News & Views Friday, January 16, 2026

recommended by Caryn G., Sacred Piano Music Specialist

Curry & Jazz: Piano Hymn Settings with a Blues Touch arr. Craig Curry
In addition to his work in many musical genres, Craig Curry has forged a name for himself as a respected sacred jazz arranger. In “Curry & Jazz,” Craig again returns to the medium of jazz putting his unique touch on a variety of beloved hymns with just the right seasoning of blues, while remaining respectful to the original source material.

Titles include: “Doxology,” “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” “The King of Love My Shepherd Is,” “Be Thou My Vision,” “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” “To God Be the Glory,” and “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Author:
Caryn G. is a graduate of Trinity Lutheran College (Washington state). She has over 24 years of experience working at Stanton’s in both the Piano and Choral departments, specializing in sacred piano music. She is a church pianist/accompanist and has enjoyed being a piano teacher and singing in many choirs over the years. When not working at Stanton’s or at church, she loves spending time with family members and friends, traveling and exploring, watching movies, reading, bike riding and most recently trying to better her culinary knowledge and be a little more artsy by painting rocks and water coloring.

Mark Hayes Hymns for Organ Volume 5 arr. Marvin Gaspard
Mark Hayes’s best-selling series of organ arrangements continues with this volume featuring a diverse selection of hymns. The collection includes both general hymns and pieces often used during specific seasons of the year. As always, Marvin Gaspard has skillfully adapted Hayes’s piano originals into effective and idiomatic organ arrangements that showcase Hayes’s signature style.

Titles include: “Lead On, O King Eternal,” “Hallelujah, What a Savior,” “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna,” “Look, Ye Saints! the Sight Is Glorious,” “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart,” and “Jesus Shall Reign.”

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

recommended by Ken Tilger and Austin Swack, Band Education Specialists

To Sail the Majestic Seas by William Owens, Grade 2.5
Resolute and highly spirited, “To Sail the Majestic Seas” vividly portrays humankind’s valorous endeavors to traverse the world’s great waters. Moments of vigor give way to beauty and serenity before a bold ending portrays the sea at the height of its power and majesty. A seaworthy adventure by William Owens!

Jubilate! by William Owens, Grade 2.5
Quite simply, “Jubilate” is a Latin word meaning rejoice or feel great joy! Like its namesake and definition thereof, the piece overall endeavors to convey feelings of joy and excitement. At the beginning, a joyful mood is quickly established by way of percussion and brass and soon augmented by the woodwinds. As the music progresses, changes in mood, style and volume are easily heard as the piece comes to a rousing conclusion.

Tatonka (Spirit of the Bison) by William Owens, Grade 2
“Tatonka” is a musical depiction of North America’s most formidable land mammal, the bison. The music is quite representative of the beast itself; it is a song of survival. Beginning with trumpet fanfare, the piece quickly settles into a steady “marching” beat. While brief moments of tenderness are heard, boldness and fortitude are at the heart of the piece.

Tirelessly Through the Night… by William Owens, Grade 3
This dramatic, programmatic work depicts the explosion that devastated a Texas community. From the haunting “Foreboding” to the chaotic “Crisis,” and ultimately the hopeful “Aftermath” and “Regenesis,” it delivers a powerful narrative. A profound addition to any serious program.

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Authors:
A former band director, Ken taught grades 5-12 band and music appreciation in both public and parochial schools in Central Ohio, and has been at Stanton’s since 2004. His iPod ranges from jazz and funk to classic and alternative rock, and symphonies. His interests include reading, history, traditional amusement parks, outdoor activities (especially hiking), and watching hockey.

Austin Swack joined the Stanton’s team after a decade of teaching band in Texas public schools, where his ensembles were consistently recognized for superior performance. He is equally at home with beginner and advanced students and has extensive experience programming for ensembles at all ability levels. Additionally, he is a versatile arranger as well as an experienced clinician and adjudicator. In his free time, Austin enjoys running, cycling, and cheering on the Blue Jackets!

recommended by Ken Tilger and Austin Swack, Band Education Specialists

Wings of Wonder by Tyler S. Grant, Grade 2
Hope and joy are at the center of this charming work, inspired by the whimsical behavior of hummingbirds! Beginning with a melody that explodes into a flurry of activity, “Wings of Wonder” by Tyler S. Grant pairs light-hearted moments with powerful declarations. While very approachable, the colorful orchestration gives this piece a uniquely sophisticated sound. Delightful!

