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Publishers

Mechem’s compositions since 1980 have been published exclusively by G. Schirmer, New York (GS). Before 1980 his principal publishers were:

• (B&H) Boosey & Hawkes
• (CF) Carl Fischer
• (CFP) C. F. Peters
• (ECS) E. C. Schirmer, Boston
• (Nat) National Music Publishers
• (Pre) Theodore Presser

Note: G. Schirmer now publishes some Mechem works originally issued by other publishers. This catalog represents the publishers as of March, 2007.

Operas

• John Brown (GS) 3 acts, 150’. 1980-1990
• King’s Contest, The (GS) 1 act, 26’. 1961-62; rev. 1972 (See under Chorus and Orchestra)
• Newport Rivals, The (GS) 2 acts, 115’. 1998-2002
• Pride and Prejudice, 2 acts, 140’, in preparation. 2004-2007
• Tartuffe (GS) 3 acts, 130’. 1977-1980

Orchestral music

• Haydn’s Return (Pre) (follows the Farewell Symphony), 12’. 1960
• Jayhawk, The: Magic Bird Overture (GS) 8’. 1974
• Symphony No. 1 (B&H) 3 movements, 24’. 1958-59
• Symphony No. 2 (B&H) 4 movements, 32’. 1966; rev. 1968

Chamber music

• Brass Buttons (GS) brass quintet, 20’. 1969
• Divertimento for Fl., Vln., Vla. and Vc. (ECS) 4 mvm., 12’. 1958
• String Quartet No. 1 (CF) 3 movements, 20’. 1962-63
• Suite for 2 Violins (ECS) 5 movements, 9’. 1952-53
• Ten Easy Violin Duets (ECS) studies in meter and rhythm. 16’. 1959
• 1. Elegy
• 2. Song
• 3. Chant
• 4. Motet
• 5. Divertimento
• 6. Canon
• 7. Folk Song
• 8. Folk Dance
• 9. Mirror
• 10. Five Legged Waltz
• Trio for Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon (ECS) 3 movements, 9’. 1955
• Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello (CF) 4 movements, 25‘. 1956-57
• Wedding Madrigal (GS) flute and piano, 5‘. 1992

Piano solo

• Sonata for Piano (ECS), 3 movements, 15‘. 1964-65
• Suite for Piano (ECS), 5 movements, 12’. 1954
• Whims: Fifteen Easy Vignettes (ECS), 20’. 1967
• 1. Country Dance
• 2. Lullaby
• 3. Fanfare
• 4. Impertinence
• 5. Song
• 6. May Dance
• 7. Study on E
• 8. Rondo
• 9. Mirror
• 10. Dialogue
• 11. The Happy Drunken Organ Grinder
• 12. Prelude
• 13. Classical Dance
• 14. Adagietto
• 15. March

Songs (with piano)

• Four Songs for Baritone (ECS) 12’. 1957
• 1. The Green-blooded Fish
• 2. July Rain
• 3. Inferiority Complex
• 4. A Farewell
• Goodbye, Farewell and Adieu: 3 Songs of Parting (GS), Mezzo, 11’ 1969
• 1. Since There’s No Help
• 2. Parting, Without a Sequel
• 3. Let It Be Forgotten
• Lydia’s Romance (GS), duet for sopr. & mezzo (from The Newport Rivals) (May also be sung as soprano solo) 4‘. 1999
• To An Absent Love (GS), Four songs for soprano, 13’. 1993 (Also available with accomp. of clar., hn. & piano; or vln,, cello & piano)
• 1. Dear Husband
• 2. A Farewell
• 3. Fair Robin
• 4. Epilogue (Debts)

Chorus and orchestra

(SATB unless otherwise noted. For timings of these pieces, see mixed chorus, shorter works)

