for upper voices, SATB, and organ or chamber ensemble On Christmas Night is a musical celebration of the Christmas story, presented as a sequence of eight original carols. Chilcott calls upon several familiar carol melodies within his own settings, resulting in an impressive array of styles and moods-from comforting and reflective to jubilant, swinging, and folksy. The work as a whole can be performed liturgically or in concert, with or without the composer's suggested readings, while individual carols may also be programmed separately. Combining tradition and invention, On Christmas Night is a versatile and enchanting addition to the choral repertory. An accompaniment for chamber ensemble is available on hire/rental.

for SATB and organ or orchestra Novo profusi gaudio is a vibrant Christmas motet, setting a medieval text that combines English, Latin, and French words. This joyful account of the nativity is combined with colourful, exuberant music featuring memorable motifs, rhythmic phrases, and triumphant climaxes. Topped off with an extra layer of character from the organ part, this piece is sure to add sparkle to any service or concert at Christmas time.

This in an outstanding collection of twelve African-American spirituals arranged for upper voices. Rosephanye and William C. Powell have collaborated with some of the most talented and respected spiritual arrangers in the United States to deliver specially commissioned, authentic settings. You'll find familiar melodies, such as 'Deep River' and 'Somebody's knockin' at yo' do'', alongside lesser-known spirituals, and a range of styles and moods extending from the aspirational to the celebratory. Many of the arrangements include a 'lead voice' part, allowing the opportunity for solo singing, and idiomatic piano parts support the voices for the accompanied spirituals; piano reductions are included for the unaccompanied arrangements. This inspirational journey through the African-American spiritual tradition is sure to captivate and delight all upper-voice choirs.

for SATB (with divisions) and organ Commissioned and first performed by the choir of Liverpool Cathedral, this anthem is ideal for use during the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. The choral lines move between sonorous homophonic writing and vibrant imitative passages, and are underpinned by a repeated quaver motif in the organ. Combining a sense of joy with moments of reflection, this anthem will particularly appeal to choirs looking to expand their choral repertoire.

for SATB (with soprano semi-chorus), piano, & optional percussion (bass drum, tam-tam/gong, & 3 tom-toms) This is a colourful and dramatic celebration of nature and its powerful and hypnotizing sounds. The listener is taken on a captivating journey through the natural world, via 'tongues of thunders', the 'singing sea', and 'trumpet-throated winds'. Clustered harmonies, cross-rhythms, and vocal effects are combined with bell-like passages and rippling figurations in the piano, and the optional percussion part adds further rhythmic and dynamic interest. The semi-chorus part can be sung by one or more sopranos or a children's choir.

for SSAA and piano four-hands, or orchestra This lovely arrangement of the popular American folk song perfectly captures the sense of loss and longing in the words. From the gentle unison opening, the music builds up through a range of textures and harmonies to a rich climax, before gently relaxing for a quietly evocative close. Ideal with either piano or orchestral accompaniment. There is also a version for SATB. Orchestral material is available on hire.

for SSA and piano On this day is a bright and exuberant upper-voice setting of the English version of 'Personent hodie' from Piae Cantiones (1582). The text and the manageable vocal parts make this carol particularly suitable for children's voices, but it could equally be sung by adult choirs. The piano part, featuring bell-like passages and a driving momentum, contributes to an overall sense of jubilation. An excellent addition to any carol service or concert.

for SATB and keyboard or orchestra Setting a text by David Warner, this charming composition has a warm, memorable tune and rich, expansive harmonies. Wilberg masterfully moves through different keys and scorings, culminating in a stirring unison 'amen'. Benediction has been recorded on the CD Heavensong: Music of Contemplation and Light, and is ideal for use both in concerts and services throughout the year. An orchestral accompaniment is available on hire.

for SATB and organ The Gift of Charity is a gently flowing anthem. It features beautifully arching phrases, an optional soprano solo, and exultant yet tender climaxes. The text, by Selwyn Image, based on I Corinthians 13, makes it the perfect choice for weddings, but also for use all year round.

for SATB choir and piano four-hands or orchestra First published in My Song in the Night (2009), Wilberg's Down to the River to Pray is a spirited arrangement of the traditional melody. The piano duet accompaniment provides a folk-like rhythmic underpinning, and the piece ascends to a magnificent finish. Orchestral material is available on hire/rental.

for SATB and organ or orchestra Featured in My Song in the Night (2009), Amazing grace! is a majestic arrangement of the well-known melody. Beginning with male voices in unison, Wilberg gradually introduces more vocal parts, building ultimately to a grand climax in eight parts. A subtle Scottish influence is evident through the use of drones and a Scotch snap motif in the organ. Orchestral material is available on hire/rental.

