News – Classic – HohMade Music

Organ Collection Released

The Sacred Music Press (Lorenz) has released “Thee We Adore,” a collection of organ settings by Christopher J. Hoh. The eight pieces from chant-inspired hymns include Adoro Te Devote (“Thee We Adore”), Christ Ist Erstanden (“Christ the Lord Is Risen Again”), Conditor Alme Siderum (“Creator of the Stars of Night”), Hamburg (“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”), Erhalt Uns Herr (“Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word”), Veni Creator Spiritus (“Come, Holy Ghost, Our Souls Inspire”), Veni Emmanuel (“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”), and Pange Lingua (“Sing, My Tongue”). More info and ordering via this link at The Lorenz Corp.

New CD of Organ Music

What a thrill to hear a whole album of my organ music, masterfully performed by virtuoso Jonathan Dimmock. Recorded last March on the marvelous Taylor & Boody instrument Op. 34 in Staunton, Virginia, the 19 pieces include three organ suites from Assorted Airs Vol. 1 plus seven others based on well-known hymns. Find more info or order a physical CD from Raven via this link or download it from any major streaming service.

“Let Tyrants Shake” Album — Also in Video

My first string quartet riffs on the runaway hit of the American Revolution. “Chester” by William Billings taunted the British King, singing “Let Tyrants Shake …” It inspired my composition, which appears on the album Quadrants Vol. 5 from Navona. More info and purchase options at this link. And if there’s a very cool music video of it available via Apple Music.

“Amazing Grace” Wins Place in New Organ Book

Veni Creator is the title of a new organ collection from England’s Beauty in Sound (BIS). My chorale prelude on “New Britain,” aka “Amazing Grace,” was one of the prize-winners included. Run by organist extraordinaire and musical entrepreneur Richard McVeigh, BIS reaches a large worldwide audience with its streaming recitals. I look forward to my piece being heard on a future broadcast. Meanwhile, you can hear it via this link. Look for it also in my forthcoming second volume of chorale preludes.

“Three Latin Prayers” on Celestial Voices Album

Celestial Voices , a new album of sacred choral music, features Three Latin Prayers. The March 1 release from Navona Records showcases The Kühn Choir of Prague, Lenka Navrátilová, conductor. Among Christopher J. Hoh’s most popular choral compositions, Angele Dei, Agimus Tibi Gratias, and Dona Nobis Pacem employ SSATBB voices in Renaissance polyphonic style but with modern harmony. Score and info via this link to JW Pepper.

Kudos for “My Love: Two American Ballads”

Project:Encore added “My Love: Two American Ballads” for 3-part chorus and piano to its prestigious catalog of fine new choral music. A middle school commission that also suits adult SAB voices, the work sets a brooding “Riddle Song” (I Gave My Love a Cherry) and the lively “Shady Grove.” The January announcement brings the number of Chris Hoh compositions receiving this award to an even dozen. Available via this link from JW Pepper.

O Antiphons Premiere — ‘Tis the Season

December 8 was the North American Premiere of “Ero Cras: The Seven O Antiphons” for choir and organ. Musikanten and Richard Mumford, organ, conducted by Kerry Krebill, presented these seven movements at National City Christian Church in Washington DC. Available on YouTube here, the concert included other seasonal organ and choral pieces by Chris Hoh. This busy month also saw a reprise of “Grounded Greensleeves” for chamber orchestra in holiday appearances by the Nittany Valley Symphony in Pennsylvania. And the choir of St. Monica and St. James Episcopal Church on Capitol Hill performed Advent and Christmas works by Chris at four different services in December.

Anthem for peace — Salaam, Shalom, Peace

“Salaam alaykum” and “shalom aleichem” mean “peace be with you,” as transliterated from Arabic and Hebrew respectively. Heard for millennia, these phrases resonate in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim cultures. I heard all three when I lived in the Mideast and they resounded in my mind in the wake of the recent violence in the region. Available via this link from JW Pepper.

New Website Coming

My next major opus is this website. After retiring the venerable HohMadeMusic.com version used from 2007 – 2004, I’m working on an update intended to suit any device and restore access to my catalogue of nearly 300 available compositions. Expect it to keep evolving. Site-building sure has evolved in 20 years!

Advent & vesper settings

Recent efforts include demo audio for new choral pieces. One is Comfort, O Comfort My People, familiar for Advent and fitting the readings for Dec. 10 in many churches. The other is Now On Land and Sea Descending, requested to reprise a beloved evening hymn from decades ago in a fresh choral setting. Both are available at JW Pepper via these links — Comfort, O Comfort and Now on Land and Sea.

News - Classic