of God Lutheran Church, new building dedication, Peachtree, GA
29 Oct. The Arc in the Sky, excerpt. The American Sound, Jennifer Hambrick, WOSU Public Media, Columbus, OH, 7 pm
2 Nov. The Dawn’s Early Light. Conspirare, L.A. Guitar Quartet, Craig Hella Johnson. Austin TX
2 Nov. The Arc in the Sky. The Cantus Ensemble, Dominic Brennan. Pimlico, London
2 Nov. Spirituals for Piano Trio. Arcadian Trio. Medford Leas, Medford, NJ, 7:30
3 Nov. The Dawn’s Early Light. Conspirare, L.A. Guitar Quartet, Craig Hella Johnson. Houston, TX
15 Nov. Where Flames a Word. Chestnut Street Singers, Kevin Vondrak, St. Clement’s Episcopal, Philadelphia
17 Nov. Where Flames a Word. Chestnut Street Singers, Kevin Vondrak. St. Thomas’ Episcopal, Whitemarsh, PA
2–6 Dec. Workshopping choruses from The Book of Job. Northwestern University Chorale, Donald Nally. Evanston, IL
6 Dec. Movements from The Arc in the Sky. Northwestern University Chorale, Donald Nally. Evanston, IL
14 Dec. Alleluia. Ghostlight Chorus, Evelyn Troester DeGraf. Church of St. Luke in the Fields, NYC
20 Dec. The Consolation of Apollo. The Thirteen, Matthew Robertson. Episcopal High School Chapel, Alexandria, VA, 7:30
21 Dec. The Consolation of Apollo. The Thirteen, Matthew Robertson. First Congregational UCC, Washington, DC, 7:30
22 Dec. The Consolation of Apollo. The Thirteen, Matthew Robertson. Bradley Hills Church, Bethesda, MD, 5:00
12 Jan. The Arc in the Sky. Vocal Arts Ensemble Cincinnati, Craig Hella Johnson
3 Mar 2020. In This Blue Room. Lauren McAllister, mezzo, Ben Flanders, baritone. Cincinnati
24 May 2020. The Consolation of Apollo. Portland State Chamber Choir, Ethan Sperry
11–18 Jul 2020. The Consolation of Apollo. Portland State Chamber Choir, Ethan Sperry. 12th World Symposium on Choral Music, Auckland, New Zealand
Feb. Vespers. Virginia Chorale, Piffaro
Works
Browse works
Concert Choral
Agnus Dei SATB, orchestra, 15′
Alabanza (Sanchez) vocalist, 7-piece Latin band, opt. orchestra, 6′
Alleluia SATB, 6′
And Good in Every Thing (Shakespeare) SATB, 4’30”
The Arc in the Sky (Lax) SATB, 65′
The Chambered Nautilus (Holmes) SATB, 4′
Canticle (St. John of the Cross) SATB, 3 cellos, 1 perc, 66′
The Consolation of Apollo (Boethius, Apollo 8 crew, Genesis 1) SATB, crotales, bass drum played by singers, 35′
Grandmother’s Garden (Archambault) 2-part children’s choir, piano, opt. C instrument, 9′
The Heavens Declare (Psalm 19) SATB, SAB soloists, piano, audience, 4’30”
How Do I Love Thee? (Browning) SSAA, piano or string quartet, 7′
I Could See the Sky (Various) SATB, 2-part children’s choir, piano or string quartet, 17′
Jubilate Deo (Latin, Psalm 100) SATB, org, 5′
May Day (Eckes) SATB, 2-part children’s choir, 10′
my son my son (Lax) SATB, 5′
Now Ys the Tyme of Crystymas (Hill) SATB (with some div.) or SATB quartet, 3′
O Rex gentium (O Antiphon) SATB, 5′
Out of the Depths (Psalm 130) SATB, 6’30”
Psalm 46 Baritone soloist, SATB, orchestra or piano, 17′
Rejoice in the Lamb (Smart) SATB, 5′
Three Prosits for Männerchor (Various) TTBB, 3′
Two Laudate Psalms (Psalms 113, 150) Mezzo-soprano or high voice, SSAA, piano, 10′
Vespers (Various) SATB, Renaissance band, or various transcriptions, 66′
The Waking Sun (Seneca) SATB, Baroque chamber orchestra, 38′
Where Flames a Word (Celan) SATB, 13′
You Are Most Welcome (Dinsmore) SATB, 4′
Orchestral
Agnus Dei 2015, SATB, 1.2.0.2–2.2.0.0–timp–org–str, 15′
