D. Geoffrey Bell

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Traditional waltzes are based on three beats per measure. Square dances and circle dances have been popular in numerous cultures around the world for centuries, generally based on four beats per measure. The Pentagonal dance goes one step further, using five beats per measure!

Apart from the 5/4 time signature, this piece has multiple pedal changes. As the piece unfolds, a pattern emerges. 

Within its ABA form, "Pentagonal Dance" explores the different registers of the harp, dynamic ranges, major and minor key changes, and glissandos.

Pentagonal Dance

Harp Solo

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Voice

Voice Category

This fanfare is written to celebrate the year that has just passed, and
  to set a positive course for the year ahead. It would work well to close a
  Christmas concert, or to open the first concert of the new year.
    
    
    
    Let us sing in the New Year,
    
    Let us sing of the new century.
    
    Let us sing in the New Year!
    
    
    
    Let us celebrate things weve accomplished.
    
    Let us sing of all the joys weve seen.
    
    
    
    Let us remember the people who helped us on our journey.
    
    Let us learn from mistakes made on our way.
    
    
    
    If our world is to become a better place,
    
    We need to ask ourselves every single day,
    
    What can I do to make this world a better place
    
    For all people, all creatures, all living things?
    
    
    
    Let us sing in the New Year,
    
    Let us sing of the new century.
    
    Let us sing in the New Year!

Fanfare for the New Year

SA Octavo

"The Curious Crow" is a charming little song (1:30) for SSA, SA or Unison children's choir with piano accompaniment. It includes a number of interesting challenges for the choir:
- two key changes, moving up one semitone each time
- a few tempo changes, gradually slowing down, then suddenly jumping back to the original tempo
- a variety of dynamic levels that reflect the text
- necessity of clear diction to relay the story clearly to the audience

Brighten your next concert and delight your audience with this charming little tale!

The Curious Crow

This modern-day carol tells the story of The Christmas Dove looking down
  on the world from above, spreading the message of Christmas.
    
    The simple melody is easy to learn. The harmony parts are only slightly
  more difficult.
    
    The Bells part can be played by handbells, orchestral melody bells,
  xylophones, glockenspiels, etc.

The Christmas Dove

Two-Part Octavo

"Happy Dog / Be Yourself" is a pair of companion songs about being true to yourself. The first two verses are about a dog enjoying life, fulfilling its purpose, and finding joy in simple things. The next two verses draw a parallel with human life choices; trying to live someone else's life rather than focusing on being the best, truest version of ourselves. Finally, the two songs are sung together, suggesting that we can find our own balance and harmony in our lives!

Happy Dog / Be Yourself

SATB Full Score

In 2023 The Quorus challenged composers to write a new Pride Anthem for their September concert. I'm not a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, but I have friends, colleagues, family and acquaintances who are wonderful people and proud community members. I am an ally. In answer to the challenge from The Quorus, I wrote "Proud To Be Me".

Each verse refers to self image, knowing that not everyone is an ally, but also knowing that the greatest strength comes from our community.

Proud To Be Me

TTBB Full Score

The Canadian Seasons Song Cycle is a set of four works for two-part or SA choir accompanied by piano and melody bells. Handbells, glockenspiels, xylophones or other melodic bells can be used. 

The four works are: 
Snow and Ice (Winter)
Mist and Rain(Spring)
Sun and Thunder (Summer)
Leaves of Red and Gold (Autumn)

The cycle can be performed starting with any season, but the seasons should be sung in the order that they occur in nature.

Sun and Thunder

"Haul Away, Joe" is a traditional sea shanty sung by sailors
  while they were hauling on ropes. This new arrangement is for unaccompanied
  choir. The first three verses are traditional; the last three are written by
  the composer. The final chorus includes a descant that can be performed by
  piccolo, penny whistle, fife or fiddle.

Haul Away, Joe

TTBB Octavo

When I was a young man, I knew a "femme fatale". The original version of "Trouble!" was loosely based on her, written for my 2005 solo pop album,"On Being Human". 

It was many years later before I realized that there are also men who leave a string of broken hearts in their wake. Whether you have a particular person in mind, or you're imagining a fictional character, I hope you have fun singing this new version of "Trouble!"

TROUBLE!

Voice Subcategory

Emily Pauline Johnson (1861-1913), also known as Tekahionwake, was a popular Canadian poet, author and performer. Her father was a Mohawk chief of mixed ancestry, and her mother was an immigrant from England. Johnson's work reflects her heritage from both parents.

"Moonset" is a thoughtful, reflective ode to the moon setting in a forest:

Idles the night wind through the dreaming firs,
That waking murmur low,
As some lost melody returning stirs
The love of long ago;
And through the far, cool distance, zephyr fanned.
The moon is sinking into shadow-land.

