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Inspiration And Background

 

Beautiful Star was published internationally by Plymouth Music Company in 1991. Since founding Beautiful Star Publishing, Inc. in 1992, my compositions have been receiving significant national performances by churches, high school choirs, college choirs, children’s choirs and community choruses.

 

 

Education

 

• B.F.A. – University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, 1969.
• Master of Arts in Liberal Studies on Music Composition, Hamline University, St. Paul, MN, 1987.
• 60+ Graduate Credits from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 1998---.
• Composition Studies with Libby Larsen, Dr. Dominick Argento, Dr. Paul Fetler and Dr. Jody Rockmaker.

 

 

From The Pen Of Composer Denice Rippentrop

 

It was in the late 1970s that I first trusted in God’s divine Son, Jesus the Christ, as my Lord and Savior for the forgiveness of my sins. I believed in the death of Christ on the cross to pay for my sins, the resurrection of Christ to provide life everlasting, and Christ’s gift of salvation, which can only be received by faith, apart from works or merit on my part. My life changed miraculously!

 

A few years later I heard a poem by Amy Carmichael for the first time. It was called “No Scar?” and I heard it on a radio program. Amy’s words moved deep into my soul as a picture came to my mind. I saw the scars on my Savior’s hands, feet, and side—and it tore into me. To think that He has these scars and I have none. I was so taken by this scene in my mind I could hardly breathe.

 

At that point, I searched endlessly for every poem and book by Amy Carmichael. I was so moved by the deep meaning of her words—written in a style unique only to her—as well as her display of vocabulary and the images portrayed in her words. Her utter devotion to Jesus Christ came through in her every word. She loved beyond herself. She never took her eyes off the cross of Jesus Christ and His eternal, unending love.

 

In 1987 I was at Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota working on my master’s degree. My synthesis was composing music to eleven Amy Carmichael poems, ending in a concert of these works. The concert was given at Incarnation Lutheran Church in Shoreview, Minnesota under the direction of Bonnie Doole. My daughter Tammy gave a reading on the life of Amy Carmichael. I still can hear her presenting this reading. She gave an outstanding presentation.

 

After that concert I continued to write sacred and secular choral works. Much of my writing has been impacted by one of my composition professors, Dr. Jody Rockmaker.  Throughout the years I have received many honors and commissions and have given numerous performances of my music.

 

Then, nineteen years after the concert in 1987, music appeared on my bedroom wall as I was lying in my bed before dawn. At first, I thought I was dreaming. There were several pages, and the first three pages had three music staves showing a solo voice and piano. The music appeared two more mornings; but this time, Amy Carmichael’s name was written in the top left-hand corner and my name was written in the top right-hand corner. I asked God to show the music again if this was from Him. And, my Holy Father did. I knew I had to write it down.

 

The Holy Spirit led me to Amy Carmichael’s book If. One by one, the fifteen Amy Carmichael statements that I was to write music to were shown to me.

“If at the Moment,” the first song on my CD If (What Do I Know of Calvary’s Love?), is the music I saw on the wall the first morning. The text says: If the moment I am conscious of the shadow of self crossing my threshold, I do not shut the door, and in the power of Him who works in us to will and to do, keep that door shut, then I know nothing of Calvary Love.

 

As Amy Carmichael said of her book If, “[These statements] are not meant to be read one after the other. Perhaps only one “If” here and there may have the needed word.” As you listen to the CD, I ask that you give each song the time it needs to reach the depths of your soul, as Amy so desired.

Vanessa Libbey, the vocalist on the CD, is a classically trained soprano. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Luther College and resides in New York City.

