Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo tells the extraordinary story of Nujeen Mustafa, a Kurdish teenager with cerebral palsy forced by war to flee her home and embark on an arduous journey to Europe with her sister. In this five-movement cantata Nujeen's story - recounted in her biography 'The Girl from Aleppo' (co-authored by Christina Lamb) - is retold by Kevin Crossley-Holland and richly scored by Cecilia McDowall. A wealth of musical effects are employed to capture the narrative, including chorales, rhythmic spoken sections, body percussion, and a solo violin part infused with Middle Eastern flavours. The prevailing mood of Nujeen's story is embodied by the final line of a chorale that bookends this unique concert work: 'singing the song of life itself.'

for SATB and piano or orchestra Tree of Life is an expansive setting of an evocative text by David Warner that depicts the sacred archetype of the life-giving tree through the cycle of all four seasons. The lyrics, coupled with simple, memorable melodies, speak of spiritual planting and growth, nourishment, and an abundant harvest; each observation is punctuated by an 'Alleluia' as an expression of praise and gratitude. Wilberg's imaginative orchestration creates an abundant soundworld, with arching woodwind phrases, sweeping strings, and a cacophony of handbells that lifts the closing alleluias skywards in celebration. This is the title track on the Tabernacle Choir's 2018 CD release.

for SATB unaccompanied The text for this imaginative and effective piece by Gabriel Jackson is a response to Allen Ginsberg's A Supermarket in California by Latvian poet Karlis Verdins, translated here by Ieva Lesinska. As in Ginsberg's poem, the initial setting is a supermarket, depicted with vivid imagery such as 'a weary, shrivelled apple', before the angel protagonist expounds on their observations about contemporary society. Pleasingly alliterative lines such as 'he'd babble boozily about tanks' are artfully given rhythmic emphasis by Jackson, who fully exploits the dramatic intent of the poem, giving space for the text to come through by homophonic setting, a pure harmonic language, and often sparse textures.

for SATB and organ This is a flexible hymn for general worship, with an original hymn tune ('Charleston') by Howard Helvey. Either Francis Scott Key's 'Lord, with glowing heart I'd praise thee' or Charles Wesley's 'Love divine, all loves excelling' may be sung, and Helvey employs hymnody's most popular traits, including a majestic organ introduction, an emphatic unison first verse, and a soaring soprano descant.

for unison or 2-part choir and organ or piano This setting of the well-known hymn text 'Christ the Lord is risen again!' features bright vocal lines and an energetic accompaniment. The scoring is flexible, allowing performance with either one or two vocal parts made up of upper, lower, or mixed voices. Offprinted from The Oxford Book of Easy Flexible Anthems.

for SATB and organ Chilcott's setting of Psalm 96 is bright, optimistic, and celebratory. The sparkling organ part and fluctuation between 7/8 and 4/4 metres give the opening and closing sections a dance-like feel, while the central section is still, soft, and reflective.

for SATB and organ This radiant anthem explores the theme of light, with luminescent harmonies, a virtuosic organ part, and soaring vocal lines. The text is by Dr Marcus Tomalin, after Dante's Paradiso, and Bednall's word painting is highly effective. A compelling climax as the singers tell of the 'pure living light shining' falls away to a powerful unaccompanied moment, before the organ picks up a motif and develops it in a majestic interlude. This is a highly rewarding anthem for performer and audience alike. Pure Living Light was recorded by The Epiphoni Consort on the CD David Bednall: Sudden Light (Delphian, DCD34189).

for SATB and piano This celebration of friendship is rich in expressive melodies and poignant harmonies, underpinned by sensitive piano writing. The text, by Delphine Chalmers, is inspired by French Renaissance essayist Michel de Montaigne's writings on friendship, from which the well known quotation 'If I am pressed to say why I loved him, I feel it can only be explained by replying: 'Because it was he; because it was me.'' originates. Eminently accessible, this piece is perfect for concert programmes celebrating friendship and community.

