Purpose of this webpage
Friends,
The intent of this webpage is to introduce people to choral pieces that I have composed, alone or in collaboration with Jaie Tiefenbrunn, and to make the sheet music freely downloadable for not-for-profit activities. Principles that inspire these songs include the inherent worth and dignity of every person, the need for justice, equity and compassion in human relations, acceptance of one another as we are, a free and responsible search for truth and meaning, the right of conscience and the importance of the democratic process, the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all, respect for the interdependent web of all existence, and the need to dismantle racism and other oppressions. As you explore this webpage, I suggest following along with sheet music or lyrics as you listen to audio. If you find songs suitable for a choir in which you are involved, you have my (and Jaie's) permission to use them free-of charge, and to make copies as needed - so long as they are used exclusively for not-for-profit activities (e.g., church services, community and school choirs).
DAVID W. HAAS
CHORAL COMPOSTIONS
Inherent Worth and Dignity
(1st Principle)
sheet music
lyrics
Opening Lyrics
"Inherent worth and dignity,
inherent worth and dignity..."
Practice Tracks
This We Believe
(2nd Principle)
sheet music
lyrics
Opening Lyrics
"Can you tell me what you believe?
Can you help me see what you see?"
Practice Tracks
Please Help Them
(3rd Principle)
sheet music
lyrics
Opening Lyrics
"You can be anything
You can be anything
You can be anything
You can be..."
Amazing Mystery
(4th Principle)
sheet music
lyrics
Opening Lyrics
"Your dreams, are they they the same as mine?
Or is this life just a slow goodbye?...
Vote!
(5th Principle)
sheet music
lyrics
Opening Lyrics
"History's a nasty lesson to learn.
Some folks smile while they watch you burn..."
Reach Out
(6th Principle)
sheet music
lyrics
Opening Lyrics
"Reach out and tell them they are welcome here.
Reach out and tell them they are needed here."
Two Schools
(8th Principle - part 1)
sheet music
lyrics
Opening Lyrics
"When I was a child there
were two schools in my town"
Practice Tracks
These Walls
(8th Principle - part 2)
sheet music
lyrics
Opening Lyrics
"America the possible,
let's make this dream come true."
Connected
(7th Principle)
sheet music
lyrics
Opening Lyrics
"She was the mother of a child of hope,
who was the mother of a child of pain..."
Holy Peace and Silence
sheet music
lyrics
Practice Tracks
Because of You
sheet music
lyrics
Practice Tracks
Opening Lyrics
"Because of you, we are forever changed.
You are in our hearts and in our dreams and in the stories we will tell."
Open Our Eyes
sheet music
lyrics
Opening Lyrics
"We must all do our best to save this world.
We must not fail this test to save this world."
Find the Joy in Everything You Do
(a work in progress)
sheet music
lyrics
Opening Lyrics
"Find the joy in everything you do.
Find the joy in everything you do."
The Joy of Dance
(a work in progress)
sheet music
lyrics
Opening Lyrics
"Sun on our skin, feel her warmth, watch her spin,
find that sunny groove, make our bodies move."
Life in the Cosmos
(a work in progress)
sheet music
lyrics
Opening Lyrics
"Life, life… is not fair.
Life, life… is not kind.
Life, life… does not care
what we need."
Without You
(a work in progress)
sheet music
lyrics
Opening Lyrics
"I can't imagine my life, oh no,
I can't imagine my life without you."