 

 

Amy Carmichael Photos

 

• January 26, 2024, The Kuhn Choir, Prague, performed "Yahweh!"
• Such Deep Peace-Duke University Adult Choir – Oct. 2017.
• The Sea Trilogy-OK Baptist University Women’s Chorus – Shawnee, OK, May 6,2017.
• The Lamb Slain – The Chamber Singers – Minneapolis, MN, March 29, 2015
• Not One Has Gone Astray- Bella Voce Singers – Brooklyn, NY Dec. 2013.
• Stars and Moonbeams – Forsyth County Honor Chorus – Atlanta, GA 2013.
• Not One Has Gone Astray – Augsburg Women’s Choir – Augsburg College – Minneapolis, MN, April 15, 2012.
• The Desert Trilogy – Sonoran Desert Chorale – Phoenix, AZ, March 10 & 11, 2012.
• Stars and Moonbeams – TX Private School MEA – All States Children’s Honor Choir, Arlington, TX, Nov. 11&12, 2011.
• Not One Has gone Astray – WomenVoice – Minneapolis, MN, Feb. 25, 2012.
• Beautiful Star – Diane de Stascio – Worldwide Broadcast on Trinity Broadcast Network, Dec. 16 & 18, 2011.
• My Star is Jesus Christ – Camelback Bible Church Children’s Choir, Paradise Valley, AZ, Oct. 9, 2011.
• For Sun, Moon and Stars – Pacific Women’s Chorus, Carlsbad, CA, June 10, 2010.
• The Holy Spirit Moves as the Wind-First Presbyterian Church Adult Choir, Knoxville, TN, May 23, 2010.
• Emmanuel – Christmas Cantata – Valley Presbyterian Church Adult Choir, Paradise Valley, AZ , Dec. 24, 2010.
• Holy Light – Augsburg Women’s Choir – Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN, Dec. 10, 2010.
• Glory – Mountain View Presbyterian Church Adult Choir, Scottsdale, AZ, Feb. 20, 2010.
• The Atonement – St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Adult Choir, Edina, MN, March 8, 2009.
• Dancing through the Daffodils, Syracuse Children’s Choir, Syracuse, NY, May 4, 2008.
• Canyon Land Charms – St. George Utah Children’s Choir, Tuacahn Amphitheather, St. George, UT, April 10. 2007.
• The Aaronic Blessing – Hennepin Ave. Methodist Church, Minneapolis, MN, Sept. 6, 2006.
• Sing the King to Heaven – Hennepin Ave. Methodist Church, Minneapolis, MN, Dec. 2, 2006.
• Song to the Birds – Pat York Children’s Choir – Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., June 30, 2005.
• It’s a Wonderful Day – Pat York Children’s Choir – Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., June 30, 2005.
• Song to the Birds – Pat York Children’s Choir – Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C., June 30, 2005.
• And Do Not Be Conformed – North Scottsdale Methodist Church Adult Choir, Scottsdale, AZ, Oct. 23, 2005.
• The New Century Creators – Masterworks Chorale of Augsburg – Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 6, 2005.
• Dancing through the Daffodils – Capitol University Children’s Choir, Columbus, OH, Nov. 4, 2005.
• What Can Heavenly Love Do? – Arkansas State University Women’s Chorale, Arkansas, April 24, 2005.
• Is Not This Salvation Too Great to Ignore? – Masterworks Chorale of Augsburg, Minneapolis, MN, April 4, 2004.
• The Woman’s Eyes – Randolph-Macon Women’s College Chorale – Lynchburg, VA, April 24, 2004.
• All Glory to Thee, Holy One – Brewton-Parker College Chorus – Mt. Vernon, GA, Concert Tour, 2004.
• It’s Cool to be a Tree & It’s a Wonderful Day – Southern Illinois University Children’s Chorus, Southern Illinois Campus,
• Carbondale, IL, May 7, 2005.
• Love is the Soul of Hearts – Arizona Arts Chorale, Scottsdale, AZ, Dec. 11 & 12, 2004.
• Song of the Birds, It’s Wonderful to be a Tree & The New Pioneers – Chautauqua Community Chorus, Lake Arrowhead Village,
• Lake Arrowhead, CA, April 5, 2005.
• It is in These Wounds – Arizona Arts Chorale, Scottsdale, AZ, April 29, 2003.
