Zack Richards Music

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I wrote this piece as a feature for a young, but very talented cellist at First Lutheran Church. It is designed to be the connective tissue between the sorrowful nature of Good Friday and the excited happiness of Easter morning! It tells of the opening of the grave and the realization that He is Risen! The choral parts are set as more of a duet/accompaniment to the cello, rather than the central focus, so make sure the cello is the star in this wonderful feature. There are also transpositions of the solo part for Violin and Viola included.

Weep No More, for He is Risen!

SAB Octavo

Voice Subcategory

This simple song was written as an educational, fun, and versatile piece
  for children all wrapped in one! Easily memorized, the first three syllables
  of each verse can be changed for whatever the occasion. Focus should be
  placed on the syncopated rhythms, which can be emphasized with body motions.
  It's also encouraged to vary dynamics, and even tempos, to match the mood of
  the lyrics being used.

Clap Your Hands! Sing Hallelujah!

Unison Octavo

This piece was written for the Sunday School Youth Choir at First Evangelical Lutheran Church. They sang it for an All Saints' Day service in 2015. I wrote it to be easily memorized and the kids were even able to add some sign language for a few of the words. It can be sung in unison or the lower harmonies can be added. This piece is perfect for a sweet and meaningful blessing at the end of any service.

A Blessing of God's Love, Grace, and Hope

Unison/Two-Part Octavo

This is a unique arrangement of the Traditional English Carol. It is
  perfect for a smaller church choir and easy to learn. Even though it is easy
  to learn, it has a lot of interesting variations to keep the singers and
  listeners engaged.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

I wrote this for the choir at First Lutheran Church for Easter Sunday
  2016. I made it to be a simple, but effective way to kick off an Easter
  celebration. The opening Recitative is based off of the Canon melody and
  gives a nice lead in. There are several options to perform this work, and all
  that is really needed is 2-4 voices to make it effective. The catchy melody
  and excited nature are sure to make this an Easter favorite for your choir
  and congregation!

Easter Canon

SATB Octavo

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This Fanfare for Freedom was written as a Prelude to my arrangement of
  The Star-Spangled Banner, also a part of my United We Stand Collection. It
  can also be performed on its own if preferred. The opening Rubato melody is
  meant to evoke a regal pride with its soaring grandeur over the harmonies
  below. The contrasting
    
    fast section that follows provides a fantastic fanfare of frenzied
  enthusiasm with an accelerated melody inspired by that of The Star-Spangled
  Banner. This fanfare is bound to get patriotic pride flowing through the
  veins at any venue!
    
    This work is part of a Collection of 8 of my own arrangements of popular
  American Patriotic Tunes. They are all available individually or all together
  at a considerable
    
    discount. Each of these works for Trumpet Ensemble also have a
  corresponding arrangement for Solo Trumpet with mp3 accompaniment track.

We the People

Trumpet Ensemble

Abide with Me is a Christian hymn by Henry Francis Lyte. It is most often sung to the tune "Eventide" by William Henry Monk. This arrangement was inspired by an arrangement by Greg Jasperse. His version has been a favorite of mine since the first time I heard it. I wanted to create an arrangement with a similar style that most church choirs could sing without too much difficulty. It was my intention to strike a balance between singability and beautiful harmonic richness with this arrangement. Any SATB Choir will love this gorgeous version of a beloved hymn.

Abide with Me

I originally wrote a Brass band version of this work to be performed by
  the Freedom Brass Band of Northeast Ohio in the summer of 2011 knowing that I
  wanted it to be connected to a well-known patriotic text. It quickly became
  my most popular work and I decided to arrange it for Concert Band in 2018.
  Because it was adapted from a Brass Band setting, some of the instrument
  ranges are more advanced, but can still work for an advanced high school or
  college band. From a young age I found inspiration in Abraham Lincoln's
  Gettysburg Address. As a Boy Scout, I had read it at an annual service
  on
    
    Memorial Day. I had also studied it in school and even heard it spoken by a
  Lincoln impersonator. The words from this address speak to the ideals of human
  equality and freedom, and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to
  protect those ideals. Lincoln refers to this sacrifice as "the last full
  measure of devotion" and it is to those men and women who so bravely
  sacrificed that I dedicate this work. For added effect, the Gettysburg
  Address may be read by a narrator during the performance.
    
