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
Music as a path toward deeper understanding, relationship, and action
Friends,
The purpose of this webpage is to introduce folks 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. The webpage is designed to make it easy to listen to each song while following along with scores or lyrics online. 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. If you choose to explore this webpage, I suggest following along with sheet music or lyrics while listening to audio. If you find songs that your would like your choir to perform, 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).
About Me
In 1975, I went to Indiana University planning to become a high school music teacher. While there my plans changed. I ultimately became a physician-scientist at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Fast forward three decades. In 2005, I joined the choir at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville, in which I still sing bass. Fast forward one more decade. In late 2017, I started drafting what would become my first ever choral composition, "Inherent Worth and Dignity." Over the next four years our Director of Music Ministries, Jaie Tiefenbrunn, was extremely giving of her time and talents at choral composition, arranging and conducting to help make this and many songs that followed immensely better. Jaie also provided mentoring on choral composition. Of note, I intentionally include my middle initial "W" to avoid being confused with a different David Haas, who composes contemporary Catholic liturgical music. By coincidence, we were both born in 1957.
The Conscious Collective
For songs co-written with Jaie Tiefenbrunn, you may also find some of these online under the artist name, "The Conscious Collective."