• The Landscape of My Soul – Festival Singers, San Francisco, CA, March 16, 2003.
• Let Me Live – United Methodist Church Adult Choir, Mesa, AZ, Nov. 2. 2002.
• The Work – Crimson Chorale, Maple Grove High School, Maple Grove, MN, Feb. 10, 2002.
• I See You Change, Growing – The Melodiars, Grants Pass, OR, June 30, 2001.
• Nowhere Else – Crimson Chorale, Maple Grove High School, Maple Grove, MN, 2001.
• The Song She Sang – Worthing Elementary Chorus, Worthing, SC, May 3, 1999.
• Earth Turns Inside Out – Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, The Church of the Twelve Apostles, Rome, Italy, 1998.
• Commissions/Honors/ Choral Reading Session/Selected
• The American Prize Composition – Semi-finalist 2014 & 2016 - Chorus – Professional Division
• I was selected from composers across to country to be one of twelve participates at the 2014 John Ness Beck Composers Workshop.
• Stars and Moonbeams – Selected for the Forsyth County Honor Chorus, Atlanta, GA.
• People, Ponder the Cross -  2nd Place Winner in the International Competition for Sacred Music Composers – Liturgical Category, Oct., 2013.
• Arkansas Director Choral Association – CPA Approved, 2013.
• Beautiful Star picked up by Jeff Hanson for ePop Christmas Album, 2011.
• Beautiful Star picked up by the Trinity Broadcast Network for worldwide performances, 2011.
• All Must Be Free – Picked up by Mary Dawson for TweakaTunes, 2011.
• A Savior Has Been Born to You – CO JW Pepper New Music Reading Session, First Alternate, 2010.
• Earth turns Inside Out – Placed in the Project Encore Website Database, 2010.
• Such Deep Peace – First Runner-up Best Compositions composer Symposium Joe Martin Presentation, Atlanta, GA. 2010.
• Sing Faith – Selected for the Iowa ACDA Summer Reading Session, 2010.
• Asked to speak at the CFAMC Fall Conference on contemporary composition I Love Those – Modern Version, 2008.
• You are Love to Me – Los Angeles Music Awards nominated for film, 2007.
• For this Cause I Bow My Knee & I Can do All Things – JW Pepper 200 Sampler New Music Reading Session, MN, 2006.
• Nowhere Else – Octavo of the Month – Iowa Choral Directors Association selection.
• All Must Be Free – Semifinalist-Patriotic Division – Dallas Songwriters Association Songwriting Contest, 2006.
• All Must Be Free – Afghanistan/Iraq Semifinalist – Dallas Songwriters Association, 2006.
• Canyon Land u are Love to Me Charms – State of Utah commission, 2006.
• And Those Who are Wise – Nebraska ACDA Summer Conference Reading Session, 2005.
• You are Love to Me – Honorable Mention Dallas Songwriters Association Songwriting Contest, 2005.
• My Ladybug Friend – Oklahoma MEA Convention, 2005.
• The New Century Creators – Louise Phillips Commission, 2005.
• He will Quiet You with His Love – ACDA Summer Dialogue Reading Session, MN, 2004.
• It is in These Wounds – Commission by the AZ Arts Chorale, Scottsdale, AZ, 2003.
• My Little Forest – America Society of Foresters, Washington, D.C., 2001.
• Beautiful Star Publishing, Inc. – Founder, 1992-
• Owner/Composer. Choral Catalogue – over 175 selections.
• Recordings/Videos/ Selected
• Not One Has Gone Astray – YouTube – 2012.
• All Must Be Free – YouTube – 2012.
• Silver Star, The Shining Crown & Other Sacred Works – Recording, 2011.
• Beautiful Star – ePop Christmas Album – 2011.
• Emmanuel – A Christmas Cantata – Recording - 2010.
• Praise Anthems & Other Sacred Songs – Recording – 2009.
• Sing Faith – Recording – 2008.
• God’s Promises Choral Series – Recording – 2005.
• The Desert Trilogy & Other Sacred Songs – Recording – 2001.
• The Sound of Change – Recording – 1999.
• The Holy Spirit Moves as the Wind – Recording – 1992.