Brian Jones
Educator/Composer/Singer
Compositions
As a composer, Brian's music spans from advanced/professional choral music, to repertoire that is both versatile and accessible to young and emerging choirs. He has written music for middle school, high school, collegiate, community, and professional choirs. He gains his inspiration from poetry, nature, and both the beauty and struggle that comes from an ever-changing world.
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His compositions cover both the sacred and secular, and many of his pieces have been arranged in multiple voicings to accommodate your choir. All of Brian Jones' music can be found on JWPepper.com or through the links below.
James Weldon Johnson's text about the joy of singing is given an energetic treatment in this work for more advanced choirs. Rhythmic ostinati contrast with flowing lyrical lines to paint the text. "But, oh, I have a magic way to turn the gloom to cheerful day – I softly sing."
Honor to the Hills is a new take on a 19th century American melody. It's simplistic structure, haunting melody, yet beautifully inspiring text on the oneness of God and nature makes for a piece that your choirs will love as well as be able to grasp easily.
Breathing new life into this traditional Christmas carol, Brian Jones' arrangement of "I Saw Three Ships" contains energetic motives, mixed meter, soaring melodic moments, dramatic layering, and even some other carols hidden in the piano accompaniment (Good Kings Wenceslas and Ding Dong Merrily on High). All in all, a beautiful reinvigoration of a classic Christmas tune.
"Strong in will, to strive, to seek, to find, not to yield." Tennyson's text from Ulysses shimmers with strength and elegant beauty in this a cappella setting for mixed choirs. Cluster harmonies and layered lines build to a high point and then release to a quiet and purposeful ending. It's a lovely and inspiring choice for more advanced choirs.
This rhythmic and upbeat tune is surprisingly simple; something that can be easily grasped for emerging choirs, yet incredibly catchy and and fun for both middle school and high school choirs. The voicing is versatile, and can be adjusted to best fit your ensemble. The ultimate goal of this piece is for your ensemble to be successful, and have a lot of fun in the process.​
This new take on the traditional Christmas Carol incorporates the timeless melody with new and intriguing harmonies. It instills in the listener a renewed love for this carol, and for the Christmas season.
"Lovely Chance" expresses gratitude for serendipitous events that maintain personal well-being and happiness. The tone is encouraging and reflective, with a sense of wonder at the transformative power of unexpected opportunities. This piece is very accessible for high school choirs and up, and perhaps for middle school choirs with low voices, while it can easily be sung as SAT or SAB, and every voice part sings the melody at some point. Commissioned for Judith Podell and the Hebron Community Chorus, under the direction of Andrey Stolyarov, in celebration of their fifth season.
Commissioned for the 2024 Connecticut ACDA Fall Conference, this upbeat, easy to learn piece takes us through a journey from self doubt to empowerment. Sung in an energetic, gospel style, the message of the piece reminds us that we all can work to create the reality we dream of. "Make Peace Happen" is very accessible to middle school/high school choirs, and very fun to sing! It's a great message to close out a concert. "Look around, and you'll see that you can be a hero, and make your dreams reality."
This is a choral arrangement of the traditional Irish folksong, which is perfect as a concert closer, for graduation, or for simply wishing others well on their journey. "Good night and joy be to you all!"
With words and music by Brian Jones, this joy filled piece is a wonderful way to welcome in the budding season of spring. No matter the occasion, this very singable piece will make you feel overjoyed that spring is finally here.
With music and lyrics by Brian Jones, this piece gives you the feeling of walking outside in winter. The peaceful, almost eerie sense of silence that you feel when snow is falling. With text painting, musical imagery, and choir sound effects, this piece will definitely put you in the spirit of "winter's peaceful beauty".