Ian Assersohn
Visit Ian’s ‘virtual’ stand in the exhibition.
After
SATB with divisi and piano (or organ). This piece was commissioned in March 2021 by Tricia Rees-Jones for the Somerset-based chamber choir Swan Singers to celebrate their return to live performance after the Covid-19 lockdown. It begins very gently and opens up gradually, like a flower. The text is by the composer.
“The words capture the moment perfectly and I think the piece is incredibly moving.” – Tricia Rees-Jones
Score
Moving score with electronic ‘performance’. We cannot stop singing
SATB and piano. On 14th March 2020 social media featured video of quarantined Italians singing to each other from their balconies. The poet and librettist Euan Tait shared one of these and attached a poem which he had written. I found it moving and asked his permission to set it to music, which he generously gave. This song, finished on 21st March, was the result.
Amy Bebbington
I sing of a maiden
This setting of the 15th century text I sing of a Maiden balances a sense of ancient modality with a contemporary folk twist which should have broad appeal to singers young and old. An initial lyrical melody and a counter melody combine to create accessible and effective harmonies, with a third simple harmonic line adding interest to the final two verses. Irregular time signatures allow the singers to pay particular attention to the flow of this ancient text. The flexibility of this piece will be attractive to conductors wishing to programme something for upper (or indeed lower) voices, as either a trio, sextet or full ensemble.
I sing of a Maiden is published in the Volume 2, upper voices sacred music anthology published by Multitude of Voyces and is also available as a digital download (in 2 two different keys).
The BBC Singers, directed by Owain Park, have performed and recorded this piece for Radio 3.
Blessed be that Maid Marie
SATB carol (with piano accompaniment)
This mixed voice piece is ideal for choirs looking for a challenge, and perfect for your Christmas concert. It combines a contemporary feel in the verses with an unfettered mediaeval jubilance in the choruses. Choirs such as Joyful Company of Singers, Choros Amici, Cardiff Polyphonic Choir and Texas Tech University choir have all loved the technical challenges within the work and the deliciously complex final chorus, complete with top C#. Scores can be purchased either through Boosey.com (£1.90, bulk discount is available) or direct from the composer. Versions available for a cappella choir, with piano, with organ or with brass quintet.
James Davy
Loves alters not
SATB unaccompanied choir.
This setting of a William Shakespeare text, Love Alters Not, and is self-published and available here.
‘I trialled it with a number of my choirs on Zoom earlier this year, with this quickly rendered backing track which hopefully gives a fair flavour of it.’
It is destined to be the middle movement of a set of three, with movements 1 and 3 still in development.
David Fawcett
Visit David’s ‘virtual’ stand in the exhibition.
A sure refuge
The Good-morrow
Paul Hayward
Both of these pieces are self-published and available for free on my website.
Before the ending of the day
The Ash Grove
Chris Hutchings
See Chris talking about Choirs for Climate at the exhibition. Visit Chris’s ‘virtual’ stand at the exhibition.
Both of these pieces are part of the Choirs For Climate project. They are released under Creative Commons with permission of the poets, so no watermark required – they can both be used freely from the scores provided here. I am happy to provide backing tracks for either on request please email.
Send Lazarus
Let them not say
Peter Owens
Both pieces are free to perform, and necessary permissions have been cleared.
A general introduction to Peter and his work can be found here
Deep in the Fading Leaves of Night (Christmas Carol)
Missa brevis
Dennis Pimm
Read about Dennis here. All of my compositions are unpublished and PDF perusal scores of any of them are available for interested musical directors. I am happy to supply unwatermarked PDFs at no cost for choirs wishing to perform any of the pieces. For more information, please email.
Christmas Carol
For unaccompanied SATB with words by Sara Teasdale, composed last year during lockdown for members of the Linsdale Singers to record virtually
O magnum mysterium
Gordon Thornett
See Gordon talking about his compositions at the exhibition and visit his ‘virtual’ stand.
Sweet Christmas Bells
arranged for upper voices (SSA) and piano. Copies can be bought here.
The Sleepy Shepherd Boy
Full details of ‘The Sleepy Shepherd Boy’ are available at Project Encore.