Alabanza (Sanchez) 2003, vocalist–7-piece Latin band, opt. 2.2.2.2–4.3.3.1–timp.2perc–str, 6′
And Seeing the Multitudes 2015, solo cello–2+pic.2.2.2–4.3.3.1–timp.3perc(incl marimba)–pno.hp–str, 20′
The Bremen Town Musicians (Grimm) 2016, narrator, 1.1.1.1–1.1.1.0–1perc–str, 8′
Exsultet 2007, solo horn–str, 18′
Four French Carols 2002, 3(2+pic).3(2+ehn).2.2–4.3.3.1–timp.2perc–str, 12′
Four French Carols 2002, str, 12′
Gold and Silver 2014, 3*.2.2.3*(opt cbn)–4.2.3.1–timp.2perc (incl glock)–str, 7′
Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins 2000, high voice–2.2.2.2–2.2.0.0–str, 11′
Psalm 46 2004, baritone–2*.2.2.2–2.2.3.1–timp.1perc–SATB–str, 14′
The Red Book of Montserrat 2013, str, 20′
A Song of Sonia Sanchez 2000, medium voice, violin, piano, 3 latin perc, double bass–2.2.2.2–4.3.3.1–timp.2perc–str, 7′
Song of the Angels 2014, 2.2.2.2–4.2.3.1–timp.tri–str, 8′
Susquehanna 2017, 3*.3*.3*.2–4.3.3.1–timp.3perc–str, 8′
Symphony: Lumen ad revelationem 2002, 2.2.2.2–2.2.0.0–1perc–str, 22′
Three Dances, 1995, 2/.2.2.2–2.2.0.0–1perc–str, 12′
Three Dances, 1998/2012, str, 12′
The Three Graces 2001, solo oboe, horn, cello–str, 11′
Variations on a Theme of Schubert 1999, solo piano–2.2.2.2–2.1.0.0–timp,1perc–str, 17′
Vespers excerpts, 2017, SATB–2 caccias–2 hns–org–str, 15′
The Voice of One Who Spoke 2003,3*.2.2.2*–4.2.3.1–timp.3perc–str, 20′
Sacred Choral
Agnus Dei SATB, orchestra, 15′
Alleluia SATB, 6′
Behold the Best, the Greatest Gift SATB, org
Come, Gather All SATB, org, opt. brass quartet
Come, Ye Sinners (Beach Spring) SATB, org
For His Mercy Endures Forever (Psalm 136) SATB
Give Ear, O Heavens (Audite caeli) SATB, org
Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn (from Vespers) SATB
Holy Mountain SATB, organ
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day SATB, bells, bass drum
Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts SATB, org
Jubilate Deo (Latin, Psalm 100) SATB, org, 5′
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need SATB, org
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Veni, Emmanuel) SATB, org, opt. brass quintet
Of the Father’s Love Begotten SSATB, org, congregation, opt. brass (3331), timp, cym
O Rex gentium (O Antiphon) SATB
O Sing unto the Lord a New Song (Psalm 98:1,2) SATB Fuguing tune
O Thou, Who Camest from Above SATB
Out of the Depths (Psalm 130) SATB
Psalm 113 (from Vespers) SATB, kbd
Rejoice in the Lamb SATB
Shall the Blessed Saints Surround Us SATB, pno or org
Sing, Choirs of New Jerusalem SATB, org, opt. brass quintet, timpani
The Word of God SATB, org
Jubilate Deo (Latin, Psalm 100) SATB, org, 5′
Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn
Chamber
Adieu, Adieu 2018, octet: fl, cl, Eng hn, bn, va, db, vib, pno, 10′
Air and Jig 2007, English horn, viola, 7′
American Spirituals, Book One 2006, violin, piano, 11′
American Spirituals, Book Two 2008, cello, piano, 11′
Annunciation and Magnificat 2016, opt. narrator, brass quintet, 22′
The Better Angels of Our Nature 2010, soprano saxophone, piano, 4′
The Bremen Town Musicians 2008, narrator, violin, cello, 8′
Chant 2006, trombone, bassoon, piano, 7′
A Child’s Afternoon 2018, flute, organ, 9′
Fanfare 1991, 1993, 2006, 4 trumpets, 4 horns, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, tam-tam; 2′
Fanfare on Ein feste Burg 2017, 7 Renaissance instruments (2 soprano shawms, alto shawm, 2 sackbuts, quartbass dulcian, large tabor, 1’30”
