Stephen Edwards
Michigan native Stephen Edwards' music education began at an early age, with training by his mother, Rosalie Edwards, followed by studies at Interlochen and the University of Michigan music school. Mr. Edwards received a bachelor of music in piano performance from Lawrence University. As a graduate of the Dick Grove School of Music, he was recipient of the "Outstanding Classical Soloist" award sponsored by Downbeat magazine, and winner of the All-American College Orchestra National Talent Search sponsored by Disney World. Mr. Edwards is founder and artistic director of Source in Sync, an independent music library that licenses music to NBC, CBS, ABS, Fox, WB, Paramount, Miramax, and others. A prolific composer, Mr. Edwards has scored more than 60 movies, from comedy to action, martial arts to documentaries.
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CD's For Sale:
| Item: | Price: | Click to Purchase Music: |
| Suite for the America's CD with (Ave Maria Mass) | $15.99 | |
Requiem for my Mother" CD featuring the Continuo Arts Symphonic Chorus and the City of Prague Philharmonic; with Beverly Coulter, Soprano, Kristopher Jean, Tenor, Keith Spencer, Baritone Scheduled release in January 2010 |
$19.99 plus shipping and handling |
Compositions For Sale:
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"Requiem" by: Stephen Edwards
Click Below to Purchase Requiem for My Mother CD!
At the request of conductor Candace Wicke, Stephen Edwards began composing his Requiem Mass upon the death of Pope John Paul II. During this compositional course, both Mr. Edwards’ mother and father were diagnosed with terminal cancer. Rosalie Edwards was able to hear the Pie Jesu before her death and Mr. Edwards dedicated this composition as a “Requiem for My Mother”.
Setting nine of twelve Requiem texts, the Edwards Requiem merges traditional large-scale choral music with the drama and narrative characteristics of film scoring. Throughout the Requiem, musical and compositional contrasts are mirror reflections of the text.
Scored for SATB voices, Children’s Chorus and Orchestra, Edwards explores the wide variety of vocal and instrumental timbres, utilizing each nuance to convey the melodic and textual message. Performer and listener alike are infused with the obvious and deep-seated emotion that inspired this work.
Expressive and programmatic instrumental solos and interludes are paired with choral themes that range in scope from the pestilent and explosive day of wrath to a scored melodic layering within the In Paradisum that yields aleatoric results. Reoccurring rhythmic ostinatos compositionally project forward motion not only within each section but also serve as a unifying factor throughout the Requiem.
Beginning and ending the Requiem with children’s voices, Edwards establishes the Requiem Aeternam theme with simplistic beauty, later referring to it within the structure of the In Paradisum. Also re-occurring as partner to these initial statements of ‘child-like faith’ are movements that do not resolve tonally. This compositional technique is a strong message from Mr. Edwards, indicating that his Requiem is not only a reflection at the end of life, but a celebration and anticipation of the next.
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Purchase Stephen Edwards "Requiem"
| Item: | Price: | Click to Purchase Music: |
| "Requiem" SATB & Treble Voices, Piano /Vocal Score | $4.50 - One copy sent with permission to duplicate total purchased |
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| "Requiem" Full Score | $65.00 | |
| "Requiem" Orchestration | $200.00 | |
| "Agnus Dei" from the Requiem Mass SATB & Treble A capella | $1.25 - One copy sent with permission to duplicate total purchased |
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Requiem for my Mother" CD featuring the Continuo Arts Symphonic Chorus and the City of Prague Philharmonic; with Beverly Coulter, Soprano, Kristopher Jean, Tenor, Keith Spencer, Baritone Scheduled release in January 2010 |
$19.99 plus shipping and handling |
“Revelation: Battle, Peace in Heaven, and Warning on Earth”
Composed specifically to compliment the grace and serenity of Edwards’s Ave Maria Mass , “Revelation” is a gothic reflection of the timeless struggle between good and evil. Referencing the trinity throughout the three-part structure, Edwards utilizes repeated ostinatos, short melodic and rhythmic fragments, which provide much of the compositional infrastructure.