for SATTBB unaccompanied Gombert's In illo tempore: loquente Jesu is a six-part unaccompanied study in intricate part-writing, with sinuous stepwise motion and persistent imitative entries. The optimism of the text, taken from the Gospel of Luke, is reflected in the music of this buoyant motet, and the dashes of harmonic colour, unexpected cadences, and elaborate textures make this highly rewarding counterpoint to sing.

for SA (with divisions) and piano Setting a love poem by W. B. Yeats, Tread Softly is a charming addition to the upper-voice repertory. Gradually opening out from unison, this piece features melodic vocal lines, colourful harmonies, and luscious modulations, and the rhythmic contrasts in the choir are complemented by a gently flowing piano part. Suitable for use in a variety of concert programmes and at weddings.

Discussion of original performance conventions of Bach's sacred works - cantatas, Passions, masses - by practising musician and director of Taverner choir. What type of choir did Bach have in mind as he created his cantatas, Passions and Masses? How many singers were at his disposal in Leipzig, and in what ways did he deploy them in his own music? Seeking to understand the verymedium of Bach's incomparable choral output, Andrew Parrott investigates a wide range of sources: Bach's own writings, and the scores and parts he used in performance, but also a variety of theoretical, pictorial and archival documents, together with the musical testimony of the composer's forerunners and contemporaries. Many of the findings shed a surprising, even disturbing, light on conventions we have long taken for granted. A whole world away from, say, the typical oratorio choir of Handel's London with which we are reasonably familiar, the essential Bach choir was in fact an expert vocal quartet (or quintet), whose members were also responsible for all solos and duets. (In a mere handful of Bach's works, this solo team was selectively supported by a second rank of singers - also one per part - whose contribution was all but optional). Parrott shows that this use of aone-per-part choir was mainstream practice in the Lutheran Germany of Bach's time: Bach chose to use single voices not because a larger group was unavailable, but because they were the natural vehicle of elaborate concerted music. As one of several valuable appendices, this book includes the text of Joshua Rifkin's explosive 1981 lecture, never before published, which first set out this line of thinking and launched a controversy that is long overduefor resolution. ANDREW PARROTT has made a close study of historical performing practices in the music of six centuries, and for over twenty-five years he has been putting research into practice with his own professional ensembles, the Taverner Consort, Taverner Players and Taverner Choir.

for SATB, solo violin (or flute), and organ This charming melody is a refreshing and beautiful alternative to Cesar Franck's setting of the same text, taken from Sacris Solemniis and written by St. Thomas Aquinas. The inclusion of the violin adds something special to the texture. This work is appropriate for multiple denominations and includes an English singing translation. The violin part is included in the back of the vocal score.

for SATB and piano Following the success of the upper-voice version, Chilcott has arranged the beautiful Like a Singing Bird for mixed choir. Combining texts by Christina Rossetti and Robert Burns, this version retains the upper-voice opening of the original, with the latter section being expanded into mixed-voice harmony.

for SATB (with divisions and Soprano solo) unaccompanied This gentle and expressive carol provides a wonderful alternative to more familiar settings of this well-loved text. The music is harmonically rich, and the floating soprano line adds another dimension to the texture. Suitable for a wide range of choirs at Christmas.

for SSAATTBB unaccompanied This is a truly beautiful addition to the Christmas repertory, setting a specially commissioned poem by Charles Bennett. The flexible metre creates a sense of movement, while the luscious harmonies and often-homophonic textures provide an anchor to the choral writing. The Rose in the Middle of Winter will appeal to all mixed-voice choirs looking for a poignant centrepiece for a Christmas concert or service.

for SATB unaccompanied This lively and uplifting carol sets a joyful fifteenth-century Christmas text by James Ryman. The music is rhythmic and powerful, with moments of rich and vibrant harmony offset by the strong, fanfare-like Latin refrain.

for SATB and organ The four motets in this set are adapted from Bob Chilcott's large-scale choral work, Salisbury Vespers, which was premiered in Salisbury Cathedral in May 2009. Setting a variety of early Marian texts, the set includes the gentle and expressive 'I sing of a mayden' and the fervent 'Hail, Star of the sea most radiant'. Re-scored for SATB and organ, the motets will be welcomed by choirs of all sizes looking for a more intimate introduction to Chilcott's magnificent landmark work. The motets can be performed as a set or individually, and are suitable for concert and liturgical use. Accompaniments for instrumental ensemble or for brass and organ are available to hire separately for each of the accompanied motets.