An Analysis of the Sacred Choral Works of Janice Kapp Perry

Abstract

Janice Kapp Perry (b. 1938) is perhaps the most well-known living composer who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a worldwide Christian denomination of over seventeen million members. The main focus of this study is to document the life and choral works of Janice Kapp Perry. Her estimated total output includes about 3,000 pieces of music. Among these are hundreds of works for solo voice and piano, dozens of pieces for children/children’s choir, twenty sacred choral works, over 500 hymns, and ten cantatas. In order to increase awareness of and appreciation for Perry’s contributions to sacred choral music, I have provided a biography of the composer, a summary of her choral output, a discussion of the compositional processes and distinguishing features of Perry’s works, and a musical analysis of ten representative choral works. The analysis includes an examination of inspiration, text sources, performing forces, form, melody, rhythm, harmony and text-setting.