SECULAR CHORAL MUSIC
While most of my choral music is of the sacred variety, I hope to eventually start producing a body of secular choral music
as well. But so far the only works in that medium that I have available are the SATB version of my song cycle
In The Shadow of a Mountain, and a women's chorus from my 1985 musical The Treasure of Cathay.
The entire song cycle has now been recorded by J. David Moore and his First Readings Project singers.
There is a full cycle recording and also for each separate song.
![Song of the Desert.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0770d6_6f2e25d715654ebeb7b4758e00ee03f1~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_32,w_544,h_684/fill/w_338,h_430,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Song%20of%20the%20Desert.jpg)
SONG OF THE DESERT
Level: M
Duration: 3:55
Price: $2.75
Publisher: Dacker Music
Women's Voices (with optional hand percussion) and Piano | Words by Nancy Grobe PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
​
My 1985 musical, The Treasure of Cathay, based on the 1921 novella Messer Marco Polo by Irish-American author Donn Byrne, is a fictional story about Marco Polo and his romance with the daughter of Kublai Khan. This song for women's voices (with optional hand percussion), is from a scene in the Central Asian desert, where the Polo caravan has encountered a group of bandits and their women, who perform this song/dance.
​
Download from Score Exchange
![In the Shadow of a Mountain - SATB.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0770d6_19885fa5dc7f4fd6b9c24dc86c13cc1f~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_47,w_982,h_1176/fill/w_85,h_101,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/In%20the%20Shadow%20of%20a%20Mountain%20-%20SATB.jpg)
IN THE SHADOW OF A MOUNTAIN
Scenes from the Rockies
Level: M
Duration: 23:30
Price: $14.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
​
A Song Cycle for SATB and Piano | Words by Sue Personett
​
14 short songs set to poetry on Rocky Mountain themes. Here is the preface to the score:
​
"In the shadow of a mountain a world exists." The opening line of the title song sets the stage for the 14 short songs in this cycle. They provide varied glimpses of that mountain world--sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical--including such scenes as changing seasons and weather, flora and fauna, hiking and climbing, all set in the magnificent Rocky Mountains.
​
The individual songs, with their locations on the audio track, are listed below.
​
1.The Shadow of a Mountain 0:00
2. First Thaw 2:25
3. Spring on the Upper Rio Grande 3:40
4. Snowy Spring 6:52
5. Wyoming Snow 8:22
6. Shadows and Sunshine 9:39
7. In the Foothills 10:44
8. The Summit 12:09
9. She Will 13:10
10. Autumn in the Air 14:23
11. Snow 15:24
12. Wind River 18:00
13. Celebrate 19:02
14. Chasing Mountains 20:38
​
The individual songs are also available as separate octavos (see below - also linked in the list just above).
The full cycle is also available for solo medium voice (see Voice and Piano page).
