BRETT ALLEN

The solo settings of Brett Allen follow in the tradition of Classical Art Song, a style akin to chamber music where soloist and accompanist are more or less equal partners in delivering the message. Mr. Allen’s elegant compositions possess a unique harmonic language and lyricism stemming from his work as a symphonic violist.

Brett Allen’s style is highly accessible and has the timeless quality associated with all things classic.

Brett Allen is the featured composer in this quarter's "Solo Thoughts Spotlight".
Receive a free sheet music download from Brett Allen when you purchase the entire Solo Thoughts 4th quarter.

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SHEET MUSIC BY THIS COMPOSER

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Sheet Music in the Category: BUNDLE

Crumbs of Comfort - Vocal Solos, Vol. I	Buy Sheet Music More Details View Lyrics Listen to Sample
	New Song Collection Bundle! Purchase Complete Bundle Here or Click Here to Buy Each Title Separately Christ My Refuge The Lords Prayer Communion Hymn Feed My Sheep The Mothers Evening Prayer Satisfied Psalm 8 - Organ Psalm 8 - Piano Psalm 8 is available in both organ and piano arrangements. The piano version is included as a bonus!

Sheet Music in the Category: VOCAL SOLOS

Christmas Morn	Buy Sheet Music More Details View Lyrics Listen to Sample
	Mary Baker Eddys Christmas Morn presents the true and definitive idea of Christmas and is her pure and unadulterated gift to the world. Here it is, united with melody and harmony both soulful and indeed, “so far above.”
Love	Buy Sheet Music More Details View Lyrics Listen to Sample
	Brett Allen completes his cycle of Mary Baker Eddy’s major poems with this lively setting of her poem, Love. Part prayer, part lesson, part exhortation, Mrs Eddy’s words inspire us to be true to this most fundamental yet least understood Christian concept. Allen couples a flowing, sustained melody with an energetic accompaniment. The opening emerges as if from night into day, the closing set to the tone of prayer.
Christ My Refuge	Buy Sheet Music More Details View Lyrics Listen to Sample
	A tender and heartfelt rendering of Mary Baker Eddy’s immortal sentiment, “My prayer, some daily good to do To Thine for Thee…” This setting follows the unique progression of the text from prayerful expectation to the overflowing cup wherein one has no other desire than to bless others
Communion Hymn	Buy Sheet Music More Details View Lyrics Listen to Sample
	A rousing rendition of Mary Baker’s Eddy’s poem of hope and salvation, “Mourner, it calls you, --‘Come to my bosom, Love wipes your tears all away.” This setting incorporates a fragment of the tune “Faith” by G. O’Conner- Morris (#301 in the CS Hymnal), uniting the old with the new in a fascinating way.
Feed My Sheep	Buy Sheet Music More Details View Lyrics Listen to Sample
	Mary Baker Eddy’s classic exposition on Jesus’ words to Peter, “Feed my sheep,” set to a simple, childlike melody. At first the composer resisted bringing out this setting due to the simplistic, pentatonic nature the melody. As it turns out, it is his most popular setting!
Psalm 8	Buy Sheet Music More Details View Lyrics Listen to Sample
	Brett Allen’s setting of Psalm 8 is a journey from uncertainty and doubt to a soaring affirmation of man’s God-given dominion over all the earth. As the music progresses, listeners have the sensation of discovering - as if for the first time - their God-given dominion over all. Audio recorded at First Church of Christ, Scientist, Columbus, OH. Performed by Susan Millard-Schwarz, Mezzo Soprano and Bruce Gilmore, Organ
Satisfied	Buy Sheet Music More Details View Lyrics Listen to Sample
	Mary Baker Eddy’s comforting declaration of liberty from every form of adversity, affirmed in strongly accented tones, “Our God is good…And God is All.” At the words, “The centuries break…” tempo and meter shift into high gear, and the song ends with a joyous coda on the words, “Is satisfied.”
The Lord's Prayer	Buy Sheet Music More Details View Lyrics Listen to Sample
	This is a genuine and fervently prayerful rendition of our Master’s foundational teaching. It lies within a narrow vocal range making it an everyman setting, singable by any man, woman or child. As such it makes for a refreshing alternative to the all-too-popular Mallotte version. Music conceived by the composer at age 18 on a tedious early morning ride into NYC on the NJ Turnpike.
The Mother's Evening Prayer	Buy Sheet Music More Details View Lyrics Listen to Sample
	For the purpose of expressing Mary Baker Eddy’s reassuring words of safety under God’s care, composer Brett Allen employs an original hymn tune, “Sourland,” expressive of home and peace and rest. The Sourland Mountains region of central NJ is where Allen grew up and where his family history has deep roots.

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BIOGRAPHY

Brett Lensley Allen has had a long career as a symphony orchestra musician and is currently Assistant Principal Viola of the Columbus (OH) Symphony Orchestra. Born and raised in central New Jersey, what Allen refers to as “the civilized part of the state,” Allen started playing violin at age 8.

Allen has a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin from Boston University, where he minored in composition, and an Artist’s Diploma in Viola from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Asked why he switched from violin to viola, Allen comments, “I think it’s the composer in me. I find it more interesting to be part of the inner workings of a piece of music rather than playing melody all the time.”

As a member of the elite USAF Strolling Strings in the early 1980’s, Allen entertained at the White House, State Department and Chief of Staff residences and toured worldwide. He has held front desk positions with the Sacramento Symphony, the Hamilton Philharmonic (Ont.) and has subbed with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, and is a current sub for the National Symphony.

Allen is a published composer. His compositions and arrangements can be found in the catalogs of Oxford University Press and Bèrben of Italy. He and his wife are certified foster parents for the state of Ohio.

QUOTES

“Your Lord’s Prayer moved me to tears.” – Fellow church member

“I love performing your solos. They are pleasantly challenging and highly rewarding in the end.” – Church soloist.

"Brett, your composition...let's just say I thought I was in the Austrian Alps, I could smell the mountain air...that second 'Shepherd' the unexpected one, and truth? I teared up! It was beautiful. You are so so gifted."