Joshua Shank

Joshua Shank (b. 1980) has been commissioned by organizations such as the Lorelei Ensemble, the Choral Project, the American Choral Directors Association, and the Association for Music in International Schools. From 2004-2014, he served as Composers-In-Residence for the Minneapolis-based professional choir, The Singers, where he collaborated annually to expand and invigorate the repertoire for professional-caliber ensembles through innovative programming as well as new works written specifically for the ensemble. In 2002, he became the youngest recipient ever of the Raymond W. Brock Composition Award from the American Choral Directors Association. A native of Minnesota, his music was recently featured in a documentary about the extensive choral tradition in the upper Midwest, Never Stop Singing, and his published works have sold over 150,000 copies worldwide.

Joshua received his undergraduate degree in Music Education from Luther College where he studied conducting with Weston Noble. He has also earned master’s and doctoral degrees in Musicology and Composition from the University of Texas at Austin where he studied with Donald Grantham and the late opera composer Daniel Catán. A fierce advocate for students’ access to music education, he served as a public-school teacher in Minneapolis/St. Paul for many years before going on to teach at Gonzaga University, Valley City State University, and Eastern Washington University. When he’s not writing music, you can probably find him biking, studying vegetarian cooking, or watching hilariously bad movies.

Learn more at www.joshuashank.com


Compositions by Joshua Shank

1. Ma Bohème

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, less than 3 min.

2. Baquet de vin

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, less than 3 min.

3. Pitiè de moi

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, less than 3 min.

4. Les table et les deux verres

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 3-5 min., less than 3 min.

5. Chanson de Mariage

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 3-5 min.

A Christmas Carol

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 5-10 min.

A Christmas Carol (String Orchestra Version: Choral Score)

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, large ensemble, 5-10 min.

A Christmas Carol (String Orchestra Version: Full Score and Parts)

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, large ensemble, 5-10 min.

A Grass-Green Pillow

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 5, a cappella, less than 3 min.

Blue! 'Tis the Life of Heaven

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, 3-5 min.

Chansons de la Vigne (cycle)

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, piano, 10+ min.

Color Madrigals (cycle)

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 5, a cappella, 10+ min.

Daughter Ecstatic

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, 5-10 min.

He Was Singing

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 5, piano, 10+ min.

In Magna Symphonia

Joshua Shank treble choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, 5-10 min.

Meditation (Whatever Happens)

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 2, piano, less than 3 min.

Orange-Mounts of More Soft Ascent

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 5, a cappella, less than 3 min.

Primavera en silencio

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 10+ min.

Purple-Stainèd Mouth

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, less than 3 min.

Rest In Power

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, 5-10 min.

Saro

Joshua Shank treble choir, Difficulty : 4, 1-2 instruments, 5-10 min.

Serpents in Red Roses Hissing from (Color Madrigals)

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 5, a cappella, 3-5 min.

Services of Snow (cycle)

Joshua Shank high voice, Difficulty : 3, piano, 10+ min.

Sie nicht mehr gehen würde, sondern fliegen

Joshua Shank treble choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 3-5 min.

Songs for Seven Days (cycle)

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, 10+ min.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 3-5 min.

The Footsteps of the Gardener

Joshua Shank 3-part mixed, Difficulty : 2, piano, less than 3 min.

The House of the Rising Sun

Joshua Shank tb choir, Difficulty : 2, piano, 3-5 min.

This is why we sing

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, 5-10 min.

Trois Meditations

Joshua Shank high voice, Difficulty : 3, piano, 10+ min.

Wanderer's Nightsong

Joshua Shank high voice, Difficulty : 2, piano, less than 3 min.

We are the Song

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 5-10 min.

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, 1-2 instruments, 5-10 min.

Yellow Brooms and Cold Mushrooms

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, a cappella, less than 3 min.

Your children (are not your children) (Choral Score)

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 5-10 min.

Your children (are not your children) (Full Score)

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 5-10 min.

Your children (are not your children) (Piano Score)

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 5-10 min.

alleluia (from quarantine) - SATB & piano

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 5-10 min.

alleluia (from quarantine) - SATB double choir

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 5, a cappella, 5-10 min.

love.song

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 5, a cappella, 5-10 min.

me(n)

Joshua Shank tb choir, Difficulty : 3, piano, 3-5 min.

peace

Joshua Shank tb choir, Difficulty : 4, piano, 5-10 min.

rules to live by

Joshua Shank mixed choir, Difficulty : 5, a cappella, 5-10 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.