Kile Smith
Composer“His voice is unlike any other”—Craig Hella Johnson
News
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Rapidly gaining national and international acclaim, the music of Kile Smith is hailed by critics, performers, and audiences for its emotional power, direct appeal, strong voice, and sheer beauty.
PERFORMANCES • The Consolation of Apollo continues its run of multiple national and international performances, complete and excerpted, inspired by the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 8. Choirs singing this include the Kansas City Chorale, The 24 (UK premiere), National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, Verdigris Ensemble (Dallas), Ars Nova Singers (Colorado), Red Shift (Vancouver, Baton Rouge), Auckland Youth Choir, Charlotte Master Chorale Chamber Singers, Choral Arts Society (Washington, DC), Huntsville Community Chorus (Alabama), Stare at the Sun (Chicago), and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 11 Choir.
Craig Hella Johnson conducts Conspirare in Kile’s concert-length Canticle in March. In June The Crossing performs The Arc in the Sky at the Chorus America Annual Conference in Philadelphia.
The Arcadian Trio commissioned and performs Spirituals for Piano Trio in three concerts, January–March, 2019. The spirituals Kile set are “Little David, Play on Your Harp,” “My Lord, What a Morning,” and “Ride On, King Jesus!” Anna and Erik Meyer premiere their flute and organ commission A Child’s Afternoon in 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 premiered Kile’s setting of the Robert Lax poem my son my son in November 2018. Red Shift commissioned and in December 2018 premiered in Baton Rouge his new setting of the carol I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, and also that month Seattle’s Opus 7 Vocal Ensemble gave 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.
CDs • The Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati recorded and released Canticle in 2018, along with a new Alleluia. In May, two new releases include Kile’s Where Flames a Word: Estonia’s Voces Musicales and New York City’s Khorikos. The Crossing releases The Arc in the Sky on CD in July, which they commissioned and premiered June 2018.
Lyric Fest releases an all–Kile Smith vocal CD, In This Blue Room, in 2019 on the Albany label, including his 45-minute cycle of the same name for mezzo-soprano and baritone.
PUBLICATION • Kile’s new arrangement for choir, organ, and brass, Of the Father’s Love Begotten, which premiered at Westminster Choir College December 2018, is published by GIA in its Westminster Choral Series.
COMING UP • Kile continues work on his first opera, The Book of Job, collaborating with conductor Donald Nally and dramaturg Edward Sobel. The Independence Foundation awarded Kile its 2018 Fellowship in the Arts to begin this project. Commissions for Conspirare, Piffaro, and others are coming up. 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
May–Jun (2 Easter–Trinity Sunday). Mass for Philadelphia. Holy Trinity Lutheran, Abington, PA
28 Jun. The Arc in the Sky. The Crossing. Chorus America 2019 Annual Conference, Philadelphia
Aug. The Consolation of Apollo. National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, Robert Hollingworth, cond.
4 Oct. A Child’s Afternoon. Premiere. Anna Meyer, flute, and Erik Meyer, organ. Christ Church, Philadelphia
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
