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Books > Arts & Architecture > Music > Other types of music > Sacred & religious music
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.
for SATB unaccompanied (with divisions) Three Prayers, with a
Vision of Light sets early Christian texts by St Augustine of
Hippo, Baldwin of Forde, and St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi alongside
words by Estonian poet Doris Kareva. Each movement offers a change
of mood, from the reflective 'Conversi ad Dominum' to the more
urgent and pleading 'Aufer a me, Domine' and serene 'Veni, Sancte
Spiritus', with 'He who lives in light' offering an expressive and
contrasting central movement.
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 SSA and organ This concise Latin mass setting is entirely
suitable for liturgical use, but the sharply delineated characters
of the different movements make it also an appealing concert work.
The organ part is supportive, but full of interest and not merely
accompanimental. Particularly memorable are the jaunty Gloria, with
its constantly shifting time-signatures, and the haunting Agnus
Dei.
for SSA(A)TB unaccompanied This attractive motet was written for
performance alongside Brahms's Requiem, following the precedent of
Handel's famous setting of the same text being sung at the premiere
of the Brahms in 1868. The gracefully sculpted music clothes the
text with touching melodies, expressive harmonies and varied
sonorities.
With a host of accessible, quality new settings, and with pieces
based on all the major hymn tunes, these volumes are a must for
every church organist's library.
for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied This serene communion motet
sets the last two verses of the Pangue Lingua and oscillates
between 3/4 and 4/4 time signatures. The melodic lines are
expressive and at times melismatic and the divisi in all parts
creates a rich texture.
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).
The Malay Nobat: A History of Power, Acculturation, and Sovereignty
explores the history and meaning of the nobat, a court ensemble
that performs in courts in Malaysia and Brunei with roots in the
Islamicate world since Abbassid times. Raja Iskandar Bin Raja Halid
examines the nobat spread throughout the Muslim empire and its
emergence as a symbol of power and sovereignty. The book offers a
new perspective of the Islamic history of Southeast Asia through
detailed study of early Malay literature and accounts of western
travelers. The author argues that the nobat was an important symbol
of Muslim power that went through a series of encounters and
accommodation. The author analyzes the effect of the nobat's
appropriation by colonial powers and of its induction as part of an
invented tradition in the process of nation-building a modern Malay
state. The author ultimately shows how existing nobat ensembles in
Malaysia and Brunei are the last living legacy of the Mulism world.
Music in the California missions was a pluralistic combination of
voices and instruments, of liturgy and spectacle, of styles and
functions-and even of cultures-in a new blend that was non-existent
before the Franciscan friars made their way to California beginning
in 1769. This book explores the exquisite sacred music that
flourished on the West Coast of America when it was under Spanish
and Mexican rule; it delves into the historical, cultural,
biographical, and stylistic aspects of California mission music
during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The book
explores how mellifluous plainchant, reverent hymns, spunky
folkloric ditties, "classical" music in the style of Haydn, and
even Native American drumming were interwoven into a tapestry of
resonant beauty. Aspects of music terminology, performance
practice, notation, theory, sacred song, hymns, the sequence, the
mass, and pageantry are addressed. Russell draws upon hundreds of
primary documents in California, Mexico, Madrid, Barcelona, London,
and Mallorca, and it is through the melding together of this
information from geographically separated places that he brings the
mystery of California's mission music into sharper focus. In
addition to extensive musical analysis, the book also examines such
things as cultural context, style, scribal attribution,
instructions to musicians, government questionnaires, invoices, the
liturgy, architectural space where performances took place,
spectacle, musical instruments, instrument construction, shipping
records, travelers' accounts, letters, diaries, passenger lists,
baptismal and burial records, and other primary source material.
Within this book one finds considerablebiographical information
about Junipero Serra, Juan Bautista Sancho, Narciso Duran,
Florencio Ibanez, Pedro Cabot, Martin de Cruzelaegui, Ignacio de
Jerusalem, and Francisco Javier Garcia Fajer. Furthermore, it
contains five far-reaching appendices: a Catalogue of Mission
Sources; Photos of Missions and Mission Manuscripts (with over 150
color facsimiles); Translations of Primary Texts; Music Editions
(that are performance-ready); and an extensive Bibliography.
for SATB (with divisions), oboe, and organ The text combines the
nineteenth-century poet and Christian minister George MacDonald's
emotive poem Lost and Found with the 'In paradisum' antiphon from
the Burial Service in the Liber Usualis. The music is at times
ethereal, melancholic, poignant, and life-affirming. The solo oboe
and organ writing is integral to the emotive character of the
piece, and the word-painting and angelic chorus moments encourage
the listener to reflect on the subject at hand. The Quest is
featured on the Collegium Records CD The Gift of Life. An
orchestration for chamber ensemble (solo oboe, harp, and strings)
is available on hire/rental.
for SATB and piano or organ First published in Carols for Choirs 5,
this is a beautiful and touching setting of the well-known
fifteenth-century words. The contours of Stroope's melodic writing
perfectly mirror the narrative from the manger scene, while the
simple refrain highlights the Christ-child's innocence as his
mother lulls him to sleep.