• 26’ King’s Contest, The: Dramatic Cantata (GS), soli: sop., ten., bar., bass. Chamber ensemble (11 players), or large orch. (May be staged as one-act opera.) 1961-62; rev. 1972
• 14’ Seven Joys of Christmas: A Sequence of Carols (ECS), SSA or SATB. Keyboard or solo harp or a cappella or chamb. orch. 1964;
• 1. This Is The Truth
• 2. Din Don, Merrily on High
• 3. Joseph Dearest
• 4. Patapan
• 5. New Year’s Song
• 6. Fum, Fum, Fum
• 7. God Bless The Master of This House (Quodlibet)
• 25’ Singing Is So Good a Thing: An Elizabethan Recreation (CFP) 1970-71 Solo ten. or sopr. Cham. orch. (min. 13 players) Text: Wm. Byrd. (Includes dances of the period.)
• 1. Praeludium
• 2. Corranto
• 3. Canzonet
• 4. Gigg
• 5. Pastoral and Catch
• 6. Variations on a Popular Tune
• 7. Villanella and Ballet
• 8. Lament
• 9. Ayre (Pavane)
• 10. Dialogue (Galliard)
• 11. Verse Anthem (Ground)
• 12. Postludium
• 34’ Songs of the Slave (GS) Soli: bass-bar., sopr. From opera John Brown. Large or reduced orchestration. 1993; rev.1996
• 1. Blow Ye The Trumpet
• 2. The Songs of The Slave
• 3. Dan-u-el
• 4. Dear Husband
• 5. A Speech by Frederick Douglass
• 6. Declaration
• 15’ Speech to a Crowd (Nat) Bar. solo. Large orch. 1974 Text: Archibald MacLeish. Reduction for 2 pianos (rental)

Mixed chorus, extended works

(SATB unless otherwise noted. For timings of these pieces, see mixed chorus, shorter works)

• 16’ American Madrigals (CF) fl, cl, bsn, vn, vla, vc, cb or pno.1975
• 1. Kind Miss
• 2. He’s Gone Away
• 3. Kansas Boys
• 4. Adam’s Bride
• 5. New York Girls
• 7’ American Trio (GS) a cappella. 2003
• 1. Fire & Ice
• 2. Richard Cory
• 3. "Sweet Spring Is Your"
• 10’ Birthdays: Round Numbers (GS) pno. 2004
• 1. Bridget at Ten
• 2. Turning Twenty
• 3. Is Thirty Young?
• 4. Forty Notes for Forty Years
• 5. Fiftieth Birthday Card
• 6. Advice on Turning Sixty
• 7. Is Seventy Old?
• 28’ Children of David, The: Five Modern Psalms (B&H) org or pno, mz solo. 1971
• 1. Psalm
• 2. Joy
• 3. The Song of David
• 4. Man of My Own People
• 5. Pied Beauty
• 14’ Choral Variations on American Folk Songs (GS) pno. 1995
• 1. Skip to My Lou
• 2. Let Us Break Bread Together
• 3. Love and Pizen
• 7’ Christmas Past and Christmas Present (GS) pno. 1987
• 1. Christmas Past
• 2. Christmas Present
• 18’ Earth My Song (GS) pno. 1996
• 1. I Could Hear The Least Bird Sing
• 2. Isle of The Dead
• 3. Rebirth
• 12’ Five Centuries of Spring (Pre) a cappella. 1964
• 1. Spring (Nash)
• 2. From You Have I Been Absent
• 3. Laughing Song
• 4. Loveliest of Trees
• 5. Spring (Millay)
• 10’ In The Land of Morgenstern (GS) pno. Text: Engl. & Ger. 1962-63
• 1. The Questionnaire (Die Behörde)
• 2. The Odor Organ (Die Geruchsorgel)
• 3. The Lattice Fence (Der Lattenzaun)
• 9’ Missa Brevis ("Trinity") (GS) a cappella. 2000
• 1. Kyrie/Sanctus
• 2. Hosanna/Benedictus
• 3. Agnus Dei
• 10’ PEACE MOTETS (GS) a cappella. 2002-2005
• 1. By The Rivers of Babylon
• 2. Agnus Dei (Dona Nobis Pacem)
• 14’ Seven Joys of Christmas: A Sequence of Carols (ECS) Keyboard or solo harp or a cappella or chamb. orch. 1964;
• 1. This Is The Truth
• 2. Din Don, Merrily on High
• 3. Joseph Dearest
• 4. Patapan
• 5. New Year’s Song
• 6. Fum, Fum, Fum
• 7. God Bless The Master (Quodlibet)
• 8’ Shepherd & His Love, The (GS) SSATBB, pno., picc., vla.1967
• 33’ Songs of Wisdom: Sacred Cantata (GS), a cappella. Soli: sop., alt., ten., bass. 5 motets preceded by plainsong recitatives. 1958-59
• 1. The Song of Moses
• 2. A Love Song
• 3. The Protest of Job
• 4. A Song of Comfort
• 5. A Song of Praise
• 15’ Suite for Chorus (GS) a cappella. 2004
• 1. Kum Ba Ya (Spiritual)
• 2. Too Young to Marry (Folk-song madrigal)
• 3. They That Mourn (Requiem)
• 4. Papageno and the Prince (Fairy tale)
• 8’ To Music (GS) organ (or pno). Various texts. 1997
• 9’ Three Madrigals (GS) a cappella.1953
• 1. Impromptu
• 2. Deny It As She Will
• 3. Moral Precept
• 14’ Three Motets (GS) a cappella.1993-94
• 1. Gloria
• 2. Alleluia, Amen
• 3. Cantate Domino
• 9’ Tourist Time: Five Satirical Choruses (ECS) pno. 1957
• 1. Tourist Time
• 2. Boston
• 3. Cologne
• 4. Texas
• 5. Rome
• 9’ Two Christmas Ballads (GS) pno. or ampl. gtr. 1969, rev. 2000
• 1. Christmas Carol (Teasdale)
• 2. The Ballad of Befana (McGinley)
• 10’ Winds of May, The (GS) a cappella.1950-1960
• 1. The Tune
• 2. Let It Be Forgotten
• 3. Over The Roofs
• 4. I Shall Not Care (SSAA)
• 5. Song (Love Me With Your Whole Heart)
• 17’ Winging Wildly (GS) a cappella. 1996
• 1. Birds at Dusk
• 2. The Caged Bird
• 3. Everyone Sang

