Paul Fejko 1957 — 2025

Composer

Choral works, chamber music, an opera, and a lifetime of improvisation.

Paul composed for the singers and ringers at Gloria Dei, for chamber players, for dance and theatre, and — constantly — for himself at the keyboard. He was chastised often for mixing improvisation into repertoire, taking too many liberties; he pointed out that nobody ever complained about the reverse.

A more extensive collection of Paul’s compositions (recordings and PDFs of scores) will be made available in the near future.

Choral Works

The following were written for Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church in Philadelphia, where Paul was the musician for nearly forty years. Most of the texts are by Megan Bartlett. Scores are being added as they are found; where one is available it is linked beside the recording.

  1. —
    3 Haiku for ChristmasText by Megan Bartlett. Sarah DuBois, violin; Paul Fejko, organ; The Gloria Dei Singers.
    11:07
  2. —
    3 Haiku for EasterText by Megan Bartlett. Paul Fejko, organ; The Gloria Dei Singers. Choir and organ (PDF)
    2:29
  3. —
    Christmas Dreams — Then and NowText by Megan Bartlett. Sarah DuBois, violin; Paul Fejko, organ; The Gloria Dei Ringers and Singers. Full score (PDF) · Bells or violin (PDF)
    5:12
  4. —
    Eternal Peacefor ChristmasText by Megan Bartlett. Sarah DuBois, violin; Paul Fejko, organ; The Gloria Dei Ringers and Singers. Full score (PDF)
    5:36
  5. —
    Hosanna 2017 Voice and bells (PDF)
    3:39
  6. —
    Let Us Join Our Hearts and Sing!for ChristmasText by Megan Bartlett. Paul Fejko, organ; The Gloria Dei Ringers and Singers. Full score (PDF) · Bells (PDF)
    4:51
  7. —
    Peace, Love, Joyfor ChristmasText by Megan Bartlett. Megan Bartlett, bells; Nils Van Ammers, tuba; Paul Fejko, organ; The Gloria Dei Singers. Full score (PDF) · Tuba (PDF)
    4:09
  8. —
    We Remembera memorial for 9/11/2001Text by Megan Bartlett. IVA (Emily Samson Tepe), soprano; Paul Fejko, organ; The Gloria Dei Ringers. Full score (PDF) · Soprano and bells (PDF)
    5:08
  9. —
    SpringText by e. e. cummings. Russel Ferrara, guitar; Veronica Mascaro, flute; The Gloria Dei Singers.
    4:16

Dervish — Flute and Piano Duet

From Prelude, Dervish, and Scherzo for piano and flute. A video of the complete work is on YouTube.

  1. —
    DervishFor flute and piano. Linda Wetherill, flute.
    4:16

Devil's Waltz — Solo Piano

  1. —
    The Devil's Waltzpiano solo improvisation
    9:14

Matteo Falcone — Opera

Paul’s first encounter with opera came at Curtis, through Dino Yannopoulos, principal stage director at the Metropolitan Opera in New York from 1945 to 1977. Yannopoulos later commissioned this chamber opera from him, in 1987, for the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, where he was then Artistic Director.

  1. —
    Matteo Falcone — Excerpt 1
    11:16
  2. —
    Matteo Falcone — Excerpt 2
    10:44
  3. —
    Matteo Falcone — Excerpt 3
    8:28

Marimba Improvisation

  1. —
    DrumalaanPercussion — Paul Fejko, all instruments.
    8:08
  2. —
    Vibraphone Improvisation
    7:09

Box Drum Improvisation

  1. —
    Box Drum FolliesPercussion — Paul Fejko, all instruments.
    10:18

Scores without a recording

  1. —
    Pentecost Singers and organText by Megan Bartlett. Choir and organ (PDF)
  2. —
    Prayer 1985with flute and alto flute Voice, flutes and keyboardText by Manfred Fischbeck. Full score (PDF) · Voice (PDF)
  3. —
    Festive Procession for 5 players Handbells Score (PDF)
  4. —
    Meditation 1 Handbells Score (PDF)

The Cello and Wind Quartets

Two chamber works, both included here with the score and recording.

First Cello and Wind Quartet

Full score and parts, with a recording of each of the five movements.

Full score (PDF) · Parts (PDF)

  1. I
    Movement I
  2. II
    Movement II
  3. III
    Movement III
  4. IV
    Movement IV
  5. V
    Movement V

Second Cello and Wind Quartet (2016)

Each movement survives as a separate score and recording.

  1. I
    Movement I Score (PDF)
  2. II
    Movement II Score (PDF)
  3. III
    Movement III Score (PDF)

Elsewhere

Additional recordings are on SoundCloud, and videos on YouTube.