Joan Szymko Music Distributed by Graphite Publishing

Joan Szymko is widely regarded as an outstanding composer of choral music in America today. With a catalog of over 100 choral works in print, her music is sung regularly at choral festivals and competitions across North America and abroad and for nearly two decades has been heard on stage or in sessions at every National Conference of the American Choral Director’s Association. The ACDA recognized Szymko’s lasting impact on the choral arts in North America by selecting her as a recipient of the prestigious Raymond W. Brock Memorial Commission in 2010. Szymko has composed for professional, church, LGBTQ, children’s and all manner of academic and community choirs. Her 2016 commissioned oratorio, Shadow and Light, a major new addition to the repertoire for chorus and orchestra, shines a compassionate light on the suffering of those journeying through life with Alzheimer’s dementia.

Szymko’s embodied approach to sound, dedication to craft, and insistence on quality texts— all relate to her focus as a conductor and are reflected in her choral compositions. Her settings do not have a readily recognizable, “sound” but consistently display a discerning, insightful marriage of words and music. Her primary intention is to always illuminate and magnify the words she sets.

Joan lives and works in Portland, Oregon in the beautiful Pacific Northwest . She serves as Artistic Director emerita for Aurora Chorus, which she led for 26 years. A dynamic conductor, Joan workshops her music with choirs in a variety of educational and festival settings across the country and abroad.


Music Published by Joan Szymko Music

A Bell Awakened

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 3-5 min.

A Burst of Song (3 movements)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 5-10 min.

A Portal of Hope

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, organ, 3-5 min.

A Winter Ride

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, less than 3 min.

As a Woman

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, a cappella, less than 3 min.

At Such a Dizzy Height

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, 1-2 instruments, piano, 5-10 min.

At the Shore of the World

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, percussion, piano, 3-5 min.

At the Spring Dawn

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, a cappella, 3-5 min.

Be It Therefore Resolved

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, 1-2 instruments, piano

Blessed Be (Szymko)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, piano, 3-5 min.

Blessing (Szymko)

Joan Szymko 2+ voices, tb choir, mixed choir, treble choir, Difficulty : 2, piano, less than 3 min.

Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind (Szymko)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, less than 3 min.

Braided Light

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, 3-5 min.

Call

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, a cappella, percussion, 3-5 min.

Call (SSAA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 4, 3-5 min.

Come Dance and Sing

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 2, piano, 3-5 min.

Coventry Carol (Szymko)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 2, piano

Eagle Rounding Out the Morning

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 5-10 min.

Eli, Eli (SATB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, 1-2 instruments, 3-5 min.

Eli, Eli (SSAA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 4, 1-2 instruments, 3-5 min.

Ffe Mwe, Mwe Ffe (SATB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, percussion, 3-5 min.

Ffe Mwe, Mwe Ffe (SSAA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, percussion, 3-5 min.

Ffe Mwe, Mwe Ffe (TTBB)

Joan Szymko tb choir, Difficulty : 4, percussion, 3-5 min.

Finding Her Here

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, 3-5 min.

Gamaya (Szymko)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 2, 1-2 instruments, piano, 3-5 min.

Go Out In Joy

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 3-5 min.

Herbst

Joan Szmyko mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 3-5 min.

Hymn of Grateful Praise (SATB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 3-5 min.

Hymn of Grateful Praise (SSA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 3-5 min.

I Am

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, chamber ens., piano, 5-10 min.

I Am a Ruby

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, 1-2 instruments, piano, 5-10 min.

Invincible

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 3-5 min.

It Is Happiness (Choral Rehearsal Score)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, chamber ens., 10+ min.

It Is Happiness (Full Score)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, chamber ens., 10+ min.

It Is Happiness (Instrumental Parts)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, chamber ens., 10+ min.

Lifting As We Climb (Choral Score)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, 1-2 instruments, percussion, piano, 10+ min.

Lifting As We Climb (Full Score)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, 1-2 instruments, percussion, piano, 10+ min.

Lifting As We Climb (Parts)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, 1-2 instruments, percussion, piano, 10+ min.

Light Beauty Peace (SATB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, less than 3 min.

Light, Beauty, Peace (SSAA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, less than 3 min.

Listen Closely

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 3-5 min.

Lo Lefached (do not be afraid)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, percussion, 3-5 min.

Look Out (SATB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 5-10 min.

Look Out (SSAA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 5-10 min.

Love Bears All Things

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 2, 1-2 instruments, piano, 3-5 min.

Malala

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, a cappella, 3-5 min.

