J. Bruce Ashton
1941
-
J. Bruce Ashton, a composer,
pianist, and violist, was professor of music at Southern Adventist University
from 1968 to 2006, a record tenure in the music department at SAU. A professor emeritus
at SAU, Ashton is a published composer and frequent performer.
Born in central Ohio and
growing up in a very musical family, Bruce developed pianistic and accompanying
skills at an early age. Following graduation from Mount Vernon Academy in Ohio in
1958, he attended Capital University, where he completed a B.Mus. in 1963. He
then completed an M.Mus. at American Conservatory of
Music in Chicago in 1964, and a D.M.A. at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
in 1971. All of his degrees were in piano performance. An honors graduate at CU
and ACM, he also studied composition in each degree program. Teachers included
Stella Roberts and T. Scott Huston.
Ashton played many of the
standard piano concerti with SAU's orchestra, most recently performing Rachmaninoff's
Concerto No. 3. He is a frequent recitalist and is in constant demand as an
accompanist for concerts and recitals by local artists, colleagues, and
students.
Ashton writes music
characterized by strong and effective voice-leading that creates a convincing
aural impact. His music has been described as warm and compelling, lyrical,
harmonically interesting, and above all accessible. Most of his composing and
arranging has been for specific events, often for unusual combinations of
instruments, and most often for religious services. Most recently, he wrote the
theme song, Proclaim His Grace, for the 2010 General Conference Session
in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ashton began his teaching
career at Walla Walla College in 1964. From the start he was a gifted teacher
and performer, giving numerous recitals. Following four years at WWC, he
accepted the position at SAU, where he taught piano, composition, church music,
and theory.
ds/2010
Sources:
Winter/Spring 2006 IAMA Notes, 20; Wayne H. Hooper and Edward E. White, Companion
to the Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, 1988, Review and Herald Publishing
Association, 408; Dan Shultz, A Great Tradition, Music at Walla Walla
College, 1892-1992, 142; Other online sources;
personal knowledge.
Persons interested in contacting Ashton for more information about his music or for commissioning a work may reach him at: J. Bruce Ashton, Box 498, Collegedale, TN 37315 (423)396-2742 jashton@southern.edu
Music by Bruce Ashton
Brass
Brass
Quintet
"Salvation is Created" [Tschesnokoff] arr.(1998)
Score and parts $6.00
Three
Trumpets
Twelve Brief Fanfares
$5.00
Woodwinds
Flute,
Oboe and Bassoon
Six Hymn Arrangements for Woodwind Trio (1999-2000)
"My Jesus, As Thou Wilt"
"My Jesus, I Love Thee"
"Rejoice, the Lord is King"
"Alleluia! Sing to Jesus"
"I Sing the Mighty Power of God"
"O Thou in Whose Presence"
Parts $11.00
For
Two Flutes, with piano/harpsichord
Five Traditional Noels (1988)
"Ding Dong! Merrily on High"
"Quittez, Pasteurs"
"Noel Nouvelet"
"Quelle est Cette Odeur Agreable?"
"Il est ne le Divin Enfant"
Christmas carols, arranged for 2 flutes or flute and oboe, with piano or harpsichord accompaniment. Also available for flute and clarinet.
Publisher: ALRY Publications P.O. Box 36542 Charlotte, NC 28236 http://members.aol.com/alrypbl $20.00
Woodwind
Quintet
O Rest in the Lord (Mendelssohn) arr.(1985)
Parts $4.00
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing(Nettleton) arr.(1985)
Parts $4.00
God's Time is the Best Time (Bach) arr.(1986)
Parts $3.50
Strings
Two
Violins and Piano
Aria No. 1 (1988)
Aria No. 2 (1996)
Alternate flute or clarinet substitute for second violin available
Publisher:Maestronet, [downloadable scores:chamber music, intermediate $3.00 each] http://maestronet.com
String
Quartet
Legend No. 1 (1989)
Legend No. 2 (1993)
Publisher: Maestronet, [downloadable scores: chamber music, intermediate. $3.00 each] http://maestronet.com
Mixed
Instrumental Groups
Clarinet
and Strings
Pastorale #2 for Clarinet and String Quintet (2 Vc.)
