for SATB and piano four-hands or orchestra This short, energetic piece sets words by contemporary hymn-writer Mary Louise Bringle. The text is full of positivity and hope, and Wilberg's use of a 7/8 time signature keeps the verses propelling forward joyously, while undulating quavers shape the refrains. Several key changes are supported by a continuously rhythmic accompaniment in the form of piano duet or large orchestra, and an instrumental interlude precedes the third and final verse.

for solo voice and SATB unaccompanied A familiar piece from the 100 Carols for Choirs stable, John Rutter's sublime arrangement of the haunting Appalachian carol I wonder as I wander, collected in the 1930s by musical folklorist and singer John Jacob Niles, is lilting and evocative, setting the scene with an affecting opening verse for solo voice.

for SSAA unaccompanied A bright and breezy piece with a charming text by Charles Bennett, A Tree of Song begins with a jaunty 7/8 figure which recurs throughout the piece, with a spirited melody floating above. Alternation between passages of 4/4 and 7/8 gives a lively offbeat feel, with the piece only taking on a darker tone in a brief central section.

for SATTBB unaccompanied With a text by the composer, this secular carol is a true celebration of all that we love about the festive season. Owain Park's arrangement presents a new take on this Christmas classic, drawing on Rutter's evocative orchestral colours to create this characterful and heart-warming arrangement for a cappella voices. This arrangement of The Very Best Time of Year has been recorded by The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, conducted by Stephen Layton, on the album Yulefest! (Hyperion, CDA68087).

for SATTBB unaccompanied This lively and joyous arrangement of the folksong 'Montagnarde' from the Haute-Auvergne region of France makes playful use of the call of the cuckoo in a catchy refrain. 'Montagnarde' is featured on the Tenebrae CD Sun, Moon, Sea, and Stars (Signum, SIGCD903).

for SATTBB unaccompanied Chilcott's arrangement of 'Viens par le pre', a folksong from the Haute-Auvergne region of France that presents a heartfelt expression of love, is tender and expressive, with rich, warm harmonies. 'Viens par le pre' is featured on the Tenebrae CD Sun, Moon, Sea, and Stars (Signum, SIGCD903).

for SA, piano, and percussion This is an uplifting and expressive setting of a fun, descriptive text by Christie Dickason that characterizes the sky in an imaginative way. The compelling melodies are underpinned by a dynamic piano part, often featuring rippling quavers, and charcterful interjections from the glockenspiel and suspended cymbal complement the narrative. A contrasting middle section in triple time quotes from the Northumbrian folk song 'When the boat comes in', while the final section is affirmatory in feel, emphatically repeating the final line of the poem, 'and I will grow'.

for SATB and piano A favorite text and tune of singers and listeners alike, this festival hymn is given new life in this lively and upbeat 7/8 setting. The central section is legato and chorale-like, making for a beautiful contrast, before a slow build with 'Alleluias' returns us to a reprise of the original flavour, creating an exciting and powerful ending.

for upper voices, SATB, and harp My Perfect Stranger is a captivating setting of Kevin Crossley-Holland's retelling of the Christmas story. Following an expectant prologue, the central movement is rich in characterization as soloists from within the choir take on the roles of key players in the narrative, with the upper voices adopting the role of the guiding star, as well as enriching the texture at important moments in the story. Beginning with the harp ostinato of the prologue, the epilogue asks the listener to reflect on the story we have heard, challenging us to consider the part we might have played and asking 'what have you to say and sing?'. The work's vibrant part for harp makes for a compelling alternative to the more conventional keyboard accompaniment.

for SATB unaccompanied and optional flute This warm and tender carol sets an evocative text by Norman Nicholson depicting Mary's gentle nurturing of her child. There is a beautiful simplicity in Chilcott's setting, which features sumptuous harmonies, lyrical melodies, and an optional part for flute that weaves in and out of the texture. The flute part is printed in the vocal score.

