James Biery is an American organist, composer and conductor who is Minister of Music at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church (Presbyterian) in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan

Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan

Grosse Pointe Farms is a suburban city bordering Detroit located in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It ranks as the 76th highest-income city in America. The population was 9,479 at the 2010 census. It is bordered by Grosse Pointe on the west, Detroit on the north, Grosse Pointe Woods...

, where he directs the choirs, plays the 66-rank Klais organ and oversees the music program of the church. Prior to this appointment Biery was music director for Cathedrals in St. Paul, Minnesota and Hartford, Connecticut.

Education

Biery was educated at Northwestern University

Northwestern University

Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....

, where he earned Bachelor

Bachelor of Music

Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...

 and Master of Music

Master of Music

The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...

 degrees in Organ Performance as a student of Grigg Fountain and Wolgang Rubsam. Mr. Biery also holds the Choirmaster and Fellowship Certificates of the AGO.

Awards

Since 2006 James Biery has been awarded the ASCAP Plus award annually for his compositions. In 1986, he was the prize-winner for the highest score on the FAGO exam administered by the American Guild of Organists

American Guild of Organists

The American Guild of Organists, or AGO, is a national organization of academic, church, and concert organists in the U.S., headquartered in The Interchurch Center in New York City. It was founded in 1896 as both an educational and service organization...

. The winner of several organ competitions, he was named Second Prize Winner in the 1980 AGO National Open Competition in Organ Playing.

Works

His organ and choral compositions are published by MorningStar Music Publishers, Concordia

Concordia Publishing House

Concordia Publishing House , founded in 1869, is the official publishing arm of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Headquartered in St Louis, Missouri at 3558 S. Jefferson St. Louis, MO, CPH publishes the Synod's official magazine, The Lutheran Witness and the Synod's hymnals, including...

, Augsburg Fortress

Augsburg Fortress

Augsburg Fortress is the official publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and also publishes for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada as Augsburg Fortress Canada...

, GIA, Oregon Catholic Press

Oregon Catholic Press

OCP is an American liturgical publisher based in Portland, Oregon. The not-for-profit company publishes liturgical music, books, choral collections, hymnals, missals, and support materials for the Catholic Church...

, and Boosey & Hawkes

Boosey & Hawkes

Boosey & Hawkes is a British music publisher purported to be the largest specialist classical music publisher in the world. Until 2003, it was also a major manufacturer of brass, string and wind musical instruments....

. He has recorded for AFKA and Naxos

Naxos Records

Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...

.

Mr. Biery developed his compositional skills from two disciplines: years of study of the organ and its literature and intense scrutiny of the orchestral scores of numerous composer

Composer

A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...

s whose music he transcribed for organ duet and organ solo

Solo (music)

In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...

. As an organist, Biery has distinguished himself by performing much of the repertoire of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. His facility at the organ combined with his demonstrated ability to perform and study a vast amount of literature has given Biery a firm basis upon which to compose for the instrument.

Choral

• ^ Part of the St. Louis Cathedral
  Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
  The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, also known as the Saint Louis Cathedral or the New Cathedral, was completed in 1914 in St. Louis, Missouri, as the archdiocesan replacement for the Cathedral of St. Louis, King of France...
  