Mixed chorus, shorter works

(SATB unless otherwise noted. Works not published separately are listed only under the titles of the sets to which they belong. See Extended Works)

• 5’ Adam’s Bride (CF) instr. ens. or pno. (See AMERICAN MADRIGALS)
• 5’ Agnus Dei (GS) a cappella (from PEACE MOTETS)
• 3+' Alleluia, Amen (GS) a cappella (from THREE MOTETS)
• 5½' Blessed Are They (GS) organ, or pno.1998
• 5½' Blow Ye The Trumpet (GS) pno., org. or orch. (from SONGS OF THE SLAVE)
• 5’ By The Rivers of Babylon (GS) a cappella (from PEACE MOTETS)
• 4’ Cantate Domino (GS) a cappella (from THREE MOTETS)
• 7’ Choral Tribute, A (To All Choral Conductors) (GS) pno. 1983
• 5’ Christmas The Morn (GS) a cappella. 1996
• 5’ Dan-u-el (GS) bar. solo, pno. or orch. (from SONGS OF THE SLAVE)
• 5-' Deny It As She Will (GS) a cappella (from THREE MADRIGALS)
• 8’ Forsake Me Not, O Lord (ECS) a cappella. Memorial motet. 1964
• 3½' From You Have I Been Absent (Pre) a capp. (from 5 CENTURIES OF SPRING)
• 4-' Give Thanks Unto The Lord (CFP) a cappella. 1953; rev. 1959
• 3+' Gloria (GS) a cappella (from THREE MOTETS)
• 3+' He’s Gone Away (CF) instr. ens. or pno. (from AMERICAN MADRIGALS)
• 2½' I Will Sing Alleluia (GS) pno., fl., optional perc. 1973
• 1½' Impromptu (GS) a cappella. (from THREE MADRIGALS)
• 7’ Island in Space (GS) a cappella. Text by astronaut & A. MacLeish. 1989
• 4+' Joy (B&H) Mz. solo, org or pno. (from CHILDREN OF DAVID, THE)
• 3’ Kansas Boys (CF) instr. ens. or pno. (see AMERICAN MADRIGALS)
• 2+' Kind Miss (CF) instr. ens. or pno. (see AMERICAN MADRIGALS)
• 2+' Kum Ba Ya (Spiritual) (GS) a cappella (from SUITE FOR CHORUS)
• 6’ Las Americas Unidas (GS) SATB & SA (children), Sopr. solo, 2 tpts., glock., org., cb. Text: Engl. & Span., 1986 Alternate version: sopr. solo, SATB, pno. (SA & glock. optional)
• 3’ Lattice Fence, The (Der Lattenzaun) (GS) pno. (from IN THE LAND OF MORGENSTERN)
• 5’ Laudate: Memorial Motet (GS) a cappella. 1979
• 2’ Laughing Song (Pre) a cappella (from FIVE CENTURIES OF SPRING)
• 4+' Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence: Choral Variations (ECS) a cappella. 1951
• 5½' Let Us Break Bread Together (GS) pno. (from CHOR. VAR. on AMER. FOLK SONGS)
• 4’ Lighthearted Lovers, The (GS) pno. (from TARTUFFE)
• 4’ Love and Pizen (GS) pno. (from CHOR. VAR. on AMER. FOLK SONGS)
