Jay Brian Ballard – Composer/Arranger/Piano Technician

HolySheetMusic welcomes Composer/Arranger/Piano Technician, Jay Brian Ballard.

For many decades, Jay has been composing music.  For Thanksgiving, HolySheetMusic is publishing his fun arrangement “Praise and Thanksgiving”.  The three hymns he incorporates in this arrangement are: For the Beauty of the Earth, Come Ye Thankful People, and We Gather Together (Prayer of Thanksgiving).

Brian Ballard was born in Oakland California 1957 to musical parents. He lived in the bay area for 18 years. He started the piano at age 5. He began dabbling in songwriting when he was in Jr. High School. By the time he was a senior, he had about 50 songs to his credit. After graduation, he served a mission in Seoul, Korea. Upon returning, he met Kathryn Buhler in college and they married in 1979. Brian received a Bachelor of Music Composition and Theory degree from the University of Utah in 1989. Brian then entered piano technology courses and became self-employed as a piano technician in 1994. 20 years later, he tunes for the 4 major school districts in the Salt Lake Valley and has thousands of private customers. On the side, Brian continues to compose. He and friends have been at Pitchfork Studios recently, owned by Clive Romney, recording 2 soon-to-be cd and sheet music releases, “THE COMING OF OUR LORD” cantata (lyricist: Dr. Victor W. Harris) and ‘NEPHI, AND HIS UNSINKABLE DREAMBOAT” (lyrics and music by Ballard) Kathy and Brian have 6 children and 6 grand-children and reside in West Valley City, Utah.

Link to:  Praise and Thanksgiving

Dr. Reed Criddle – Director of Choral Activities at Utah Valley University – Conductor/Composer

Reed Criddle has been with HolySheetMusic.com since February of this year.  His “Stayed on Jesus” is a wonderfully fun, exciting, raucous arrangement of two African American Spirituals for SATB Choir, Jazz Piano, String Bass, Drums, Tenor Solo and Soli Women’s Trio.

Dr. Reed Criddle is Director of Choral Activities at Utah Valley University, where he coordinates a choral program of six choirs and conducts the Chamber Choir, Men’s Choir, and community-based Wasatch Chorale and Ars Nova.  Recipient of the 2013 UVU School of the Arts Faculty Senate Teaching Excellence Award, Dr. Criddle also teaches advanced choral conducting, lyric diction, private voice, and private conducting.  UVU choirs under his direction have performed at the National Conference of the National Collegiate Choral Organization and at the Western Division Conference of the American Choral Directors Association. 

Dr. Criddle is President-Elect of the American Choral Directors Association-Utah and Utah board member for the National Collegiate Choral Organization. His compositions and arrangements are available through Earthsongs and Santa Barbara Music Publishing, and his pioneering 2006 translation of the third-century Chinese musical treatise by philosopher Ruan Ji is published by Asian Music (University of Texas Press).

Recent invitations include professor-in-residence/guest conductor at Fudan University (summers 2015, 2014), guest conductor of the Utah Junior High Honors Choral Festival (2014), keynote speaker for the Shanghai Music Conductors Association Conference (2014, 2013), professor-in-residence/guest conductor at Beijing Chemical Technology University (summer 2013), guest conductor of Utah Lyric Opera (2012), and conductor-in-residence of Sine Nomine (summer 2012), Cuba’s professional, male ensemble. In 2015, Dr. Criddle will conduct the Weber District Junior High Festival Choir in Utah and the Cypress Creek Foundation for the Arts Invitational High School Choral Festival Choir near Houston, Texas.

He completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting at the University of Michigan and his Masters of Music in Choral Conducting at the Eastman School of Music. At Stanford University, he received his Masters of Arts in East Asian Studies and Bachelors of Arts in Vocal Performance and Chinese.  Previous teaching posts include the University of Michigan, Eastman Community Music School, and the Young Musicians Program at the University of California, Berkeley.

Stayed on Jesus: SATB Choir ,Jazz Piano, String Bass, Drums, Tenor Solo and Soli Women’s Trio.

Matthew B. Nielsen – Composer/Arranger

Matthew B. Nielsen, Composer/Arranger is now part of HolySheetMusic.com

HolySheetMusic is publishing is wonderful arrangement of “Away in a Manger” for SSA choir with soloists and optional instruments.

Matthew writes:  “One of my favorite musical inventions of the 21^st century is the “mash-up.”  Used mostly in popular music styles, the general idea of the technique is to take two or more songs and combine them, intertwining their musical themes and rhythmic ideas to create new musical ideas.  I enjoy using this pop music technique in my works for the concert hall.  In this piece, you’ll hear this used mostly in the second verse. While the sopranos sing the melody, the altos sing an altered version of the hymn “The Lord Is My Shepherd” as a counter melody.  Meanwhile, the accompaniment borrows from “Joseph Dear, Oh Joseph Mine,” “The Wexford Carol,” and “Mary’s Lullaby.” Combined with the “Coventry Carol” transition between the first and second verses, there are five different songs and carols that will be heard.

While the piano accompaniment illustrates the musical borrowing, the pastoral nature of this setting is best heard when using the instrumental accompaniment. The original arrangement is scored for flute, oboe, guitar, and piano. The parts are included here, with an alternate piano/vocal score for when the instruments are being utilized. Feel free to use any C instrument that works for your choir. The guitar is optional, but I highly recommend it, as it really adds to the overall sound.”

Here’s a little about Matthew:

Matthew B. Nielsen has arranged for choir, concert band, marching band and orchestra.  His arrangements have been performed by collegiate choirs and show choirs across the country, as well as at internationally through youth festivals and training broadcasts. Matthew is also an avid performer, playing percussion and singing for church and theatrical productions in the United States, China, Australia, and the Caribbean.

Matthew is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a Bachelor’s degree in Media Music.  A native Californian, Matthew now resides in Minnesota with his wife and four children.

Away in a Manger for SSAA Choir with Soloists and Optional Instruments