   choral series

  Song title	Voicing	Description
  At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing	SATB SATB In music, SATB is an initialism for soprano, alto, tenor, bass, defining the voices required by a chorus or choir to perform a particular musical work...	This exciting setting of the Salzburg tune is highly effective for either Epiphany, Easter Easter Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday... , or Communion Eucharist The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance... . Biery dramatically mixes reverent moments of a cappella A cappella A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...  singing with moments of powerful organ. The choir also introduces a descant-like Biery tune in stanza three which is coupled with jubilant brass. A page for the congregation is included in the choral score.
  Break Forth in Joyous Song	SATB (Optional Children's Choir, Congregation, Trumpet Trumpet The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air... , and Keyboard Keyboard instrument A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... )	This is a joyful hymn Hymn A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...  by James and Marilyn Biery to the familiar tune Marion. It is suitable for any service or interfaith service that can include a hymn of praise.
  Choral Sentences for Holy Week and Easter	SATB a cappella/Solo or Unison Unison In music, the word unison can be applied in more than one way. In general terms, it may refer to two notes sounding the same pitch, often but not always at the same time; or to the same musical voice being sounded by several voices or instruments together, either at the same pitch or at a distance... /SATB and Organ	This is a medley of four "choral pictures" suitable as introits or short anthems. Palm Sunday Palm Sunday Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four Canonical Gospels. .... —patient, plodding donkey carrying Jesus Jesus Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...  into Jerusalem; Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great & Holy Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries, is the Christian feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in the Canonical gospels... —prayerful petition; Good—plaintive melody with mournful accompaniment; Easter—women trudging to the tomb only to discover that Christ has risen.
  Christ, the Solid Rock	SATB and Organ	This is a hymn-anthem with a new melody for "My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less." Undemanding choral writing is enhanced by an independent organ part. "Christ, the Solid Rock" begins quasi mysterioso, builds to triumphant climax (stanza 4), and ends in reflective mood. This piece brings new meaning to this beloved text.
  Emmanuel Comes! An Advent Service of the Word	Organ (or Keyboard) and Congregation. Optional SATB, flute Flute The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening... , oboe Oboe The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca... , and/or guitar Guitar The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...	This collection of five selections for Advent Advent Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi...  includes two canticle Canticle A canticle is a hymn taken from the Bible. The term is often expanded to include ancient non-biblical hymns such as the Te Deum and certain psalms used liturgically.-Roman Catholic Church:From the Old Testament, the Roman Breviary takes seven canticles for use at Lauds, as follows:*... s, a song for the lighting of the Advent candle Advent candle For the use of four or more candles in a ring during Advent, see Advent wreath----An Advent candle is a candle marked with the days of December up to Christmas Eve. It is typically used in a household rather than a church setting: each day in December the candle is burnt down a little more, to the... s, a song for the presentation of the gifts, and a sung prayer. All texts are by Marilyn Biery with music by James Biery. Each component may be used individually, or they may by used together to create an entire service.
  Lenten Communion Antiphons	SATB, cantor Cantor (church) A cantor is the chief singer employed in a church with responsibilities for the ecclesiastical choir; also called the precentor.... , and congregation	This collection contains antiphon Antiphon An antiphon in Christian music and ritual, is a "responsory" by a choir or congregation, usually in Gregorian chant, to a psalm or other text in a religious service or musical work.... s for each Sunday in Lent Lent In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and... . It is usable in all three years of the lectionary Lectionary A Lectionary is a book or listing that contains a collection of scripture readings appointed for Christian or Judaic worship on a given day or occasion.-History:...  cycle.
  O Little Town of Bethlehem O Little Town of Bethlehem "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is a popular Christmas carol. The text was written by Phillips Brooks , an Episcopal priest, Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia. He was inspired by visiting the Palestinian city of Bethlehem in 1865. Three years later, he wrote the poem for his... ^	SATB and Organ (Traditional text with Joseph Barnby Joseph Barnby Sir Joseph Barnby , English musical composer and conductor, son of Thomas Barnby, an organist, was born at York. He was a chorister at York Minster from the age of seven, was educated at the Royal Academy of Music under Cipriani Potter and Charles Lucas, and was appointed in 1862 organist of St...  tune, Bethlehem)	It is a sensitive, English-style arrangement with a meditative anthem.
  O Sacrum Convivium O Sacrum Convivium O Sacrum Convivium is a Latin prose text honoring the Blessed Sacrament. It was written by Saint Thomas Aquinas. It was included in the Latin Catholic liturgy as an antiphon on the feast of Corpus Christi...	SATB, a cappella	This piece contains harmonic structure based on continuous pedal-point combines with intricate text layering to evoke mood of sacred mystery. The final "alleluia" section builds to exultant climax, then fades away. This is one of MorningStar's bestsellers.
  Stir Up Thy Power, O Lord	Unison Unison In music, the word unison can be applied in more than one way. In general terms, it may refer to two notes sounding the same pitch, often but not always at the same time; or to the same musical voice being sounded by several voices or instruments together, either at the same pitch or at a distance... , two-part, or SATB	The easy unison choral part can split into two or three parts at the anthem's climax, if desired. The organ part is semi-independent. The text is from the Collect for the third or fourth Sunday of Advent but is also appropriate for general use
  The Beatitudes Beatitudes In Christianity, the Beatitudes are a set of teachings by Jesus that appear in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The term Beatitude comes from the Latin adjective beatus which means happy, fortunate, or blissful....	SATB and Organ with optional Congregation (Matthew 5:3-12 or the parallel passage, Luke 6:20-26)	Marilyn Biery's insightful paraphrase of the Beatitudes combines with James Biery's flowing musical lines to make a hymn-anthem. This piece is suitable for general use and particularly appropriate when the Beatitudes are read.
  The Lord Is My Shepherd	Uniosn treble choir or Soprano Soprano A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...  solo and SATB choir, a cappella	This is an easy but satisfying setting of Psalm 23 Psalm 23 In the 23rd Psalm in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, the writer describes God as his Shepherd. The text, beloved by Jews and Christians alike, is often alluded to in popular media and has been set to music....  for combined children's and SATB choirs. It is perfect for combining church youth choirs – children through high school.
  The Peace of Christ	SATB and Keyboard, Flute, Oboe, or Violin Violin The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....	This song of blessing is based on an original hymn tune by James Biery. It is useful for any time a blessing is appropriate, such as weddings, reception of new members, and baptism Baptism In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition... s.
  Ubi caritas^	SATB, a cappella	This is a setting of the complete traditional Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great & Holy Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries, is the Christian feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in the Canonical gospels...  Latin Latin Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...  text (the famous Duruflé Maurice Duruflé Maurice Duruflé was a French composer, organist, and pedagogue.Duruflé was born in Louviers, Eure. In 1912, he became chorister at the Rouen Cathedral Choir School, where he studied piano and organ with Jules Haelling...  motet Motet In classical music, motet is a word that is applied to a number of highly varied choral musical compositions.-Etymology:The name comes either from the Latin movere, or a Latinized version of Old French mot, "word" or "verbal utterance." The Medieval Latin for "motet" is motectum, and the Italian...  only includes the first stanza) written in the style of Biery's "O Sacrum Convivium." Using sumptuous harmonies, it features a recurring statement of the text, "Where true love and charity are found, God God God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism.... is there." The chant-like verses inspire us to set aside petty quarrels and to experience, as one family, God's limitless and pure joy. This piece can be used throughout the year.
  Word of God Eternal	SA (Hebrews 13:8 and a ninth century Latin hymn)	This is a challenging work for the treble chorus.