A Magnet's Ways | J. Reese Norris | MusicSpoke

J. Reese Norris (b. 1973) is in his second year as Director of Choral Activities at Northwest Mississippi Community College, after 23 years at Hernando Middle School, and is co-founder and co-artistic director of The MidSouth Music Institute, Inc., both in Northwest Mississippi. Mr. Norris received degrees from Delta State University and Florida State University.

Norris was the recipient of MMEA’s Music Educator of the Year, the Ernestine Ferrell Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Mississippi Chapter of ACDA, the Delta State University Music Alumnus of the Year and Educator of the Year Award. Norris has served in several leadership capacities for state-level NAfME and ACDA, and at the division level for ACDA.

Choirs under his direction have been selected to perform at Carnegie Hall, at the National Conference for Middle School Choirs, for the Alabama ACDA Summer Conference, three times for the Mississippi ACDA State Conference, twice for the ACDA Southern Division Conference, at the OAKE National Conference and at the ACDA National Conference. Norris has been honored to serve as guest clinician across the U.S.

As a composer, Norris has been commissioned by children, middle school, high school, university, church, and adult community choirs. Norris’ compositions have been performed in all-state choirs, at ACDA Conferences, in Carnegie Hall and across the globe. His compositions and arrangements are published by Santa Barbara, Lawson Gould, Colla Voce, G. Schirmer, and MusicSpoke.

A MAGNET'S WAYS

God's mercy moves our mouths to praise, Draws dark to light, a magnet's ways, Illuminates the night within The Son our sun destroying sin.

The blazing heart we orbit round Steadfast beats in silent sound So faithfully that we forget His blood runs through us all, and yet

We think our lights more brightly shine

As if the moon had turned divine And burns and heaves the universe

A wink, a nod, a blessing, curse.

But a sea of moons with upturned face Floating in the waves of space Could not dim the fiery orb

Or break its pull upon the shore.

The center of our solar sea Radiates heat constantly. What poor pale rock at edge of spin Could ever hope a contest win?

The true moon knows its source of light Rejoices without giving fight. It basks in all its borrowed glow Content to be earth's second show.

So too, our souls reflect His light, Mirrors magnifying sight, Holding love and light within Reaching for the hearts of men

PerformanceNotes:

In the absence of a suitable soloist, or if there is need to reduce the overall length of the work, one or more of the sections indicated "solo" may be omitted. A Magnet's Ways may begin at the anacrusis of bar eleven, on the unison, unaccompanied D.

This score is not licensed for performance. Please visit MusicSpoke.com to purchase performance copies.

Work diligently to clarify the sixteenth note triplets that appear in multiple voices. These passages should be very precise and light, a humble ornamentation.

The presence of the sustained drones pattern, found in the opening choral passage and in the recapitulation at the end, should be merely sensed. Although it adds flavor to the overall harmonic fabric, it should never draw attention to itself.

Give your pianist a raise.

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