Jason Locke Music

11/13/2025

Reflections of a choral composer: finding a text. Melody? ☑️ Introduction? ☑️ Harmony? ☑️ Time to talk about text. It can be a challenge to land on the right text - - but whether the work of a cherished poet or an original piece, the work of finding the right text is always worth it!

10/31/2025

Reflections of a choral composer: exploring harmony. Melody? ☑️ Introduction? ☑️ Time to experiment with harmony. There’s something so rewarding about finding a great harmony to elevate a beautiful melody.

10/25/2025

Reflections of a choral composer: writing an introduction. Melody? ☑️. Ok then - it’s time to write an introduction - something that sets up the singers and listeners for what they’re going to experience.

10/21/2025

Reflections of a choral composer: finding a melody. For me, melody is core - - my first stop. What melodies live rent-free in your ear?

10/10/2025

Peace for the Children - a simple, heartfelt prayer, calls us all to set our intentions toward peace. Based on a simple but beautiful song by Doreen Lankshire-Smith. Choral scores available at jasonlocke.ca

10/06/2025

09/07/2025

An adventure into writing for handbells. If you’d like to download a setting for free, just find ‘Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet’ and use the discount code: Handbells. There are two PDFs - one 3-octave and one 4-octave! Feedback appreciated…

Handbell Settings for Voices UnitedVoices United 245 - Praise the Lord with the Sound of TrumpetThis series is written for use with Voices United, one of the central hymn collections of The United Church of Canada. Each hymn is offered with either a through-composed accompaniment, or a series of set

08/16/2025

In 2016 I wrote a Lenten mass setting for The Church of St. George the Martyr (now St. George’s Grange Park). There was some interest in making that particular setting of 'The Lord's Prayer' available for congregational use, so I've prepared it and it's now available on my website under 'Service Music'. It's available for a very reasonable congregational flat fee (only $10) and also includes bulletin printing and streaming. Here's a video of the staff singers at Islington United singing it a number of years ago. If you're looking for another setting of The Lord's Prayer (and who isn't!?), come and get it!

A setting of The Lord's Prayer by Jason Locke, from his Lenten mass setting.

08/07/2025

I had the incredible pleasure of writing a piece to honour Patricia Young - Newfoundland-based musician who has dedicated her career to church music. This commission request came from Christopher Dawes and the board of the Summer Institute of Church Music (SICM). The conference chorus premiered it in Whitby, ON at the end of July and it's now available for sale on my website - - video recording to follow, hopefully soon!

'My Hope and Stay' is an anthem which highlights the beauty of our sacred spaces - combining texts based on the poetry of R.A. Parsons and the well-known hymn 'The Solid Rock'. This was warmly received and would be a great anthem to program in the fall season!

It's now posted on my website - you can find it here:

https://www.jasonlocke.ca/p/my-hope-and-stay/

07/29/2025

With the season of Creation right around the corner, I wanted to share this simple but rewarding setting of 'All Things Bright and Beautiful'. I don't have a video recording at the moment, but I do have a recording of the University of Western Ontario Chorale singing it last year in their spring concert. Take a listen! Perhaps it could fit somewhere in the fall planning.

And if it does - you can find it on my website: jasonlocke.ca

The UWO Chorale singing Jason Locke's 'All Things Bright and Beautiful'

07/26/2025

Available now as a digital download at jasonlocke.ca.

'Peace for the Children' - appropriate for use on Orange Shirt Sunday, Remembrance Sunday or Veteran's Day, a setting of the Dooreen Lankshire-Smith text from More Voices. This video recording was made a number of years ago by United Church of Canada musicians from across Canada.

https://www.jasonlocke.ca/p/peace-for-the-children/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq1kDXPgO5c&list=RDdq1kDXPgO5c&start_radio=1

Keep an eye on this newly re-launched site. I'll be populating it with new choir anthems over the next months. JL

Music United members from across Canada submitted videos for "Peace for the Children", More Voices #149. What a beautiful result! Words and music by Doreen L...