The troubled night-bird, calling plaintively,
Wanders on restless wing;
The cedars, chanting vespers to the sea,
Await its answering,
That comes in wash of waves along the strand,
The while the moon slips into shadow-land.

O! soft responsive voices of the night
I join your minstrelsy.
And call across the fading silver light
As something calls to me;
I may not all your meaning understand,
But I have touched your soul in shadow-land.

Moonset

SSAATTBB

Immerse yourself in the uplifting spiritual ambiance of "Missa Brevis" by D. Geoffrey Bell. Perfectly suited for  sacred concerts, this composition weaves intricate choral arrangements with profound, resonant harmonies, providing an enriching experience for performers and audiences alike. Elevate your concert repertoire with this inspired masterpiece. - Note: This music is composed by humans. No human-written product description is available, limiting search visibility. The AI-assisted description is for reference only.

Missa Brevis

SATB Octavo

The Post-Christmas Blues begins with a humorous look at the consumerism
  often associated with Christmas in modern times, leading to a feeling of
  emptiness, as if something is missing. It ends with a more thoughtful message
  about the true meaning of the spirit of Christmas.
    
    The playful, jazzy rhythms and harmonies offer worthy challenges of medium
  difficulty for a confident SATB choir.

The Post-Christmas Blues

Sam Walter Foss wrote this poem in the late 1970s using "man", "men" and "mankind" to represent all people, which was considered appropriate and correct in his time.  The message of his poem is of acceptance, welcoming all people who passed by his house. This contemporary adaptation of his poem uses "all", "ones", "those" and "people" to update the language to 21st Century standards, aiming to stay true to Foss's original message of kindness and acceptance. 

The musical setting is reminiscent of a simple folk song, reflecting the era in which the poem was written.

The House by the Side of the Road

SATB

"The Post-Christmas Blues" begins with a humorous look at the consumerism often associated with Christmas in modern times, which can lead to a feeling of emptiness, as if something is missing. The lyrics end with a more thoughtful message about the true meaning of the spirit of Christmas, and helping this to last throughout the year.

The playful, jazzy rhythms and harmonies offer worthy challenges of medium to advanced difficulty for a confident SATB choir.

The Post-Christmas Blues (a cappella)

The pulsing rhythms of "Come With Me on Horses" evoke the feeling of riding on horseback; the lyrics celebrate the joy of riding together with someone you love.

This has been the composer's best-seller in the realm of choral music! Has your choir made an audio or video recording? The composer would love to hear it! In the meantime, here is a computer-generated rendition featuring the Cantamus Vocaloids.

Alliance published the original version for two-part choir with piano and optional recorder/flute. SSAA, SABaritone, SATB and TTBB versions are now available.

Come With Me on Horses

This is a musical theater-style song of self-affirmation, about being proud of yourself even though some other people are negative about you. Each verse refers to self image, knowing that not everyone is an ally, but also knowing that the greatest strength comes from our community around us.

It is scored for mixed voices with piano, bass and drums and other optional instruments. Performers are encouraged to adapt the music, using the resources they have.

When I was a young man, I knew a “femme fatale”. The original solo version of “Trouble!” was loosely based on the string of broken hearts she left in her wake. 
It was many years later before I realized that there are also men who leave broken hearts and bruised egos behind them. Whether you have a particular person in mind or you’re imagining a fictional character, I hope you have fun singing this new version of “Trouble!“, for SATB chorus with piano and optional string bass.

The Canadian Seasons Song Cycle is a set of four works for two-part or SA
  choir accompanied by piano and melody bells. Handbells, glockenspiels,
  xylophones or other melodic bells can be used.
    
    
    
    The four works are:
    
    Snow and Ice (Winter)
    
    Mist and Rain (Spring)
    
    Sun and Thunder (Summer) Leaves of Red and Gold (Autumn)
    
    
    
    The cycle can be performed starting with any season, but the seasons should
  be sung in the order that they occur in nature.

Leaves of Red and Gold

Sing in the New Year with this choral fanfare! The lyrics give a nod to events of the past and the people who have helped us along the way, then look ahead to the bright possibilities of our future.

Fanfare for the New Year

"Let us sing in the New Year,
Let us sing of the new century.
Let us sing in the New Year!
Let us celebrate things we've accomplished.

Let us sing of all the joys we've seen.
Let us remember the people who helped us on our journey.
Let us learn from mistakes made on our way.

If our world is to become a better place,
We need to ask ourselves every single day,
"What can I do to make this world a better place
For all people, all creatures, all living things?

Let us sing in the New Year,
Let us sing of the new century.
Let us sing in the New Year!

Harp Improvisation #1 - Introspection

Global Sections - CORE [DO NOT TOUCH]*

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