Professor Honored for Musical Accomplishments

Associate Music Professor Steve Butler was honored this year with an ASCAP award for his achievements in the field of concert music.

ASCAP is a performing rights organization dedicated to those who compose music and write lyrics. The organization, which represents every genre of music, is composed of 170, 000 U.S. members and represents a multitude of worldwide artists. Members have included musical creators such as Duke Ellington, Madonna and Garth Brooks.

Award recipients are chosen by a group of panelists who are neither ASCAP members nor employees. The panel assesses the members’ activities, putting extra weight on recent performances.

Butler’s 2002 application contained a variety of accomplishments, including the performance of his composition “Grace” by a 58-piece orchestra, 20-voice children’s choir, 48-voice adult choir, and four soloists.

The text of “Grace” includes all of Psalm 142, selections from the Prayer of Thanksgiving written by Fr. Gregory Petrov, and a verse from the gospel of Luke. The work was dedicated to Westmont President Stan D. Gaede and performed as part of his inaugural year celebration, Butler said.

Also in 2002, Butler composed “Zoom” for the 2002 Prix Ars Electronica Festival.

“ ‘Zoom’ is a multitracked digital piece for computer and synthesized sound that was generated as a tangible response to ocean passages on sailboats,” Butler said.

In April 2002, Butler composed “Peace,” which was performed at Westmont on May 12, 2002. This work also will be presented at the January conference of the Western Regional Meeting of Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers, Butler said. The text of “Peace” is based on the “Book of Common Prayer” and is in response to feelings marked by the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

Butler composed an a cappella piece entitled “Rejoice” for chamber singers in September 2002. The piece is comprised of two traditional hymns and was performed Dec. 5 and 6, 2002, in Santa Barbara.

For more information, contact Butler at (805) 565-6130 or butler@westmont.edu.