Carlyle Sharpe

Carlyle Sharpe (b. 1965) is Professor Emeritus of Music in Composition and Theory at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. A recipient of the Drury University Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship, his cantata, Proud Music of the Storm, was featured on the National Endowment for the Arts “American Masterpieces” concerts with the Providence Singers and was also performed by The Washington Chorus at The Kennedy Center. The Providence Journal called his work “the smartest, most well-crafted offering” and an “intense imaginative score” and the Choral Journal noted “Sharpe has created a worthy addition to the repertoire.”

Commissions include those from the Seraphim Singers, Providence Singers (Proud Music of the Storm), Suburban Youth Symphony Orchestra (Chicago), Colorado Brass Band, Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, ALEA III Contemporary Ensemble in Boston, and Olympic Quartet (Luge) for the 2002 Winter Olympics Festival Concerts celebrating the Cultural Olympiad. His Laudate Nomen for SATB Chorus and Organ won the 2000 American Guild of Organists/ECS Publishing Award in Choral Composition, Confitemini Domino for Brass Quintet and Organ won the 1998 Holtkamp/American Guild of Organists Award in Organ Composition, and Psalm 122 for SATB Chorus, Tenor Solo and Organ won the 1996 American Guild of Organists/ECS Publishing Award in Choral Composition.

He is published by ECS Publishing, Hinshaw Music, Inc. and Colla Voce Music, Inc., and has been honored through the ASCAP Foundation Grants to Young Composers, an ASCAP scholarship, the ASCAP Awards, Meet the Composer, and The American Prize. His music has been heard in nationally televised broadcasts by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and has been broadcast over WGBH Radio-Boston, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Minnesota Public Radio and Nebraska Public Radio. His works have received numerous performances including those by the San Diego Symphony, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, San Diego Master Chorale, Innovations en Concert-Les Solistes “Amérique” in Montréal, Minnesota All-State Choir, New England Philharmonic, Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, Kwang Ju City Choir in Korea, Charlotte Symphony, Omaha Symphony, and at the Oberlin College-Conservatory, Aspen Music Festival, Washington National Cathedral, the American Guild of Organists National Conventions in Denver and Philadelphia, the 4th Curso Internacional de Regencia Coral in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Melbourne 5th International Festival of Choirs in Australia, and the Tanglewood Music Festival.

He graduated summa cum laude with Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in composition from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and was a recipient of the Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts. Upon completion of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in composition at Boston University, he was one of five graduating students to receive the Kahn Career Entry Award for the Arts, a generous grant awarded to launch the recipients’ professional careers.

Prior to teaching at Drury University, he was Assistant Professor of Music in Theory and Composition at Boston University’s School of Music and taught at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While at Boston University, he studied composition with John Harbison, Charles Fussell, and Marjorie Merryman. His composition teachers at Rice University were Paul Cooper, George Burt, and Arthur Gottschalk. As a student in the Advanced Master Class Program in Composition at the Aspen Music Festival, he studied with Jacob Druckman and Bernard Rands.

Drury University faculty member since 2000
Professor since 2012
Professor Emeritus since 2024

SATB Chorus, Brass Quintet and Piano

First Performance: Drury Choral Ensembles, Andrew Campbell, conductor
Springfield, Missouri, 9/25/23
Commissioned by Drury University in Celebration of its Sesquicentennial

 

Film Score

First Performance: Drury University Film Festival
Springfield, Missouri, 4/22/22

 

SATB Chorus and Organ

First Performance: St. Gregory Choir of Christ Episcopal Church
Catherine Wong, organ, Allin Sorenson, conductor
Springfield, Missouri, 8/29/21
Commissioned by Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, Missouri, in commemoration of the Reverend Kenneth L. Chumbley on the occasion of his retirement

OF THESE YEARS I SING (2019) 40′
Mezzo-Soprano Solo, SATB Chorus and Orchestra

First Performance: Springfield-Drury Civic Orchestra, Christopher Koch, music director
Drury University Chorale, James R. Davidson, director
Ann Marie Wilcox-Daehn, mezzo-soprano
Springfield, Missouri, 2/5/20
Commissioned by the Springfield-Drury Civic Orchestra, Christopher Koch, music director

