Publishers

Mechem’s compositions since 1980 have been published exclusively by G. Schirmer, New York (GS). Before 1980 his principal publishers were:

• (B&H) Boosey & Hawkes
• (CF) Carl Fischer
• (CFP) C. F. Peters
• (ECS) E. C. Schirmer, Boston
• (Nat) National Music Publishers
• (Pre) Theodore Presser

Note: G. Schirmer now publishes some Mechem works originally issued by other publishers. This catalog represents the publishers as of March, 2007.

Operas

• John Brown (GS) 3 acts, 150’. 1980-1990
• King’s Contest, The (GS) 1 act, 26’. 1961-62; rev. 1972 (See under Chorus and Orchestra)
• Newport Rivals, The (GS) 2 acts, 115’. 1998-2002
• Pride and Prejudice, 2 acts, 140’, in preparation. 2004-2007
• Tartuffe (GS) 3 acts, 130’. 1977-1980

Orchestral music

• Haydn’s Return (Pre) (follows the Farewell Symphony), 12’. 1960
• Jayhawk, The: Magic Bird Overture (GS) 8’. 1974
• Symphony No. 1 (B&H) 3 movements, 24’. 1958-59
• Symphony No. 2 (B&H) 4 movements, 32’. 1966; rev. 1968

Chamber music

• Brass Buttons (GS) brass quintet, 20’. 1969
• Divertimento for Fl., Vln., Vla. and Vc. (ECS) 4 mvm., 12’. 1958
• String Quartet No. 1 (CF) 3 movements, 20’. 1962-63
• Suite for 2 Violins (ECS) 5 movements, 9’. 1952-53
• Ten Easy Violin Duets (ECS) studies in meter and rhythm. 16’. 1959
• 1. Elegy
• 2. Song
• 3. Chant
• 4. Motet
• 5. Divertimento
• 6. Canon
• 7. Folk Song
• 8. Folk Dance
• 9. Mirror
• 10. Five Legged Waltz
• Trio for Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon (ECS) 3 movements, 9’. 1955
• Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello (CF) 4 movements, 25‘. 1956-57
• Wedding Madrigal (GS) flute and piano, 5‘. 1992

Piano solo

• Sonata for Piano (ECS), 3 movements, 15‘. 1964-65
• Suite for Piano (ECS), 5 movements, 12’. 1954
• Whims: Fifteen Easy Vignettes (ECS), 20’. 1967
• 1. Country Dance
• 2. Lullaby
• 3. Fanfare
• 4. Impertinence
• 5. Song
• 6. May Dance
• 7. Study on E
• 8. Rondo
• 9. Mirror
• 10. Dialogue
• 11. The Happy Drunken Organ Grinder
• 12. Prelude
• 13. Classical Dance
• 14. Adagietto
• 15. March

Songs (with piano)

• Four Songs for Baritone (ECS) 12’. 1957
• 1. The Green-blooded Fish
• 2. July Rain
• 3. Inferiority Complex
• 4. A Farewell
• Goodbye, Farewell and Adieu: 3 Songs of Parting (GS), Mezzo, 11’ 1969
• 1. Since There’s No Help
• 2. Parting, Without a Sequel
• 3. Let It Be Forgotten
• Lydia’s Romance (GS), duet for sopr. & mezzo (from The Newport Rivals) (May also be sung as soprano solo) 4‘. 1999
• To An Absent Love (GS), Four songs for soprano, 13’. 1993 (Also available with accomp. of clar., hn. & piano; or vln,, cello & piano)
• 1. Dear Husband
• 2. A Farewell
• 3. Fair Robin
• 4. Epilogue (Debts)

Chorus and orchestra

(SATB unless otherwise noted.

For timings of these pieces, see mixed chorus, shorter works)

