"This is an excellent and authoritative book -- one that will no doubt become the standard biography of Richard Rodgers". -- Allen Forte, Yale University

Richard Rodgers, a musical genius whose Broadway career spanned six successful decades, composed more than a thousand songs for the American stage. Although he reaped wealth, success, and recognition that included two shared Pulitzer Prizes, Rodgers found happiness elusive. In this first comprehensive biography of Rodgers, William G. Hyland tells the full story of the complex man and his incomparable music.

Hyland's portrait of Rodgers (1902-79) begins with his childhood in an affluent Jewish family living in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. During college years at Columbia University and early work on the amateur circuit and Broadway, Rodgers entered into a historic collaboration with the lyricist Lorenz Hart. The team produced a dozen popular shows and such enduring songs as "The Lady Is a Tramp". Rodgers' next partnership, with Oscar Hammerstein II, led to the creation of the musical play, a new and distinctively American art form. Beginning with Oklahoma in 1943, this pair dominated Broadway for almost twenty years with a string of hits that remain beloved favorites: Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music. When Hammerstein died in 1960, Rodgers began a new phase in his career, writing the lyrics to his own music, then joining lyricists Stephen Sondheim, Sheldon Harnick, and Martin Charnin. Despite periods of depression, excessive drinking, hypochondria, and devastating illness at different points in his life, Rodgers' outpouring of music seemed little affected, and he continued to compose untilhis death at age seventy-seven. An icon of the musical theater, Rodgers left a legacy of timeless songs that audiences return to hear over and again.

for SATB and piano This lively and upbeat anthem sets a text by the composer based on a passage from Thessalonians. The opening and closing sections feature a catchy melody and recurring syncopated figure in the piano, enclosing a more subdued middle section. Simply yet effectively scored and highly accessible in style, this anthem makes a dynamic addition to a service or concert.

for solo voice, SATB (with divisions), flute, and piano John Rutter's timeless arrangement of Skylark, a standard of the golden age of American song, is rich, mellow, and mellifluous. Soaring lines for flute depict the eponymous songbird, and the classic Hoagy Carmichael tune is shared between solo voice and choir, the latter also often providing a cushion of evocative harmonies.

for SATB and piano For this appealing arrangement, Howard Helvey has created the perfect marriage of text and melody. The popular hymn tune 'Ash Grove' is paired with a beautiful text by Sarah Doudney that is rich in imagery. The sparkling piano accompaniment provides the perfect backdrop to the sensitively arranged vocal parts and reflects the joyful and optimistic character of the text.

for SATB and organ or piano How excellent is an upbeat and celebratory work setting the composer's own paraphrase of Psalm 8. It features exciting and declamatory opening and closing sections with a contrastingly calm and legato central section, evoking this well-known scriptural text. The accompaniment should ideally be played on organ, but piano may be used if necessary.

for SATB and piano This is a peaceful and expressive setting of Oliver Cooke's hymn 'I Know a Fount', a musical reminder that by God's love and sacrifice our sins are washed away. The rich, homophonic choral writing and simple, rippling piano accompaniment give space for the text to be fully heard and embraced by the listener.

for SATB and organ or piano Opening out from a lyrical exchange between unison lower and upper voices, As the bridegroom to his chosen is based around a John Tauler poem rich in metaphorical language that reflects on the protagonist's relationship with the Lord. Contrasting textures and eminently singable melodies make this a musically rewarding yet accessible anthem.

for soprano solo, SATB, with organ and unaccompanied This short collection presents the complete set of meditations from Chilcott's stunning St John Passion. Setting English poems from the 13th to the early 17th centuries, the meditations provide a very personal reflection on the dramatic story of the passion - at times anguished, adoring, and humbling. The beautiful soprano solo soars over the SATB voices and organ accompaniment in 'Christ, my Beloved' and 'Jesus, my Leman', while the unaccompanied choir take centre stage for 'Miserere, my Maker' and 'Away vain world'.

for SATBarBarB unaccompanied Chilcott's arrangement of the popular American folksong Shenandoah is atmospheric and expressive, with the traditional melody moving seamlessly between voice parts and resting on a cushion of rich harmonies. Shenandoah has been recorded by The King's Singers on the album GOLD (Signum, SIGCD500).

for SATB unaccompanied Following a collaboration with Katie Melua on her 2016 album 'In Winter', Bob Chilcott has made a choral arrangement of this traditional Ukrainian carol, first introduced to the English-speaking world as 'Carol of the Bells', with lyrics that link it to Christmas. Here the original is presented in Ukrainian and English, with haunting and atmospheric folk motifs distributed between the parts.

for alto solo, SATB (with divisions), and guitar Following a collaboration with Katie Melua on her 2016 album 'In Winter', on which she worked with the Gori Women's Choir from her native Georgia), Bob Chilcott has created ans evocative and stirring arrangement of Rachmaninov's celebrated fifth movement of the Vespers (or 'All-Night Vigil'), which may be performed in Russian or in English.

