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Jesse Ayers (1951-     )

Jesse Ayers, composerBorn in Knoxville, Tennessee, Jesse Ayers began composing around age 14. At 16, he was offered the opportunity to conduct the University of Tennessee Symphonic Band in one of his compositions at the invitation of W. J. Julian. Ayers earned the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Composition from the University of Tennessee and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Composition from the University of Kentucky. He has studied with David Van Vactor, John Anthony Lennon, Joseph Baber, Guy Bachman, and Allen Johnson. His music has been performed in Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Russia, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, and over 95 U.S. cities, and has twice had his music selected by the International Society of Contemporary Music to represent the United States at the prestigious World Music Days festival (Slovenia 2003 and Warsaw 1992). His more important works explore the interaction between the spiritual and natural worlds and the redemptive intervention of God in the affairs of the human race. Dr. Ayers has been awarded the Individual Creativity Excellence Award from the Ohio Arts Council as well as 16 awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), grants from Meet the Composer and the American Music Center, and Malone University's Distinguished Faculty Award. He has been a guest composer on university campuses in California, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, and Tennessee. Ayers is currently a senior professor at Malone University in Canton, Ohio.

COMPOSITIONS                                                           Ayers Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
The Seventh Seal, chorus (1974, rev. 2003)
Susanna and the Elders, clarinet quartet, percussionist, soprano, dancers and storyteller (1977)
Susanna's Lament, soprano and clarinet quartet (1977) [from Susanna and the Elders]
The Dancing King, tuba and prerecorded accompaniment (1988)
Piano Man, piano (1990)
Dance of the Mountain Raindrops, piano and string orchestra (1991)
Prayers of Anguish, voice and piano (1991) [Deep Waters; We Hung Our Harps; I Waited; My Soul Thrists]
Come Sing God's Song, voice and piano (1993)
...and they gathered on Mount Carmel, band (1995)
    - I. The Incantations of the Prophets of Baal
    - II. The Prayer of Elijah, solo euphonium or solo horn and orchestra or band
    - III. The Fire of the Living God
The Prayer of Elijah, euphonium and wind band or orchestra (1995)
Fanfare for Christmas Morning, orchestra or band or brass ensemble or brass and organ (1995)
Veni Emmanuel, orchestra or band w/opt chorus (1997)
Veni Emmanuel, choir or multiple choirs w/opt orchestra and/or band (1997)
Rachel Weeping for Her Children: September 11, 2001, orchestra or wind symphony (2001)
Waldstein Express, piano 4-hands/2 pianos 4- or 8-hands/8 pianos 16-hands (2002)
Caribbean Fantasy on Joy to the World, steel drum band, guitar/cello and bass (2003)
Hymns We All Knew (2004)
    - Softly and Tenderly, chorus and piano
    - There Is A Fountain/Are You Washed/Nothing But the Blood, chorus
    - When I Survey The Wondrous Cross, chorus
    - Amazing Gospel Grace, chorus and piano
Jericho, narrator and orchestra or band (2005)
Arise, My Soul, Arise, chorus and piano w/opt organ, brass quintet and percussion (2007)
The Magical, Mystical Rain Forest, band or brass ensemble and prerecorded accompaniment track (2007 revision)
Rahab, mezzo-soprano (in costume) and orchestra or symphonic winds (2010)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                           Ayers Links     ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Susanna and the Elders, clarinet quartet, percussionist, soprano, dancers and storyteller (1977)

Orchestra
...and they gathered on Mount Carmel, orchestra or band (1995)
    - I. The Incantations of the Prophets of Baal
    - II. The Prayer of Elijah, solo euphonium or solo horn and orchestra or band
    - III. The Fire of the Living God
Fanfare for Christmas Morning, orchestra or band or brass ensemble or brass and organ (1995)
Veni Emmanuel, orchestra or band w/opt chorus (1997)
Rachel Weeping for Her Children: September 11, 2001, orchestra or wind symphony (2001)
Jericho, narrator and orchestra or band (2005)

Band
...and they gathered on Mount Carmel, orchestra or band (1995)
    - I. The Incantations of the Prophets of Baal
    - II. The Prayer of Elijah, solo euphonium or solo horn and orchestra or band
    - III. The Fire of the Living God
Fanfare for Christmas Morning, orchestra or band or brass ensemble or brass and organ (1995)
Veni Emmanuel, orchestra or band w/opt chorus (1997)
Rachel Weeping for Her Children: September 11, 2001, orchestra or wind symphony (2001)
Jericho, narrator and orchestra or band (2005)
Rahab, mezzo soprano (in costume) and orchestra or symphonic winds (2010)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Dance of the Mountain Raindrops, piano and string orchestra (1991)
The Prayer of Elijah, euphonium and orchestra or wind band (1995)

Chorus w/Orchestra
Veni Emmanuel, choir or multiple choirs w/opt orchestra and/or band (1997)

Choral
The Seventh Seal, chorus (1974, rev. 2003)
Hymns We All Knew (2004)
    - Softly and Tenderly, chorus and piano
    - There Is A Fountain/Are You Washed/Nothing But the Blood, chorus
    - When I Survey The Wondrous Cross, chorus
    - Amazing Gospel Grace, chorus and piano
Arise, My Soul, Arise, chorus and piano w/opt organ, brass quintet and percussion (2007)

Chamber
Susanna's Lament, soprano and clarinet quartet (1977) [from Susanna and the Elders]
Caribbean Fantasy on Joy to the World, steel drum band, guitar/cello and bass (2003)
The Magical, Mystical Rain Forest, band or brass ensemble and prerecorded accompaniment track (2007 revision)

Solo Instrument
The Dancing King, tuba and prerecorded accompaniment (1988)

Piano
Piano Man, piano (1990)
Waldstein Express, piano 4-hands/2 pianos 4- or 8-hands/8 pianos 16-hands (2002)

Vocal
Prayers of Anguish, voice and piano (1991) [Deep Waters; We Hung Our Harps; I Waited; My Soul Thrists]
Come Sing God's Song, voice and piano (1993)
Rahab, mezzo-soprano (in costume) and orchestra or symphonic winds (2010)


AYERS  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~
Composer's website

Ayers @ Answers.com
Ayers @ CFAMC    also     here
Ayers @ Fear of a Blank Planet
Ayers @ Malone University
Ayers @ Mau Mau Music
Ayers @ MySpaceMusic
Ayers @ OrchestraList
Ayers @ Society of Composers
Ayers @ SoundClick
Ayers @ The Wind Repertory Project
Ayers @ ZoomInfo

Streaming Audio
composer's website

Recordings
Ayers @ CD Baby

Ayers @ YouTube
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