WRITING

Below you can find a selection of my creations: the ones made for many interpretations, many voices, many bodies to bring to life. In my choral suites is the poetry and the sound that crackled and evoked the texture of my environments, that tasted of salt and altitude, succulents and the California monsoon. In my theatre pieces and trios/quartets/quintets, I evoke the intimate and personal: the drama at the kitchen table, the daydream during the train ride, the quarter-life and mid-life and last-life crises.All prices are negotiable, depending on context of performance. All keys are what they are, but feel free to email me in a panic if you find yourself in a true bind. If you have any questions about music, scripts, or sheet music purchases, get in touch below!

MUSICAL THEATER
CHORAL MUSIC
SONGS
CONTACT

MUSICAL THEATER

THE MOLLY HOUSE

A New Musical by
Richard Hanson & Divya Maus

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THE DIVIDE

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THE SHADOW

Book by June Carrol & Ryan Bergmann
Music & Lyrics by Divya Maus

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ELIJAH

Music & Lyrics by Divya Maus

Listen

KALLADA

A Children's Musical
Book & Lyrics by Alex Koceja
Music by Divya Maus

More information coming soon!

CHORAL MUSIC

RAIN CYCLE

Full Choral Suite in 4 Movements
Contemporary Choral
SSAATBB

The choral suite RAIN CYCLE was first conceived as a Sound Walk for the L.A. Choral Lab (who commissioned its composition, and recorded and produced the sound walk). The RAIN CYCLE sound walk premiered in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, in the meadow below the old merry-go-round on April 11th, 2021. RAIN CYCLE's subject is inspired by the persistent heat that haunts Southern California year around. That is, until the Spring, when the long-awaited rain showers begin, cooling the dusty city of Los Angeles, cleansing its air, and producing hillsides lush with super-blooms and corridors aflutter with the north-bound butterfly migrations. Originally written for 7 singers of the L.A. Choral Lab, RAIN CYCLE can be performed by a septet or a full mixed ensemble.

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CLOUD COVER

First Movement of Rain Cycle
Contemporary Choral
SSAATBB (opt. Alto solo)

'Cloud Cover' is the first movement of the choral suite, RAIN CYCLE. With an optional Alto solo, this piece is full of the lush harmonies and cluster chords that have come to define 21st century choral music.

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THE TEMPEST

Second Movement of Rain Cycle
Contemporary Baroque
SSAATBB

'The Tempest' is the second movement of the choral suite, RAIN CYCLE. Inspired by traditional Baroque chorales, this piece approaches traditional counterpoint with a contemporary harmonic palate.

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RAINFALL

Third Movement of Rain Cycle
Folk Choral, Folk Spiritual
SSAATBB with optional Tenor solo

'Rainfall' is the titular movement of RAIN CYCLE. Inspired by the sound of Southern church hymns and Irish folk poems, this piece blends contemporary with traditional choral technique. Originally written for a male trio backed up by a women's quartet, this piece can be performed by seven singers or a full mixed choir.

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SPRING

Fourth Movement of Rain Cycle
Contemporary Choral, Jazz
SSAATBB with optional Tenor solo

'Spring' is the fourth and final movement of the choral suite, RAIN CYCLE. Finishing the thought of 'Cloud Cover,' it concludes the collection with a combination of delicate tone clusters and simpler ensemble melodies.

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ASCENT

Full Choral Suite
Contemporary Choral
SMATBB

The 'Ascent' choral suite is a visceral, energetic choral suite inspired by the iconic Flatirons mountains in Colorado, and the city of Boulder that lies at the foothills. The movements of Ascent incorporate intricate baroque-style counterpoint, lush contemporary harmony, and rhythmic breathing techniques to evoke a sonic experience that is felt in the lungs, legs, and sinew, as well as the heart. The 'Ascent' choral suite is part of a larger work, ASCENT: A Boulder Soundwalk, commissioned by Colorado's Ars Nova Singers. It was first installed as a free public sound installation in Boulder's Scott Carpenter Park in the summer of 2023 with support from the Create Boulder initiative, the Boulder Convention and Visitor's Bureau, and Boulder Parks & Recreation.

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COMES THE WATER

First Movement of Ascent
Contemporary Choral
SMATBB

'Comes the Water' is a slowly evolving movement that captures the life of a creek from the beginning of glacial snow melt in the mountains, through the spring flood, into the calm of summer. Its harmonic complexity and impressionistic sound painting suit a vocally advanced, mature choir.

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VISTA

Second Movement of Ascent
Contemporary Choral
SATB

'Vista' is the most self-contained of the three ASCENT movements. Inspired by the world-famous Flat Iron front range, 'Vista' captures the alien, majestic voice of the mountains and the "worshippers" living in their wake.

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ASCENT

Third Movement of Ascent
Experimental, Contemporary Baroque
SATB

'Ascent' is the most energetic and technically experimental movement of the choral suite, ASCENT. Inspired by the experience of climbing Bear Peak in Boulder, Colorado, 'Ascent' uses the ensemble's patterned breathing as a percussive device.

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FRAYING ROPE

Jazz, Pop
MAA or MAT

'Fraying Rope' is an original song inspired by the feeling of helplessness in the face of obstacles that you perceive to be insurmountable. The text explores the need for acceptance of powerlessness, but also the agency that comes from opening ourselves up to the beauty around us, rather than fixating on our shortcomings.

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I AM NOT THERE

Jazz, Pop
SSMAA or SSATT

'I Am Not There' is a setting of Mary Elizabeth Frye's poem of the same name. Vocally, this piece engages both jazz and pop technique but functions fundamentally as a choral piece and is intended to be performed a cappella. (The recorded version from Divya's EP "The Marketplace" includes an instrumental drone.)

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THE WISHING WELL

Folk Choral, Folk Spiritual, Musical Theater
TTBB with optional Tenor solo or trio

'The Wishing Well' is a folk choral piece from the new musical THE MOLLYHOUSE. Featuring lyrics by Richard Hanson, this song can be performed either with a tenor solo trio, or as a TTTBB arrangement.

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DADDY DOESN'T CRY

Musical Theatre, Country Ballad
SAAB

'Daddy Doesn't Cry' is a stand-alone musical theatre song with a country ballad feel. Arranged for piano, 3 treble voices and 1 baritone, this song can also feature acoustic guitar. (Guitar chart available by request.)

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GO HOME

Arrangement, Folk, Pop, Indie Folk
SMA

This treble arrangement of the band Lucius' Go Home showcases an ensemble built of strong, individualistic voices, rather than a choir that blends. As a feature in your set, it's a slow burn with a deep groove that celebrates a collection of unique voices making music together.

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MY DAY WILL COME

Arrangement, Contemporary Jazz, A Capella
SATBB + solos

Cowritten by jazz pianist James Francies and singer Yebba, My Day Will Come straddles the worlds of contemporary jazz and pop-influenced R&B. This arrangement is written for a mixed ensemble comfortable with intricate jazz harmony and more technical a cappella pop, and can feature either a mezzo-soprano or baritone soloist.