I chose this poem by George Herbert for Station X in my Stations of the Cross, “Jesus is Stripped”. To have our clothing removed, particularly forcibly, is so vulnerable; but in asking Jesus to fill the emptiness of his heart … Continue reading
Here is my setting of the Ave Verum Corpus: Ave Verum Corpus PDF file Ave, verum corpus natum de Maria Virgine: vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine: cuius latus perforatum unda fluxit sanguine: esto nobis praegustatum, in mortis examine. … Continue reading
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. … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
(If I’ve done this correctly it should post on Wednesday night, UK time…) Ready or not, Lent is upon us. In January, Sally Martin-Brown asked me if I had anything suitable for the University of London Church Choir visit to … Continue reading
I was delighted to be asked to write a piece for the Chapel Choir of King’s College, Aberdeen, for them to sing on St Cecilia’s Day this year. I chose this text by Emily Dickinson at the suggestion of Catherine … Continue reading
It’s not winter yet! But here’s a winter poem, by Sara Teasdale, which I’ve set to music: I went out at night alone; The young blood flowing beyond the sea Seemed to have drenched my spirit’s wings— I bore my … Continue reading