• 26’ King’s Contest, The: Dramatic Cantata (GS), soli: sop., ten., bar., bass. Chamber ensemble (11 players), or large orch. (May be staged as one-act opera.) 1961-62; rev. 1972
• 14’ Seven Joys of Christmas: A Sequence of Carols (ECS), SSA or SATB. Keyboard or solo harp or a cappella or chamb. orch. 1964;
• 1. This Is The Truth
• 2. Din Don, Merrily on High
• 3. Joseph Dearest
• 4. Patapan
• 5. New Year’s Song
• 6. Fum, Fum, Fum
• 7. God Bless The Master of This House (Quodlibet)
• 25’ Singing Is So Good a Thing: An Elizabethan Recreation (CFP) 1970-71 Solo ten. or sopr. Cham. orch. (min. 13 players) Text: Wm. Byrd. (Includes dances of the period.)
• 1. Praeludium
• 2. Corranto
• 3. Canzonet
• 4. Gigg
• 5. Pastoral and Catch
• 6. Variations on a Popular Tune
• 7. Villanella and Ballet
• 8. Lament
• 9. Ayre (Pavane)
• 10. Dialogue (Galliard)
• 11. Verse Anthem (Ground)
• 12. Postludium
• 34’ Songs of the Slave (GS) Soli: bass-bar., sopr. From opera John Brown. Large or reduced orchestration. 1993; rev.1996
• 1. Blow Ye The Trumpet
• 2. The Songs of The Slave
• 3. Dan-u-el
• 4. Dear Husband
• 5. A Speech by Frederick Douglass
• 6. Declaration
• 15’ Speech to a Crowd (Nat) Bar. solo. Large orch. 1974 Text: Archibald MacLeish. Reduction for 2 pianos (rental)

Mixed chorus, extended works

(SATB unless otherwise noted.

For timings of these pieces, see mixed chorus, shorter works)

• 16’ American Madrigals (CF) fl, cl, bsn, vn, vla, vc, cb or pno.1975
• 1. Kind Miss
• 2. He’s Gone Away
• 3. Kansas Boys
• 4. Adam’s Bride
• 5. New York Girls
• 7’ American Trio (GS) a cappella. 2003
• 1. Fire & Ice
• 2. Richard Cory
• 3. "Sweet Spring Is Your"
• 10’ Birthdays: Round Numbers (GS) pno. 2004
• 1. Bridget at Ten
• 2. Turning Twenty
• 3. Is Thirty Young?
• 4. Forty Notes for Forty Years
• 5. Fiftieth Birthday Card
• 6. Advice on Turning Sixty
• 7. Is Seventy Old?
• 28’ Children of David, The: Five Modern Psalms (B&H) org or pno, mz solo. 1971
• 1. Psalm
• 2. Joy
• 3. The Song of David
• 4. Man of My Own People
• 5. Pied Beauty
• 14’ Choral Variations on American Folk Songs (GS) pno. 1995
• 1. Skip to My Lou
• 2. Let Us Break Bread Together
• 3. Love and Pizen
• 7’ Christmas Past and Christmas Present (GS) pno. 1987
• 1. Christmas Past
• 2. Christmas Present
• 18’ Earth My Song (GS) pno. 1996
• 1. I Could Hear The Least Bird Sing
• 2. Isle of The Dead
• 3. Rebirth
• 12’ Five Centuries of Spring (Pre) a cappella. 1964
• 1. Spring (Nash)
• 2. From You Have I Been Absent
• 3. Laughing Song
• 4. Loveliest of Trees
• 5. Spring (Millay)
• 10’ In The Land of Morgenstern (GS) pno. Text: Engl. & Ger. 1962-63
• 1. The Questionnaire (Die Behörde)
• 2. The Odor Organ (Die Geruchsorgel)
• 3. The Lattice Fence (Der Lattenzaun)
• 9’ Missa Brevis ("Trinity") (GS) a cappella. 2000
• 1. Kyrie/Sanctus
• 2. Hosanna/Benedictus
• 3. Agnus Dei
• 10’ PEACE MOTETS (GS) a cappella. 2002-2005
• 1. By The Rivers of Babylon
• 2. Agnus Dei (Dona Nobis Pacem)
• 14’ Seven Joys of Christmas: A Sequence of Carols (ECS) Keyboard or solo harp or a cappella or chamb. orch. 1964;
• 1. This Is The Truth
• 2. Din Don, Merrily on High
• 3. Joseph Dearest
• 4. Patapan
• 5. New Year’s Song
• 6. Fum, Fum, Fum
• 7. God Bless The Master (Quodlibet)
• 8’ Shepherd & His Love, The (GS) SSATBB, pno., picc., vla.1967
• 33’ Songs of Wisdom: Sacred Cantata (GS), a cappella. Soli: sop., alt., ten., bass. 5 motets preceded by plainsong recitatives. 1958-59
• 1. The Song of Moses
• 2. A Love Song
• 3. The Protest of Job
• 4. A Song of Comfort
• 5. A Song of Praise
• 15’ Suite for Chorus (GS) a cappella. 2004
• 1. Kum Ba Ya (Spiritual)
• 2. Too Young to Marry (Folk-song madrigal)
• 3. They That Mourn (Requiem)
• 4. Papageno and the Prince (Fairy tale)
• 8’ To Music (GS) organ (or pno). Various texts. 1997
• 9’ Three Madrigals (GS) a cappella.1953
• 1. Impromptu
• 2. Deny It As She Will
• 3. Moral Precept
• 14’ Three Motets (GS) a cappella.1993-94
• 1. Gloria
• 2. Alleluia, Amen
• 3. Cantate Domino
• 9’ Tourist Time: Five Satirical Choruses (ECS) pno. 1957
• 1. Tourist Time
• 2. Boston
• 3. Cologne
• 4. Texas
• 5. Rome
• 9’ Two Christmas Ballads (GS) pno. or ampl. gtr. 1969, rev.
  2000
• 1. Christmas Carol (Teasdale)
• 2. The Ballad of Befana (McGinley)
• 10’ Winds of May, The (GS) a cappella.1950-1960
• 1. The Tune
• 2. Let It Be Forgotten
• 3. Over The Roofs
• 4. I Shall Not Care (SSAA)
• 5. Song (Love Me With Your Whole Heart)
• 17’ Winging Wildly (GS) a cappella. 1996
• 1. Birds at Dusk
• 2. The Caged Bird
• 3. Everyone Sang

