Pardon my mess. The “works” section of my website is currently under construction, as I update it to accomodate all the new things I have written during the pandemic. While the “pretty version” is still being built, feel free to peruse my Complete List of Works by clicking here. This spreadsheet contains information on every piece of music in my catalogue (over 80 works) and is filterable by voicing and difficulty level.
Thank you for your interest in performing my music. If I can ever help you find something for your ensemble, don’t hesitate to email me at braeden.ayres@gmail.com.
Unison/SATB (flexible)
DEVELOPING VOICES
This piece was written to honor the retirement of Julie Moore, who taught at Colleyville Middle School (of which I'm an alumnus) for 29 years. Ms. Moore is a long-time family friend, and I was honored to write this piece to celebrate her career and the gifts she gave to thousands of students. "Thank You for the Music" features a unison refrain and all parts are optional, serving mostly to accomodate changing voices or add additional color. The original performance of the work was taught the day of the premiere, which means "Thank You for the Music" would serve as an accessible end-of-year piece for a choir of any level.
SA
High School/Advanced
Written for Daniel Gutierrez at Reed Academy Middle School, "Do Not Stand at My Grave" is a challenging two-part arrangement that could be a satisfying work for an advanced secondary women's choir, or a welcome addition to a collegiate program. It explores the more joyful side of this often-set text, and the sense of acceptance that comes on the other side of grief.
SATB
Collegiate/Advanced
Edmund Waller's "Go, Lovely Rose" is a standard text in the choral repertory. My setting of the poem focuses on its breathless exuberance, employing extensively polyphony, mixed-meter, and modalism in an attempt at creating a 21-st century madrigal. While it may present a challenge for some, its accessible melodic lines invite each voice to play a part in the courtship.
SSA
High School/Moderate
Written around pop and dance rhythms, "Ollie Ollie (Oxen Free)," written for treble chorus, addresses the many ways we build up walls to protect ourselves, and how ultimately there is power in vulnerability. It also allows the altos a substantial portion of the melody, which they are so rarely afforded.
SATB
High School/Moderate
"Prairie Spring," written for the Ridgeview HS Choir, celebrates youth, nature, and passion. The entire piece takes the form of a blooming flower--opening slowly and introspectively, until at its climax, each voice is singing an individual melodic line they have chosen for themselves. Unfortunately, during the premiere, a high quality recording wasn't obtained, which is why it is available for free--for now!
SATB Divisi
Collegiate/Moderate
Sara Teasdale's poetry is a favorite of choral composers, for good reason. It is evocative and emotionally complex, yet immediately accessible even in a musical setting. A secular choral art song suitable for winter performance, my setting of Teasdale's obscure gem has echoes of Ralph Vaughn-Williams, Jake Runestad, and Gwyneth Walker. While it will require a choir which can capably handle eight parts, I have tried, as always, to make each line accessible and engaging, no matter how thick the texture.
SSA
High School/Moderate
The first piece (and the last one written) for the song cycle ("Nine Haiku of Autumn"), "Nowaki Kana" is written for a high school choral ensemble that is interested in exploring aleatoric music. Musically, it is fairly simple, though the nontraditional structure might appear daunting initially.