Commissioned Works
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From the Messiah to the St. Matthew Passion, composers have given us many great musical expressions of faith. But gone is the age when the church or a royal family sponsored new musical works. A return to Bach’s Leipzig, when each new week saw a new cantata for worship, seems like an impossible dream. In the last two centuries, the composition of sacred classical music has diminished to a mere trickle.
Soli Deo Gloria is reversing this trend. At the heart of our mission is the commission of new sacred music from the world’s finest composers. Whether commissioned to honor a loved one or commemorate an event, celebrate an anniversary or dedicate a building, whether sung in church or performed in a concert hall, each new musical work not only pays tribute to artistic creative genius but also to our Creator.
SDG commissions to date are listed in chronological order, starting with the most recent premieres. Each gives voice to the gift and global impact of this faith-filled mission.
Click here to listen to excerpts from these commissions. If you are interested in performing this music, please contact us.
God Be Merciful
Photo: Mats Bäcker
Sven-David Sandstrom
God Be Merciful
A cappella choral work (SATB) by one of Sweden’s most performed living composers. The work is part of the SDG Psalms Project and is based on the text of Psalm 67: "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us." Duration: 6 minutes.
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Have Mercy on Me, O God
Vache Sharafyan
Have Mercy on Me, O God
A work for string quartet and tenor by one of the most important living composers from Armenia. Based on the text of Psalm 51, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions." Duration: 9 minutes.
read moreAlpha and Omega
(Photo: Philip Gatward)
James MacMillan
Alpha and Omega
A cappella choral work (SSSAATTBB) based on Revelation 21:1-6a: "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth." James MacMillan, who has been called "the most powerful voice in British music today - by a mile" (The Times) is a person of strong faith, and the resonance of this can be heard in the rich sonoroties and echoing harmonics of this richly textured work. Duration: 7 minutes, 38 seconds.
read morePsalm 96
Peter Bannister
Psalm 96
Choral work (SATB) with organ and orchestra, based on Psalm 96. Commissioned in honor of Elsbeth Shannon, who wanted music to be “a breath of fresh air, something that would bring glory to God and help us to see the beauty of holiness.” Duration: 8 minutes.
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Daniel Kellogg
O Greening Branch
A celebratory work for chorus and concert band inspired by the poetry of Hildegard von Bingen. Commissioned for the 150th anniversary of Wheaton College. “Daniel Kellogg is a gifted and appealing craftsman among the younger U.S. composers” (Chicago Tribune). Duration: 10 minutes.
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Neal Harnly
The Lost Son
Six-movement work for children’s chorus and chamber orchestra, with libretto by poet Alisa Bair, based on the Gospel parable of the prodigal son. The movements relate the story from the perspective of the three main characters: the rebellious son who came home to forgiveness, the “good" son who clung to his own sense of indignant righteousness, and the father who gave his love without restrictions. Duration: 35 minutes.
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© Universal Edition
Arvo Part
In Spe ("In Hope")
A new setting of Pärt’s An den Wessern Zu Babel (“By the Waters of Babylon”) for brass quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn) and string orchestra. Co-commissioned with Vale of Glamorgan Festival in honor of Arvo Pärt’s 75th birthday. The sold-out audience affirmed Pärt’s status as “one of the most famous and indeed most important contemporary composers” (The Irish Independent). Duration: 8 minutes.
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Peter Bannister
Hermosura de Dios ("The Beauty of God")
Song cycle for soprano, choir and chamber orchestra based on the poetry of Saint Teresa of Avila, which evokes a burning desire for encounter with the God of mystery, the Beauty exceeding all earthly beauties. Bannister, an award-winning composer residing in Paris, is Composer-in-Association and Associate Artistic Director of Soli Deo Gloria. Duration: 26 minutes.
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Daniel Kellogg
Preserve Me, O God
Choral work based on Psalm 16. The first commission in SDG’s Psalm Project, a series of choral works based on Psalm texts. Commissioned in honor of Dr. Howard Matson, who clung to the words of Psalm 16 as he battled a life-threatening lung disease. “Daniel Kellogg may be the most gifted American composer under 30” (Washington Post). Duration: 6 minutes.
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Jacob Bancks
Mass for All Saints
Six-movement mass for choir, soloists and chamber orchestra. Meditative, celebratory, reverent and joyous. Inspired by images of all the saints gathered in heaven: “…and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne…” (Rev 7:9). Bancks’ compositions have been described as “invitingly lyrical” and “colorfully orchestrated” (The New York Times). Duration: 35 minutes.
read moreA Sampling of SDG's commissions
Vache Sharafyan's Have Mercy on Me, O God
James MacMillan's Alpha and Omega - Excerpt 1
James MacMillan's Alpha and Omega - excerpt 2
Peter Bannister's Psalm 96 (sung in a student worship service with congregational partcipation)
Daniel Kellogg's O Greening Branch
Neal Harnly's The Lost Son
Daniel Kellogg’s “Preserve Me, O God"
Rehearsal led by Peter Bannister of his
Et iterum venturus est
Excerpt from Jacob Bancks’
Mass for All Saints
From the eighteenth century,
the St. Matthew Passion by Bach
and Messiah by Handel
have remained with us.
From the nineteenth century,
many great masses and requiems
are still heard today.
But the twentieth century
gave us very, very little.
SDG exists to inspire
twenty-first century composers
to write music of the heart, soul and mind
that addresses God’s connection
and love of his people.
—John Nelson, Artistic Director
Photo: David Zaugh
