Double Chant in C Major

Byartsyhonker October 30, 2016 0 Comments
Last Sunday one of my psalm chants was sung in Guildford Cathedral, by the University of London Church Choir. I wrote it for Psalm 119 vv 1-16, but as Anglican chant is meant to be flexible you could use whatever words you like. Accordingly, the copy over on CPDL doesn't include the text. If you can't read the PDF there is a midi file, though it's a bit slow. As usual, this is under a Creative...

Deland 87 87 97

Byartsyhonker September 24, 2016 0 Comments
This one is a bit out of season, but I always find that Lent comes awfully quickly. The words are by Reverend Ally Barrett, who has written a number of new hymn texts to familiar tunes. I like Picardy as a tune very much, but it strikes me as a bit static for words which are, ultimately, about the transformation of the dust of our lives through Christ's redemption. So I wrote a different tune,...

Song Cycle Sung Grace

Byartsyhonker August 27, 2016 0 Comments
Earlier this summer, Song Cycle went on a day pilgrimage to Romsey Abbey. As is often the case with pilgrimage, it didn't go entirely to plan. In fact, my bicycle broke, and not in a way that meant a 40-minute delay by the side of the road replacing a tube, but more seriously. The frame just... came apart. Thankfully I was riding rather gently up a hill at the time, not barrelling down one as I...

Waterworks Corner

Byartsyhonker July 31, 2016 0 Comments
Here's one I wrote the other month -- premiered by the London Gallery Quire at St Andrew's Leytonstone on 2nd July. There is a version for West Gallery available from the London Gallery Quire website -- it's LGQ 533 -- but I've also put a version for organ on the Choral Public Domain Library as usual. Here are some robots singing it: 1 Lord, thou wilt hear me when I pray, I am for ever thine; I...

Windswept

Byartsyhonker July 1, 2016 0 Comments
A few weeks ago I stumbled across a call for scores for an instrument I haven't written for before: the chimes at Gloucester Cathedral. So I entered. The chimes in question are computer-controlled rather than rung by hand, but still have some interesting limitations regarding how quickly notes can repeat. I was delighted the other week to learn that my submission had been selected for joint...

Wherever Love Is: Braxted 84 84 88

Byartsyhonker June 30, 2016 0 Comments
A while ago I asked for metrical English translations or paraphrases of Ubi Caritas, which is such a lovely text and one rather under-used in modern hymnody. One of the texts written as a result of that request was the following by TJA Thurman: 1. As friendship fills our meeting-place, Jesus is here; He dwells in every friend's embrace, Each smile sincere, Rejoicing in the love we share. Wherever...

Interim Organist Required

Byartsyhonker June 16, 2016 0 Comments
I am taking a sabbatical! More about that later. In the meantime: St. Andrew's Leytonstone is looking for an Interim Organist and Choir Director to cover a one year sabbatical by our current Director of Music. The successful applicant will be a skilled and passionate musician, who will be able to direct and accompany a small amateur robed choir in sacred music. The church has an extremely fine...

Church growth or consolidation?

Byartsyhonker June 2, 2016 9 Comments
Imagine, if you will, that you're a parent in a fairly middle-class suburban family. You managed to get through university and find a spouse and a job and have some kids, and you're settling down, after a fashion. You find a neighbourhood you can just about afford to buy in, perhaps with help from your parents, with schools that are probably going to be okay... and you move there, and you work...

Hail, Lady, Sea-Star Bright

Byartsyhonker April 25, 2016 0 Comments
I was pleased to participate in the Old Hispanic Office project as one of twenty composers selected to attend workshops with Bristol Cathedral Choir, the choir of Christ Church Oxford, and the Kokoro Ensemble as part of the project. I have been fond of the Ave maris stella text since studying it for an improvisation class while at Trinity College of Music, but it is also relevant to this project...

Trisagion chant

Byartsyhonker April 12, 2016 0 Comments
This one was written at the request of Fr Jack. He asked me, "Can the choir sing the Trisagion as we enter the church on Good Friday?" I said I'd see what I could do. We didn't have much time to rehearse, so it needed to be something simple, especially as I never know quite how many voices I'll have during Holy Week. There may be other settings of this that are better, but this is what we used...