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Books > Music > Other types of music > Vocal music
for SATB and piano or orchestra This setting of Adolphe Adam's
beloved Christmas carol employs rich choral textures and a flowing
piano accompaniment to create a rousing overall effect. Opening
gently, the intensity builds gradually towards a stirring, powerful
ending. Also in the anthology, An American Christmas.
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 piano or organ This light-hearted arrangement of
Sussex Carol is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and perfect encore. The
familiar tune comes with a modern twist, with a driving rock beat,
innovative harmonisations, and playful imitation. Accessible for
choir and accompanist alike, Crawford's arrangement is suitable for
all types of ensemble.
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 SSAA and piano This serene, reflective anthem is a rich
addition to the Choral Evensong repertoire. Chilcott artfully
entwines an original setting of William Fuller's 'Evening Hymn',
most famously set by Henry Purcell, and the plainsong melody for
the Latin hymn 'Te lucis ante terminum', in J. M. Neale's English
translation. Grounded in minor tonalities, the anthem makes use of
a semi-chorus of altos and sopranos for the hymn tune, juxtaposed
with compelling and complementary melodies in the other parts,
building to a resolute final section before a peaceful 'Amen'.
for SSA and piano This joyous and upbeat piece sets a text by
Delphine Chalmers full of vivid imagery of childhood memories and
with a compelling refrain: 'Though the years may make us strangers,
our voices set the ripples dancing in memory's stream'. Alternation
between passages of 4/4 and 7/8 gives a spirited offbeat feel, and
the pleasingly simple melodic lines and long unison passages make
the piece especially suitable for school or children's choirs.
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 SATB and organ or piano This simple and attractive carol sets a
little-known text by the Rev. Canon John Gray (1866-1934). With an
accompaniment for either organ and piano and optional soprano
solos, this piece is accessible to a wide range of choirs and would
be an excellent addition to either a Christmas concert or service.
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.
for SATB (with soprano solo) and harp or organ or percussion or
orchestra Written for Suzi Digby and her choir Ora, this gentle,
sacred, and lyrical setting complements the well-known 15th-century
text from the Sloane MS: 'A babe is born all of a may, to bring
salvation unto us'. The carol may be performed with accompaniment
of harp, organ, percussion, or orchestra: the vocal score carries
the organ part; the harp and percussion parts are available
separately for purchase; and the orchestral material is available
on hire/rental.
for SATB unaccompanied Pete Churchill's thrilling arrangement of
this traditional Cornish carol has a gentle South African feel and
features 'scat' singing and chromatic shifts in harmony. The
traditional melody in 6/8 time is set against a jazz-waltz rhythm,
giving a contemporary twist to this Christmas classic.
for SATB and organ A radiant original setting of familiar words,
this carol displays Todd's characteristically emotive harmonic
language, rich in poignant suspensions. The arching melodies for
verse and refrain will soon become as instinctive as the
traditional carol tune, and the running quavers in the supportive
organ part provide a strong foundation upon which the soaring
choral lines can rest.
for SATB double choir unaccompanied Written for the Choir of St
Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh, The Presence sets lines from
Psalms 18, 27, 36, 112, and 119. It was inspired by A. E.
Borthwick's painting of the same title, which hangs in St Mary's,
and the texts chosen are mainly concerned with light. The
performance directions used - 'luminous', 'resonant', 'dark',
'ethereal' - express the setting's intense atmosphere and almost
visual sense of space and lustre. While suitable for services and
concerts throughout the year, The Presence is especially
appropriate for performance during Advent.
for SATB and organ or piano This charming carol tells of the joy
and wonder of the star of Bethlehem and features Chilcott's
hallmark tuneful melodies and carefully chosen harmonic colours.
Epiphany takes for its text a translation of two verses by French
hymn-writer Charles Coffin, augmented by a newly written verse by
Chilcott's long-time collaborator Charles Bennett. The result is a
carol which is both narrative and reflective, with a perfect mix of
traditional and modern.
for SATB and organ Commissioned by The Maryland State Boychoir in
2017, this striking Christmas piece sets a famous text by Ben
Jonson. Jackson's attractive and largely diatonic harmonies combine
with vivid word-setting, deft manipulations of texture, and a
colourful organ part to create a mood of gentle rapture, with a
central section that explores more conflicted atmospheres.
for SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied Annunciation is an
expressive and expansive Advent carol based on words from John
Donne's Holy Sonnets. McDowall creates a captivating atmosphere as
the voices explore a soundworld that is mystical, reflective, and
bright. The sensitive part-writing and accessible vocal lines will
enable choirs of all types to profess the carol's message of
'salvation to all'.
for SATB and organ This welcome original setting of the much-loved
15th-century Coventry carol text features a compelling interplay
between choir and organ and a contrast of full and a cappella
textures. Archer fully exploits the text's dramatic potential and
has created a pleasing and useful addition to the carol repertory.
for SSSSAATTBB unaccompanied Commissioned by The Marian Consort in
celebration of their 10th anniversary, and first performed in 2018,
Jackson's is one of the most striking modern settings of this
ancient text. With a rich scoring matching that of Scarlatti's
setting of the same text, the composer's trademark diversity of
texture is much in evidence. Passages of rich sonority give way to
intimate soloistic sections, the lines spiced up by fiery rhythms
and occasional arabesques and glissandi. The piece will be a very
satisfying challenge for a proficient choir.
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