Empire by Tyler S. Grant, Grade 0.5
Your beginning band will journey through time to a futuristic empire! “Empire” by Tyler S. Grant brings advanced-sounding concepts to the most accessible levels. Engaging rhythms and memorable melodies will keep every musician appropriately challenged and engaged to the very end. Dramatic! (Also included: Unison Rhythm & Melody Exercises, optional percussion parts, and more!)

Joy of Love and Life by Tyler S. Grant, Grade 4
Add some bluegrass to your next concert with this joyful celebration of love and life! Traditional bluegrass harmonies, paired with colorful orchestrations, will make “Joy of Love and Life” by Tyler S. Grant an instant hit with your students. An optional washboard part creates a unique visual experience that will be memorable for audiences. Simply exhilarating!

In Your Wildest Dreams by Tyler S. Grant, Grade 3
Bring your students’ dreams to life in this explosion of colorful energy! “In Your Wildest Dreams” by Tyler S. Grant sends the message that “any dream is possible.” The themes will be memorable to both students and audiences alike, with plenty of opportunities for everyone to be in the spotlight. Suitable for any occasion and highly inspiring!

Shadow Realm by Tyler S. Grant, Grade 1.5
Step into a world filled with shadows and mystery! Eerie melodies and distant textures in “Shadow Realm” by Tyler S. Grant create a soundscape unique to pieces at this level. Engaging percussion writing, paired with shifting tonal centers, gives everyone a glimpse of this dark, shadowy underworld. Equally appropriate for your fall concert and for contest/festival. Thrilling!

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Authors:
A former band director, Ken taught grades 5-12 band and music appreciation in both public and parochial schools in Central Ohio, and has been at Stanton’s since 2004. His iPod ranges from jazz and funk to classic and alternative rock, and symphonies. His interests include reading, history, traditional amusement parks, outdoor activities (especially hiking), and watching hockey.

Austin Swack joined the Stanton’s team after a decade of teaching band in Texas public schools, where his ensembles were consistently recognized for superior performance. He is equally at home with beginner and advanced students and has extensive experience programming for ensembles at all ability levels. Additionally, he is a versatile arranger as well as an experienced clinician and adjudicator. In his free time, Austin enjoys running, cycling, and cheering on the Blue Jackets!

recommended by Austin Swack, Instrumental Education Specialist

Force of Nature by Brian Balmages, Grade 2
Written to celebrate both the power and beauty of nature, “Force of Nature” juxtaposes intensely rhythmic elements with broad, lyrical lines. Sustained phrases suggest those awe-inspiring locations that can take one’s breath away, yet the rhythmic underscore is a constant reminder of nature’s sheer power. A musical whirlwind by Brian Balmages!

Critical Impact by Brian Balmages, Grade 2
The dual meaning of this title embodies the aggressive, powerful nature of the music while also recognizing the critical impact that arts programs have on students and local communities. The ultimate in performance flexibility, this work by Brian Balmages is performable with traditional full orchestra instrumentation, concert band alone, or band and strings combined!

Sunset Suspended by Brian Balmages, Grade 1.5
This incredibly powerful lyrical work by Brian Balmages draws its DNA from a series of suspended harmonies that constantly flow throughout the ensemble. Designed to expand the artistic norms often associated with younger ensembles, “Sunset Suspended” is equally appropriate for intermediate or advanced orchestras.

Hall of Heroes by Brian Balmages, Grade 0.5
This stunning fanfare by Brian Balmages uses only quarter notes and half notes. All instruments use just five notes (D to A) with the exception of Violin 1, which uses the full D major scale; yet all string crossings involve open strings. Despite its playability, “Hall of Heroes” is powerful, harmonically sophisticated, and highly compelling!

Moonlight Flight by Brian Balmages, Grade 4
The calm, peaceful forest is illuminated only by the soft glow of a full moon and the few stars courageous enough to poke through the cloud cover. A creature has been waiting patiently for this moment to take flight under the cover of darkness. “Moonlight Flight” by Brian Balmages is a breathtaking experience that follows this creature gliding through the skies, sitting still with a watchful eye, or fleeing the sunrise until it is at rest, patiently waiting to take flight once again when darkness returns.

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Authors:
Austin Swack joined the Stanton’s team after a decade of teaching band in Texas public schools, where his ensembles were consistently recognized for superior performance. He is equally at home with beginner and advanced students and has extensive experience programming for ensembles at all ability levels. Additionally, he is a versatile arranger as well as an experienced clinician and adjudicator. In his free time, Austin enjoys running, cycling, and cheering on the Blue Jackets!

recommended by Caryn G., Sacred Piano Music Specialist

What a Beautiful Name: Blended Arrangements of Cherished Hymns and Contemporary Songs arr. Mary McDonald
Mary McDonald’s love of both traditional and contemporary musical styles shines through in this innovative collection. Each arrangement pairs a cherished hymn with a modern worship song, creating unique “mash-ups.” Filled with countless moments of joy and beauty, these settings can be used as preludes, offertories, postludes, or as musical meditations during personal worship at home.

