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Books > Arts & Architecture > Music > Musical scores, lyrics & libretti
for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied Setting Revelation 21: 1-5,
this short anthem is in McGlade's typically fluid style, with
harmonic twists, changing metres, and tempo fluctuations. With some
divisi in the upper parts, it will be particularly welcomed by
experienced church and cathedral singers as a new take on these
well-known words.
for SSAA and piano Refuge sets a powerful Sara Teasdale poem by the
same name, which perfectly captures the healing power of singing:
'For with my singing I can make a refuge for my spirit's sake, A
house of shining words, to be my fragile immortality'. Quartel uses
musical structure to complement the poem's narrative, opening and
closing with music marked 'resilient and strong', with a central
section that is 'warm and hopeful', as expressed by rich harmonies
and soaring melodic lines. The piano underpins this expressive
setting with steady continuous quaver motion, and provides
characterful harmonic moments.
for SSATB unaccompanied. Composed for International Women's Day,
this mesmerising piece celebrates the centennary of Rosalind
Franklin and sets her own words with additional text by the poet
Sean Street. McDowall's tribute to this underappreciated chemist
and crystallographer combines intricate, intertwining melodies with
ethereal harmonies beautifully capturing Franklin's part in the
discovery of the double helix structure.
for SSAA, body percussion & spoons Gallant's take on this
Acadian folksong is lively and engaging, featuring the
quintessential elements of the tradition: podorythmie (seated
foot-tapping), diddlage (mouth music), and the spoons. With playful
vocal slides and energetic rhythmic motifs, this arrangement offers
a modern twist on this well-loved melody from the French-Canadian
oral tradition. An English (non-singing) translation is included in
the leaflet, while a studio recording, pronunciation guides, and an
instructional video on playing techniques are accessible through
the companion website. Also available in a version for SATB, body
percussion, and spoons.
for SATB, body percussion, & spoons Gallant's take on this
Acadian folksong is lively and engaging, featuring the
quintessential elements of the tradition: podorythmie (seated
foot-tapping), diddlage (mouth music), and the spoons. With playful
vocal slides and energetic rhythmic motifs, this arrangement offers
a modern twist on this well-loved melody from the French-Canadian
oral tradition. An English (non-singing) translation is included in
the leaflet, while a studio recording, pronunciation guides, and an
instructional video on playing techniques are accessible through
the companion website. Also available in a version for SSAA, body
percussion, and spoons.
for SATB (with divisions) and piano or orchestra This is a
beautiful, sensitive arrangement of the African-American spiritual
and folk hymn Oh, watch the stars. The text reflects on the beauty
of creation, and alternative verses by David Warner celebrating
Christ's birth have been included for performance during the
Christmas season. Wilberg artfully retains the understated feel and
simplicity of the original spiritual while demonstrating hallmarks
of his unique style, such as rich harmonies, contrasting keys and
textures, and effective obbligato instrumental fills.
for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied This is an expressive
setting of Sara Teasdale's poem 'Peace', with lush, rich harmonies
and a soft dynamic palette. Poignant and peaceful, and perfect for
choirs who enjoy refining blend and ensemble, this setting will
provide a reflective moment in a concert programme.
for unison voices and piano This secular work for upper voices
sensitively sets Langston Hughes's poem of the same name. A lilting
melodic line, eloquent part-writing, and an effective piano part
combine to create a piece that will appeal to both youth and adult
choirs. Also available in versions for SA and piano, SABar and
piano, and solo voice (high/low).
for SATB and organ With a feeling of celebration, Bullard's setting
of the well-known Psalm 100 is energetic and exciting. A spritely
organ part supports bold statements in the vocal lines, while the
middle section offers some thoughtful introspection. Perfect for
services and encores.
for SATB unaccompanied This is a warm and tender piece setting the
last three verses of Christina Rossetti's 'What good shall my life
do me?', which encourages leading a life of love as an example for
others. Daley's heartfelt melodies are set to hymn-like textures
and flow freely in ever-changing time signatures.
for SATB unaccompanied William Romanis's hymn text is brought to
life in this enchanting anthem with unexpected harmonic shifts and
fluctuating time signatures. Rooney glides gracefully between tonal
centres, creating a beautiful, ethereal atmosphere. Also published
in Breath of Song.
