Compositions - Music Drama/Opera, Vocal Solos, Duets & Choral Anthems


Works composed by Gabriella Snyder are available for purchase as sheet music using the order form below. Complete lyrics are given alphabetically after the list of titles.

Music Drama/Opera:

Price: contact composer

Prince of Peace - A Passion Play - music drama in three acts for vocal soloists, SATB chorus and keyboard or orchestra.

Excerpts from this music drama are available individually:

     I. My God, My God, Why Have You Abandoned Me? (text: Psalm 22) - Lenten solo for voice and piano or organ - (high voice: b - g'') (low voice: g# - e")

     II. Mourners Kaddish (text: Hebrew text for soloist, English paraphrase for chorus) - Passion week or funeral service anthem for soprano soloist, SATB chorus and piano or organ - (d' - a'' )

     III. Alleluia! (text: Catherine de Vinck) - Easter season anthem for SATB chorus and piano or organ. Listen: Mourner's Kaddish and Alleluia!

The Rough-Face Girl: An Algonquin Cinderella - music drama in one act for six vocal soloists, female chorus, keyboard, native/orchestral flute and percussion.

Vocal Solos:

Price: $3 each

Ordinary Miracles: Five Lyrics of Faith Davidson Waltman - song cycle for soprano and piano ($12 for complete cycle of five songs or $3 each)
     I.    Meditation on a Cross - (e' - a'')
     II.   Friends With the Night - (c#' - g'')
     III.  Lord of the Dance - (b - a'')
     IV.  Diamonds for Richard - (c' - g'')   
     V.   Flying Girls - (c' - a'')

Come With Me (lyrics by Gabriella Snyder and Warren Rasmussen) - folk-style Christmas carol for voice and piano - (a - g'')


Pied Beauty (text: Gerard Manley Hopkins) - for voice and piano - (low voice: g - e", high voice: c' - a")

The Virgin's Song (text: Medieval English) - for voice and piano - (c' - a flat'')

Vocal Duets:

Price: $3 each

Never More Will the Wind: an Elegy (text by H.D.) - for Sop. I (d#' - a'') and Sop. II (b - f#'')

O Taste and See (text by Denise Levertov) - for Sop. I (d' - a'') and Sop. II (a# -e")

Sacred Choral Anthems published by GIA Publications:

Stars of Glory (Irish folk melody, arranged by Gabriella Snyder) folk-style Christmas carol
for SATB chorus and keyboard
Published by GIA Publications

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Sacred Choral Anthems published by Colla Voce Recording & Publishing:

Price: $1.30 each

As the Deer Longs for the Water (text: Psalm 42:1-2)  SAB chorus and piano or organ

Come With Me (lyrics by Gabriella Snyder and Warren Rasmussen)  folk-style Christmas carol
for SATB chorus and keyboard.  Listen: Come With Me SATB

Easter Fanfare (text adapted from Orthodox liturgy for Easter) SAB and organ

God's Hand To You - A Blessing for the Journey (lyrics by Eleanor Powers and
Gabriella Snyder) 2-part chorus with piano - for use as a benediction, evening service
or memorial service

Psalm 150  2-part chorus, piano and optional percussion

We Bring You Glad Tidings (text based on Luke chapters 1 and 2) - Christmas anthem
for SATB and soprano or tenor solo with organ

Lyrics:
(alphabetical by title of song)

Alleluia!
(from Prince of Peace - A Passion Play) (text: Catherine de Vinck)
Alleluia! The night is over, the winter is past.
A deathless world emerges from the sea of transformation,
rising to the morning light.

Awake! Awake from your ancient fears.
Awake! Fear not, see the empty grave.
Fear not: I am with you 'til the end of the world. Alleluia! 
As the Deer Longs for the Water (text: Psalm 42:1-2)
As the deer longs for the water, so longs my soul for You, oh God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God, for the living God.
When, when, when, when...? When shall I come and appear before You?
As the deer longs for the water, so longs, so longs, so longs my soul for You, oh God.