Titles include: “What a Beautiful Name/He Keeps Me Singing,” “The Lord Almighty Reigns/Jesus Shall Reign,” “At the Cross (Love Ran Red)/I Surrender All,” “O Praise the Name (Anastasis)/All Hail the Power,” “Hymn of Heaven/When We All Get to Heaven,” “Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God/Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart,” “Crown Him King of Kings/Rejoice, the Lord Is King,” “I Set My Hope on Jesus (Hymn for a Deconstructing Friend)/The Solid Rock,” and “Goodness of God/God Is So Good.”

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Author:
Caryn G. is a graduate of Trinity Lutheran College (Washington state). She has over 24 years of experience working at Stanton’s in both the Piano and Choral departments, specializing in sacred piano music. She is a church pianist/accompanist and has enjoyed being a piano teacher and singing in many choirs over the years. When not working at Stanton’s or at church, she loves spending time with family members and friends, traveling and exploring, watching movies, reading, bike riding and most recently trying to better her culinary knowledge and be a little more artsy by painting rocks and water coloring.

Earth Symphony by Jake Runestad
“Earth Symphony,” the EMMY® award-winning, ground-breaking choral symphony from composer Jake Runestad and librettist Todd Boss, is a 5-part dramatic monologue from the voice of a post-anthropocene Mother Earth. The work imagines Earth’s hope for humanity, her discovery of its power, her ruination at its hands, her lament at its loss, and her recovery. By anthropomorphizing Earth herself, drawing on the familiar earth-mother trope,

“Earth Symphony” enables entry into our own ecological shame, guilt, responsibility, potential, and redemption, all from a wide-angled, time-telescoped lens, thereby asking our most immediately pressing environmental questions in an entirely new way.

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

SACRED CHORAL READING SESSION
Saturday August 9, 2025
9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Church of the Messiah, 51 N. State Street, Westerville OH 43081
Presented by Mary McDonald
$25.00

Stanton’s is pleased to welcome back Mary McDonald as our clinician for the August Sacred Choral Music reading session. With a career that spans over forty years, her songs appear in the catalogs of every major publisher of church music. More than 1200 compositions through anthems, seasonal musicals and keyboard collections testify to her significant contribution to church music. Her greatest desire is “to give God glory for the songs He has allowed me to compose. He alone, is the true Creator behind my pen.”

In 2011, after serving as sacred music editor for The Lorenz Corporation in Dayton, Ohio for more than twenty years, Mary answered a new call. Now she takes her tremendous passion and love for music making directly to churches as an independent artist. Since then, she has been in constant demand in churches across the nation for composer weekends as well as served as host for many of the top choral music dealer conferences in the United States and Canada.

Your registration for the clinic includes a packet of over 30 new choral anthems that are hand-picked from the hundreds published each year. Please note that there is no pre-registration for this session – all registration will take place on-site beginning at 8:30 a.m. We look forward to seeing you on August 10th for a wonderful morning of singing with one of the nation’s most sought after church music experts.

Contact the Choral Department for more information on the Sacred Choral reading session.

SACRED PIANO READING SESSION
Saturday August 9, 2025
2:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Stanton’s Sheet Music, 330 S. Fourth Street, Columbus OH 43215
Presented by Mary McDonald
$5.00

Join us at Stanton’s Sheet Music for an afternoon of listening to new selections of sacred piano music that will be enjoyable to play in church or at home. Our clinician this year is Mary McDonald.

Contact the Keyboard Department for more information on the Sacred Piano reading session.

recommended by Austin Swack, Instrumental Education Specialist

The Grand Bazaar by Erica Donahoe, Grade 2.5
This twirling Tarantella transports us right to a busy market where beautiful goods, colorful spices, and happy people dance about in joy. A perfect way to start or end a concert, “The Grand Bazaar” is a winner!

Frostbite by Erica Donahoe, Grade 2.5
“Frostbite” by Erica Donahoe captures the icy blasts and chilling wind of a winter storm. This piece uses driving rhythms and repeated sixteenth-note passages to amplify the intensity of the melody. The opening theme returns at the end of the piece in a fugue-like setting that is sure to challenge your students and bring the piece to an exciting finish!