• 4’ Love Song, A (GS) SSATBB a cappella (from SONGS OF WISDOM)
• 2+' Loveliest of Trees (Pre) a cappella (from FIVE CENTURIES OF SPRING)
• 4’ Lydia’s Romance (GS) pno. (from THE NEWPORT RIVALS)
• 3’ Make a Joyful Noise Unto The Lord (ECS) a cappella. 1951
• 6½' Man of My Own People (B&H) Mz. solo, org or pno. (from CHILDREN OF DAVID, THE)
• 2+' Moral Precept (GS) a cappella (from THREE MADRIGALS)
• 2+' New York Girls (CF) instr. ens. or pno. (see AMERICAN MADRIGALS)
• 4’ Odor Organ, The (Die Geruchsorgel) (GS) pno. (from IN THE LAND OF MORGENSTERN)
• 4’ Papageno and the Prince (Fairy tale) (GS) a cappella (from SUITE FOR CHORUS)
• 5’ Pied Beauty (B&H) org. or pno. (from CHILDREN OF DAVID, THE)
• 4’ Praise Him, Sun & Moon (Nat) SSATBB, a cappella. 1951, rev. 1971
• 5’ Professor Nontroppo’s Music Dictionary (Pre) a cappella. 1973 Optional pno. accomp. available separately. Text: Ital. music terms.
• 7’ Protest of Job, The (GS) a cappella (from SONGS OF WISDOM)
• 8½' Psalm (B&H) org or pno. (from CHILDREN OF DAVID, THE)
• 4’ Psalm 23 (GS) cello or other bass instr. 1973
• 3½' Questionnaire, The (Die Behörde) (GS) pno. (from IN THE LAND OF MORGENSTERN)
• 5’ Rejoice: An Easter Psalm (GS) a cappella. 1997
• 4’ Rules for Behaviour, 1787 (GS) pno. 1954
• 6’ Shadows of The Moon (CF) pno. 1976
• 4½' Sing All Ye Joyful (GS) pno. 1966; rev. 1991
• 3’ Sing unto the Lord a New Song (GS) dbl. choir: ST/SAB, Tpt. 1964; rev. ‘98
• 6’ Skip to My Lou (GS) pno. (from CHOR. VAR. on AMER. FOLK SONGS)
• 5½' Song of Comfort, A (GS) a cappella (from SONGS OF WISDOM)
• 5’ Song of David, The (B&H) org. or pno. (from CHILDREN OF DAVID, THE)
• 5’ Song of Moses, The (GS) a cappella (from SONGS OF WISDOM)
• 7’ Song of Praise, A (GS) with SATB soli, a cappella (from SONGS OF WISDOM)
• 3’ Spring (Millay) (Pre) a cappella (from FIVE CENTURIES OF SPRING)
• 2’ Spring (Nash) (Pre) a cappella (from FIVE CENTURIES OF SPRING)
• 6’ They That Mourn (Requiem) (GS) a cappella (from SUITE FOR CHORUS)
• 5½' Time: Lines Found on An Old Bell at Chester (GS) a cappella, bar. solo 1996
• 3’ Too Young to Marry (Folk-song madrigal) (GS) a cappella (from SUITE FOR CHORUS)
• 3’ Wedding Gift, A (GS) pno. and vln. (or fl.) 1979
• 4’ Why Art Thou Cast Down? (GS) SAB, pno. or org. 1973
• 7’ World Is Too Much With Us, The (GS) in preparation, a cappella. 2006