Parts $5.00
Flute
and Violin Duo Unaccompanied
[Written for an professional duo, delightful but challenging]
Eight Hymns for Flute and Violin [unaccompanied]
"And Can It Be"
"The Lord's My Shepherd"
"Oh, When Shall I See Jesus"
"What Wondrous Love"
"Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds"
"God, Who Made the Earth and Heaven"
"Be Thou My Vision"
"Come All Christians"
$10.00
Viola
and Clarinet Duo Unaccompanied
[These pieces were
written for a professional duo and are delightful but challenging]
Six Hymns for Viola and Clarinet in A
"Dear Lord and Father of Mankind"
"The Lord's My Shepherd"
"God, Who Made the Earth and Heaven"
"Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds"
"And Can It Be"
"Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy"
$8.00
Five Hymns for Viola and Clarinet in Bb
"O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go"
"Alleluia1 Sing to Jesus"
"O Perfect Love"
"God is Our Song"
"The Lord's My Shepherd"
$7.00
Five More Hymns for Viola and Clarinet in Bb
"O When Shall I See Jesus"
"My Shepherd Will Supply My Need"
"Be Thou My Vision"
"Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy"
"Come, We That Love the Lord"
$7.00
Six Christmas Carols for Viola and Clarinet in Bb
"Silent Night"
"Of the Father's love Begotten"
"Children's Song of the Nativity"
"Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming"
"What Child is This?"
"Come to Bethlehem"
$8.00
Five Baroque Movements for Viola and Clarinet in A/Bb
Bach:"God's Time is the Best Time" (A)
Handel: Violin Sonata I (A)
Handel: Violin Sonata IV (A)
Vivaldi: Largo from Winter (Bb)
Vivaldi: Aria--Andante from Concerto, Op. 11, No. 3 (Bb)
$7.00
Four Stephen Foster Melodies for Viola and Clarinet in A/Bb
"Beautiful Dreamer" (A)
"Ah! May the Red Rose Live Alway!" (A)
"Gwine to Run All Night"(Bb)
"Jeanie with theLight Brown Hair" (Bb)
$6.00
Percussion
Six preludes for solo mallet percussion
1. "Brisk and brash" in C Major (xylophone)
2. "With somber tread" in a minor (marimba)
3. "Lively" in G Major (glockenspiel)
4. "With resignation" in e minor (marimba)
5. "In joyful celebration" in D Major (vibraharp/ tubular bells)
6. "Wildly" in b minor (glockenspiel/xylophone)
$6.00
Piano
Concert
Hymn Arrangements for Piano (advanced)
Four Hymn Preludes (1990-1996)
"Be Still, My Soul"
"God is Our Song" [Old 124th]
"Rejoice Ye Pure in Heart"
"Dear Lord and Father of Mankind"
$15.00
Easy
Arrangements for Piano
"Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord" (1978) Free
Five Chorale Preludes (1981,1988)
"How Lovely Shines the Morning Star"
"Now All the Woods are Sleeping" [Innsbruck]
"Praise God the Lord, Ye Sons of Men"
"Whate'er My God Ordains is Right"
"Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Prince of Love"
$8.00
Four Appalachian Hymn Tune Settings (1988)
"Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy" [Beach Spring]
"Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive" [Detroit]
"Awake, Awake to Love and Work" [Morning Song]
"Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus" [Pleading Saviour]
$5.00
Choir
SA with Handbells or Hand chimes
"Go Worship at Emmanuel's Feet" (1996) $1.25
"My Shepherd Will Supply My Need" (1996)$1.25
SA with Piano
"One Family" (1995) $1.25
"Be Thou My Vision" [also available SATB] (1995) $1.60
Unison Choir with Piano or Organ
"By Christ Redeemed" (1985) $1.20
Two-part Mixed Choir: Women/Men
"Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown" (1995) $1.25
SATB with Piano or Organ
"The Church has Waited Long" (1986) $1.20
"Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken" [full orchestration available] (1984)$1.60
"Love Divine" [full orchestration available] (1987) $1.60
"Be Thou My Vision" [full orchestration available] (1995) $1.60
SA and SATB with Piano
"All People That on Earth Do Dwell" [includes solos] (1988) $1.60
SATB with Brass Quartet
"Blessed Be the Lord": An Introit (1977) $1.50
SATB with Guitar
"The Adoration" [Christmas] (1997) $1.50
"Shepherds in Search of the Lamb of God" (1999) $1.50
SATB a capella
"O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go [all parts divisi] (1995) $1.60
Three Responses in E Major (2000) $1.20
SSAA a capella
Six Responses: Two Introits, Two Calls to Prayer, Two Benedictions (2000) $1.50
"O Thou in Whose Presence My Soul Takes Delight" (1999) $1.50
TTBB a capella
Six Responses: Two Introits, Two Calls to Prayer, Two Benedictions (2000) $1.50
[This set is entirely different from the SSAA set]
Congregational Service Music
Gloria Patri (1992) Free
Doxology (1996) Free
Voice
"I Will Arise and Go to Jesus" [Duet for two mezzo-sopranos and piano] (1969) $2.00
"I Will Extol Thee, O God" [Soprano and tenor duet, with piano] (1970) Free