A Wicked Waltz by Erica Donahoe, Grade 3
There is something about this waltz that is just…wicked! From the onset, the tempo and rhythmic pulse will keep musicians and audiences stuck to their seats. Lots of style and technique to hone in this great new work for the advancing string musician.

Across the Plains by Erica Donahoe, Grade 2.5
Feel the wind sweeping across the land beneath a wide open sky. This uplifting theme in G major captures the spirit of adventure as players journey through a melodic and harmonic landscape. Light staccato accompaniments dot the fields like wildflowers as the syncopated melody rises from distant majestic mountains, leading to an exhilarating key change to D major. Take wing and soar with this joyful concert selection.

Dark Magic by Erica Donahoe, Grade 1
“Dark Magic” is the perfect piece for a spooky fall concert. With simple rhythms and finger patterns, your beginning players can feel confident and sound great on this piece. Encourage your students to pay attention to the articulations such as the accents and staccatos to really bring the magic to life!

Winter Winds Waltz by Erica Donahoe, Grade 2.5
Chilly winds, frozen branches and icy streets – this waltz conjures up all the frosty images of winter! Inspired by the Shostakovich Waltz No. 2, students will love the quick tempo and minor key of this piece. Directors will love contrasting legato melodies and spiccato figures, offering valuable lessons to help the orchestra develop a mature and balanced sound.

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Author:
Austin Swack joined the Stanton’s team after a decade of teaching band in Texas public schools, where his ensembles were consistently recognized for superior performance. He is equally at home with beginner and advanced students and has extensive experience programming for ensembles at all ability levels. Additionally, he is a versatile arranger as well as an experienced clinician and adjudicator. In his free time, Austin enjoys running, cycling, and cheering on the Blue Jackets!

The Songs of Pasek and Paul
Celebrate the brilliance of Tony, Grammy, and Academy Award-winning duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul with this brand-new song collection! Featuring 26 selections from 14 musicals including “Dear Evan Hansen,” “The Greatest Showman,” “La La Land,” and more, this book brings together their most beloved and inspiring songs in one essential volume. Each song is beautifully arranged for piano and voice. Whether you’re a budding performer, a shower soprano, or a professional player looking for unforgettable repertoire, these arrangements are perfect for pianists and vocalists.

Titles include: “Audition (The Fools Who Dream)” (from La La Land); “City of Stars” (from La La Land); “For Forever” (from Dear Evan Hansen); “Good Afternoon” (from Spirited); “Like Breathing” (from Edges); “Look for the Light” (from Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building); “A Million Dreams” (from The Greatest Showman); “Never Enough” (from The Greatest Showman); “This Is Me” (from The Greatest Showman); “Waving Through a Window” (from Dear Evan Hansen); “You Will Be Found” (from Dear Evan Hansen); and more.

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

recommended by Jen Sper, School Choral Music Specialist

Choral Repertoire by Women Composers edited by Hilary Apfelstadt
In recent years, the choral profession has become especially mindful of recognizing a broad spectrum of composers, but scholarly materials have not kept pace. In fact, a survey of the available academic writings on choral music reveals a startling lack of information about women composers.

“Choral Repertoire by Women Composers” addresses this gap by highlighting the lives and music of more than 200 women choral composers spanning different time periods and geographic locations. Their choral works – expressive, compelling, and innovative – represent a diversity of styles and are suitable for choirs of varied ages and experience. Nearly 2,000 unique works are listed in this edition.

Though impossible to include every deserving composer and piece, this timely volume covers considerable ground, spotlighting the important contributions women composers have made to choral music throughout history and across the world.

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

About the Author:
Jen Sper is a Choral Music Specialist here at Stanton’s Sheet Music. A native of Cincinnati, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College (now University) Conservatory of Music, and taught 7-12 choir, music theory, class piano, and drama in Southern Ohio before joining the Stanton’s team in 2006. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, Jen can also often be found exploring the exciting restaurant, brewery, and theater scenes in Columbus, wandering through the local metro parks, visiting family around the Great Lakes, or at home with her very friendly cat.

SACRED CHORAL READING SESSION
Saturday August 9, 2025
9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Church of the Messiah, 51 N. State Street, Westerville OH 43081
Presented by Mary McDonald
$25.00

Stanton’s is pleased to welcome back Mary McDonald as our clinician for the August Sacred Choral Music reading session. With a career that spans over forty years, her songs appear in the catalogs of every major publisher of church music. More than 1200 compositions through anthems, seasonal musicals and keyboard collections testify to her significant contribution to church music. Her greatest desire is “to give God glory for the songs He has allowed me to compose. He alone, is the true Creator behind my pen.”

