On Sunday, April 17 (Easter Sunday), a new arrangement was premiered for handbells and string quintet.
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On October 17, 2021, Jantz Black’s new composition “Jubilant Praise” was premiered by the combined handbell programs of Midland First United Methodist Church, Midland, MI. The piece was commissioned in honor of Connie Nicholson, longtime ringer and director. Jantz was on hand to conduct the premiere. The dedication of the piece reads:
Commissioned in honor of Connie Nicholson for her twenty-nine exemplary years directing Prime Chimers, Genesis Ringers, Rejoice Ringers, Joyful Bells, and the Carillon Choir, and forty-four dedicated years ringing bells at the First United Methodist Church of Midland, Michigan. Through her music ministry, Connie taught others to love God, to love each other, and to love handbells.
Christmas 2020 has been unlike any other in recent memory. Here’s a virtual premiere of my choral setting of “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.”
Twelve performances of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” between May 3 and May 19, 2019 came to a close. I had the pleasure of being the Music Director for this fantastic production. Below are some photographic highlights! Continue reading
My newest anthem is now available through Beckenhorst Press. A full audio recording and preview images are available here:
https://www.beckenhorstpress.com/o-day-of-peace-that-dimly-shines/
Today I was pleased to present a short recital at Riverside Place, a retirement community in Midland. It has been fifteen years since I’ve presented a solo piano classical recital, so a tuxedo seemed appropriate. 🙂
Selections included:
-Song Without Words No. 1 in E major – Mendelssohn
-Nocturne in F Minor Op. 55 No. 1 – Chopin
-Allegro, from Sonata No. 50 in C Major – Haydn
-Clair de lune – Debussy
-Intermezzo in B-flat Minor – Brahms
-Argentine Dances (Movements 1, 2, and 3) – Ginastera
-Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho – arr. J. Black
Also included some extemporaneously spoken program notes which may have questionable accuracy. 🙂
Chorale and Bella Voce at Midland Center for the arts presented “Eliza Hamilton’s Song” on November 10, 2018. I had the pleasure of playing four-hand arrangements of “The Nightengale” and “The Girl I Left Behind Me” by Dan Forrest, as well as playing keyboard for Lexi Lawson (Eliza Hamilton from Lin-Manuel Maranda’s “Hamilton”). Below are a few pictures and a rehearsal clip with Lexi Lawson.
Lexi Lawson on stage.
Short clip of rehearsal.
My arrangement of “Joshua Fit the Battle” is now available on SheetMusicPlus.com. Just follow this link!
This piece is moderately advanced, but not unnecessarily difficult. Paying careful attention to the stylistic articulations, sparse pedaling, and rhythmic drive is most important.
On June 24, 2018, I had the the pleasure of singing with Camerata and providing a second set of hands on some four-hand piano accompaniment.
The repertoire was varied and included several of Brahms’ Liebeslieder Waltzes, “Fern Hill” by Corigliano, and even hits by Dolly Parton, Barbara Streisand, and Cyndi Lauper. Continue reading
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