My 2011 Preces and Responses for the Anglican service of Evening Prayer was sung on November 22, 2022, as part of Evensong for St. Andrew’s Day at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Gainesville, Florida. The excellent choir is conducted by John Lowe. They had premiered the work in 2016, so 2022 is the second “season” of their using the setting for Evensong at the UF Chapel of the Incarnation and Holy Trinity’s St Andrew’s Day and Feast of the Epiphany services.
View the complete service on Youtube (and enjoy all the Scottish dancing, and the bagpipes . . .).
View the Preces (1 minute 15 seconds)
View the Responses (7 minutes 15 seconds)
With a Voice of Singing, a choral song for S.A.T.B. and youth choir with solo clarinet and piano. Written especially for the Voices Rising Community Chorus of Gainesville, Florida, an intergenerational ensemble founded in 2013, and their Artistic Director and Conductor, Ruth Lewis. Premiered in two concerts on Sunday, April 28, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church of Gainesville with Bess de Farber, clarinet; and Phillip Herr-Klepacki, piano; conducted by Ruth Lewis.
Psallam spiritu – I Will Sing with the Spirit Festival Anthem for Choir S.A.T.B. with Handbells, Brass Quintet, Timpani and Organ. Commissioned for the 150th parish anniversary of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Gainesville, Florida. Text from motto of the Royal School of Church Music (I Corinthians 14:15) and Jesus’s “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:19-20). First performance on Sunday January 21, 2018, midway in the 10th anniversary season of the Music at Holy Trinity concert series.
Voices raised to you we offer: for choir S.A.T.B. and congregation with flute, trombone and organ. Commissioned in 2017 by The Lutheran Church of the Ascension, Atlanta Georgia, for 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. Text by Herman Struempfle, Jr., 1996 [used by permission]. First performance on January 29, 2017, and repeated on Reformation Day, October 29, 2017. [Expanded from 2009 Mary, Strong of Heart].
Between Earth and Sky for mixed choir and handbells, based on Lake Alice photographs by Ron Franklin and poetry by Lola Haskins. Premiered and recorded by University of Florida Concert Choir October 2011, conducted by Willard Kesling.
2016-December: [Video] Mary, Strong of Heart in Wonder, composition by Willis Bodine, performed by First Presbyterian Church choirs in their annual Lessons & Carols service, Gainesville, FL on December 11, 2016.
[2002 recording] The compositions and arrangements of Willis Bodine with The Willis Bodine Chorale, Willis Bodine conductor; and assisting musicians. Recorded live at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, Gainesville, Florida, 24 February 2002.
Music for the Parish Eucharist

No. 7, The Evergreen Series. Unison voices and organ. The H. W. Gray Co., Inc., New York, 1958. Ninefold and Threefold Kyrie, Decalogue, Responses at the Gospel, Sanctus and Benedictus, Agnus Dei, Gloria in excelsis
Included as “Sixth Communion Service” in Supplement to The Hymnal 1940 of the Protestant Episcopal Church. The Church Pension Fund, New York, 1961. Ninefold Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei. “Sanctus and Benedictus” included in Supplement II to The Hymnal 1940, The Church Pension Fund, New York, 1975.
“Sanctus.” In O for Thousand Tongues, A Workshop for Music in Churches, conducted by Alec Wyton with Marilyn Keiser, organ. Choir of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City. The Wicks Organ Concert Series, Vol. 1, Series 5. Wicks Organ Company, 832W-0782, Record 2, Side 1.
“Music for Holy Eucharist, Rite II” – adaptation of 1958 Music for the Parish Eucharist for text of Rite II with additional material for Trisagion, Christ has died, Christ our Passover (PB1979), prepared for Trinity Episcopal Church, Melrose, Florida (Margaret Rice, Director of Music), Gainesville, 2003
1966: Break forth, O beauteous, heavenly light : Christmas anthem for S.A.T.B. Willis Bodine; words by Johann Schop; harmonization by Johann Sebastian Bach. New York : H.W. Gray, 1966.
1970: Christ our Passover. Canticle for Easter Day for S.A.T.B. with two trumpets, two trombones, timpani and organ. [Score] New York : H. W. Gray Co, 1970.
Descants for hymn tunes: Aurelia; Austrian Hymn; Azmon; Brother James’ Air; Christe sanctorum; Columbia; Coronation; Crusader’s Hymn; Cwn Rhondda; Diademata; Down Ampney; Duke Street; Dundee; Easter Hymn; Engelberg; Eventide; Hyfrydol; Hymn to Joy; Lancashire; Lasst uns erfreuen; Laudate Dominum; Laudes Domini; Lobe Den HERREN; Michael; Mit Freuden zart; Morecambe; Old 124th (Toulon); Now; Ratisbon; St. Anne; St. Dunstan’s; Stuttgart; Toulon; Unser Herscher; Zeuch mich, zeuch mich.
Choral arrangements of hymn tune stanzas: Columbia, Coronation, Dix, Duke Street, Ein feste Burg, Lasst uns erfreuen, Mit Freuden zart, St. Dunstan’s, Tallis’ Canon, Toulon, Victory.
Original hymn tune: Celebrate! 87.87. D (1999)
2002: The Song of Mary (Magnificat); and The Song of Simeon (Nunc dimittis): Rite II settings for voices and organ. [Score] Gainesville, FL. Willis Bodine.
