Collaborations
Participating in the birth and growth of a collaborative project is exhilarating and an honor. I’d like to share a couple of projects I’ve worked on with my composer husband, Ralph M. Johnson. (If the videos do not appear, click again the Music tab in the menu.)
Gifts of the Magi
Music by Ralph M. Johnson; Text by Laurie Richardson Johnson
© by Gentry Publications, 2026.
Gifts of the Magi is a choral composition in three sections: Tree of Frankincense, Gift of Myrrh, and Song of Gold. The composition was commissioned for Magnum Chorum, directed by Dr. Dwight Jilek, in honor of Jan Kunau and in memory of Dan Kunau. Enjoy the recording of the premier from Magnum Chorum’s December 22, 2024 concert at Westwood Lutheran Church, St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
Tree of Frankincense
How long have you
gripped the desert ground,
twisting your branches
into the blue heated sky?
Your ancient bark,
pierced,
tears of fragrance
freely shed
into droplets
of healing,
for anointing.
Priceless treasure
carried on camels and ships
to lands
far from home.
Did you know
your crystal perfume,
gift of the Magi,
followed a star like no other?
Not to palace or castle or temple,
but to a lonely rough stable,
to a baby born in straw.
Treasure of Myrrh
What does a mother
do with such a gift
for her child?
Amber jewels of healing,
of soothing restoration
once flowing from
thorny trunk of
wounded tree,
springing forth
from dry earth.
Precious myrrh.
Cherished myrrh.
Keep it, Mary.
Keep it.
Song of Gold
Capture not the golden light
in rock, or box, or jar.
Sing among the planets’ flight,
a song beneath the star.
Nights of travel, darkness near,
we hear a tune unknown,
Closely follow, banish fear,
the way the star has shown.
Gold of shadow, gold of worth,
Gold of fire, luminous, bright,
Gold of spirit, gold of birth,
Stir our hearts this wondrous night.
Child of hunger, child of cold,
the lost, alone, they chase.
Scattered light, our arms to hold,
our hearts with mercies race.
Time of courage; all belong,
the Child Divine is here,
Every breath a gift of song,
to sing with voices clear.
Gold of shadow, gold of worth,
Gold of fire, luminous, bright,
Gold of spirit, gold of birth,
Love is born this wondrous night.
Hear the whispers, heed the dream,
the sky, the lamp, the way,
Spirit telling, stories beam,
a child in danger lay.
Hidden treasure, love for all,
enfolds the lost and found,
Boundaries lifted, blinders fall,
to live with hearts unbound.
Gold of shadow, gold of worth,
Gold of fire, luminous, bright,
Gold of spirit, gold of birth,
Shine in us, this wondrous night.
Ancient Waters Warmed With Life
Music by Ralph M. Johnson; Text by Laurie Richardson Johnson
© by MorningStar Music Publishers, 2016
Cover Art for Ancia Saxophone Quartet