for SATB and organ Commissioned by the 2015 Three Choirs Festival,
this is Chilcott's second setting of the Evening Canticles. Bright
and rhythmical, the Magnificat features syncopated chords in the
organ part that punctuate the more sustained choral textures. In
contrast, the Nunc dimittis is reflective, opening with a soaring
soprano melody and building towards an expressive climax on the
word 'glory'. Ideal for church and cathedral choirs looking for
something new for their evening service.
for SATB and organ with optional congregation Perfect for
celebrating Pentecost, this joyous anthem on the theme of the Holy
Spirit centres around the Veni Creator Spiritus plainchant,
fragments of which have been skilfully developed to create an
expressive setting of Edwin Hatch's Breathe on me, breath of God.
Masterfully crafted, the anthem moves seamlessly between the
familiar plainchant and Bullard's original melody, before
culminating in a climactic final verse in which the two melodies
are sung simultaneously, bringing the anthem to an exultant close.
for SATB and organ Setting a text by the composer, this choral hymn
addresses God, the risen Christ, and the Holy Spirit in turn, with
a strong sense of worship and adoration. With an appealing melody,
sumptuous harmonies, and a captivating soprano descant, this is the
ideal piece for Trinity Sunday.
Union and Distinction in the Thought of St Maximus the Confessor
presents the writings of a key figure in Byzantine theology in the
light of the themes of unity and diversity. The principle of
simultaneous union and distinction forms the core of Maximus'
thought, pervading every area of his theology. It can be summarized
as: Things united remain distinct and without confusion in an
inseparable union. As Melchisedec T r nen shows, this master theme
also resonates in contemporary theological and philosophical
discussions.
for SATB, piano, and optional bass and drum kit The Nidaros Jazz
Mass draws on a variety of jazz styles to present a fun and
innovative setting of the Latin Missa brevis. With a gentle Kyrie,
funky Gloria, ballad-like Sanctus, laid-back Benedictus, and
passionate Agnus Dei, this work breathes new life into familiar
words, perfectly combining the contemporary with the ancient.
Recorded by a professional jazz trio (piano, bass, and drums), this
backing track is a useful tool for rehearsal and performance, and
is compatible with both mixed- and upper-voice versions.
for baritone solo, SATB chorus, children's choir (or semi-chorus),
and small orchestra (or piano/organ) McDowall's setting of the
Stabat Mater has been described as 'an outstanding work of great
solemnity and poignancy' (Tempo, 2013). The work comprises seven
movements in a symmetrical structure-from the impassioned choral
opening, through two intense yet diverse baritone solos and
contemplative plainchant chorales, to the stately finale uniting
all the voices. The optimistic central movement, in a major
tonality, may be performed by children's choir or a semi-chorus of
sopranos and altos from the main group. A plaintive meditation on
the sorrows of the Virgin Mary as she stands by the Cross,
McDowall's Stabat Mater is a sophisticated modern alternative to
more well-known settings, ideal for performance at non-liturgical
Lenten services. The piano reduction in the score, which can be
adapted for organ, may be used for concert performance if an
orchestra is not available.
With a host of accessible, quality new settings, and with pieces
based on all the major hymn tunes, these volumes are a must for
every church organistas library.
The first thorough examination of the most renowned and influential
organist in early twentieth-century Germany and of his complex
relationship to his country's tumultuous and shifting
sociopolitical landscape. In the course of a multifaceted career,
Karl Straube (1873-1950) rose to positions of immense cultural
authority in a German musical world caught in unprecedented
artistic and sociopolitical upheaval. Son of a German
harmonium-builder and an intellectually inclined English mother,
Straube established himself as Germany's iconic organ virtuoso by
the turn of the century. His upbringing in Bismarck's Berlin
encouraged him to develop intensive interests in world history and
politics. He quickly became a sought-after teacher, editor, and
confidante to composers and intellectuals, whose work he often
significantly influenced. As the eleventh successor to J. S. Bach
in the cantorate of St. Thomas School, Leipzig, he focused the
choir's mission as curator of Bach's works and, in the unstable
political climate of the interwar years, as international emissary
for German art. His fraught exit from the cantorate in 1939 bore
the scars of his Nazi affiliations and issued in a final decade of
struggle and disillusionment as German society collapsed.
Christopher Anderson's book presents the first richly detailed
examination of Karl Straube's remarkable life, situated against the
background of the dynamic and sometimes sinister nationalism that
informed it. Through extensive examination of primary sources,
Anderson reveals a brilliant yet deeply conflicted musician whose
influence until now has been recognized, even hailed, but little
understood.
for SATB and organ Archer's setting of this well-known Christmas
text is lilting and buoyant, with a memorable melody and charming
organ interludes. Suitable for liturgical or concert use, the carol
features great textual variety, building to a rousing finish that
is sure to fill audiences with Christmas cheer!
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