for SATB and chamber ensemble A splendid curtain-raiser to Vivaldi's Gloria, Francesco Durante's artful Magnificat has long been misattributed to his pupil Pergolesi in a version for four voices, not five. Durante's vocally richer five-voice version has been chosen for the Sacred Choruses volume, which this orchestration accompanies, and merits performance as an alternative to the familiar four-voice version, which may or may not have been Durante's own work. This complete set contains 4 x vln I, 4 x vln II, 2 x vc, 2 x db, 1 x continuo, and 1 x lute.

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.

This companion volume provides organists with new, dedicated three-stave accompaniments to twenty-four of the twenty-eight choruses in the main Sacred Choruses volume. In every case, these organ transcriptions, made by John Rutter, are based directly on the original orchestral versions and will facilitate church performances without orchestra.

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 SATB or upper voices, and orchestra or wind band The Future of Fire is a brief but powerful work. The vibrant scoring creates a feeling of explosive energy from beginning to end with intense bursts from a battery of percussion. The melodic material is taken from a popular and touching love song from Shannxi province in north-western China, which is coupled with rhythmic motives in both the orchestra/wind band and chorus. Folk melodies from this region use intervals of a minor seventh these angular leaps are suited to the dynamic spirit of this work. The chorus sings a vocalise based on repeated syllables that are found in Chinese folk songs, as well as many folk songs from around the world.

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 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 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 SATB unaccompanied I will be with you sets a reflective text by the composer with a message of enduring solace. Lush harmonies, with predominantly homophonic passagework, coupled with flowing and cascading lines in every voice part make for a tranquil musical experience. Also available in a version for SSAA unaccompanied choir.

SSAA unaccompanied I will be with you sets a reflective text by the composer with a message of enduring solace. Lush harmonies, with predominantly homophonic passagework, coupled with flowing and cascading lines in every voice part make for a tranquil musical experience. Also available in a version for unaccompanied SATB choir.

for SATB unaccompanied This short sacred work for unaccompanied mixed choir is a highly atmospheric setting of the poet Henry Vaughan's mystical and enigmatic poem of the same name. Written for the choir of St Peter's College, Oxford, the work has a sonorous quality and uses extended harmonies to great effect.

for SATB (with divisions) and piano This sombre and evocative 'Stabat mater' is taken from Passion Music, a concert and liturgical work that continues Todd's fusion of jazz and choral music so successfully blended in his Mass in Blue. The delicate piano part often falls away to spiritual a cappella sections, and a soaring line for solo soprano rises out of the texture to draw the setting to a close.

for SSATB unaccompanied An atmospheric and expressive setting of Caliban's dream from Shakespeare's The Tempest, this piece transports the listener to a mysterious, dream-like place. McDowall effectively employs melismas and ornaments to create a sense of the other-worldly, and her rich, immersive harmonies perfectly characterise the reverie Shakespeare's protagonist describes.

for SATB and organ or orchestra This is an arrangement of the 19th-century hymn by Philip Bliss, with words written by Horatio Spafford following several personal tragedies. Despite having lost his first son to scarlet fever, most of his assets in the Great Fire of Chicago, and then his four daughters in a shipwreck, Spafford's enduring faith inspired him to write this hymn, which speaks of an internal, spiritual calm in the face of life's difficulties. Wilberg's arrangement of Bliss's tune keeps the first two verses in unison, first women and then men, before allowing fuller textures to take over. The choir is accompanied throughout, and two upward major 3rd modulations lead to a triumphant close.

for SATTBB unaccompanied Victimae paschali laudes is an atmospheric arrangement of the traditional plainsong melody for this Latin text for Easter Sunday. Changing metres enable an authentic presentation of the plainsong style, and Lawson effectively employs interjections of 'alleluia' within the main body of the text as a powerful expression of the triumph of life over death that is at the heart of the Easter story.

for SATB double choir unaccompanied Lightly come or lightly go is a playful setting of James Joyce's poem of the same name for SATB double choir. The second choir carries the titular words as an arching ostinato, while choir one presents the main body of the text through characterful melodies and word painting. The two choirs portray the conflicting emotions expressed in the poem demonstrated by the closing line: "Love and laughter song-confessed When the heart is heaviest".

for SSA and piano This work for upper voices with a text by the composer was inspired by members of the Radcliffe Ladies' Choir and their motto 'friendship through singing'. The lilting vocal lines are subtly underpinned by a delicate piano accompaniment, and the opening performance direction, 'contentedly rocking', describes the overall nature of the piece: peaceful, content, and easy-going.

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.'