Following the success of the two Popular Voiceworks volumes, Popular Voiceworks at Christmas presents a fantastic collection of seasonal songs and carols in a highly practical format. Singers can explore a huge range of styles and find exciting new material by the authors, as well as arrangements of traditional carols such as 'Away in a manger' and 'In the bleak midwinter' and popular songs such as 'Jingle Bell Rock' and 'Get Together'. Stylish demos are available on a companion website and backing tracks for performance or rehearsal are included on the accompanying CD. A fabulous festive resource!

for SSAA and piano This is a beautiful piece setting an evocative text by Anne Bronte that explores natural imagery on a blustery day and the feelings they inspire. Supported by the piano acccompaniment, Quartel's soaring melodies, rich harmonies, and syncopated rhythms illustrate the power of the wind, while its unpredictable nature is hinted by the hemiolas and cross-rhythms throughout the texture. This is suitable for festival and concert performance.

for SATB unaccompanied In this bittersweet pastoral setting Bednall's flowing melody lines are paired with the tender words of the contemplative First World War poet, Siegfried Sasson. The 5/4 metre lends a wistful whimsical feel to the music, allowing the piece to flow freely, whilst retaining the playful syncopation so familiar in folk music. The poem itself is a rare step outside Sassoon's typical First World War themes. Rather, Idyll describes a summer garden where he wishes to meet somebody, who, it seems, has passed away. A beautifully creative work offering heartache and warmth in equal measure.

for SSATBarB unaccompanied Setting words by the composer, Swept Away is a beautiful and haunting piece with pop-inspired rhythms and harmonies. The scat syllables of the insistent lower parts are combined with a flowing melody in the soprano line to create a powerful work exploring the journey of the singers and the ability of the wind to carry them to their destination.

for SSA and piano or harp This anthem sets a powerful poem by John Henry Newman that reflects on the spirituality of solitude. An imaginative interplay between voices and instrumental accompaniment is prevalent throughout, with effective contrasts between tranquillo and animato sections and delicate ostinato patterns. An alternative accompaniment for harp is available for purchase. The anthem is also available in a version for SATB and guitar or piano.

for SSA and piano Originally published as part of the Songbird collection As you sing, this is a beautiful and modern setting of a traditional text, popularised by Orlando Gibbons' well-known madrigal 'The silver swan'. Tarney draws upon the themes of nature, love, life, and loss to create melodies that are yearning and flowing, and supports the voices with a graceful and delicate piano accompaniment.

for SA and piano Originally published as part of the Songbird collection As you sing, this is a thrilling and high-energy piece setting a text by Jennifer Thorp. Young uses body-percussion, sound effects, repeating themes, and strong rhythms to capture the characteristics of a river, creating a fun and dynamic piece suitable for upper-voice adult and youth choirs.

for SATB and organ or orchestra This bright and exultant arrangement of Michael Praetorius's melody 'Puer nobis nascitur' is presented with two text options: 'O splendor of God's glory bright' for general worship and 'That Easter day with joy was bright' for use at Easter. Sparkling organ interludes, characterised by flutes and piccolos in the orchestral accompaniment, punctuate the lilting melody, which is given contrasting treatment in each of the verses, from presentation in unison to rich four-part harmony.

for SATB unaccompanied Alan Bullard's simple, uplifting setting of words by eighteenth-century writer and Calvinist minister Joseph Hart is perfectly suited to the Every Voice Rejoice series. The anthem is characterized by flexible rhythms that sensitively complement the metre of the text and a beautifully reflective set of Amens at its close.

Known for his orchestral, operatic and choral works, James MacMillan (b. 1959) appeals across the spectrum of contemporary music making. James MacMillan appeals across the spectrum of contemporary music making and is particularly celebrated for his orchestral, operatic and choral pieces. This book, published in time to mark the composer's sixtieth birthday, is thefirst in-depth look at his life, work and aesthetic. From his beginnings in rural Ayrshire and his early work with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, through the international breakthrough success of The Confession of Isobel Gowdie,the continuing success of works such as the percussion concerto Veni, Veni, Emmaneul and his choral pieces, to his current position as one of the most prominent British composers of his generation, the book explores MacMillan's compositional influences over time. It looks closely at his most significant works and sets them in a wider context defined by contemporary composition, culture and the arts in general. The book also considers MacMillan's strong Catholic faith and how this has influenced his work, along with his politics and his on-going relationship with Scottish nationalism. With the support of the composer and his publisher and unprecedented access to interviews and previously unpublished materials, the book not only provides an appraisal of MacMillan's work but also insights into what it means to be a prominent composer and artist in the twenty-first century. PHILLIP A. COOKE is a Composer and Senior Lecturer and Head of Music at the University of Aberdeen. He has previously co-edited The Music of Herbert Howells for Boydell.

This is a complete edition with critical commentary of the Byzantine Communions in thirteenth-century manuscripts of the Asmatikon, all known sources being used. The chants concerned are the earliest known examples of Communion Chants of the Orthodox Church, and are found in a book which may go back to the rite of St Sophia at Constantinople during the tenth century-the earliest copies of which date from the thirteenth-century and come from South Italy and North Greece. Further more, there are also a few manuscripts from Kiev with text in Church Slavonic and an untranscribable musical notation. This is the first systematic transcription of the Asmatikon ever to be published.

for SATB and piano Tarney's setting of this traditional Scottish text offers catchy melodies and folk-inspired harmonies, driven by a rhythmic piano accompaniment. The ballad is framed by a repeating, haunting, and ethereal a cappella phrase that hints at the unearthly nature of the subject. Also available for cambiata voices in the Emerging Voices series.

for SSAA and hand drum Sing, my Child sets a joyful text celebrating the beauty found all around us in everyday life. Characterized by tight harmonies and a dynamic percussion line, the buoyant 7/8 metre of the opening drives the piece forward. Lush harmonies colour the hymn-like B section as the text evolves into a call for strength despite the troubles that may come. Also available in a version for SATB and hand drum.

for SSA and piano Setting a moving text inspired by Chief Seattle, Quartel appeals for better stewardship of the planet through gentle flowing lines and expansive textures. The melodies are accessible throughout and well supported by the piano accompaniment, while the swells and falls in dynamics offer a sense of organicity. 'This we know' was originally published as part of the Songbird collection As you sing.

for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied With a text by the composer, 'My Love has Died for Me' is taken from Passion Music, a concert and liturgical work that epitomizes Todd's love of blending jazz and choral music. Recurring melodies, changing metres, and extended harmonies combine to explore the theme of loss in this powerful and expressive lament.

for SSAATTBB unaccompanied When spring comes walking is a warm and optimistic setting of an evocative poem by Charles Bennett that explores themes of rebirth, nature, and celebration. Chilcott embraces the return of spring with gentle sustained melodies, rich harmonies, and a quote from the traditional carol 'O come, O come, Emmanuel'. This piece is suitable for both advent and Easter.