    
    
    Instrumentation:
    
    Piccolo
    
    Flutes with divisi
    
    Oboe
    
    Bassoon
    
    1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bb Clarinets with divisi
    
    Bass Clarinet
    
    Alto Saxophone
    
    Tenor Saxophone
    
    Baritone Saxophone
    
    1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bb Trumpets with divisi
    
    4 French Horns in F
    
    2 Trombones
    
    Euphonium (Treble and bass clef provided)
    
    Tuba
    
    Timpani (4)
    
    Crash Cymbals
    
    Snare Drum
    
    Bass Drum

The Last Full Measure of Devotion

Concert Band Score & Parts

This work was commissioned by First Evangelical Lutheran Church for the
celebration of Pastor Chuck Knerem's 30th anniversary of his ordination. The celebration was held on July 17th, 2016. The text is based on Psalm 96:10-13. The song can be done as a solo leading the congregation, but a full band is recommended.

Sing for Joy!

P/V/G Sheet Music

I wrote this piece for an online competition held by an a cappella choir
  in the UK named Voices of Hope. They were looking for a piece they could use
  for a "virtual choir." I'd had the "Sing" motive of a
  simple ascending Perfect Fourth in my head for a few days and decided to base
  the entire piece on it. The text was inspired by the 2020 pandemic situation.
  Choirs around the world were unable to sing together as they were accustomed
  due to social distancing needs as a way to slow the viral spread. The text is
  essentially a directive for everyone to find a way to sing in whatever way
  you can.

Sing

These arrangements are designed and stylized in a similar harmonic,
  rhythmic, and structural framework. While each has its own identity and
  variation to create interest for the listener, the music is formatted to fill
  an entire concert if so desired. Each piece has its own description and
  performance notes to assist the players. As few as 5 players can perform each
  work, though at least 10 are recommended for best effect. All of these works
  are available individually or all together in my "United We Stand"
  Collection at a considerable discount. Each of these works for Trumpet
  Ensemble also have a corresponding arrangement for Solo Trumpet with an mp3
  accompaniment track in my "Zack Richards Music Minus One" Series.

The United We Stand Collection

Trumpet Ensemble Collection

This arrangement of the National Anthem of the United States of America
  embraces the fanfare and pomp of the original tune while adding some modern
  harmonic twists and musical Easter Eggs. The short introduction quotes You're
  a Grand Old Flag, setting the tone. Also quoted are America the Beautiful and
  the "Let freedom ring!" phrase of America to bring the piece to a
  triumphant close. For extra fanfare, my original work, We the People - A
  Fanfare for Freedom, can precede this arrangement. Both are available through
  my United We Stand Collection. 
    
    This work is part of a Collection of 8 of my own arrangements of popular
  American Patriotic Tunes. They are all available individually or all together
  at a considerable discount. Each of these works for Trumpet Ensemble also
  have a corresponding arrangement for Solo Trumpet with mp3 accompaniment
  track.

The Star-Spangled Banner

Throughout my youth, I was highly influenced by Science Fiction,
  especially Star Trek: The Next Generation. It inspired me from a creative,
  musical, and human perspective and was a large factor in most of my current
  views of the world in which we all live. This work is largely inspired by
  that show as well as other Star Trek shows and movies. The title is inspired
  by the idea of space, called the final frontier throughout Star Trek. The
  first melody pulls many aspects from the The Original Series, including the
  opening interval of a minor 7th, the rhythmic use of triplets, and the
  chromatic intervals in the second half of the melody. It sits over quartal
  harmonies which help create the open "spacey" sound. The
  countermelody introduced by the Oboe in measure 13 is inspired intervalically
  and rhythmically by the 2009 Star Trek reboot movie theme. These 2 melodies
  are used in various ways from start to finish, sometimes rhythmically
  diminished, sometimes just as a motif passed from one instrument to another.
  Every section has a moment to shine like a distant star in this fun sci-fi
  inspired piece.
    
