(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
I’ve just spent a week singing Evensong in Lincoln Cathedral, with the guest choir for the week: the Cathedral Singers of Ontario. We had a lovely welcome from the cathedral and indeed the city of Lincoln had much to offer, … Continue reading
I’ve long enjoyed William Romanis’s hymn text, “Round Me Falls the Night” — so I decided to set it as an anthem. Originally I used TTBB voicing, but on balance, I like the SATB version better. I think it could … Continue reading
Another short piece, really just an SATB setting (with some light divisi) of one verse of a hymn, Jerusalem the Golden (not to be confused with Yerushalayim Shel Zahav, which is also beautiful). But it’s a verse which is often … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
The Fourth Choir had a composing competition, which I entered. I didn’t make their shortlist, so here is my setting of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 27. The words, of course: Weary with toil, I haste me to my bed, The dear repose … Continue reading
We’re well into December and there is so much going on that is very focused on Christmas; yet this is still Advent, a season of preparation. Advent is my SATB setting of Christina Rosetti’s poem by the same name: ‘Come,’ … Continue reading