Stephen Sondheim is one of the best-known and most-loved musical theatre composers, but also one of the most misunderstood, often being labelled as 'distant' or 'cynical'. Careful the Spell You Cast instead argues that Sondheim firmly belongs to the Broadway aspirational tradition, in that many of his characters are defined by their dreams: to abandon one's dream (as Ben does in Follies, Frank does in Merrily We Roll Along, and Addison does in Road Show) is to lose one's soul. Rather than take the established view of Sondheim as a cynic, this book contends that throughout Sondheim's work, letting go of one's illusions is a process that his characters need to go through, that they must cast off illusions and false dreams, without becoming cynical and destroying their genuine dreams in the process. In turn this view aligns Sondheim's work as being aspirational and a logical continuation from the work of his mentor, Oscar Hammerstein II. Following the trajectory of Sondheim's career, Careful the Spell You Cast shows how Sondheim has dramatized this process throughout his writing life alongside different collaborators. From his work as a lyricist with the musicals Gypsy and West Side Story through to his later collaborations with Hal Prince (Company, Follies) and James Lapine (Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George), this book reframes the established view through lyrical and structural analysis in relation to the characters within each of these celebrated works of musical theatre, arguing that Sondheim is, in the popular sense of the word, a romantic within the tradition of the Broadway musical.

for SSAA, solo cello, djembe, and piano This evocative anthem, from the larger work Snow Angel, is a piece of two halves. Opening with a haunting cello line, the first section ('God Will Give Orders') is mystical and ethereal, until a vibrant figure from the djembe lifts the music into the second section ('Sweet Child'), which is uplifting and bold in character, with a distinctly African feel and an effective a cappella ending.

for SATB, trumpet, and organ/orchestra The second of two Rutter anthems celebrating the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, Give the king thy judgments, O God is a ceremonial work that draws upon the Book of Psalms alongside text written by the composer to create a suitably festive piece. Although the prevailing mood is jubilant, the closing pages provide a prayerful moment as Orlando Gibbon's gentle hymn tune Song 1 is interpolated to great effect. This anthem is featured on Rutter's highly-acclaimed CD The Gift of Life. A trumpet in C part is included in the vocal score, and a B flat trumpet part is available separately.

for CCBar and piano This original suite, written for the Warwickshire Youth Choir, represents an extended concert item at the centre of the Emerging Voices series. It sets anonymous instructions found in packaging to general household goods, providing amusing and theatrical highlights as well as musical interplay and formal episodes.

for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied This reflective carol (setting a text by the composer) features an affecting recurring melody, sumptuous harmonies, and long, expressive phrases. Though it has moments of great intensity, the carol is primarily quietly optimistic in mood, with the homophonic texture and changing metre highlighting the heartfelt devotion of the text.

for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied First performed by the Choir of St Luke's Episcopal Church, Evanston, Illinois, in 2016, this powerful motet sets a reflective text by Augustine of Hippo. Connoisseurs of Jackson's music will recognise the hallmarks of his highly accessible style: inventive harmony that is largely diatonic but never plain, and textures that encompass the blazingly sonorous and the expressively intimate.

for SATB and piano/orchestra Wilberg's arrangement of Robert Lowry's text and melody is a beautifully reflective take on the well-known hymn. Simple vocal lines are enhanced by a gently flowing accompaniment, rich in suspensions and harmonic interest. This part can be played on the piano, or by the unusual combination of flutes, cors anglais, harp, and strings.

for SATB and organ or orchestra John Rutter's original setting of this popular Easter hymn is resplendent and celebratory, with frequent metre changes that give a fresh feel to these historic words. Also available in Anthems for Choirs 4 and Ash Wednesday to Easter for Choirs, with a version for SSA and organ available in Anthems for Choirs 3. Orchestral scores and parts are available on hire/rental: 2fl, 2ob, 2cl, 2bsn, 2hn, 2tpt, timp, perc, hp, str.