It seems the only composers who have their music widely performed are the ones who have died. Few are fortunate enough to hear their pieces performed in front of audiences.

Stephen Brooks, sophomore in music composition, will be added to the group of fortunate composers this weekend when his choral composition “The Lord’s Prayer” is performed by the Iowa State Oratorio Choir.

Throughout his composition career, Brooks has composed over five choral pieces, two piano pieces and three instrumental pieces. This weekend’s performance of “The Lord’s Prayer” is the first of his compositions to be performed in public.

Brooks, a member of the Oratorio Choir, suggested the choir perform an original choir composition to Oratorio Choir Director Robert Molison. Molison liked the idea and the choir began practicing “The Lord’s Prayer.”

“It has worked out better than either of us had planned,” Brooks said. “Hopefully the choir thinks so too.”

Although most of Brooks’ influences are from Romantic composers such as Brahms and Shubert, he was influenced by his choir director from his home church to write “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Brooks’ church choir director originally offered him a 25 cent commission to compose a piece. After thinking about the proposition, Brooks decided a piece that used the words from The Lord’s Prayer would be appropriate.

“I thought, ‘What better piece to write for a church choir,'” Brooks said. “It’s one of my favorite prayers. It’s ubiquitous as far as prayers go.”

After deciding on the piece, Brooks began studying the words in the prayer to find musical ideas. The beginning of the piece is reverent and thoughtful, but when it progresses toward the phrase “lead us not into temptation,” a rhythmic variation is used to add excitement, Brooks said.

There is a large build-up towards the end of the piece, and then an entire section devoted to the word “Amen.”

“All composers thank God for the word ‘Amen,'” Brooks said. “If we run out of words, we can stick an Amen section at the end.”

Brooks said his love for music stems back to his childhood years when he used to sing with his mother; however, he didn’t develop an interest for composing until late in his high school years.

According to Brooks, when he was a senior in high school, his choral instructor took him to Drake University to see a workshop with composer John Rutter.

I didn’t really start composing until after the workshop,” Brooks said. “Talking to him inspired me.”

Although Brooks started his career not too long ago, he already has big plans for the future.

“I’d like to do a requiem setting sometime in the future,” Brooks said. “I’d like to do more choral a capella pieces and maybe even a string quartet.”

Brooks has thought about going to graduate school and teaching at the college level, but regardless of where the future leads him, he is sure he will always find time to do what he loves.

“I’ll always compose no matter what else happens,” Brooks said.

In addition to the choir’s performance of “The Lord’s Prayer,” the Oratorio will perform excerpts from Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” (Songs of Beuern) and “In ecclesiis, benedicite Domino” (In the congregations, bless ye the Lord) by Giovanni Gabrieli.

The Iowa State Jazz Choir, Off The Record, will also be performing arrangements of “Dancing In The Dark,” arranged by Phil Mattson, “Teach Me Tonight,” arranged by Jason Smith, and “London By Night,” arranged by Gene Puerling.

The concert will be held Sunday at 3 p.m. in the Music Hall Recital Hall. The performance is free and open to the public.