Remaining true to the syntax and structure of a Latin text used infrequently at best, Edwards conveys action and agitation with textual and melodic interplay. Programmatic episodes of recurring ostinatos feature descending stepwise motion to portray the Dragon cast out of Heaven and falling to earth. The battle concludes with the reinsertion of opening ostinatos, triumphantly proclaiming verse 10 and “the power of Christ.”
An instrumental interlude provides the transition to a short lyrical apex. Homophonic chordal voices combine with lyrically rhythmic instrumental phrases to express salvation and strength in the kingdom of God. A quick shift in a “Broadway-esque” style mockingly proclaims “the accuser of our brethren is cast down.”
A short, second section, embodies the peace and tranquility of heaven, ascending performer and listener alike to a celebratory exclamation, rejoicing in freedom from the villain.
The climatic ending acts as a musical warning for all believers to be on the watch, returning the listener to the present time via repeated ostinatos—warning that evil still lives with us every day, and woe to us who have to live with it.
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Purchase Stephen Edwards "Revelation"
| Item: | Price: | Click to Purchase Music: |
| "Revelation" SATB, Piano /Vocal Score | $2.50 - One copy sent with permission to duplicate total purchased |
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| "Revelation" Full Score | $25.00 | |
| "Revelation" Orchestration | $75.00 |
Ave Maria Mass
The Ave Maria Mass was commissioned by Thomas Monaghan and dedicated to the victims of 9-11. Composed for SATB chorus with orchestra and soprano soloists, this traditional Latin Missa Brevis format also includes a Gratias Deo finale and the namesake Ave Maria setting.
Throughout this evocative and moving work, Edwards’s expertise in film scoring is evident. Combining dramatic exuberance, haunting melodies, lush orchestration and rhythmic vitality, Edwards effectively expresses the varied emotions inherent within the individual sections while maintaining the overall continuity of the work.
Adhering to his compositional preponderance for consonant harmony, Edwards uses dissonance purposely yet sparingly. Elongated syllabic writing increases the sense of urgency and pleading within the prayerful and meditative sections, while rhythmic fire is simple in nature and flawless in effect.
Instrumentally, solo winds and brass interweave in gracious melodic pairing with both solo and choral voices. This marriage of varied timbre and line is beautifully effective in evoking the many expressions of this historic text. The deep reflection of the Ave Maria is set apart by the a cappella scoring and harmonic colors, while the Gloria and Gratias Deo are unified by the restated 34 measure Amen.
Click Below for Samples
Purchase Stephen Edwards "Ave Maria Mass"
| Item: | Price: | Click to Purchase Music: |
| "Ave Maria " SATB Soprano & Mezzo Soprano Soloists, Piano /Vocal Score | $4.50 - One copy sent with permission to duplicate total purchased |
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| "Ave Maria " Full Score | $65.00 | |
| "Ave Maria " Orchestration | $200.00 | |
| "Ave Maria" SATB A capella | $ 1.25 - One copy sent with permission to duplicate total purchased |
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| "Ave Maria" Suite for the America's CD | $15.99 |
A Carol Fantasy
Composing "A Carol Fantasy" for the World Premiere in Carnegie Hall onNovember 30th, 2009, Mr. Edwards will add his unique compositional creativity to a new major choral & orchestral work. After ordering, each movement will be sent as completed with copyright permission which allows duplication for the number of copies ordered.
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Purchase Stephen Edwards "A Carol Fantasy"
| Item: | Price: | Click to Purchase Music: |
| "A Carol Fantasy" SATB Soprano & Mezzo Soprano Soloists, Piano /Vocal Score | $4.50 - One copy sent with permission to duplicate total purchased |
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| "A Carol Fantasy" Full Score | $65.00 | |
| "A Carol Fantasy" Orchestration | $200.00 |
