Kira Rugen Compositions
SSAA and TTBB
Kira Rugen's Compositions can be found on Fred Bock Gentry Series (JW Pepper), MusicSpoke, Sheet Music Direct and Sheet Music Plus. There are several other scores which are currently unpublished. If you are looking for something, please send me an email and will gladly help you out!
SSAA, Drum - Optional Piano
This carol depicts the tragic biblical story of Herod’s search for baby Jesus and the young children whose lives were taken by soldiers during that search. This arrangement by Kira Rugen portrays the story through symbolism, such as the incessant drum representing the path of soldiers and the lively rhythms symbolizing the innocent and playful children who are unaware of their part in this sad story. This SSA version can be sung unaccompanied, or with hand drum and optional piano. The interwoven rhythmic melodies and fresh harmony are exciting to perform, and this piece is an audience favorite.
TTBB, Unaccompanied
Originally written for the Arizona State University Men's choir, this TTBB arrangement of 'Gaudete' has been performed by the Phoenix Chorale, Solis Camerata, and the Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix. This version is a vivacious and robust version of the carol, for male chorus.
In 1582, a collection of sacred and secular songs and chants from around northern Europe was published in Finland/Sweden. The full name, Piae Cantiones Ecclesiasticae et Scholasticae Veterum Episcoporum (Devout Ecclesiastical and School Songs of the Old Bishops), is known in short as Piæ Cantiones. This collection includes seventy-four Latin songs from Scandinavia and Central Europe, intended for instruction in Finnish Cathedral schools. Carols could be on any subject, but often they exhibited themes about the Virgin Mary or the Saints of Christmas. "Gaudete" follows a standard pattern of that period: Four-line stanzas, each preceded by two-line refrain. The original polyphony displayed a three-voiced setting drawing upon one principle of improvisation known as fauxbourdon.
SSAA, Piano, Optional Bass
Commissioned for the WACDA conference performance by Arizona composer Kira Zeeman Rugen, "I Live for Joy" was performed by Ad Astra - Chandler Children's Chorus, directed by Aimee Stewart. As said by the group of their new favorite piece: "The more we sing it, the more nuance we find in the music and lyrics, which were written by Dr. Rugen during the pandemic about her family, friends, and experiences. Reflecting on pain and tragedy, yet choosing joy and finding rebirth is the message we want to share. Fresh, thought-provoking, and endlessly appealing, we've chosen to end our set with joy!"
*This piece originally comes from an album by Kira Zeeman Rugen called Sanctuary. Each piece on the album sets the listener on a journey from darkness into light.
SSA, Piano
Commissioned by Ad Astra from the Chandler Children's Chorus - Directed by Aimee Palmer Stewart, Collaborative pianist, Dr. Andrew Campbell.
This song is about empowering girls and women. It acknowledges the challenges we have faced in our culture and in history. However, the text and music insist that we persevere and continue to dance, dream, fly, and swirl into the stars. It’s a loving and happy fly off the page piece of music. The Latin portion of the text, originally by Italian philosopher Seneca, translates to “ through difficulty, to the stars.” It can be purchased on MusicSpoke
SSAA, Guitar
Based on Aurora's acoustic version of her Platinum-award-winning song "Runaway," this SSAA with acoustic guitar arrangement is suited nicely for featuring soloists while having a full complement of women's voices supporting the melody with dreamlike harmony. The tender melody, initially written by Aurora at the age of 11, talks about the universal desire to explore and escape into the world but that there are fears associated with that bravery. However, the softest and safest place to land is always at home, "where I belong.".