Come With Me (lyrics copyright 1996 by Gabriella Snyder)
Vs. 1: I heard his mother was alone, very young and afraid.
She heard a voice from heaven above.
She said she'd bear the Son of the Most High,
the Prince of Peace, the messenger of love.
Vs. 2: I heard some shepherds in the night saw fantastic lights,
a cloud of angels with news of great joy.
The angels said the Savior Christ had come,
the King of Kings, born as the poorest boy.
Chorus: Come with me, come with me, come with me my friend;
there must be more about this child than we know.
Bridge: And oh, we travelled, bringing gifts from afar.
I knew I had to find this child, I'd seen His shining star!
Vs. 3: I finally saw Him lying gently in His mother's arms,
and with a feeling of wonder I knelt.
And oh, His eyes, they pierced me to the heart.
I knew the deepest joy I'd ever felt.
Chorus: Come with me...
Bridge: And now I travel, bringing word from afar.
I know I have to tell the world I've felt His loving power,
I've felt His loving power!

Easter Fanfare (text adapted from Orthodox liturgy for Easter)
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death. (3X)
And giving life to those who are in the grave.
Let every spirit praise God, for Christ has given us the victory of the cross,
and has bestowed on us the hope of everlasting life!
Christ is risen, Christ is risen, Christ is risen from the dead
trampling down death by death,
And giving life to those who are in the grave!

God's Hand to You (lyrics by Eleanor Powers and Gabriella Snyder)
Vs. 1: The sun be warm and kind to you,
the darkest night, some star shine through,
the dullest morn a radiance brew,
and when dusk comes, God's hand to you.
Chorus: And when dusk comes, God's hand to you.
Vs. 2: The moon be bright as you're trav'lin' through,
the coldest day strong fire renew,
the driest valley still yield dew,
and when dusk comes, God's hand to you.
Chorus: And when dusk comes, God's hand to you.

Mourner's Kaddish
(from Prince of Peace - A Passion Play) (text: adapted from translation of Jewish Mourner's Kaddish)
Lord, have mercy. May the Lord's great Name be blessed forever.
Blessed, glorified, exalted, uplifted. Lord, have mercy.
My God, My God, Why Have You Abandoned Me?
(from Prince of Peace - A Passion Play) (text: Psalm 22)
My God, my God, my God, my God, why have You abandoned me?
Why are You so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night but find no rest.
Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted,
to You they cried and were saved, in You they trusted, and were not disappointed.
But I am a worm, and no man, scorned by men, and despised by the people.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax; it is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a piece of clay,
and my tongue cleaves to my jaws. You have laid me in the dust of death.
O Lord, O Lord, O Lord, O Lord be not far off.
O Lord, O You my help, come to my aid.
My God, my God, my God.

Never More Will the Wind: An Elegy (lyrics copyright by H.D., with addt'l lyrics by G.S.)
Never more will the wind cherish you again, never more will the rain.
Never more shall we find you bright in the snow and wind.
The snow is melted, the snow is gone, and you are flown.
Like a bird out of our hand, like a light out of our heart, you are gone.
Yet in our hearts and in our thoughts, you live on. You live on.

O Taste and See (lyrics  copyright by Denise Levertov)
O Taste and See
The world is not with us enough.
O taste and see
the subway Bible poster said,
meaning The Lord, meaning
if anything all that lives
to the imagination's tongue,
grief, mercy, language,
tangerine, weather, to
breathe them, bite,
savor, chew, swallow,
transform
into our flesh our
deaths, crossing the street,
plum, quince,
living in the orchard and being
hungry, and plucking
the fruit.

Ordinary Miracles (lyrics copyright 1990 by Faith Davidson Waltman)
I. Meditation on a Cross
(Note: a huge crucifix overlooks a crowded downtown city street)
Cold arms outretched toward colder heaven,
embrace birds, wind, dirty light.
Face stares blankly, passion frozen and forgotten.
Oh Jesus, did you live and how become reduced to this?
Golgotha knows no crueler time, no emptier place
Than this mute witness to our vainglorious race.

II. Friends With the Night
Turn into the pregnant stillness, self set adrift.
Pilgrim in the inner cosmos falling, self set adrift.
Drawn by some strange warmth or maybe brightness.
Tell me again the star story, pretty myth,
while I rock through space.
Lighter than iridescent bubbles
from a child's plastic pipe,
gazed upon by a doting mother.
Make friends with the night.

