Behind The Music: Still, Still And Quiet


I began writing Still, Still And Quiet as a Choral piece in the fall of 2011. It has evolved over time and really wasn’t finished until a few years after the initial conception. I’ve always loved choral music because of its inexpressible richness and how it can move one in ways that other music is unable. Listening to Eric Whitacre’s Lux Aurumque one day in the fall of 2011 I was inspired to write a choral piece. The timing was right, as the ideas and emotions were inside and ready to be let out.

After putting together all the music (which is SSSAATB) I turned to friend and lyricist Andrew Mauzey. Andrew listened to the piece and Psalms 37:7-9 was impressed upon him, particularly the King James Version. Which reads:

7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

Once that happened the lyrics flowed out. To read all the lyrics for Still, Still And Quiet click here.

When recording this album the means to hire and track an entire chorus were unfortunately out of scope. (Hopefully soon!) However, Third Wheel was available to work on this piece. (Third Wheel is a local woodwind trio) It was then decided to turn the piece into a small orchestral piece. So the soprano parts were tracked with flute, the alto parts were tracked with clarinet and the tenor and bass parts were tracked by oboe. They were incredible to work with!

Once those were in place we added underlying keyboard and midi strings to give the piece a large, but “unnoticeable” sound. At that point there was a good musical base in place. I then turned to friend and soprano singer Lacey Venanzi. She recorded all of the soprano parts and did it beautifully.

Working with such talented musicians was a treat. Due to the variance of instruments, abstract ideas and composition I was not sure how the piece would turn out. And all together the piece turned out great (and unique).

Listen to Still, Still And Quiet below:

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