 

CLAP YOUR HANDS (2017) 4’15”
SATB Chorus

First Performance: Drury Singers, James R. Davidson, conductor
Springfield, Missouri, 10/25/17
Commissioned by Drury University on the occasion of the inauguration of J. Timothy Cloyd as its 18th president

 

First Performance: Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, Missouri, 3/31/13
Commissioned by Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, Missouri

 

PSALM 8 (2012) 3′ 30″
SA Chorus and Piano

First Performance: Boys Choir of Springfield, Missouri Music Educators Association, 1/25/13
Commissioned by the Boys Choir of Springfield (Missouri) for the 75th Anniversary of the Missouri Music Educators Association

 

PRELUDE, ELEGY AND SCHERZO (2012) 10′
Brass Quintet and Organ

First Performance: 2012 Organ Historical Society National Convention, Chicago, Illinois, 6/1/12
Commissioned by the Chicago Gargoyle Brass for the 2012 Organ Historical Society National Convention
Published ECS Publishing
No. 8353 Brass Quintet and Organ

 

HEAR MY CRY, O GOD (2011) 3′
SATB Chorus

First Performance: Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, Missouri, 9/11/11
Commissioned by the Drury Singers and Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, Missouri, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of September 11, 2001
Published 2015 by ECS Publishing
No. 8090 SATB Chorus unaccompanied

 

OPEN FOR ME THE GATES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (2011) 4′
SATB Chorus and Organ

First Performance: Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, Missouri, 4/17/11
Commissioned by Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, Missouri, in celebration of the Right Reverend Martin Scott Field, Eighth Bishop of West Missouri

 

REJOICE NOW, HEAVENLY HOSTS (2010) 4′
SATB Chorus and Organ
(Brass Quintet and Timpani optional)

First performance: Newtown Presbyterian Church, Jason Moore, Director of Music, Newtown, Pennsylvania, 4/4/10
Commissioned by Newtown Presbyterian Church, Newtown, Pennsylvania

 

AN AMERICAN POSTCARD (2009) 3′ 30″ 
Orchestra

First Performance: Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Ron Spigelman, Apo Hsu, and Charles Bontrager, conductors
Springfield, Missouri, 9/19/09
Commissioned by the Springfield Symphony Orchestra in Celebration of its 75th Anniversary Season

 

THAT MUSIC ALWAYS ROUND ME (2008) 3′
SATB Chorus

First Performance: Stoney Creek High School Chamber Singers, Brandon Ulrich, conductor, Michigan Music Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1/24/09
Commissioned by the Stoney Creek High School Chamber Singers, Rochester Hills, Michigan
Published 2008 by ECS Publishing
No. 7358 SATB Chorus unaccompanied

 

REJOICE AND SING (2008) 4′ 30″
SATB Chorus and Organ

First Performance: St. Paul Parish Adult Choir, Jennifer A. Lester, conductor, John Dunn, organ, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 4/27/08
Commissioned by the Saint Paul Parish Adult Choir and the Boston Boy Choir (Boston Archdiocesan Choir School), Cambridge, Massachusetts
on the occasion of the retirement of John Dunn, Music Director

 

MAGNIFICAT AND NUNC DIMITTIS (2007) 6′
SATB Chorus and Organ

First Performance: Trinity Episcopal Church, Kevin C. Feltmann, Director of Music
Manassas, Virginia, 10/21/07
Commissioned by Trinity Episcopal Church, Manassas, Virginia

 

BEHOLD NOW, BLESS THE LORD (2007) 2′ 30″ 
SATB Chorus and Organ

First Performance: St. Gregory Choir of Christ Episcopal Church, Mary Gates, organ, Allin Sorenson, conductor
Springfield, Missouri, 9/16/07
Commissioned by Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, Missouri, on the occasion of its Rededication, 2007
Published 2007 by ECS Publishing
No. 7125 SATB/Organ

 