for SATB, violin, and piano A Prophecy of Dawn is an artfully crafted setting of a beautifully descriptive poem by Matthew Meiklejohn, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in the Second Boer War. The piece is rich in contrasting material, some of which recapitulates, and many of the text's images are apparent in the music, for example lively birdsong in the violin and a radiant shift into a major key at the poet's first mention of dawn. The violin part contributes much to the setting, and is permitted moments of virtuosity amidst the energetic piano writing and expansive choral textures.

for SATB double choir unaccompanied This optimistic and affirmatory anthem sets a useful service text of general thanksgiving from the Book of Common Prayer. Chilcott makes full use of the imitation and antiphonal effects that these forces enable, while keeping the vocal lines and part-writing well within the capabilities of most church choirs.

This delicate, spring-like poem, by poet Kevin Crossley-Holland, is an affectionate salutation to a newborn babe. The poet tells that the parents couldn't decide on a name for their baby, and that instead of imposing an inappropriate name on her, they will welcome her into the garden of the world and wait for her to 'declare' herself. After a hushed introduction of whispered welcomes, the voices burst into a dance-like song in celebration of the new arrival's homecoming.

for SATB double choir and organ or orchestra or brass ensemble This renowned anthem was written for the coronation of Edward VII in 1902, and has been performed at all subsequent British coronations. This edition presents the 1911 version prepared by the composer for the coronation of George V, with the 'Vivats' as written for that occasion and an alternative editorial text by John Rutter that enables the anthem to be performed in its complete form on any suitable occasion. Rutter's fascinating editorial preface provides interesting contextual notes and informative performance considerations. Orchestral scores and instrumental parts for full and reduced orchestrations and for a version for brass, organ, and optional timpani are available on rental.

for children's choir (SS) and piano These charming settings of riddles by Bob Chilcott's long-term collaborator Charles Bennett were originally published as part of the environmental cantata The Angry Planet. Simple, yet highly effective, each has a subject taken from nature. Here rescored for two-part children's choir (SS) and piano, they may be performed individually or as a set.

for unison upper voices, solo violin, and organ or piano Bednall's beautiful setting of this much-loved prayer is warm, simple, and immediate. The vocal line is expertly lyrical and the accompaniment suitably supporting, with a serene line for solo violin that soars above the texture. Ave Maria was recorded by Benenden Chapel Choir, conducted by Edward Whiting, Jennifer Pike (violin), and David Bednall (organ) on the CD 'Stabat Mater' (Regent, REGCD481).

for SATB and organ/piano with optional congregation Paul Drayton's setting of three stanzas from Laurence Binyon's poem 'For the Fallen' is poignant, dignified, and atmospheric. A serene and expressive refrain for unison voices (which the congregation may join in if desired) is interposed between evocatively turbulent passages for SATB choir. The accompaniment should ideally be played on the organ, but may be performed on the piano if organ is not available.

These four splendid anthems were composed for the coronation of George II in October 1727 and have since retained a position at the heart of the English choral tradition. The popular anthem Zadok the priest has been performed at all subsequent coronations, and Handel's other contributions to the royal occasion - Let thy hand be strengthened, The King shall rejoice, and My heart is inditing - have the same majestic grandeur, with affecting contrasts between different sections of the sacred texts. The editor, Clifford Bartlett, has corrected various inconsistencies in Handel's score, and complete details of sources and editorial method, additional performance notes, and a critical commentary can be viewed in the companion full score available on hire. This continuo part is also available as part of the wind set.

for SATB unaccompanied This gentle anthem is built around a warm, hymn-like refrain, which gives way first to a free-flowing and expressive section and then to a more sombre section. With a Latin text from Ruth 1, this affecting piece with highly-expressive harmony will serve well for weddings, services, and concerts.

for SATB (with divisions) and piano The Music of Stillness is a beautiful and emotive setting of Sara Teasdale's poem 'There Will Be Rest'. Sonorously scored choral phrases conjure up images of 'stars shining, rooftops covered with snow, crystal peace...finding the music of stillness'. Following a serene opening, the piece rises and falls through both affecting climaxes and passages of great tranquility, ending with the same sense of stillness with which it begins.

for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied This piece sets a poem by Amy Lowell, vividly conveying the effect of the wind through a moving tapestry of eighth notes/quavers intertwined between the different voices. The melody floats over this breeze-like ostinato, sometimes effervescent, sometimes reposed. The piece concludes much like it begins, with a sense of calm and restfulness towards the nocturnal journey.

for SA/SATB and organ with optional percussion This is a jaunty and original setting of the popular carol 'Rejoice and be merry', flexibly scored so that the tenor and bass parts are optional. It has been recorded by Tenebrae (conducted by Nigel Short) on the album A Very English Christmas (SIGCD902).