for SATTBB & SA or SATB unaccompanied We are is a dynamic and vibrant setting of 'The human family', a powerful poem by American poet Maya Angelou. The poet's message that 'we are more alike than we are unalike' is carried through the piece by a compelling rhythmic figure, and the a cappella textures and interplay between voices creates an infectious energy. The rich texture of the double choir scoring allows the two groups of singers to work together to create the sense of unity and common purpose the poem speaks to. We are was commissioned by The King's Singers for their 50th anniversary celebrations and features on their album 'GOLD' (Signum, SIGCD500). The piece was originally presented with the first choir scoring as AATBarBarB, but has since been rescored for SATTBB, with the option for the second choir to be SA or SATB remaining unchanged.

for SATB unaccompanied A partner antiphon to Bednall's Ave Regina caelorum, Alma Redemptoris Mater is a tender and expressive setting. In turn, this pair of antiphons compliments Herbert Howells's setting of the other two Marian antiphons (Salve Regina and Regina Caeli), making for compelling programming. Triplet movement and changing metre create a sense of ebb and flow and harmonic and melodic interest provoke a sense of peaceful expectancy.

for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied Ethan McGrath's setting of this well-known fourteenth-century macaronic text is expressive and rich, both harmonically and emotionally. The melodies have a chant-like quality and the metrical changes create a compelling ebb and flow. This carol is evocative of an ancient choral tradition, while at the same time offering a fresh choral sound.

for SA and piano Commissioned by the Treble Makers Women's Choir to celebrate both their 10th anniversary and the 150th anniversary of Canada, this secular work for upper voices sensitively sets Langston Hughes's poem of the same name. A lilting melodic line, eloquent part-writing, and an effective piano part combine to create a piece that will appeal to both youth and adult upper-voice choirs.

for SATB unaccompanied This lively reimagining of the traditional hymn is a thrilling a cappella arrangement which pairs the soaring legato melody with a rhythmic vocal accompaniment. Together, these elements capture both the gentle hope and the profound joy contained in the text. Also including moments of tenderness and reflection, the piece comes to a rousing close with an energy that engages singers and audience alike. Also available in a version for SSA unaccompanied.

for SATB unaccompanied The Scholar is a sensitive setting of Robert Southey's poem that explores a man's kinship with the dead. With Bednall's characteristic metrical fluidity and effective word setting, this piece will provide a moment of quiet reflection in a concert programme.

for SSA and piano This original suite sets anonymous instructions found in packaging to general household goods, providing amusing and theatrical highlights as well as musical interplay and formal episodes. The three contrasting movements are contemporary yet accessible in style, with catchy melodies and jazz-inspired harmonies.

for SATB and organ This lively piece sets the first six verses of Psalm 105 in a song of praise packed with energy and fervour. A dazzling and spirited organ part is present throughout, featuring spritely triplet figurations set against long, melodic lines in the voices. Suitable for both church and concert use, this piece will inject joyful vigour into any programme.

for SATB, flute, clarinet, and piano The snow is fled is a beautiful setting of an English translation of one of Horace's Odes. Chilcott employs a variety of choral textures, crunchy harmonies, and a rippling triplet piano accompaniment to complement the imagery of Horace's ode to nature and the cycle of the seasons. Mellifluous countermelodies from the flute and clarinet add further colour to the overall picture.

for SSATB unaccompanied Love Incorruptible sets words from Ephesians that explore the themes of love and kindness. The anthem begins with the directive 'Let all bitterness and wrath and anger be put away, awake!', set by the composer in a way that engenders a mood of reflection and hopefulness. The tender central section is built around the words 'Be kind, tender-hearted, one to another', while the closing section presents a compelling contrast of emphatic 'awake!' declarations in the upper voices and punchily rhythmic repetitions of the titular words in the lower voices.

for SATB unaccompanied The Waiting Sky is a four-part unaccompanied miniature for mixed choir. The evocative text by Lucia Quinault depicts a rural winter scene, and is skilfully set to music by Oliver Tarney to create a lucidly reflective piece. There is a sense in both the text and the music of waiting for the 'shining star' and, while it would make a beautiful addition to a concert programme at other times of the year, the setting is perfect as a reflective carol for Advent, anticipating the wonder of the birth of Christ.

for SATBarB unaccompanied Balulalow is a Christmas miniature that captures the intimacy and atmosphere of this well-loved 16th-century text. Through homophonic textures, word-painting, the use of extended harmonies, and a lilting rhythm, the piece has a subtlety that provides a challenge for established choirs while remaining musically accessible.