CALLIOPE (2006) 3′
Orchestra and Organ

First Performance: Springfield-Drury Civic Orchestra, Carlyle Sharpe, organ, Christopher Koch, conductor
Springfield, Missouri, 11/16/06
Commissioned by the Springfield-Drury Civic Orchestra for the Centennial Concerts of the Drury University Organ

 

FLOURISHES (2005) 3′
Brass Quintet and Organ

First Performance: Springfield Symphony Brass Quintet, Carlyle Sharpe, organ
Springfield, Missouri, 10/27/05
Commissioned by Drury University on the occasion of the inauguration of its fifteenth president

Published by ECS Publishing
No. 8352 Brass Quintet and Organ

 

ETERNITY’S MUSIC (2005) 5′ 40″
SATB Chorus and Piano, also arranged for SATB Chorus, String Quartet and Harp

First Performance: Drury Singers
Springfield, Missouri, 9/29/05
Allin Sorenson, conductor
Commissioned by Drury University’s Theme Year on Sustainability for the Drury Singers
Allin Sorenson, conductor
Published 2006 by ECS Publishing
No. 6602 Piano/Choral Score
No. 6603 Full Score (SATB/Harp/String Quartet)
No. 6604 Harp/String Quartet Parts

 

PRAISE THE LORD, O MY SOUL! (2004) 4′ 30″
SATB Chorus and Organ

First Performance: Northridge Presbyterian Church
Dallas, Texas, 2/6/05
Grady Coyle, conductor
Commissioned by Northridge Presbyterian Church
Published 2007 by ECS Publishing
No. 7127 SATB/Organ

 

PEACE (2004) 5′
SATB Chorus

First Performance: Seraphim Singers
Boston, Massachusetts, 5/1/04
Jennifer Lester, conductor
Commissioned by the Seraphim Singers
Published 2007 by ECS Publishing
No. 7126 SATB (divisi) unaccompanied

 

FUSION (2002) 3′ 
Brass Quintet

First Performance: Springfield Symphony Brass Quintet
Springfield, Missouri, 10/25/02
Commissioned by Drury University for the
dedication of the Trustee Science Center

 

LUGE (2001) 2′ 36″
Clarinet, Violin, Viola and Piano

First Performance: Olympic Quartet
Park City, Utah, 2/14/02
Commissioned by the Olympic Quartet
for the 2002 Winter Olympics Festival Concerts
Celebrating the Cultural Olympiad

 

PROUD MUSIC OF THE STORM (2001) 28′ 
SATB Chorus and Orchestra

First Performance: Providence Singers
Providence, RI, 11/3/01
Julian Wachner, conductor
Commissioned by the Providence Singers in celebration of its 30th anniversary season
Published 2004 by ECS Publishing
No. 6089 Piano/Vocal Score
No. 6087 The full score and parts are available on rental from the publisher.

 

“Ah from a little Child” from PROUD MUSIC OF THE STORM (2001) 5′ 
SATB Chorus

First Performance: Providence Singers
Providence, RI, 11/3/01
Julian Wachner, conductor
Commissioned work for the Providence Singers
Published 2004 by ECS Publishing
No. 6090 SATB unaccompanied

 

“I hear the dance-music of all nations” from PROUD MUSIC OF THE STORM (2001) 2′ 30″ 
Voice and Piano

First Performance: Providence Singers
Providence, RI, 11/3/01
Julian Wachner, conductor
Commissioned work for the Providence Singers
Published 2004 by ECS Publishing
No. 6091 High Voice/Piano
No. 6092 Low Voice/Piano

 

SO HAVE I LOVED YOU (2001) 3′ 50″
SATB Chorus

First Performance: Lake Jackson, TX, 2/20/01
Choir of Saint Timothy’s Episcopal Church
Phillip Kloeckner, choirmaster
Commissioned by Saint Timothy’s Episcopal Church
Published 2007 by ECS Publishing
No. 7128 SATB unaccompanied

 

GUNNISON RHAPSODY (2000) 5′ 30″
British Brass Band

First Performance: Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO, 7/7/2000
Colorado Brass Band
Don McLaurin, conductor

