E-Notes April 2016

If you watch the TV newscasts, you see unrest and war in many places around the globe.  People are fleeing oppression and violence and they are longing for peace in their lives.   How does one musically describe the feeling of peace?   For Joshua Kramer it was a simple lullaby.   The feeling of rocking his child to sleep.

For 2015, AGEHR’s top selling composition was “Peace” AG35339 by Joshua Kramer, for 3 to 5 octaves of handbells, Level 2.   It was a piece written for a graduate handbell composition class at Concordia University Wisconsin in 2013.   Joshua writes, “I remember coming up with the melody as the instructor was giving us a tour of the facility, and having to sing it over and over in my mind until I could scratch it down on paper.  I was so worried I would forget it!”

I asked Joshua what he liked best about his piece.   He said, “I really like the way the melodic motif runs through the whole piece.  But my favorite spot is the ending.  In the ending, I can see the many times I have laid my sleeping son into the crib.”

Sometimes we think that profound music must be difficult and complicated.   That is simply not true.   Profound music comes in all difficulty levels, and “Peace” is a Level 2 piece that only has a few bell changes in measures 55 to 60.  Otherwise, it is a simple, straightforward, and I think, profound piece in C major.

Joshua says, “I didn’t really write ‘Peace’ with any particular choir in mind.  The simplicity of the piece makes it very accessible to beginning and intermediate choirs, but I think advanced choirs might find it useful to create contrast in a program against more complicated music.”    This is Joshua’s second published handbell composition; the first being an arrangement of “Savior of the Nations, Come,” AG35328.    He said, “I’ve actually only heard ‘Peace’ performed by two groups.  The first was by the members of the composition class (what a crazy week that was, writing two pieces and having to learn to ring everyone else’s!).  The second was by the Milwaukee Handbell Ensemble, in which I had the privilege of ringing this past year.  Both groups were very gracious and complimentary of the piece, which is encouraging to a beginning composer like myself.”

The composition has eight measures of introduction, then the melody is presented in the middle bells, measures 9-24.   Next the melody is presented in the upper bells from m. 33 to 48.   Then the composition transitions into A minor, then returns to C major from m. 49-64.  At measure 65, a descant appears with the melody for the final and strongest statement of the tune.   From m. 77 to the end, the piece winds down, with echoing sections of the melody, until its very peaceful end.

Joshua says, “Many people have told me the melody easily gets stuck in their head (which is ironic, considering how worried I was that I’d forget it while walking around the campus that day.”

Joshua Kramer serves as the music coordinator at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, West Bend, Wisconsin, which involves 3 vocal choirs, 3 handbell choirs, 5 organists, school children who sing in church, and a rich pool of instrumentalists and soloists.  I consider myself blessed to be able to serve here, and to work with so many talented and dedicated musicians.  I am married to my wife, Rebecca and have two sons, Isaiah (3), and Ezra (1).  I am nearing completion of a Master’s Degree in Church Music from Concordia University Wisconsin.

He says, “My church duties keep me pretty busy (especially since I also teach 6th grade during the school day).  But when there is time, I have a few “diversions” that I enjoy.  I am an avid Apple enthusiast (ever since I was 5), and often “geek-out” on my Macbook Pro or iPhone.  I am also into sport juggling, and can juggle balls, rings, and clubs (this is good training for the busy schedule I juggle most days) 🙂

If you wish a little “Peace” in your life, take a moment, click on this link, and enjoy Joshua Kramer’s composition, “Peace” AG35339.