Kile Smith
Composer“His voice is unlike any other”—Craig Hella Johnson
News
The music of Kile Smith is acclaimed nationally and internationally for its strong voice, sheer beauty, and “profoundly direct emotional appeal.”
NEWS • Recent commissions from Conspirare (The Dawn’s Early Light, with the L.A. Guitar Quartet), Piffaro (new work with Variant 6), 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. All–Kile Smith concerts in Latvia, June 2020. The Arc in the Sky in Philadelphia, New York, London, Cincinnati, and Boston, The Consolation of Apollo in Washington DC, Portland, and New Zealand, Where Flames a Word in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Roanoke, and in 2021, Vespers in Virginia.
FIVE NEW CDs • The Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati recorded and released Canticle and a brand-new Alleluia in 2018 (2020 Grammy nomination, Producer of the Year). The Crossing releases The Arc in the Sky on CD in July (2020 Grammy nomination, Best Choral Performance), which they commissioned and premiered June 2018. Two releases include Kile’s Where Flames a Word: Estonia’s Voces Musicales and New York City’s Khorikos. 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 2019 Chorus America national conference in Philadelphia, The Arc in the Sky moved to London with the Cantus Ensemble, New York with the Ghostlight Chorus, Cincinnati with the Vocal Arts Ensemble, and the Northwestern University Chorale.
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.
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. In May 2020, the Temple Music Prep String Orchestra premieres Jubilate Deo.
The L.A. Choral Lab gives multiple performances of Kile’s Shakespeare setting And Good in Every Thing. The New York choral group Khorikos premiered Kile’s setting of the Robert Lax poem my son my son and took it on tour in Serbia and Montenegro in 2019. Red Shift commissioned and premiered in Baton Rouge his setting of the carol I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (to be published by Hal Leonard), and Seattle’s Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble gave the West Coast premiere of O Rex Gentium. Ursinus College commissioned a Jubilate Deo and the First Presbyterian Church of Barrington (IL) commissioned 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, and is published by GIA in its Westminster Choral Series. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day and Alleluia are 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
2 Jan. Fleisher Discoveries podcast. Louis Gesensway, Four Squares of Philadelphia
6 Jan. Alleluia published by Hal Leonard in the Craig Hella Johnson Choral Series
12 Jan. The Arc in the Sky. Vocal Arts Ensemble Cincinnati, Craig Hella Johnson
17 Jan. American Spirituals, Book Two. WRTI broadcast, Kevin Gordon, 4:15
19 Jan. A Child’s Afternoon. Anna Meyer, fl, Erik Meyer, org, St. Paul’s Lutheran, Glenside, PA, 3:00
26 Jan. Canticle, Vocal Arts Ensemble, Craig Hella Johnson, produced by 2020 GRAMMY Classical Producer of the Year, Blanton Alspaugh
26 Jan. A Birch in Winter CD with Where Flames a Word, Voces Tallinn, David Puderbaugh, 2020 Estonian Recording of the Year
1 Feb. Interview on Brad Lacey’s The Great Message, WPHT 1210 AM Philadelphia, 5 AM
3 Feb. Fleisher Discoveries podcast. William Grant Still, Darker America, Danzas de Panama
3 Mar 2020. In This Blue Room. Lauren McAllister, mezzo, Ben Flanders, baritone. Cincinnati
4 Apr. “She Sees She Dresses Her Subjects” and “Reading Others” from In This Blue Room. Molly Biddle, mezzo-soprano. Haverford College, 7:00
25 Apr 2020. The Consolation of Apollo. Westminster Williamson Voices, James Jordan. Cathedral Basilica, Philadelphia
9 May. Jubilate Deo. Premiere, Temple University Music Preparatory String Orchestra, Aaron Picht. Temple University Performing Arts Center, 7:30
24 May 2020. The Consolation of Apollo. Portland State Chamber Choir, Ethan Sperry
12 Jun 2020. The Arc in the Sky. et al., Kevin Neel, Boston
14 Jun 2020. The Arc in the Sky. et al., Kevin Neel, Boston
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