Treble chorus

• 16’ American Madrigals (CF) fl, cl, bsn, vn, vla, vc, cb or pno.1975
• 1. Kind Miss 2. He’s Gone Away 3. Kansas Boys
• 4. Adam’s Bride 5. New York Girls
• 8’ Barter (GS) SA, pno. 4-hands, tpt. or oboe. 1994
• 5½' Blow Ye The Trumpet (GS) SSAA, pno., org. or orch. (from SONGS OF THE SLAVE)
• 4’ Lydia’s Romance (GS) SA, pno. (from The Newport Rivals) 1999
• 7’ Christmas Past and Christmas Present (GS) SA, pno. 1987
• 1. Christmas Past
• 2. Christmas Present
• 5’ Christmas The Morn (GS) SSAA, a cappella. 1996
• 14’ Seven Joys of Christmas: A Sequence of Carols SSA (ECS) Keyboard or solo harp or a cappella or chamb. orch. 1964;
• 1. this is the truth
• 2. din don, merrily on high
• 3. joseph dearest
• 4. patapan
• 5. new year’s song
• 6. fum, fum, fum
• 7. god bless the master (quodlibet)
• 2’ Sigh No More, Ladies (ECS) SSA, pno. 1957
• 4½' Sing All Ye Joyful (GS) SSAA, pno. 1966; rev. 1991
• 9’ Two Christmas Ballads (GS) pno. or ampl. gtr. 1969, rev. 2000
• 1. Christmas Carol (Teasdale)
• 2. The Ballad of Befana (McGinley)
• 16’ Winged Joy, The: A Love Story by Women Poets (GS) pno. 1963-64
• 1. Love Is a Terrible Thing (SSAA)
• 2. The Message (SSA & Mz. solo)
• 3. The Cynic (SA)
• 4. A Farewell (unison)
• 5. Love Came Back at Fall o’Dew (SA)
• 6. Red May (SSA & Mz. solo)
• 7. You Say There Is No Love (SSAA)

Men’s chorus

• 9’ American Folk Songs FOR MEN’S CHORUS (GS), TTBB, pno. 1954
• 1. Aunt Rhody
• 2. The Wayfaring Stranger
• 3. The Blue-tail Fly: Bar. solo
• 5½' Blow Ye The Trumpet (GS) TTBB, pno., org. or orch. (from SONGS OF THE SLAVE)
• 8’ English Girls (B&H) TBB, pno. 1971
• 1. Jenny Kissed Me
• 2. Julia’s Voice
• 3. To Celia
• 6’ Shadows of The Moon (CF) TBB, pno. 1976
• 3’ Spirit of ’76, The (GS) TBB, picc. & parade drum optional. 1976

Unison chorus

• 3’ It Is Good to Give Thanks (GS) pno. 1973
• 3’ Farewell, A (GS) (from The Winged Joy), pno.