​
​
Read more about In the Shadow of a Mountain - Scenes from the Rockies
​
Download from Score Exchange
​
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
​
INDIVIDUAL SONGS:
![The Shadow of a Mountain by Dacker Music](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94b291_7e902d94e6804a33b27484bfb1b6c95f~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_40,w_1013,h_1222/fill/w_85,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/The%20Shadow%20of%20a%20Mountain%20by%20Dacker%20Music.jpg)
The Shadow of a Mountain
Level: ME
Duration: 2:25
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Download from Score Exchange PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
​
![First Thaw by Dacker Music.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94b291_fb0eb9ca56af48558fb99fd609b0813c~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_28,w_1013,h_1222/fill/w_85,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/First%20Thaw%20by%20Dacker%20Music.jpg)
First Thaw
Level: ME
Duration: 1:15
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Download from Score Exchange PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
​
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
![Spring on the Upper Rio Grande by Dacker](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94b291_3fb0764cd17f4bd6b332f9f15ca82e47~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_48,w_1013,h_1222/fill/w_85,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Spring%20on%20the%20Upper%20Rio%20Grande%20by%20Dacker.jpg)
Spring on the Upper Rio Grande
Level: M
Duration: 3:10
Price: $2.50
Publisher: Dacker Music
Download from Score Exchange PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
​
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
![Snowy Spring by Dacker Music.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94b291_45636d20b13a4c008cc95fcdb9cd6242~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_31,w_1013,h_1222/fill/w_84,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Snowy%20Spring%20by%20Dacker%20Music.jpg)
Snowy Spring
Level: ME
Duration: 1:30
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Download from Score Exchange PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
​
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
![Wyoming Snow by Dacker Music.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94b291_c9cdde43f23c490baae1a567e05d61af~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_28,w_1013,h_1222/fill/w_84,h_101,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Wyoming%20Snow%20by%20Dacker%20Music.jpg)
Wyoming Snow
Level: M
Duration: 1:15
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Download from Score Exchange PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
​
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
![Shadows and Sunshine by Dacker Music.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94b291_c158366d778d4eb59e820cb3a2566538~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_20,w_1013,h_1222/fill/w_85,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Shadows%20and%20Sunshine%20by%20Dacker%20Music.jpg)
Shadows and Sunshine
Level: M
Duration: 1:05
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Download from Score Exchange PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
![In the Foothills by Dacker Music.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94b291_955d62f266b64e4e8bd6d060fb53d3f9~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_68,w_1013,h_1222/fill/w_84,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/In%20the%20Foothills%20by%20Dacker%20Music.jpg)
In the Foothills
Grade: M
Duration: 1:25
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Download from Score Exchange PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
![The Summit by Dacker Music.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94b291_ce82b44701414af8afc1aa6a2eeccb28~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_45,w_1013,h_1222/fill/w_85,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/The%20Summit%20by%20Dacker%20Music.jpg)
The Summit
Level: ME
Duration: 1:00
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Download from Score Exchange PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
​
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
![She Will by Dacker Music.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94b291_3da02beed43e489d8288f8575c93d422~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_6,w_1013,h_1222/fill/w_85,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/She%20Will%20by%20Dacker%20Music.jpg)
She Will
Level: M
Duration: 1:12
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Download from Score Exchange PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
![Autumn in the Air by Dacker Music.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94b291_fa304919ac7d4d20b1d004206ef7abd7~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_57,w_1013,h_1222/fill/w_85,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Autumn%20in%20the%20Air%20by%20Dacker%20Music.jpg)
Autumn in the Air
Level: ME
Duration: 1:00
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Download from Score Exchange PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
![Snow by Dacker Music.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94b291_d5a2771d3950419e88b5bbfb578f8158~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_23,w_1013,h_1222/fill/w_85,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Snow%20by%20Dacker%20Music.jpg)
Snow
Level: M
Duration: 2:35
Price: $2.25
Publisher: Dacker Music
Download from Score Exchange PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
![Wind River by Dacker Music.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94b291_c0d64824c9064e82b2861c9976bea8a2~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_20,w_1013,h_1222/fill/w_85,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Wind%20River%20by%20Dacker%20Music.jpg)
Wind River
Level: M
Duration: 1:00
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Download from Score Exchange PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
​
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
![Celebrate by Dacker Music.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94b291_cf0bc27f4332485f9289730a9da975a4~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_54,w_1013,h_1222/fill/w_85,h_102,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Celebrate%20by%20Dacker%20Music.jpg)
Celebrate
Level: ME
Duration: 1:35
Price: $2.00
Publisher: Dacker Music
Download from Score Exchange PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor
​
![Chasing Mountains by Dacker Music.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/94b291_bb17890545a34c2d88fc55ee59c2ebfa~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_34,w_1013,h_1222/fill/w_84,h_101,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Chasing%20Mountains%20by%20Dacker%20Music.jpg)
Chasing Mountains
Level: ME
Duration: 2:55
Price: $2.25
Publisher: Dacker Music
Download from Score Exchange PREVIEW ON YOUTUBE
​
Recording by The First Readings Project - J. David Moore, conductor