Mixed chorus, shorter works

(SATB unless otherwise noted. Works not published separately are listed only under the titles of the sets to which they belong. See Extended Works)

• 5’ Adam’s Bride (CF) instr. ens. or pno. (See AMERICAN MADRIGALS)
• 5’ Agnus Dei (GS) a cappella (from PEACE MOTETS)
• 3+' Alleluia, Amen (GS) a cappella (from THREE MOTETS)
• 5½' Blessed Are They (GS) organ, or pno.1998
• 5½' Blow Ye The Trumpet (GS) pno., org. or orch. (from SONGS OF THE SLAVE)
• 5’ By The Rivers of Babylon (GS) a cappella (from PEACE MOTETS)
• 4’ Cantate Domino (GS) a cappella (from THREE MOTETS)
• 7’ Choral Tribute, A (To All Choral Conductors) (GS) pno. 1983
• 5’ Christmas The Morn (GS) a cappella. 1996
• 5’ Dan-u-el (GS) bar. solo, pno. or orch. (from SONGS OF THE SLAVE)
• 5-' Deny It As She Will (GS) a cappella (from THREE MADRIGALS)
• 8’ Forsake Me Not, O Lord (ECS) a cappella. Memorial motet. 1964
• 3½' From You Have I Been Absent (Pre) a capp. (from 5 CENTURIES OF SPRING)
• 4-' Give Thanks Unto The Lord (CFP) a cappella. 1953; rev. 1959
• 3+' Gloria (GS) a cappella (from THREE MOTETS)
• 3+' He’s Gone Away (CF) instr. ens. or pno. (from AMERICAN MADRIGALS)
• 2½' I Will Sing Alleluia (GS) pno., fl., optional perc. 1973
• 1½' Impromptu (GS) a cappella. (from THREE MADRIGALS)
• 7’ Island in Space (GS) a cappella. Text by astronaut & A. MacLeish. 1989
• 4+' Joy (B&H) Mz. solo, org or pno. (from CHILDREN OF DAVID, THE)
• 3’ Kansas Boys (CF) instr. ens. or pno. (see AMERICAN MADRIGALS)
• 2+' Kind Miss (CF) instr. ens. or pno. (see AMERICAN MADRIGALS)
• 2+' Kum Ba Ya (Spiritual) (GS) a cappella (from SUITE FOR CHORUS)
• 6’ Las Americas Unidas (GS) SATB & SA (children), Sopr. solo, 2 tpts., glock., org., cb. Text: Engl. & Span., 1986 Alternate version: sopr. solo, SATB, pno. (SA & glock. optional)
• 3’ Lattice Fence, The (Der Lattenzaun) (GS) pno. (from IN THE LAND OF MORGENSTERN)
• 5’ Laudate: Memorial Motet (GS) a cappella. 1979
• 2’ Laughing Song (Pre) a cappella (from FIVE CENTURIES OF SPRING)
• 4+' Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence: Choral Variations (ECS) a cappella. 1951
• 5½' Let Us Break Bread Together (GS) pno. (from CHOR. VAR. on AMER. FOLK SONGS)
• 4’ Lighthearted Lovers, The (GS) pno. (from TARTUFFE)
• 4’ Love and Pizen (GS) pno. (from CHOR. VAR. on AMER. FOLK SONGS)