Myr, Zaraz (SATB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 1, piano, 3-5 min.

Myr, Zaraz (SSAA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 1, piano, 3-5 min.

Nothing But Mud

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, 3-5 min.

Nothing Short of Grace

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 3-5 min.

O Lux Beatissima

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, 3-5 min.

Oración por la Paz

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, a cappella, 3-5 min.

Organize, Agitate, Educate

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 3-5 min.

Our Common Prayer

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 2, piano, less than 3 min.

Quite Regularly Gay

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, less than 3 min.

Reaching Back from Here

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 3-5 min.

Red and Green (SATB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, percussion, piano, 3-5 min.

Red and Green (SSAA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, percussion, piano, 3-5 min.

River (SATB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 3-5 min.

River (SSAA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 3-5 min.

She Who Makes Her Meaning Clear (SATBB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, a cappella, percussion, 3-5 min.

She Who Makes Her Meaning Clear (SSAA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, a cappella, percussion, 3-5 min.

Sioux Prayer (SAB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 2, a cappella, less than 3 min.

Sioux Prayer (SSA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 2, a cappella, less than 3 min.

Stars in Your Bones

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 5-10 min.

Step By Step

Joan Szymko 3-part mixed, Difficulty : 2, a cappella, 3-5 min.

Stille Nacht

arr. Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 1, 1-2 instruments, piano, 3-5 min.

The Freshness (SATB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, 1-2 instruments, piano, 3-5 min.

The Freshness (SSAA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, 1-2 instruments, piano, 3-5 min.

The Gift to Sing

Joan Szymko tb choir, mixed choir, treble choir, Difficulty : 2, piano, 3-5 min.

The Summer Day (SAB)

Joan Szymko 3-part mixed, Difficulty : 3, 1-2 instruments, piano, 3-5 min.

The Summer Day (SSA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, 1-2 instruments, piano, 3-5 min.

There Shall Be Christmas Day (SATB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, a cappella, piano, 3-5 min.

There Shall Be Christmas Day (SSAA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, a cappella, piano, 3-5 min.

This We Know

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, 1-2 instruments, 5-10 min.

Todo o Meu Ser (SATB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, percussion, 3-5 min.

Todo o Meu Ser (SSA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, percussion, 3-5 min.

Until

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 2, a cappella, 3-5 min.

Viriditas

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, 3-5 min.

Water Women

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 5-10 min.

We Are All Bound Up Together (SATB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 2, piano, less than 3 min.

We Are All Bound Up Together (SSA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 2, piano, less than 3 min.

We Are Clay

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 1, 1-2 instruments, piano, less than 3 min.

We Are a Circle

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 2, a cappella, percussion, 3-5 min.

Where is the Door to the Tavern

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, 1-2 instruments, percussion, less than 3 min.

Words (SA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 2, piano, 3-5 min.

Words (SATB)

Joan Szymko mixed choir, Difficulty : 2, piano, 3-5 min.

Words (SSA)

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 2, piano, 3-5 min.

Wynken, Blynken & Nod

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 3, piano

viva sweet love

Joan Szymko treble choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 3-5 min.

1: (Easy) No divisi in voice parts, accompaniment doubles or supports vocal parts, diatonic, symmetrical phrases, textures mostly homophonic, simple rhythms, stepwise voice leading (conjunct), moderate ranges, no extended techniques, and limited sustained singing.

2: (Medium Easy) Limited divisi, voices somewhat independent from accompaniment, some chromatics, phrases may be longer or more fragmented, mostly homophonic, moderate rhythmic complexity, some difficult intervals (disjunct motion), moderate ranges, extended techniques are simple, limited sustained singing.

3. (Medium) Limited divisi, unaccompanied, or with independent accompaniment (voice parts not doubled), many chromatics, phrases of varying lengths, more contrapuntal textures, moderately complex rhythms, some difficult intervals (disjunct motion), moderately difficult/challenging ranges, extended techniques are potentially challenging, and some sustained singing.

4. (Medium Difficult) Abundant divisi, unaccompanied, or accompanying instruments are fully independent from voice parts, many chromatics and/or key changes, long and/or broken phrases, potentially little homophony, complex rhythms, many difficult intervals (disjunct motion), difficult/challenging ranges, potentially difficult extended techniques, and a demand for sustained singing.

5. (Difficult) Adundant divis, unaccompanied, or accompanying instruments are fully independent from voice parts, many chromatics and/or key changes, long and/or broken phrases, potentially little homophony, complex rhythms, extreme ranges, use of challenging or unusual extended vocal techniques, abundant sustained singing.