In 2011, after serving as sacred music editor for The Lorenz Corporation in Dayton, Ohio for more than twenty years, Mary answered a new call. Now she takes her tremendous passion and love for music making directly to churches as an independent artist. Since then, she has been in constant demand in churches across the nation for composer weekends as well as served as host for many of the top choral music dealer conferences in the United States and Canada.

Your registration for the clinic includes a packet of over 30 new choral anthems that are hand-picked from the hundreds published each year. Please note that there is no pre-registration for this session – all registration will take place on-site beginning at 8:30 a.m. We look forward to seeing you on August 10th for a wonderful morning of singing with one of the nation’s most sought after church music experts.

Contact the Choral Department for more information on the Sacred Choral reading session.

SACRED PIANO READING SESSION
Saturday August 9, 2025
2:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Stanton’s Sheet Music, 330 S. Fourth Street, Columbus OH 43215
Presented by Mary McDonald
$5.00

Join us at Stanton’s Sheet Music for an afternoon of listening to new selections of sacred piano music that will be enjoyable to play in church or at home. Our clinician this year is Mary McDonald.

Contact the Keyboard Department for more information on the Sacred Piano reading session.

The Summer Portraits by Ludovico Einaudi
Ludovico Einaudi returns with brand new album, “The Summer Portraits.”

“I started to think of my summers, the time when my life was deeply connected with all my senses, where the days felt like months and the months like years, and I was free from morning to night, and every day was a new discovery of life, with nature being a fundamental part of it. We were one with nature.”

“I thought that everyone has their own version of the summer portraits. A beautiful season connected with the best moments of our lives. So I started to make my own paintings with music. This album is dedicated to all our endless summer memories, all our beautiful moments.” – Ludovico Einaudi

This exclusive, official folio presents all 13 pieces from the album in piano solo format. Title include: “Rose Bay,” “Punta Bianca,” “Sequence,” “Pathos,” “To Be Sun,” “Jay,” “In Memory of a Dream,” “In Limine,” “Summer Song,” “Oil on Wood,” “Episode One,” “Maria Callas,” and “Santiago.”

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

A Little Jazz Mass by Bob Chilcott, SAB with piano and optional bass & drum kit
Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, this highly original and effective concert setting of the five-movement Latin Missa brevis embraces a variety of jazz styles. The stylistic piano accompaniment can be played as written or serve as a guide, and bass and drums can join in ad lib, though a notated bass part is also available.

Originally written for SSA treble voices and also available for SATB mixed voices.

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

Kindness: A Chorale and Fugue in the Baroque Tradition by Mark Hayes
If you enjoy singing Baroque music and value the importance of kindness, courage and compassion, this new 30 minute through-composed work by Mark Hayes for chorus, soprano and tenor soloists and orchestra is for you.

Drawing from the writings of ancient and contemporary authors, the original text of “Kindness,” written by Hayes, seeks to answer the question, “How then shall we live, especially in a world that seems so dysfunctional?” The answer: live with kindness, courage and compassion. When we are joined as one in our pursuit of these values, we can make a lasting impact. To quote Margaret Mead, “Never underestimate the ability of a small group of committed individuals to change the world.”

“Kindness” is set in the Baroque tradition and features an original chorale tune with three separate texts, a fugue, both conventional and retrograde, recitative-like sections for the soprano and tenor soloists and extensive instrumental interludes. As a nod to Baroque masters such as Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel, Hayes included passages imitating “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and “Hallelujah Chorus.”

This work is perfect for high school and college choirs as well as community and church choirs. The text is intentionally not sacred, rather universal in its appeal. Imagine how the music and message of this work could join a community together in the pursuit of kindness, courage and compassion. It’s what the world needs.. now.

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!

Jon Batiste: Beethoven Blues
Inspired by the timeless beauty of classical music and the raw emotion of blues, Jon Batiste’s “Beethoven Blues” reimagines tradition with a modern voice. Our new matching songbook features all 11 tracks from the acclaimed solo piano album, with transcriptions approved by the five-time GRAMMY Award® winner himself.

Titles include: “American Symphony Theme,” “Dusklight Movement,” “5th Symphony in Congo Square,” “Für Elise – Batiste,” “Für Elise – Reverie,” “Life of Ludwig,” “Moonlight Sonata Blues,” “Ode to Joyful,” “7th Symphony Elegy,” “Symphony No. 5 Stomp,” and “Waldstein Wobble.”

Shop Stanton’s for all your sheet music needs!