• 4’ Love Song, A (GS) SSATBB a cappella (from SONGS OF WISDOM)
• 2+' Loveliest of Trees (Pre) a cappella (from FIVE CENTURIES OF SPRING)
• 4’ Lydia’s Romance (GS) pno. (from THE NEWPORT RIVALS)
• 3’ Make a Joyful Noise Unto The Lord (ECS) a cappella. 1951
• 6½' Man of My Own People (B&H) Mz. solo, org or pno. (from CHILDREN OF DAVID, THE)
• 2+' Moral Precept (GS) a cappella (from THREE MADRIGALS)
• 2+' New York Girls (CF) instr. ens. or pno. (see AMERICAN MADRIGALS)
• 4’ Odor Organ, The (Die Geruchsorgel) (GS) pno. (from IN THE LAND OF MORGENSTERN)
• 4’ Papageno and the Prince (Fairy tale) (GS) a cappella (from SUITE FOR CHORUS)
• 5’ Pied Beauty (B&H) org. or pno. (from CHILDREN OF DAVID, THE)
• 4’ Praise Him, Sun & Moon (Nat) SSATBB, a cappella. 1951, rev. 1971
• 5’ Professor Nontroppo’s Music Dictionary (Pre) a cappella. 1973 Optional pno. accomp. available separately. Text: Ital. music terms.
• 7’ Protest of Job, The (GS) a cappella (from SONGS OF WISDOM)
• 8½' Psalm (B&H) org or pno. (from CHILDREN OF DAVID, THE)
• 4’ Psalm 23 (GS) cello or other bass instr. 1973
• 3½' Questionnaire, The (Die Behörde) (GS) pno. (from IN THE LAND OF MORGENSTERN)
• 5’ Rejoice: An Easter Psalm (GS) a cappella. 1997
• 4’ Rules for Behaviour, 1787 (GS) pno. 1954
• 6’ Shadows of The Moon (CF) pno. 1976
• 4½' Sing All Ye Joyful (GS) pno. 1966; rev. 1991
• 3’ Sing unto the Lord a New Song (GS) dbl. choir: ST/SAB, Tpt. 1964; rev. ‘98
• 6’ Skip to My Lou (GS) pno. (from CHOR. VAR. on AMER. FOLK SONGS)
• 5½' Song of Comfort, A (GS) a cappella (from SONGS OF WISDOM)
• 5’ Song of David, The (B&H) org. or pno. (from CHILDREN OF DAVID, THE)
• 5’ Song of Moses, The (GS) a cappella (from SONGS OF WISDOM)
• 7’ Song of Praise, A (GS) with SATB soli, a cappella (from SONGS OF WISDOM)
• 3’ Spring (Millay) (Pre) a cappella (from FIVE CENTURIES OF SPRING)
• 2’ Spring (Nash) (Pre) a cappella (from FIVE CENTURIES OF SPRING)
• 6’ They That Mourn (Requiem) (GS) a cappella (from SUITE FOR CHORUS)
• 5½' Time: Lines Found on An Old Bell at Chester (GS) a cappella, bar. solo 1996
• 3’ Too Young to Marry (Folk-song madrigal) (GS) a cappella (from SUITE FOR CHORUS)
• 3’ Wedding Gift, A (GS) pno. and vln. (or fl.) 1979
• 4’ Why Art Thou Cast Down? (GS) SAB, pno. or org. 1973
• 7’ World Is Too Much With Us, The (GS) in preparation, a cappella. 2006