Fanfare on Ein feste Burg 2017, brass quintet, opt. large drum, 1’30”
Fanfare for Three Voices 2017, horn, trombone, tuba, 2′
Four French Carols 1988, 12′
The Nobility of Women 2011, Baroque flute, oboe, violin, viola da gamba, Baroque cello, harpsichord, 20′
Plain Truths (Various) 2011/2013; baritone, piano or string quartet, opt. chorus; 20′
Red-tail and Hummingbird 2013, brass sextet with 2 horns, 6′
Red-tail and Hummingbird 2013, brass sextet with 2 trombones, 6′
Red-tail and Hummingbird 2013, mixed sextet: 2 trumpets, horn, bassoon, trombone, tuba, 6′
Red-tail and Hummingbird 2013, mixed sextet: 2 soprano shawms, 2 tenor sackbuts, bass dulcian, quartbass dulcian, 6′
Red-tail and Hummingbird 2013, brass quintet (high, in C), 6′
Red-tail and Hummingbird 2013, brass quintet (low, in Bb), 6′
A Song of Sonia Sanchez 1998, medium voice, violin, piano, 3 latin percussion, double or electric bass, 7′
Spirituals for Piano Trio 2018, violin, cello, piano, 11′
This Broad Land 2010, bassoon, piano, 5′
This Broad Land 2010, soprano saxophone, piano, 5′
Two Pieces for Saxophone and Piano 2010, (This Broad Land and The Better Angels of Our Nature), 10′
The Three Graces 2008, oboe, horn, cello, double bass, piano, 11′
Thrice Blest 2010 violin, viola, cello, 5′
Vocal
Alas, and Did my Savior Bleed 1981; high voice, organ; 4′
Five Scottish Songs 1984; high voice, piano; 15′ 1. Two Girls Singing (Iain Crichton Smith) 2. Anemones (Marion Angus) 3. The Lodging (George Mackay Brown) 4. Wedding (George Mackay Brown) 5. On a Cat, Ageing (Sir Alexander Gray)
Holy Mountain 1982; high voice, organ; 4′
In This Blue Room 2015; mezzo-soprano, baritone, piano; 45′
Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts 1982; high voice, organ; 4′
Magnificat 2003; soprano, soprano recorder, percussion. 6′
Mark the Music (Shakespeare) 2014; soprano, tenor, baritone, piano; 4′
Morire (Bartoli) 2005; medium voice, piano; 4′
Plain Truths (Various) 2011/2013; baritone, piano or string quartet, opt. chorus; 20′
Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins 1989/2000; high voice, piano; high voice, orchestra; 11′
Poems of Stephen Berg 2000; soprano, clarinet, piano; 9′
Psalm 46 2004, baritone, SATB, orchestra, 14′
Stationen auf dem Wege zur Freiheit (Bonhoeffer) 1998; soprano, tenor saxophone, piano; 15′
There Is No Great and No Small (Emerson) 2016; mezzo-soprano, piano; 3′
Thine for Ever 1982; soprano, organ; 4′
Three Italian Songs 2005; voice, piano; 10′
Three Italian Songs 2005; medium voice, violin, cello, clarinet, bass clarinet; 10′
Three Songs, No. 1 (Shelley) 1978/2000; high voice, piano; 12′
Three Songs, No. 2 (Birrel) 1979; tenor, piano; 9′
Three Songs, No. 3 (Various) 1979; high voice, piano; 8′
Three Songs, No. 4 (Smith) 1980/99; high voice, piano; 8′
Three Songs, No. 5 (Hopkins) 1989; high voice, piano; 14′
Two Tunes by Gerard Manley Hopkins (harmonized K.S.) 1989; high voice, piano; 4′ 1. Who is Silvia? (William Shakespeare, 1st version) 2. Who is Silvia? (William Shakespeare, 2nd version)
who are you, little i (Cummings) 1981; high voice, piano; 3′
Solo Instrument
A Child’s Afternoon 2018, flute, organ
Diabelli Variation 2010, piano
Mazurka 1984, 2018, guitar
Reflection 2017, organ
Softly and Tenderly 2012, piano
Testimony 2012, piano
Totentanz 1994, guitar
Two Meditations on Freu dich sehr 2013, organ
Variations on a Theme of Schubert 1999, piano
