DON MACDONALD

by Don Macdonald

SATB    –  –  CP 1107   – 2:45
With varied dynamics, close harmonies, and several Soprano divisi sections, this composition is a gratifying and fulfilling challenge.

by Don Macdonald

SATB    –  –  CP 1550   – 4:20
This gorgeous composition . “Hail, Star of the Sea”, is among Macdonald’s finest with long phrases and lush harmonies. Give a listen and you’l be convinced!

by Don Macdonald

SSATB a cappella    –  –  CP 1251   – 4:20
This is a charming Jamaican folk song about a little girl named Eva.  Jazzy, rhythmic, and full of great harmony! Listen to the recording.

by Don Macdonald

SSATB a cappella – CP 1835   – duration 3:45
SSAA  a cappella – CP 1863
O! soft responsive voices of the night
I join your minstrelsy,
And call across the fading silver light
As something calls to me;

Emily Pauline Johnson (1861-1913)
Canadian poet of the Mohawk Nation

by Don Macdonald

SATB a cappella – CP 2129   – duration 3:55
SSAA  a cappella – CP 2136

And then the sound of marching armies ‘woke
Amid the branches of the soldier oak,

Emily Pauline Johnson (1861-1913)
Canadian poet of the Mohawk Nation

by Don Macdonald

SATB a cappella – CP 2130   – duration 1:20
SSAA  a cappella – CP 2137

The lost wind wandering, forever grieves
Low overhead,
Above grey mosses whispering of leaves
Fallen and dead.

Emily Pauline Johnson (1861-1913)
Canadian poet of the Mohawk Nation

by Don Macdonald

SSAA a cappella – CP 2131   – duration 2:30

There is a lonely minor chord that sings
Faintly and far along the forest ways,
When the firs finger faintly on the strings
Of that rare violin the night wind plays,

Emily Pauline Johnson (1861-1913)
Canadian poet of the Mohawk Nation

by Don Macdonald

TBB a cappella – CP 2132   – duration 2:05
SSA  a cappella – CP 2138

Time and its ally, Dark Disarmament,
Have compassed me about,
Have massed their armies, and on battle bent
My forces put to rout;
But though I fight alone, and fall, and die,
Talk terms of Peace? Not I.

Emily Pauline Johnson (1861-1913)
Canadian poet of the Mohawk Nation

by Don Macdonald

SATB a cappella – CP 2133   – duration 2:55
SSAA  a cappella – CP 2139

Sounds of the seas grow fainter,
Sounds of the sands have sped;
The sweep of gales,
The far white sails,
Are silent, spent and dead.

Emily Pauline Johnson (1861-1913)
Canadian poet of the Mohawk Nation

by Don Macdonald

SATB a cappella – CP 2134   – duration 3:40
SSAA  a cappella – CP 2140

And only where the forest fires have sped,
Scorching relentlessly the cool north lands,
A sweet wild flower lifts its purple head,
And, like some gentle spirit sorrow-fed,
It hides the scars with almost human hands.

Emily Pauline Johnson (1861-1913)
Canadian poet of the Mohawk Nation

by Don Macdonald

SATB a cappella – CP 2128   – duration 21:00
SSAA  a cappella – CP 2135

Please see above.  This is a fabulous collection by a luminary Canadian First Nations poet and one of Canada’s finest choral composers.

by Don Macdonald

SATB a cappella – duration 5:00
TTBB a cappella
SSAA a cappella

Our night awakens with a flame 
and it’s luminous, luminous.
The shadows trace a perfect frame.
Luminous, luminous.

And while the northern winds conspire,
we’re held by the trees 
and lulled by the fire.
We sleep and dream ‘neath astral seas
then wake to shimmering fields of aurora. 

by Don Macdonald

SSATB a cappella    –  –  CP 1353   – 3:50
Who knew that a text by D.H. Lawrence could receive such a becoming choral setting!? Anyone who has ever played the piano will love this piece.

by Don Macdonald

SSAA with piano –  CP 2203   – duration 3:30

Raven is certainly one of the darkest and most cunning creatures in the book and I was drawn to the opportunity of writing a piece that explores these traits. I also wanted to choose a piece that could use most of the instruments at our disposal and Raven, due to it being one of the lengthier pieces in the book, seemed like it could benefit from the full ensemble.

When the most recent edition of the Oxford Junior Dictionary – widely used in schools around the world – was published, a sharp-eyed reader soon noticed that around forty common words concerning nature had been dropped. The words were no longer being used enough by children to merit their place in the dictionary. The list of these “lost words” included acorn, adder, bluebell, dandelion, fern, heron, kingfisher, newt, otter, and willow. Among the words taking their place were attach-ment, blog, broadband, bullet-point, cut-and-paste, and voice-mail. The news of these substitutions – the outdoor and natural being displaced by the indoor and virtual – became seen by many as a powerful sign of the growing gulf between childhood and the natural world.

by Don Macdonald

SATB (with divisi) – CP 1169 – 3:40
SSAA – CP 1318
TTBB – CP 1707
Tabula Rasa  – This Latin phrase translates as “Blank Slate” in English.  The composer had a specific image in mind when composing this music. A quiet moment between a mother and child when the mother sees, as she has never seen, the potential of the precious life she holds in her arms. A silent acknowledgement of her child and every child as a “blank slate” with seemingly limitless potential.

This emotionally uplifting work relies on gentle dissonances that ebb and flow with the Spanish text. It has been performed by youth choirs as well as professional ensembles and would make a great choice for festival competition. TABULA RASA was the winning composition of the 2010 DaCapo Chamber Choir NewWorks competition.

by Don Macdonald

SSATBB    –   CP 1222    – 4:30  
SSAA    –    CP 1106 
Don captures the glory and mystery of the Virgin birth with this exquisite composition.

by Don Macdonald

SSAATB    –   CP 1288   – 3:20
SSSAAA    –    CP 1305 
“To light, to water, and the flow of birds through ancient stars.” Don has set the poignant poem of Canadian poet Malca Litovitz in his inimitable style. Don employs contemporary techniques with classical tonality – unusual and attractive at once and very convincing. Please give a listen.

by Don Macdonald

SSAA with piano –  CP 2207   – duration 3:18

I chose Wren because it’s one of the fastest creatures in the book and the instruments chosen for our ensemble are mostly very agile. It was interesting for me during the creative process to have a mood which is in stark contrast to my other selection.

When the most recent edition of the Oxford Junior Dictionary – widely used in schools around the world – was published, a sharp-eyed reader soon noticed that around forty common words concerning nature had been dropped. The words were no longer being used enough by children to merit their place in the dictionary. The list of these “lost words” included acorn, adder, bluebell, dandelion, fern, heron, kingfisher, newt, otter, and willow. Among the words taking their place were attach-ment, blog, broadband, bullet-point, cut-and-paste, and voice-mail. The news of these substitutions – the outdoor and natural being displaced by the indoor and virtual – became seen by many as a powerful sign of the growing gulf between childhood and the natural world.