Treble chorus

• 16’ American Madrigals (CF) fl, cl, bsn, vn, vla, vc, cb or pno.1975
• 1. Kind Miss 2. He’s Gone Away 3. Kansas Boys
• 4. Adam’s Bride 5. New York Girls
• 8’ Barter (GS) SA, pno. 4-hands, tpt. or oboe. 1994
• 5½' Blow Ye The Trumpet (GS) SSAA, pno., org. or orch. (from SONGS OF THE SLAVE)
• 4’ Lydia’s Romance (GS) SA, pno. (from The Newport Rivals)
  1999
• 7’ Christmas Past and Christmas Present (GS) SA, pno. 1987
• 1. Christmas Past
• 2. Christmas Present
• 5’ Christmas The Morn (GS) SSAA, a cappella. 1996
• 14’ Seven Joys of Christmas: A Sequence of Carols SSA (ECS) Keyboard or solo harp or a cappella or chamb. orch. 1964;
• 1. this is the truth
• 2. din don, merrily on high
• 3. joseph dearest
• 4. patapan
• 5. new year’s song
• 6. fum, fum, fum
• 7. god bless the master (quodlibet)
• 2’ Sigh No More, Ladies (ECS) SSA, pno. 1957
• 4½' Sing All Ye Joyful (GS) SSAA, pno. 1966; rev. 1991
• 9’ Two Christmas Ballads (GS) pno. or ampl. gtr. 1969, rev.
  2000
• 1. Christmas Carol (Teasdale)
• 2. The Ballad of Befana (McGinley)
• 16’ Winged Joy, The: A Love Story by Women Poets (GS) pno.
  1963-64
• 1. Love Is a Terrible Thing (SSAA)
• 2. The Message (SSA & Mz. solo)
• 3. The Cynic (SA)
• 4. A Farewell (unison)
• 5. Love Came Back at Fall o’Dew (SA)
• 6. Red May (SSA & Mz. solo)
• 7. You Say There Is No Love (SSAA)

Men’s chorus

• 9’ American Folk Songs FOR MEN’S CHORUS (GS), TTBB, pno. 1954
• 1. Aunt Rhody
• 2. The Wayfaring Stranger
• 3. The Blue-tail Fly: Bar. solo
• 5½' Blow Ye The Trumpet (GS) TTBB, pno., org. or orch. (from SONGS OF THE SLAVE)
• 8’ English Girls (B&H) TBB, pno. 1971
• 1. Jenny Kissed Me
• 2. Julia’s Voice
• 3. To Celia
• 6’ Shadows of The Moon (CF) TBB, pno. 1976
• 3’ Spirit of ’76, The (GS) TBB, picc. & parade drum optional. 1976

Unison chorus

• 3’ It Is Good to Give Thanks (GS) pno. 1973
• 3’ Farewell, A (GS) (from The Winged Joy), pno.

Rounds, catches and canons

• 10’ Birthdays: Round Numbers (GS) pno. 2004
• 1. Bridget at Ten
• 2. Turning Twenty
• 3. Is Thirty Young?
• 4. Forty Notes for Forty Years
• 5. Fiftieth Birthday Card
• 6. Advice on Turning Sixty
• 7. Is Seventy Old?
• 9’ Canon Law for Newlyweds (ECS) a cappella. A Sequence of 3-6 part rounds and canons, from Proverbs. 1965
• 1. Hear Ye, Children
• 2. Whoso Findeth a Wife
• 3. A Merry Heart Doeth Good
• 4. Who Can Find a Virtuous Woman?
• 5. Who Hath Woe?
• 6. Love Covereth All Sins
• 30+' Catch 22 (and 21 Other Catches & Canons) (GS) 2-9 parts, equal voices. Optional piano, 1966-1983
• 1. The Question
• 2. Birthday Card
• 3. Housewarming
• 4. Housecooling
• 5. Catch as Cats Can
• 6. Blessed Be Thou
• 7. Hirtengesang
• 8. Old Age
• 9. Old Jokes
• 10. Two Friendship Canons
• 11. Music Is an Elegant Art
• 12. Good and Evil
• 13. Ode to a Choir Director
• 14. Humpty Dumpty
• 15. Lament (Little Willy)
• 16. Five Parts Wine
• 17. The Donkey
• 18. Goodbye, Dolly!
• 19. Handy Pandy
• 20. The Woodchuck
• 21 Forty Notes for Forty Years
• 22. Catch 22
• 28+' Epigrams and Epitaphs (ECS) 2-8-parts, equal voices, a cappella. 1951-63
• 1. The Fiddler’s Wife
• 2. Why Not?
• 3. Hannah Bantry
• 4. Puddin’ Tame
• 5. Advice to Young Ladies
• 6. Agnus Dei
• 7. Since It Is Raining
• 8. Benedictus
• 9. Epitaph
• 10. Always Be Sincere
• 11. Introduction to Vienna
• 12. Who Comes Here?
• 13. An Old Lady of Tring
• 14. Leg over Leg
• 15. Epitaph
• 16. How to Write a Catch
• 17. Says I to Myself
• 18. Deedle Deedle Dumpling
• 19. A Tutor Who Tooted a Flute
• 20. Kyrie
• 21. A Farmer Went Riding.
• 3’ Lament for a Choral Director (Nat) Double catch for 3 equal men’s & 3 equal women’s voices, tpt, vc and/or other instr. 1951-63

(Contribution by Kirke Mechem <kirke@kirkemechem.com>.)