 

LAUDATE NOMEN (2000) 3′ 
SATB Chorus and Organ

First Performance: Boston, MA, 5/21/2000
Cathedral Choir of Saint Paul
Mark T. Engelhardt, choirmaster
Published 2002 by ECS Publishing
No. 5783 SATB/Organ

 

PSALM 67 (1999) 3′
SATB Chorus

First Performance: Boston, MA, 5/9/99
Cathedral Choir of Saint Paul
Mark T. Engelhardt, choirmaster
Published 2000 by Colla Voce Music, Inc.
No. 40-96750 SATB unaccompanied

 

I LIFT UP MY EYES TO THE HILLS (1998) 3′ 45″ 
SATB Chorus and Organ

First Performance: Boston, MA, 10/18/98
Cathedral Choir of Saint Paul
Mark T. Engelhardt, choirmaster
Published 1999 by Colla Voce Music, Inc.
No. 40-96780 SATB/Organ

 

CONFITEMINI DOMINO (1997) 4′ 30″ 
Brass Quintet and Organ

First Performance: Denver, CO, 6/28/98
American Guild of Organists National Convention
Recorded on Pro Organo Label CD 7034
Published 1998 by Hinshaw Music, Inc.
No. HMO175 Brass Quintet/Organ

 

FLURRIES (1996-97) 11′
Orchestra

First Performance: University Park, IL, 3/8/97
Suburban Youth Symphony Orchestra
Antoinette Arnold, conductor
Commissioned by the Suburban Youth Symphony
Orchestra for their 25th Anniversary Season

 

SHOW US YOUR MERCY (1995) 4′
SATB Chorus

First Performance: Boston, MA, 3/24/95
Cathedral Choir of Saint Paul
Mark T. Engelhardt, choirmaster
Published 1999 by Colla Voce Music, Inc.
No. 40-96810 SATB unaccompanied

 

SING UNTO THE LORD A NEW SONG (1995) 4′
SATB Chorus, Brass Quintet, Percussion and Organ
(or SATB Chorus and Organ)

First Performance: Lakeside, OH, 6/30/95
Lakeside Master Class with the Cleveland Orchestra Brass
Paul E. Oakley, conductor
Commissioned by the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
Published 1996 by Hinshaw Music, Inc.
No. HMC1483 Organ/Choral Score
No. HMC1483A Full Score and Parts (Brass Quintet/Percussion/Organ)

 

NOCTURNE (1994) 6′
Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Marimba and Piano

First Performance: Aspen Music Festival, 7/14/94
Aspen Contemporary Ensemble
Antoinette Arnold, conductor
Commissioned by the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble

 

NATIVE MOMENTS (1994) 12′ 30″
Orchestra

First Performance: Boston University, 5/3/94
Boston University Symphony Orchestra
David Hoose, conductor

 

THE SHIP STARTING (1993) 3′
SATB Chorus and Piano
text by Walt Whitman

First Performance: Boston University, 4/9/94
Boston University Choral Society
Thérèse Provenzano, conductor
Commissioned by the Boston University Choral Society
Published 2007 by ECS Publishing
No. 7129 SATB/Piano

 

LUCY AND RICKY (1993) 7′ 30″
Clarinet, Cello and Piano

First Performance: Boston, MA, 2/4/94
Commissioned by ALEA III Contemporary Music Ensemble
Theodore Antoniou, Music Director

 

VILLAGE WINTER (1993) 2′
Soprano and Piano
text by Shelli Jankowski-Smith 

First Performance: Boston University, 4/10/93
Paige Valentine, soprano; Patrick Yacono, piano

 

BALLADE (1991-92) 16′ 33″

Oboe, Violin, Viola and Cello (3 movements)

First Performance: Boston University, 2/6/93
Jay Moore, oboe; Joan Wasser, violin;
Andrew Johnson, viola; Viturin Döring, cello

 