III. Lord of the Dance
Once more he comes out of darkness, bidden guest,
from nowhere familiar, wearing nothing familiar.
He takes her in his arms.
She's so heavy, so tired, apologetic,
I'm sorry for both'ring you.
I needn't dance, would rather not.
Just let me rest awhile
where the music is heard faintly, that's enough.
Ever wistful spectator,
afraid of falling on the polished floor.
Misty plays for someone else.
Wordlessly he draws her closer to the edge.
I know the storm is bad but can't you get here?
These filthy walls take my breath.
If the request is in by Wednesday,
maybe we can pay you something.
No honey you can't make mommy better.
You have to come with me now.
I know you're scared.
I heard him calling, calling,
come use this good stuff with me.
And I got down on my knees,
Lord help me, like you said. Oh Lord, oh Lord!
An inner silence came over me
and folded me in stillness, and I was safe.
She glances down at the lustrous surface under her feet, and then back into his face.
She is dancing!

IV. Diamonds for Richard
Opulent profusion! 
Choice won't be easy except for this bold silver gray.
More properly called a rock,
first on the path it begs to be found.
Extravagantly it apologizes
for not being there the other day,
meanwhile preening in this day's sun.
This tiny black and brown one, though,
is just as bright, just smaller, rougher.
Less accustomed to easy accolades, quick approval,
a good companion with keys and coins in a pocket
where it readily recalls its special source,
the other best for public ornament, it doesn't mind.
The pink one, quiet but strangely rich
with soft lights in its depth,
gives angles for catching glints of brightness
otherwise not caught by the naked eye.
Meant perhaps for giving to someone else
who needs to know the messages of diamonds.

V. Flying Girls
(Note: upon watching the Olympic gymnast girls)
Tiny bodies borne aloft by bouncing hair,
spin and swoop from perch to perch,
seem airy figments of adult imagination.
Child faces in masks of concentration
burst into winged smiles propelled by joy.
Arms outstretched they carry us on their flight.
Aloft and weightless, suspended briefly above
heavier constraints of sober earthly undertaking,
Childhood magic comes again to lesser mortals,
breaking into joyous thanks for flying girls.

Psalm 150
Praise, Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse. Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Stars of Glory
Vs. 1: Stars of glory shine more brightly, pur- er be the moon- light's beam.
Glide, ye hours and moments lightly, swiftly down Time's deep'ning stream.
Bring the hour that banished sadness, brought redemption down to earth,
when the shepherds heard with gladness tidings of a Saviour's birth.
Vs. 2: See the shepherds quickly rising, hast'ning to the humble stall,
and the newborn Infant prizing as the mighty Lord of all.
Lowly now they bend before Him in His helpless infant state.
Firmly faithful, they adore Him, and His greatness celebrate.
Vs. 3: Hark, the swell of heav'nly voices peals along the vaulted sky.
Angels sing  while earth rejoices, "Glory to our God on high:
Glory in the highest heaven. Peace to humble folk on earth.
Joy to these and bliss is given in the great Redeem- er's birth."

The Virgin's Song (text: Medieval English Anonymous)
Jesu, sweete sone dear, on poorful bed liest thou here, and that me grieveth sore;
For thy cradle is as a bere. Ox and asse be thy fere; Weep I may therefore. Ah!
Jesu, sweete be not wroth, Though I n'ave clout ne cloth Thee on for to fold,
Thee on to folde ne to wrap, For I n'ave clout ne lap; But lay thou thy feet to my pap
And wite thee from the cold.

We Bring You Glad Tidings (text based on Luke chapters 1 and 2)
Chorus: We bring you glad tidings and news of great joy. Born to Mary, Emmanuel comes.
Vs. 1: Mary, praying alone in her room, saw an angel shining by.
He greeted her saying "Your son will be caled the Most High."
Vs. 2: In the town of David on a starry night, Mary bore Jesus, her first born son,
layng Him down in a manger, she found him room where there was none.
Vs. 3: Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, to all people goodwill.
Jesus is born the Redeemer, the prophets and law to fulfill.
Coda: Alleluia!

To Order by Check or Money Order, send payment to:
Gabriella Snyder
P.O. Box 302
Malden, MA 02148

Here's the Order Form to mail in with your Check or Money Order:

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