The Artsy Honker – Page 2 – Adventures in faithful musicianship

Faithful Cross

Byartsyhonker May 30, 2019 0 Comments

Here's another movement from my Stations of the Cross -- not really suitable for today's feast of Ascension, but I didn't want to wait until Holy Cross Day to post it. Eventually I'll do a Latin setting of this text. In the meantime, this SATB a cappella version is richer in texture than my SA and organ setting from 2010. Faithful Cross, above all other, One and only noble tree: None in foliage,...

Pigeons

Byartsyhonker April 30, 2019 0 Comments

I do get the best texts to work with sometimes. I love this poem by Marnanel Thurman, which I set as part of my Stations of the Cross but also works well as a stand-alone piece: Pigeons, to me, were always signs of hope: even the whirl of wings against the air would right me, show me once again the scope of who I was and whose I was and where; as when, in one deep shock of vertigo I saw the city...

Ave Maria

Byartsyhonker March 31, 2019 0 Comments

It was Refreshment Sunday today, and we had at least one of my favourite Marian hymns. Here's my setting of the Ave Maria, then, played by robots: Ave Maria PDF for download. This is part of my Stations of the Cross, premiered in Aberdeen on 7th March; but I'm releasing it online now. Other pieces from the Stations that will work as stand-alone pieces will also be released in due course. As...

There Is No Rose

Byartsyhonker January 31, 2019 0 Comments

Here is my setting of an anonymous text from around 1420: It was wonderful to compose this for the Cathedral Singers of Ontario, who I've sung with for many years on their visits to the UK, and to sing it with them at Canterbury Cathedral early this month. 1. There is no rose of such virtue As is the rose that bare Jesu; Alleluia. 2. For in this rose contained was Heaven and earth in little...

O Nata Lux

Byartsyhonker December 31, 2018 0 Comments

I've had my head down a lot recently with PhD work but here is one I wrote earlier: an a cappella SSA setting of O nata lux. It's traditionally a text used for the Transfiguration -- 6th August, but the readings also come up at the last Sunday before Lent. No recording yet, but there is a .pdf: O nata lux PDF and, as usual, robot flutes: O nata lux de lumine, Jesu redemptor saeculi, Dignare...

Just in time for Christmas: Gift Sponsorship Subscriptions

Byartsyhonker December 14, 2018 0 Comments

Some time ago, someone I know from Twitter got in touch to ask if she could purchase a gift subscription -- and if so, would there be something to unwrap? The answer was yes; in due course, I made a sponsorship subscription card and it's currently with her, waiting to be unwrapped. It says: Hurrah! Someone lovely has given us both a gift by sponsoring me at the Crotchet level on your behalf! I...

Pasadena Master Chorale

Byartsyhonker December 11, 2018 0 Comments

Pasadena Master Chorale is singing "I walked in darkness" at their concert this Saturday evening, along with lots of other Christmas music composed by women. Admission is free, then there's a pay-what-you-want collection, but they do recommend registering as space is limited. More details at the Eventbrite page.

Vintry

Byartsyhonker October 31, 2018 0 Comments

I've actually finished a fair amount of music this month: a setting of the beginning of Psalm 19, which was one of the pieces featured in my MPhil upgrade (which I passed, hurrah!), and also a setting of "There Is No Rose of Such Virtue" to have its world premiere in January, all being well. Obviously I can't put something I've promised as a world premiere online before then; and in the meantme,...

Another Double Psalm Chant

Byartsyhonker August 30, 2018 5 Comments

I was asked to compose a psalm chant for Psalm 91, for the University of London Church Choir to sing on our tour to Ripon Cathedral last week. I can't share the recording with you yet, as I haven't heard it; but I hope to be able to eventually. In the meantime, the PDF and midi file are on the Choral Public Domain Library as usual. Also as usual, it's under a Creative Commons Attribution...

Waterbeach

Byartsyhonker July 31, 2018 0 Comments

I'm singing in Ely Cathedral this week, and staying in a guest house in Waterbeach, so I wrote a hymn tune today. Here are the words, by Nathaniel Cotton: 1. Affliction is a stormy deep, Where wave resounds to wave; Though o'er my head the billows roll, I know the Lord can save. 2. The hand that now withholds my joys Can reinstate my peace: And He who bade the tempest roar, Can bid that tempest...