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 Composers

James C.
Morrison
(1956 - 2018)

 

J ames Morrison was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. As a teenager, he was mentored in harmony and composition by the choir director at his church. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and also studied Piano Technology at Western Iowa Tech and Social Work at Millersville University. He is grateful for contributions of his organ teacher, Richard E. Fritsch, CAGO.

Mr. Morrison has held positions as organist and choir director at a variety of churches, predominantly Roman Catholic, Episcopal, and Lutheran, and composed music to meet the needs of the churches where he has served. He has conducted large choral and orchestral works in that context, including J. S. Bach's Cantata 142 and Vivaldi's Gloria.

His musical style shows the influences of plainsong and sacred polyphony. Many harmonies are derived from the vocabularies of neo-modalism and the Romantic Renaissance. Compositional influences include the music of Tallis, Gibbons, Vaughan Williams, Howells, and Duruflé. Textures combine elements of homophonic and imitative technique. Special attention is given to ensure that musical accents agree with textual accents.

His musical output includes anthems, motets, liturgical settings, free hymn-tune accompaniments and descants, plainsong editions, solo songs, and compositions for organ and instruments.

In 1997, Mr. Morrison was certified as a trainer for the Leadership Program for Musicians Serving Small Congregations, a program which provides training for persons charged with meeting the musical needs of smaller congregations. He also serves as a musical consultant to the Order of Julian of Norwich.

James Morrison died on October 11, 2018, in Janesville WI.

CanticaNOVA Publications is pleased to offer several of James Morrison's works in our catalog:

 

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