PSALM 122 (1991-92) 8′ 
SATB Chorus, Tenor Solo and Organ

First Performance: Boston University, 2/6/93
Marsh Chapel Choir
Stephen Bomgardner, tenor; Carlyle Sharpe, organ;
Julian Wachner, choirmaster
Commissioned by the Marsh Chapel Choir at Boston University
Published 1997 by ECS Publishing
No. 5143 Tenor Solo/SATB/Organ

 

TOCCATA (1991-92) 8′
Organ

First Performance: Boston University, 2/6/93
Mark T. Engelhardt, organ
Recorded on Compact Disk SPC-1/Cathedral Church of Saint Paul, Boston

 

FIVE MINIATURES (1990-91) 6′ 30″
Clarinet and Piano

First Performance: Boston University, 2/6/93
Jan Halloran, clarinet; Stephen Halloran, piano

 

SONATA (1990, revised 1992) 22′ 40″
Cello and Piano (3 movements)

First Performance: Boston University, 2/6/93
Mark Simcox, cello; Sandra Hebert, piano

 

THIS IS MY SON, MY CHOSEN (1989) 6′ 30″
Soprano and Tenor Soli, SATB Chorus and Organ

First Performance: Houston, Texas, 2/5/89
Robin Mains, soprano; Stephen Bomgardner, tenor
Christ Church Cathedral Choir
Clyde Holloway, choirmaster

 

PASSAGE (1988-89) 14′ 15″
Soprano and Orchestra
text: “Crossing the Bar” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

First Performance: Rice University, Houston, TX, 4/17/89
Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra
Jeanette Lombard, soprano
Gisèle Ben-Dor, conductor

 

WINTER’S EDGE (1988/94) 12′
Tenor and Piano or Baritone and Piano (4 songs)
text by A. E. Housman

First Performance: Rice University, 4/19/88
Stephen Bomgardner, tenor; Carlyle Sharpe, piano

 

CONCERTO (1987-88) 21′
Flute and Orchestra (3 movements)

First Performance: Rice University, 4/19/88
Members of the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra
Hans Vogel, flute
Luke Douglas Sellers, conductor

 

GRACE EXULTANT (1987) 8′
SATB Chorus, 2 Trumpets, 2 Trombones and Organ

First Performance: Opening Service of the Episcopal
Diocese of West Texas, 84th Annual Council
San Antonio, TX, 2/11/88
Ron Bretz, music director
Commissioned by the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas

 

MANITOU (1987) 6′ 15″
Brass Quintet and Piano

First Performance: Rice University, 3/21/87
Shepherd School Honors Brass Quintet
Carlyle Sharpe, piano

 

SHOWER OF GOLD (1986-87) 12′
Soprano (or Mezzo-soprano), Flute, Cello and Piano (5 songs)
text by Barbara Howes

First Performance: Rice University, 3/21/87
Kara Koller, soprano; Hans Vogel, flute;
Ho Ahn, cello; Carlyle Sharpe, piano

 

FIVE MINIATURES (1985) 7′
Piano

First Performance: Rice University, 3/23/86
Carlyle Sharpe, piano

 

FOUR CATALYSES (1984-85) 15′
Violin Duo (4 movements)

First Performance: Rice University, 4/12/85
Jerry Wang and Carol Laube, violins

 

THOUGHTS (1984) 7′
Flute

First Performance: Rice University, 4/12/85
Maribeth Clark, flute

 

FANTASY PRELUDE (1984) 4′
British Brass Band

First Performance: Western State College
Gunnison, CO, 6/18/85
Colorado Brass Band
John Kincaid, conductor
Commissioned by the Colorado Brass Band

 

ARCHAIC SCENES SUITE (1983) 8′
Horn Trio (4 movements)

First Performance: Rice University, 11/12/84
Steve Bullitt, Eric Winiecke and Jeri Shaffer, horns

 

TRIUMPHANT QUEST (1982-83) 6′ 30″
Symphonic woodwinds/brass/percussion

First Performance: University of Texas-Pan American
Edinburg, TX, 1/14/84
1983-84 TMEA Region XV Concert Band
Richard Kole, conductor