Praise Him – SAB

This is an interesting treatment of Psalm 150. Each of three sections starts very quietly and builds; the middle section is done in counterpoint with the lines of the psalm over and against a constant, rhythmic “praise Him, praise Him, praise Him”. It is a stirring anthem for any season! Also available in TTBB (HMC1257)
About Dr. Michael Cox

Dr. Michael Cox has built a musical life defined not by a single specialty, but by the close relationship between composition, performance, conducting, and education. An ASCAP award-winning composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher, he has written extensively for the church and concert hall while devoting much of his career to the development of singers, instrumentalists, and young composers. He currently serves as Composer-in-Residence at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

Oklahoma Baptist University played an important role in both his education and professional development. Dr. Cox graduated from OBU in 1970 with honors in piano performance and returned two years later as a member of the music faculty. From 1972 until 1990, he taught composition, conducting, music theory, and church music. During 13 of those years, he directed the Bison Glee Club, helping sustain a long tradition of men’s choral singing at the university.

The influence of those years continued long after Dr. Cox left OBU. In 2004, the university presented his eight-movement work *Symphonic Psalms* as its annual Oratorio Project. Written for chorus and orchestra, the work draws upon texts from eight psalms and moves through a wide range of musical styles and textures. It was commissioned by Scott Oyer, a former Cox student and member of the Bison Glee Club, providing a meaningful link between Dr. Cox’s work as a teacher and his continuing life as a composer.

In 1990, Dr. Cox joined the faculty of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He served for 19 years as Professor of Music Theory and Composition, retiring in 2009. His work there extended beyond the classroom: he directed the Southwestern Seminary Men’s Chorus from 1993 to 2003 and the Southwestern Singers from 2006 to 2009.

Dr. Cox’s published catalog contains more than 160 compositions and includes music for mixed, treble, and men’s choirs as well as piano, orchestra, brass, strings, and other instrumental combinations. His works have appeared through numerous publishers, reflecting both the variety of his musical interests and his practical understanding of the ensembles for which he writes. He has received the ASCAP Standard Award annually since 1987 and was chosen as the commissioned composer for the Texas Music Teachers Association Conference in 1995.

Alongside his composing and teaching, Dr. Cox has maintained an active conducting career. At Oklahoma Baptist University, he led the annual Concerto-Aria Competition, in which student soloists performed with members of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra. He has conducted choral clinics throughout the country and has appeared as a guest conductor with the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra and the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving.

Dr. Cox holds a Master of Music in orchestral conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and a Doctor of Music in composition from Florida State University. He has also worked as a professional music copyist and engraver, bringing the same care and craftsmanship to the preparation of music that he brings to its composition and performance.