    
    
    Instrumentation:
    
    Piccolo
    
    Flute
    
    Oboe
    
    Bassoon 1 and 2
    
    Clarinet in Bb 1-3
    
    Bass Clarinet
    
    Contrabassoon
    
    Alto Saxophone
    
    Tenor Saxophone
    
    Baritone Saxophone
    
    Piano
    
    Trumpet in Bb 1-3
    
    Horn in F 1-4
    
    Trombone 1 and 2
    
    Bass Trombone
    
    Euphonium
    
    Tuba
    
    Timpani (5)
    
    Marimba
    
    Percussion:
    
         Suspended and Crash Cymbal
    
         Bass Drum
    
         Snare Drum and Triangle

The Greatest Frontier

Written for a service featuring music all about light, this short piece
  is perfect for a blessing or other service music. The music is sung through
  twice, once in unison so the congregation can hear it, then again in optional
  parts so the congregation may join with the choir.

May Your Light Shine

There is a Balm in Gilead references both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. The Balm of Gilead is seen as a spiritual medicine that can heal sinners and bring salvation through Jesus Christ. With this arrangement, I tried to create a simple, yet interesting setting of the well-known hymn. Each verse has a slightly different style, but there is still a unity in the general harmonic and melodic feel of the piece. This is an arrangement suited for almost any church choir looking to add some variety to a common hymn.

There is a Balm in Gilead

This was my first a cappella choral work. I decided to use the text of two of my favorite Psalms that have overall contrasting tones. I tried to set the texts to music that emphasizes those different tones, but also helps unify them as a set. The movements can be performed separately, but it is recommended to do both. The complex harmonies and occasional chromaticism make this a difficult, but effective piece to perform for any advanced choir.

Psalms 23 and 100

I wrote this piece in response to the #BlackLivesMatter Protests across
  the United States and world during the early summer of 2020. The extreme
  extent of peaceful protests and violent riots demonstrated the desperate need
  for change in a way I had not witnessed before. I knew quickly that I wanted
  to write music in some sort of response to the situation, but I struggled at
  first to find my voice within the movement. I am a white male and have
  experienced the privilege that comes with it. No matter how much I
  sympathized or understood the struggles of minorities in our culture, I knew
  I could not possibly bring the full meaning of it through my music, as I
  could never really experience the trials they have faced constantly for so
  long. So instead I decided to write words and music that reflected how I
  hoped things would be going forward after this movement. I wanted this to be
  an anthem for those who have suffered through real oppression, in any form.
  While there are some religious undertones in the text I chose, I tried to
  find words that could resonate with anyone, reaching beyond color, culture,
  belief, orientation, age, or any other dividing label. I tried to write in
  regard to one thing we all have in common, humanity. I hope I was able to
  accomplish this. The anthem can be done in parts or unison or as a solo. It
  can also be done with or without accompaniment.

We Are One!

I wrote this for the Children's Choir at First Lutheran Church for Palm
  Sunday 2019. I made it to be a simple, but effective way to lead the service
  as we laid Palms at the altar. The simple melody is easy to memorize quickly.
  There are several options to perform this work, and all that is really needed
  is 2-4 voices to make it effective. The catchy melody and excited nature are
  sure to make this a Palm Sunday favorite for your Children's Choir and
  Congregation!

Hosanna

The title and first line of text can be altered to tailor it to your church or can simply be made, "We are God's Church" to make it available for all congregations. We are First Church was commissioned by First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Strongsville, OH for the celebration of the congregation's 60th Anniversary. It was premiered on October 23, 2016 as a part of the worship service. The text is inspired by First Church's mission statement, Psalm 100, and other text's that directly relate to the First Church congregation.

We are First Church

"Hope" is the Thing is a deeply personal piece for me. I found
  the Emily Dickinson poem in early 2014 while searching for inspirational
  texts. After the first read, I knew I would like to set it to music someday.
  Later that summer I came across a composition contest that was looking for a
  piece about success/belief/hope. I started putting music to the text in late
  September. In October my mother was diagnosed with terminal bone cancer and
  she passed away a few days before Thanksgiving. Her passing affected me in
  ways I never expected. Music went from being the thing in which I could find
  solace, to the thing that reminded me of my mother's absence. I found myself
  unable to write my own music for quite some time. During the Lenten season of
  2015, one of the Pastors at the church for which I work gave a sermon using
  this text. The sermon was particularly moving and I decided it was time to
  revisit the piece. The music was finished within 1 week. Just as my mother
  had done for me countless times, writing this piece gave me the hope and
  inspiration I needed to get through a difficult time in my life. I dedicate
  this work to my mother, Cynthia Marie Richards.

"Hope" is the Thing

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