for SSA or SSS and organ or strings Originally published in a version for mixed voices, this much-loved Rutter carol has been adapted by the composer for performance by upper-voice choirs. Full scores and Sets of Parts, specially composed for the upper-voice version, are available on sale and on hire/rental. The Set of Parts contains the following string parts: 4 x vln I, 4 x vln II, 3 x vla, 2 x vc, 1 x db.

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.

Now with a new cover! This book offers the inspiring true stories behind 101 of your favorite hymns. It is excellent for devotional reading, sermon illustrations, and bulletin inserts, as well as for historical or biographical research.

Neelima Shukla-Bhatt offers an illuminating study of Narsinha Mehta, one of the most renowned saint-poets of medieval India and the most celebrated bhakti (devotion) poet from Gujarat, whose songs and sacred biography formed a vital source of moral inspiration for Gandhi. Exploring manuscripts, medieval texts, Gandhi's more obscure writings, and performances in multiple religious and non-religious contexts, including modern popular media, Shukla-Bhatt shows that the songs and sacred narratives associated with the saint-poet have been sculpted by performers and audiences into a popular source of moral inspiration.
Drawing on the Indian concept of bhakti-rasa (devotion as nectar), Narasinha Mehta of Gujarat reveals that the sustained popularity of the songs and narratives over five centuries, often across religious boundaries and now beyond devotional contexts in modern media, is the result of their combination of inclusive religious messages and aesthetic appeal in performance. Taking as an example Gandhi's perception of the songs and stories as vital cultural resources for social reconstruction, the book suggests that when religion acquires the form of popular culture, it becomes a widely accessible platform for communication among diverse groups. Shukla-Bhatt expands upon the scholarship on the embodied and public dimension of bhakti through detailed analysis of multiple public venues of performance and commentary, including YouTube videos.
This study provides a vivid picture of the Narasinha tradition, and will be a crucial resource for anyone seeking to understand the power of religious performative traditions in popular media.

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.

A "contemplative" ethnographic study of a Benedictine monastery in Vermont known for its folk-inspired music. Far from being a long-silent echo of medieval religion, modern monastery music is instead a resounding, living illustration of the role of music in religious life. Benedictine monks gather for communal prayer upwards of five timesper day, every day. Their prayers, called the Divine Office, are almost entirely sung. Benedictines are famous for Gregorian Chant, but the original folk-inspired music of the monks of Weston Priory in Vermont is amongthe most familiar in post-Vatican II American Catholicism. Using the ethnomusicological methods of fieldwork and taking inspiration from the monks' own way of encountering the world, this book offers a contemplative engagement with music, prayer, and everyday life. The rich narrative evokes the rhythms of learning among Benedictines to show how monastic ways of being, knowing, and musicking resonate with humanistic inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge andunderstanding. Maria S. Guarino received her PhD in critical and comparative studies in music from the University of Virginia. She specializes in ethnography, religious life, Benedictine monasticism, and contemplativepractices. Support for this publication was provided by the Howard Hanson Institute for American Music of the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester.

Litanic verse is based on different syntactic and rhetorical devices, such as enumeration, parallelism, anaphora, and epiphora. Its Italian variants are not to be seen as a mere convention of versification, but as a multifactorial phenomenon, which involves semantic and performative aspects as well. The variants reveal their different faces within various periods, beginning with the Duecento. This book analyzes Italian poetry up until the first decades of the twentieth century, together with certain musical pieces that are closely related to the history of literature. The monograph is the fourth of five volumes devoted to the emergence and development of litanic verse in the literature of European regions.

A definitive look at how church music is changing in the 21st century. There is no lack of resources for the church musician focusing on particular skills or repertoire. But this is the first collection of essays created specifically for musicians working in parish ministry that imagines how those vocations will change along with the evolving church. Ponder Anew chronicles the rapid changes in the church music landscape in the last 20 years including the role of technology, education, relationships with clergy and choristers, and cultural presumptions. Contributors are parish musicians, professors, clergy, and bishops.

for SATB and organ or large orchestra Adapted from a version originally written for baritone Bryn Terfel, this choral setting of Wilberg's arrangement presents the popular Welsh hymn (Cwm Rhondda) with two English translation options, reflecting text preferences of different denominations. The accompaniment and harmonies provide a new flavour, and a reflective opening gradually gives way to a powerful sense of reverence. Guide me, O thou great Jehovah features on the Deutsche Grammophon album Homeward Bound, in an arrangement for baritone (Bryn Terfel) and choir.

for SATB (with opt. solos) and organ or piano, or with small orchestra or chamber group A Light in the Stable tells the Christmas story through a blend of original settings and well-known carols, and is suitable for both concert and church choirs. The familiar Gospel words (which may be spoken, sung, or replaced with other appropriate readings) are interspersed with a range of new material, including the lively 'Glory to God'; 'Sing Lullaby', in which Mary foreshadows the events of Jesus' life; and the reflective 'A Light for Today', an evocation of the Nativity tableau. The audience/congregation are encouraged to join in for some carols, and choir and listeners will delight in the new settings of familiar words. A range of soloists may optionally take some of the vocal lines, and the accompaniment is equally flexible. A wonderful companion to Bullard's Advent celebration, O Come, Emmanuel, this work is perfect for anyone looking for a new take on familiar Christmas words and melodies.

for soprano solo, SATB, and optional organ This is a peaceful setting of the Latin hymn text, translated by J. M. Neale. Partially based on the plainsong melody Conditur alme siderum, the music features sonorous harmonies, subtle time changes, and fluid choral homophony, with a beautiful soprano solo that floats over the other voices. The work may be performed unaccompanied or with organ doubling the voices (excluding the solo line). It is suitable for both general use and Christmas.

