Donald M. Skirvin
Composer
DONALDMSKIRVIN.COM
—News and Updates—
I am delighted to announce that my catalog will be offered through Barlow Bradford Publishing!​​ Here is the announcement:
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Barlow Bradford Publishing is proud to announce its partnership with composer Donald M. Skirvin.
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We, at Barlow Bradford Publishing, are thrilled to announce our new partnership with master composer, Donald Skirvin.
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As president of the company, I have had the pleasure of performing many of Donald’s works, including a number of world premieres. His music is crafted with exquisite beauty and subtlety. His attention to the text opens deep meaning to poetry by Sara Teasdale, Gordon E. Abshire, and Carl Sandburg, and many others.
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We have a large swath of Donald's catalog published right now, with more pieces being added frequently. I urge you to take a look at his compositions, found at the link below.
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My choirs and I have loved every experience with his music, and I hope you and your choirs will as well.
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- Barlow Bradford
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Explore Donald M. Skirvin's Catalog
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Click HERE for more news and updates.
Most recent website update: 01/21/2023
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—Recent and Upcoming Concerts—
See Concerts page for more information.
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—Concerts in 2024—
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University of Utah Chamber Choir performs Alchemy on April 23, 7:30 – 8:30pm, at Libby Gardner Concert Hall in Salt Lake City, UT. A streaming option may be available here. Here's a link to the program.
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The Compline Choir sings Lord, it is night at two cathedrals in England, St. Alban’s Cathedral (the Evensong service, 5 PM BST) on August 3 and Canterbury Cathedral (the Evensong service at 5:30 PM BST) on August 17. This is a special version of the piece that utilizes the cello. Choral Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral is streamed live on their YouTube channel. Also, a "bon voyage" performance of this work is scheduled for the July 28 Compline service at St. Mark's Cathedral (9:30 PDT) in Seattle before the Compline Choir departs on its 2024 England Pilgrimage.
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—Concerts in 2023—
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Ancora women's ensemble premieres In All My Songs during their "Transient Glory" concert on February 18, 7:00 PM at Woodlawn Sanctuary in Seattle, WA. NOTE: This performance was rescheduled from January to February.
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The Compline Choir performs Lord, it is night during their Compline service on January 29, 9:30 PM at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle, WA.
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Bellevue Chamber Chorus performs Only the heart will hear during their "Northwest Gems" concert on March 11, 7:30 PM at First Congregational Church of Bellevue and on March 12, 3:00 PM at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Mercer Island.
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Ancora women's choir premieres the three-movement commissioned work All My Songs for You during their "Love and Longing" concert on June 10, Time (TBA) at the Center for Community, Arts, and Spirituality, 7400 Woodlawn Ave NE, Seattle.
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Seattle Choral Company performs Curve of Gold during their "This Shining Night: Music and poetry for a summer evening" concert on June 10, 8:00 PM at Seattle First Baptist Church in Seattle, WA.
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​—Concerts in 2022—
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The Utah Chamber Artists premieres When All Falls Silent in their Deep Peace Cathedral Collage concert April 25 and 26 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City, UT. This a cappella work sets a poem of the same name by Charles Anthony Silvestri.
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The combined choruses of the Oak Ridge Chorus and the Roane Choral Society perform Weathered Days in their Endings and New Beginnings concert on May 1 at the First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge in Oak Ridge, TN.
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The Seattle Girls Choir premieres Songs for Genie, a feline-themed work in three movements scored for unison or two-part treble voices and piano in its 40th season Spring Concert. The premiere is scheduled for 6/11/22 at Town Hall, Seattle, WA.
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The Utah Chamber Artists premieres Sandburg Songs on September 26 in Salt Lake City, UT at Libby Gardner Concert Hall. This three-movement work sets poems by Carl Sandburg and is scored for SATB chorus, strings, and piano.
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The Delight Song of Tsoai-Talee for which specific dates and locations are not yet known.
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—Concerts in 2021—
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The Compline Choir premieres Lord, it is night, on October 24 at 9:30 PM. See Concerts page for information about the piece and how to attend or listen to an online broadcast of the Compline service.
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—Concerts in 2020—
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All the 2020 concerts were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Vocalise, a Seattle-based women's ensemble, premieres Winter's Cloak, a work scored for a cappella women's ensemble together with the premiere of UnSeen Buds for soprano soloist and piano in its ...about to bloom concert. The concert is being rescheduled because of the coronavirus situation in Seattle with more information about that at a later date.
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L.A. Choral Lab, a Los Angeles-based ensemble, will perform Ancient Roses (Movement I of Echoes from the Heart) in its Past Life Melodies: A Warehouse Choral Concert. The concert is being rescheduled because of the coronavirus crisis.
—Concerts in 2019—
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Kirkland Choral Society performs the premiere of Canticles of Crimson in its Carmina Burana concerts on February 23 and 24.
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Larimer Chorale performs Sometimes, for eternity in its Fauré: Requiem concerts on February 23 and 24.
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Emerald Ensemble performs Autumn Equinox: The Delight Song of Tsoai-Talee in its Songs of Nature concert on July 11.
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University Unitarian Church commissioned Winter Peace A Lullaby, to be performed Dec. 8 by its mixed chorus and handbell choir.
For information about previous concerts,
visit the Concerts page.
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—F E A T U R E D R E V I E W S—
“...a leading voice in the contemporary choral scene" – Roger Miller, Professor Emeritus, University of Utah, in Program Notes: Collage 2016 for the Utah Chamber Artists.
Music that is "...rich in imagery wrought by imaginative use of harmony and apt, sensitive text-setting. And it’s also just plain gorgeous music that speaks well for this composer’s facility with voices ...” – Critic David Vernier, in Classics Today.
"Skirvin is a skilled and prolific composer of choral music . . . (he) excels at both expressing the texts in music and at fitting his own musical expression to the rhythm of the poetry. This is done so artfully as to seem almost effortless and inevitable." – Composer and conductor, Karen P. Thomas, from a review of Alchemy in Noteworthy, an online column from Chorus America.
Stars Forever While We Sleep on the Aeonia CD along with I am among them by Eric Banks are both "thoroughly evocative, tonal contemporary offerings beautifully rendered by (The Esoterics) . . . Each work has warmth, beauty and a sort of searchingly poetic quality handled beautifully by the choral ensemble. – Grego Applegate Edwards, Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review,."
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"Working on your piece (Winter Circle) was a great experience for me and the singers. It presented good vocal and musical challenges for this age group, all the while being beautiful and captivating—they were always willing to keep working on it!" – Sara Boos, Northwest Girlchoir director, Seattle, WA.
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