for SATB and piano This atmospheric setting of familiar words from
Shakespeare's As You Like It is sprightly and uplifting, with
singers being asked by the composer to perform with 'a bit of frost
and a knowing smile'. Also available in a version for SSA and
piano, and solo voice and piano (high/low).
for SSAA and piano Like the original version for SATB voices, this
upper-voice arrangement of Wide Open Spaces reflects on the
journeys and adventures to be found in the wide opens spaces within
ourselves and in the world around us. The uplifting melody is
passed from the sopranos to the altos before the piece opens out
into an expansive texture with rich harmonies. Quartel introduces a
playful episode of scat singing before a resolute final chorus
brings this evocative piece to a peaceful and serene close.
for ATB unaccompanied Scored especially for ATB to meet social
distancing requirements, this piece has both special resonance and
practical application in these uncertain times. McGlade's
characteristic unaccompanied style offers flowing contrapuntal
lines while the shifting tonalities throughout effectively capture
both poignancy and joy.
Lit Up Inside contains the lyrics of about one third of the songs
that Van Morrison has written over his 50 year career. In this
representative selection from the work of one of the most
innovative and enduring songwriters of the last century, the reader
will find examples of all the features of the world that Van has
created through his work: the back streets and mystic avenues;
memories of childhood wonder and of adult work; the chime of church
bells and the playing of the radio; the generous naming of other
artists and the joy of solitude; love and sharp dealing;
consolation and grace.
for SATB (with divisions) and organ or orchestra This affecting
setting of the well-known poem from George Herbert's The Temple
features rich harmonies and sweeping melodies to create a work of
depth and poignancy. The piece begins with an instrumental
introduction, before the melody is taken up first by upper voices,
then full chorus.
for SATB and cello This simple setting of words by Tennyson
reflects a different side to McGlade's compositional style, without
sacrificing any of her trademark characteristics. The largely
homophonic vocal lines move as one, with clarity and poise in
abundance, creating a bed of sound over which the cello gently
glides.
In the late 1920s, Dmitry Shostakovich emerged as one of the first
Soviet film composers. With his first score for the silent film the
New Babylon (1929) and the many sound scores that followed, he was
positioned to observe and participate in the changing politics of
the film industry and negotiate the role of the film composer. In
The Early Film Music of Dmitry Shostakovich, Joan Titus examines
the scores of six of Shostakovich's films, from 1928 through 1936.
Instead of investigating Shostakovich as a composer, a rebel, a
communist, or a dissident, as innumerable studies do, Titus
approaches him as a concept in itself-as an idea-and asks why and
how listeners understand him as they do. Through Shostakovich's
scores, Titus engages with the construct of Soviet intelligibility,
the filmmaking and scoring processes, and the cultural politics of
scoring Soviet film music, asking why and how listeners understand
the composer the way they do. The discussions of the scores are
enriched by the composer's own writing on film music, along with
archival materials and recently discovered musical manuscripts that
illuminate the collaborative processes of the film teams, studios,
and composer. The Early Film Music of Dmitry Shostakovich
commingles film studies, musicology, and Russian studies with
original scholarship, and is sure to be of interest to a wide
audience including musicologists, film scholars, historians of
Russia and the Soviet Union, and Slavicists.
The Sarah Quartel Songbook brings together a selection of the
composer's best-loved pieces for upper voices, including favourites
such as The Birds' Lullaby, I remember, and All the way home. This
is an invaluable resource both for choirs looking to explore the
work of this fine choral composer for the first time and for
admirers of Quartel's style hoping to find staple repertoire
conveniently gathered together in one volume.
for SSSAA unaccompanied. The opening of this motet displays
Massaino's skill in the art of word-painting with soaring lines
that play on the word 'arise' (Surge). Punctuated with occasional
homophonic writing, the beautiful melodic lines find clever use of
imitation across all voices. The secunda pars increases the quick
imitation of the vocal lines, mirroring the excitement of the text
'the time of pruning has come' (Tempus putationis advenit). This,
coupled with the introduction of shorter note values, creates a
joyful celebration of the text from the Song of Songs. Offprinted
from The Oxford Book of Upper-Voice Polyphony.
for SSSA unaccompanied. Palestrina's setting of the Marian motet
Alma Redemptoris Mater seamlessly interweaves each of the four
independent voices based on the solemn tone of the corresponding
chant. Offprinted from The Oxford Book of Upper-Voice Polyphony.
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