for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied Setting a specially written text by Charles Bennett, this gentle lullaby reflects on the role of the animals and angels in the nativity, compelling us to follow their lead and create our own Christmas scene wherever we are. Chilcott's choral writing is characteristically warm and lush, with some divisi, and the singable melodies are shared between the parts. Song of the Crib features on the Naxos CD of Bob Chilcott's Christmas music, The Rose in the Middle of Winter.

for tenor solo and SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied This reflective winter carol features a prominent melody line, taken in two verses by the tenor soloist, which is supported by a gentle accompanying figure in the other voices. The minor tonality reflects the sentiments of the newly written text by Charles Bennett; while we can present temporary gifts for the child of winter, only his arrival will bring 'our summer without end'.

for SA and piano This thoughtful arrangement of the well-known spiritual 'Somebody's knockin' at yo' do'' was originally published as part of the collection Spirituals for Upper Voices. The two vocal lines are eminently singable, with melodic interest in both parts, making the arrangement ideal for both children's and women's choirs of all levels of experience. Containing a recognisable knocking motif, the piano part is expressive, harmonically interesting, and supportive.

for SATB and organ or orchestra or unaccompanied This anthology of 9 mixed-voice anthems combines new material written specially for the collection with established favourites from the Oxford catalogue, some of which appear here for the first time with SATB scoring. Containing both accompanied and a cappella pieces, and with festive anthems (with keyboard or orchestral accompaniment) alongside short, gentle blessings, Mack Wilberg Anthems contains an attractive selection of pieces suitable for a variety of liturgical seasons and will appeal to all mixed-voice church choirs.

for SATB (with optional solos) and organ or piano or small orchestra or chamber group O Come, Emmanuel is an Advent Celebration, suitable for both church and concert choirs. It is based on the 7 Great 'O' Antiphons, and fragments of the well-known plainsong hymn permeate the work. To these, Bullard has added settings of a number of other Advent texts and hymns, including the beautiful 'There is a rose-tree', a rousing setting of 'Chanticleer Carol', and new arrangements of 'Gabriel's Message' and 'Joy to the world!'. The work may be sung throughout by SATB choir, or a range of soloists may take some of the lines. The accompaniment - for organ or piano, or with small orchestra or chamber group - is equally flexible. A number of the movements make highly effective separate pieces and anthems. Written with the composer's long and practical experience, O Come, Emmanuel is a strikingly original work for Advent and Christmas that will enhance both liturgical celebrations and concert programmes at this time.

for SATB and organ Setting an original text by the composer, this exuberant carol celebrates the birth of Jesus with a lively tempo and bouncing rhythms. Featuring a spirited organ part and a variety of choral textures, Angels tell the Christmas story is ideal for both concert and liturgical use, and is sure to fill audiences with Christmas joy!

for SATB and organ, brass and organ, or orchestra This colourful Christmas work brings together several carols from the 1582 Piae Cantiones collection in a modern and refreshing through-composed medley. Using largely familiar tunes, this is a very singable concert suite, with interest provided through use of texture, and festive flourishes in the accompaniment. Texts are in English, Latin, and German, with English singing translations throughout.

for SATB and piano With a lively tempo, dance-like rhythms, and bright harmonies, Chilcott's music perfectly expresses the festive joy of this original Christmas text by Charles Bennett. The uplifting melody is interspersed with jubilant bell-like tones, and the driving chords in the piano add an underlying sense of excitement. A real Christmas gift for choirs!

for SATB and organ This is a new original setting of the well-known Christmas text, translated from Polish by Edith Reed. With a gentle melody, warm harmonies, and a graceful organ accompaniment, Infant Holy will make a moving feature in any mixed-voice choir's Christmas festivities, and is a fresh alternative to the famous Polish carol.

for SATB and organ or orchestra This is a grand and exultant arrangement of the hymn tune 'Llanfair' and is presented with two text options: 'Hail the day that sees him rise' for use at Easter, and 'Praise the Lord! his glories show' for the rest of the year. Wilberg has treated the melody in several ways, including a four-part unaccompanied verse and a jubilant descant (optional); the accompaniment adds further triumphant colour with fanfares and scalic flourishes.

for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied, with optional tambourine This is a spirited arrangement of the popular fourteenth-century carol for mixed voices, with an optional part for tambourine in the final verse. The familiar melody weaves between the vocal parts, and the piece is characterized by medieval harmonies and a rocking thirds motif. An English singing translation is presented alongside the original Latin, allowing choirs to perform the carol in either language.

for SATB unaccompanied This edition of the Salve Regina by Portuguese composer Diogo Dias Melgas (1638-1700) is the first published version of the work, which has previously only been available in a library edition. Suitable for liturgical or concert performance, this setting is in four equally active parts throughout, each of which takes the initial plainsong motif at the opening. The effectiveness of this moving work lies in the skilful manipulation of simple motivic material, through the use of devices such as parallel writing, sequences, repetition, suspensions, and hocket. The vocal score is presented alongside detailed performance and editorial notes, and an optional basso continuo part appears as an appendix. Salve Regina is featured on The Sixteen's CD 'A Golden Age of Portuguese Music', conducted by Harry Christophers (COR16020).

The Oxford Book of Lent and Easter Organ Music brings together a superb array of repertoire for use from Ash Wednesday through to Pentecost, providing a comprehensive volume for this extended liturgical period. The pieces-largely based on well-known hymn tunes-vary in style and length, suiting a range of purposes, from processionals and interludes to voluntaries and recital works. A range of technical difficulty makes the book useful for players of differing abilities, and clean and uncluttered scores leave interpretative decisions to the performer. An invaluable resource for a major part of the church year.