Rounds, catches and canons

• 10’ Birthdays: Round Numbers (GS) pno. 2004
• 1. Bridget at Ten
• 2. Turning Twenty
• 3. Is Thirty Young?
• 4. Forty Notes for Forty Years
• 5. Fiftieth Birthday Card
• 6. Advice on Turning Sixty
• 7. Is Seventy Old?
• 9’ Canon Law for Newlyweds (ECS) a cappella. A Sequence of 3-6 part rounds and canons, from Proverbs. 1965
• 1. Hear Ye, Children
• 2. Whoso Findeth a Wife
• 3. A Merry Heart Doeth Good
• 4. Who Can Find a Virtuous Woman?
• 5. Who Hath Woe?
• 6. Love Covereth All Sins
• 30+' Catch 22 (and 21 Other Catches & Canons) (GS) 2-9 parts, equal voices. Optional piano, 1966-1983
• 1. The Question
• 2. Birthday Card
• 3. Housewarming
• 4. Housecooling
• 5. Catch as Cats Can
• 6. Blessed Be Thou
• 7. Hirtengesang
• 8. Old Age
• 9. Old Jokes
• 10. Two Friendship Canons
• 11. Music Is an Elegant Art
• 12. Good and Evil
• 13. Ode to a Choir Director
• 14. Humpty Dumpty
• 15. Lament (Little Willy)
• 16. Five Parts Wine
• 17. The Donkey
• 18. Goodbye, Dolly!
• 19. Handy Pandy
• 20. The Woodchuck
• 21 Forty Notes for Forty Years
• 22. Catch 22
• 28+' Epigrams and Epitaphs (ECS) 2-8-parts, equal voices, a cappella. 1951-63
• 1. The Fiddler’s Wife
• 2. Why Not?
• 3. Hannah Bantry
• 4. Puddin’ Tame
• 5. Advice to Young Ladies
• 6. Agnus Dei
• 7. Since It Is Raining
• 8. Benedictus
• 9. Epitaph
• 10. Always Be Sincere
• 11. Introduction to Vienna
• 12. Who Comes Here?
• 13. An Old Lady of Tring
• 14. Leg over Leg
• 15. Epitaph
• 16. How to Write a Catch
• 17. Says I to Myself
• 18. Deedle Deedle Dumpling
• 19. A Tutor Who Tooted a Flute
• 20. Kyrie
• 21. A Farmer Went Riding.
• 3’ Lament for a Choral Director (Nat) Double catch for 3 equal men’s & 3 equal women’s voices, tpt, vc and/or other instr. 1951-63

(Contribution by Kirke Mechem <kirkekirkemechem.com>.)

Kirke Mechem is a prolific composer with a catalogue of over 250 works. He enjoys an international presence, as ASCAP recently registered concert performances of his music in 42 countries. Born and raised in Kansas and educated at Stanford and Harvard Universities, Mechem conducted and taught at Stanford, and served as composer-in-residence for several years at the University of San Francisco. Mechem also lived in Europe, spending three years in Vienna where he came to the attention of Josef Krips, who later championed the composer’s symphonies as conductor of the San Francisco Symphony. He was guest of honor at the 1990 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and was invited back for an all-Mechem symphonic concert by the USSR Radio-Television Orchestra in 1991.

He has been honored and recognized for his contributions from such organizations as: the United Nations; the National Endowment for the Arts; the National Gallery; the American Choral Directors Association; the Music Educators National Conference, and was presented with a lifetime achievement award from the National Opera Association.

Mechem’s compositions cover almost every genre, but vocal music is the core of his work. His three-act opera, Tartuffe, has been staged more than 300 times and performed in six countries. Songs of the Slave — a suite for bass-baritone, soprano, chorus and orchestra from his opera, John Brown — has toured to over 40 US cities. His extensive choral works have garnered him the title of “dean of American choral composers.” Upcoming opera premieres include: his comic opera, The Newport Rivals (an American update of Sheridan’s classic play, The Rivals), and the large-scale dramatic work based on American abolitionist John Brown, to celebrate Lyric Opera Kansas City’s 50th anniversary. Mechem is currently composing an opera based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

— G. Schirmer, Inc., 2007

(Contribution by Kirke Mechem <kirkekirkemechem.com>.)

• http://www.sai-national.org/phil/composers/kmechem.html
• http://www.sai-national.org/pubs/win98/kmechem.html