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Books > Music > Other types of music
for SATB (with divisions) and organ Set to Ursula Vaughan
Williams's celebrated paean to the patron saint of music, this work
is by turns joyous and reflective. Rich harmonies, shifting
tonalities, and expressive melodies combine to evoke the changing
moods explored within the text. The poignant Andante section midway
through the piece, sung by a solo soprano, is a pivotal moment; it
gives way to increasingly jubilant and powerful writing that brings
the work to an ecstatic conclusion.
for CCBarBar and piano This celebrated Spiritual has a strong,
appealing, comfortable melody suitable for boys' choirs, and is
arranged skilfully here for four-part choir and piano, with Ia
cappella sections and affecting modulations. Suited to more
established choirs, it has plenty of opportunities for musical
growth.
for SATB and organ Written for the 20th Anniversary of Norwich
Cathedral Girls' Choir, this setting of the well-known All Saints
Day text juxtaposes flowing melodic lines in the sopranos with rich
homophonic passages, each bringing the text to the fore. The organ
plays a prominent role, providing gentle undulating accompaniment,
as well as fanfare-like exclamations.
for CCBar and piano This imaginative setting of Burns to an
original tune by Pascoe is a masterful display of vocal textures
and writing for male voices. It was a run-away success at the
Cornwall International Male Voice Choral Festival. Founder of the
Cornwall Youth Chamber Choir, Pascoe is Head of Music at Richard
Lander School, Cornwall.
for cambiata 1, cambiata 2, baritone, and piano An original
composition on a traditional and well-loved text, this is a
pulsating, rhythmic piece that displays Tarney's keen sense of
texture and lines that appeal to young singers. The harmonic
language is folk-inspired but with exciting chromatic shifts that
are part of the composer's accomplished style.
for SSA and piano In The Three Kings Chilcott sets verses from
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Christmas poem telling the story of
the three kings' journey to Bethlehem. A sense of travel is created
by the stately 6/8 time signature, and syncopations bring an air of
excitement and wonder to the tale.
for SSATB with divisions, unaccompanied Cecilia McDowall's fresh
and appealing style is amply displayed in this cycle, subtitled
'Three Shakespeare Songs' and first performed by the BBC Singers.
In total, six Shakespeare texts are used, and McDowall's response
encompasses a fleet-footed impression of Scottish fiddle music, a
gorgeously plangent slow movement, and a helter-skelter finale that
broadens to a mysteriously pitchless ending. Also available for
SSAA.
for SATB and piano or chamber ensemble Written in 1978 for the
choir of Clare College, Cambridge, this gentle, dreamy lullaby has
gone on to become one of John Rutter's most popular carols. Full
scores and instrumental parts (flute, oboe, harp, and strings) are
available on hire and on sale. Also available in a version for
SSAA.
for SATB with optional piano Inspired by the simple directness of
William Chatterton Dix's vivid, pictorial text, the composer
explores the breadth of the choral canvas in this expressive and
artful carol. The piece has a straightforward verse-chorus
structure, with gentle development of the verse material and an
effective motif to close each verse, making it accessible to and
rewarding for choirs of all abilities. Also available in a version
for upper voices.
for SSA and piano Inspired by the simple directness of William
Chatterton Dix's vivid, pictorial text, the composer explores the
breadth of the choral canvas in this expressive and artful carol.
The piece has a straightforward verse-chorus structure, with gentle
development of the verse material and an effective motif to close
each verse, making it accessible to and rewarding for choirs of all
abilities. Also available in a version for mixed voices.
for SSAA (with divisions) unaccompanied Cecilia McDowall's fresh
and appealing style is amply displayed in this cycle, subtitled
'Three Shakespeare Songs'. In total, six Shakespeare texts are
used, and McDowall's response encompasses a fleet-footed impression
of Scottish fiddle music, a gorgeously plangent slow movement, and
a helter-skelter finale that broadens to a mysteriously pitchless
ending. Also available for SSATB.
for SATB and piano or harp The King of Love My Shepherd Is sets
Psalm 23 to an arrangement of the Irish traditional melody St.
Columba. Rutter keeps the first three verses largely in unison,
alternating between male and female voices, before allowing the
music to bloom into rich and ever-expanding polyphony for the last
three verses. The arpeggios in the accompaniment, distinctly Gaelic
and gently scored, can be performed either on harp or piano.
for SATB (with divisions) and piano or chamber orchestra Rutter's
charming piece sets a secular text by the composer that emphasises
the significance of music and harmony in an ephemeral world. A
simple accompaniment figure in the piano provides the backdrop to
alternating unison and polyphonic verses that manage to capture
both nostalgia for what was and optimism for what is to come.
for SATB (with divisions) and organ, with optional congregation
Here John Rutter follows Vaughan Williams' precedent in setting
this text from the fourth-century Orthodox liturgy of St James of
Jerusalem to the French carol melody 'Jesus Christ shabille en
pauvre'. The result is a hymn which is in turn haunting and
powerful, with a modal tonality that evokes the timeless
sound-world of plainchant.
for SATB double choir and organ In this rousing anthem for double
choir, Rutter uses frequent time signature changes to breathe new
life into Psalm 148. Guiding the two choirs through a series of
musical mood changes using intricate call-and-response patterns,
the composer steadily builds excitement before bringing them
together in a glorious finale. This anthem forms the conclusion to
John Rutter's Psalmfest, for which scores and parts are available
on hire.
for SATB (with divisions) and piano or orchestra This joyful,
sprightly carol has been offprinted, by popular request, from Sir
David Willcocks: A Celebration in Carols. With its uplifting 7/8
time signature, memorable melody, rich and diverse textures, and
delightful orchestral accompaniment, this carol is a fitting
tribute to one of the great names synonymous with Christmas: David
Willcocks.
for SATB (with divisions) and organ This jubilant carol sets a
fifteenth-century text that rejoices in the birth of the baby
Jesus. Bednall's rhythmically exciting setting features frequently
changing time signatures, with 7/8 passages creating a jaunty feel.
There are a variety of tempi and textures: a slower, tender middle
section contrasts with the lively outer sections, and an
unaccompanied section for the choir is juxtaposed against
glittering, rhythmic organ passages. An ideal opener for any
Christmas Carol concert, the work is featured on the Choir of Truro
Cathedral's CD A Year at Truro (Regent Records).
for SATB unaccompanied This warm and expressive carol sets a
Christmas poem by English poet U. A. Fanthorpe that centres on the
moment of Christ's birth. Fleeting unisons call the listener's
attention to the focal point of the text, the 'moment', and the
rich, luminous harmonies create a sense of wonder at this momentous
event.
for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied The text for this
arrangement of the second of William Walton's Two Pieces for
Strings from Henry V' is based on the line 'Touch her soft mouth,
and part' from Shakespeare's Henry V (Act 2, Scene 3). Featured on
the Tenebrae Consort's CD Sun, Sea, Moon and Stars (released
January 2016), this melancholic setting is simple yet highly
effective.
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