1. Kyrie for Peace in Our Time (2012) Monica Czausz, organ Kyrie for Peace in Our Time was written as a call for peace, relying on divine intervention. ____________________________________________________________________________ 2. I Baptize You (2012) In the motet I Baptize You, the sung text reflects baptism with water in the repeated Latin phrases chanted and cascading melodies that are an image of the water falling over the baptized. Then, once baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire is announced, the figures are more celebratory and ascending like flames of fire. ___________________________________________________________________________ 3. Ave Maria No. 9 – (Rosa Mystica) (2013) Stephanie Handal, soprano, Felipe Gasper, organ My ninth Ave Maria is an attempt to capture the essence of the title “Mystical Rose”. Here the soprano sings gentle grace note figures which are meant to shimmer above the textures found in the organ and choir. The organ part at times features delicate soloistic gestures that sparkle, almost like drops of dew on a fresh flower. ___________________________________________________________________________ Iter Animæ – Organ Symphony (2013) Crista Miller, organ 4. I. Calling Out of the Depths 5. II. Reaching 6. III. Revelation 7. IV. Set Aflame In writing Iter Animæ (meaning “Journey of the Soul”) I hoped to scratch the surface of the instrument’s vast possibilities, creating textures, timbres, and musical ideas that begin more tentatively (especially in the first two movements), gradually becoming more resolute and triumphant (in the last two movements). 8. Ecce Vox de Cælis (2012) Ecce Vox de Cælis is heavily influenced by the tradition of Renaissance polyphony but it is drawn into a more “modern” musical language (and the English language) to make more immediate the words “Behold a voice from heaven saying, this is my Beloved Son”. _____________________________________________________________________________ 9. Alma Chorus Domini (chant prelude) (2013) Michael Ging, organ Alma Chorus Domini is a prelude based on a Sarum Rite chant by the same name. This piece is dedicated to Dr. Richard Robbins and Dr. Crista Miller in gratitude for the unique impact they have both had on my musical journey in the past year. _____________________________________________________________________________ 10. Ego Sum (2013) Kelli Shircliffe, soprano, Mark Mummert, tenor Ego Sum connects the Old Testament “I AM” with several New Testament statements by Christ beginning with “I am…”. Ver Novum (Symphony for Brass and Percussion) (2013) 11. I. “each and every human person…” 12. II. “the tears of this century…” 13. III. “a civilization worthy…” Ver Novum was inspired by an address at the United Nations 50th General Assembly (Oct. 5, 1995) delivered by Pope John Paul II (1920-2005): "Now is the time for hope … We must not be afraid of the future. We must not be afraid of man … Each and every human person has been created in the ‘image and likeness’ of the one who is the origin of all that is … with the help of God’s grace, we can build in the next century and the next millennium a civilization worthy of the human person … And in doing so, we shall see that the tears of this century have prepared the ground for a new springtime of the human spirit." ___________________________________________________________________________________ Recital Choir: (Dr. Richard Robbins, conductor) SOPRANO Stephanie Handal Kelli Shircliffe Briana Kruse Kari Zimerman Jennifer Robbins ALTO Ryan Stickney Lauren Pastorek Heidi Scanio Sawyer Sellers Lynelle Rowley TENOR Jeffrey Ragsdale Jason Watt Mark Mummert Frankie Espinoza L. Wayne Ashley BASS Felipe Gasper Brian Shircliffe Joshua Wilson Mark Marotto Jordan Koenig Ver Novum ensemble: (Bill Tackett, conductor). Eric Hennies, David Sedgwick, George Goad, Ian Kivler, trumpets; Markus Osterlund, Joshua Horn, Andrew Du Comb, Nathanael Udell, horns; Greg Hammond, Ryan Rongone, trombones; Rick Stiles, bass trombone, Justus MacKenzie, tuba; Brandon Bell, timpani; Dino Georgeton, Lucas Sanchez, percussion; Bill Tacket, conductor Recording engineers: Andy Bradley (tracks 1, 2, 3, 8, 10), Fran Schmidt (tracks 11, 12, 13), Daniel Knaggs (tracks 4, 5, 6, 7, 9) All of the compositions on this disc were performed on Daniel’s first doctoral composition recital at Shepherd School of Music on October 6, 2013 thanks to the generous support of over 100 donors. For more information about these compositions and Daniel Knaggs’s other works, visit www.danieljknaggs.com