Preces and Responses for the 1662 Prayer Book (similar to Rite I of American PB). Settings of the complete English rite for Evensong, including Magnificat, Nunc dimittis, Lord’s Prayer, Creed, etc. with handbell pitch-giving., all according to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. Gainesville, 2014. Premiere at Chapel of the Incarnation, Gainesville on October 30, 2016, by Choir of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Gainesville, John Lowe, Director of Music, with Mitchell Stecker, organ. Repeated at Evensong for Epiphany, Holy Trinity, January 6, 2017.
Psalm 121: Levavi oculos (I lift up my eyes) – commissioned for dedication of new worship facilities at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Wilkesboro NC, 1990
Psalm 122: Lætatus sum (I was glad) – for voices violin and organ, commissioned by Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Big Spring TX, for 25th anniversary of Casavant Frères pipe organ, September 26, 1999
Psalm 23: Dominus regit me for voices, flute, oboe and organ. Premiered for American Guild of Organists “Pipes Spectacular” concert at UF Auditorium, October 15, 2000
Te Deum and Jubilate Deo – festival setting for voices, handbells, brass, timpani and organ, expanded from commission for First Lutheran Church, Gainesville (2001-02)
Magnificat and Nunc dimittis for voices and organ, commissioned for choir of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Wilkesboro NC, in residence at Salisbury Cathedral, Spring 2002
A Song to the Lamb (H1982 #261-66, Canticle 18) – for voices S.A.T.B. and organ with optional brass and timpani – based on pitches of Easter Day sequence Victimæ paschali – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, 2007
Mary, Strong of Heart: for voices, violin, trombone, congregation and organ, commissioned by Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Big Spring TX, for parish 125th anniversary, 2009 (see video). Revised and expanded 2017
A Song of Praise Benedictus es, Domine (H1982 #231-36, Canticle 13) – for voices S.A.T.B. and organ – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, September 2006
Mass for Saint Michael’s (a new congregational setting of the Rite II Ordinary for voices, organ and optional handbells), written for St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Sanibel Island, Florida, 2006
- Kyrie nine-fold
- Kyrie three-fold
- Preface/Sanctus and Benedictus
- Agnus Dei
Luca della Robbia, Cantoria (detail)
2005: The Song of Mary (Magnificat); and The Song of Simeon (Nunc dimittis): Rite II settings for voices and organ. (quasi-monotone, written for Evensong at St. Michael’s Sanibel, December 2, 2005)
A hymn for Michaelmas – for voices and organ – words by Marnie Barrell, St Barnabas Anglican Church, Auckland, New Zealand – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, Summer 2007
God our Maker, whose first summons – for voices and organ – words by Carl Daw – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, 2008
Jesus, tempted in the desert – for voices and organ – words by Herbert Stuempfle – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, 2006
Lord, your church on earth – for voices and organ – words by Michael Saward – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, 2006
Sing a hymn – for voices and organ – words by Michael Saward – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, 2007
Thanks be to God – for voices and organ – words by Michael Saward – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, July 2006
Psalm 47: Peoples, clap your hands – for voices and organ – Psalm 47 paraphrased by Joy Patterson – based on Genevan Psalter tune Or sus tous humains for Psalm 47 by Louis Bourgeois – originally written for First Presbyterian, Ocala, Florida, 2004. First performance on Sunday, October 16, 2016, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Gainesville FL, at evensong to celebrate 125th anniversary of Johnson & Son pipe organ. Gainesville Civic Chorus Chamber Singers with Choir of Westminster Church, conducted by Will Kesling.
Psalm 23, Scottish Psalter: Brother James Air – for voices, solo flute (ad lib.) and organ – based on the tune Brother James’ Air by James L. Macbeth Bain – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, Fall 2005
A mighty fortress – choral bicinium based on Martin Luther’s original tune for Ein’ feste Burg, Psalm 46 – Gainesville, January 1982
Psalm 98: Sing a new song to the Lord – for two-part voices and organ – Psalm 98, paraphrased by Timothy Dudley-Smith – based on the tune Onslow Square by David Gordon Wilson – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, November 2007
From miles around – for voices and organ – words by Jane Manton Marshall (WLP #774) – based on the tune Tucker by David Ashley White – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, Lent 2006
Like the murmur of the dove’s song – for voices and organ – words by Carl Daw (H1982 #513) – based on the tune Bridegroom by Peter Cutts – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, May 2008
Now the green blade riseth – for voices and organ – words by John Crum (H1982 #204) – based on the medieval French tune Noël nouvelet – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, Easter season 2008
Love came down at Christmas – for voices and organ – words by Christina Rossetti (H1982 #84) – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, Advent 2008
Now greet the swiftly changing year – for two-part voices and organ – Slovak, tr, Jaroslav Vajda (H1982 #250) – based on the tune Sixth Night by Alfred Fedak – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, 2008
Morning glory, starlit sky – for voices and organ – words by William Hubert Vanstone (H1982 #585) – based on the tune Bingham by Dorothy Howell Sheets – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, Lent 2007
Savior of the nations, come – for voices and organ – words by Martin Luther (H1982 #54) – based on the tune Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland – written for St. Michael’s, Sanibel Island, Advent 2008
And have the bright immensities – for voices and organ – words by Howard Chandler Robbins (H1982 #459) – written following a local AGO meeting, Gainesville, Fall 2010 – Premiere on January 2011, 2nd performance on Ascension Day 2011, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Gainesville. Selected for reading session at 68th Suwannee Church Music Conference, University of the South, Suwannee TN.
“The Ark of the Covenant” – text from fragments of Psalm 96 (Cantate Domino) – – Festival anthem for S.A.T. B. with brass quartet and organ – August, 2011, revised 2015