CHORAL SACRED
Categorised by vocal forces (SATB/SSAATTBB/UPPER VOICES) in alphabetical order
to help you find what you are looking for!
to help you find what you are looking for!
SATB
ANTIPHON FOR ST.MICHAEL (2013) - SATB + Organ. Some divisi
Difficulty: Advanced, Duration c. 3'20'' A motet for Michaelmas, describing the War in Heaven depicted in Revelation 8:1 and Revelation 12:7-12. Premiered Bournemouth Symphony Chorus cond. Gavin Carr, Corfe Church, 2013
Contact Alison for score. Listen here.
ASK MERCY WHILE THOU MAY (2016) - SATB Extensive divisi
Difficulty: Moderate/Advanced, Duration c. 6'40'' Setting of a Middle English poem combined with the words of the Kyrie.
Preview/Buy score here. Listen here.
GOLD AND SPICES (2018) (CHRISTMAS) - SATB
Difficulty: Moderate Duration: c. 3' A setting of a poem by Christina Rossetti, premiered by Reading Phoenix Choir (dir. Christopher Hann) at Reading Minster, December 2019.
Score coming soon a as part of the Sarah MacDonald Choral Series. Listen to the ORA Singers recording here.
HERE I AM (2017) - SATB, Some divisi
Difficulty: Moderate Duration: c. 3'15'' A setting of words from Genesis about the binding of Isaac. It is driven by the repeated phrase that starts each verse, "“Abraham! Abraham!”, “Here I am,” says he". I was struck by the three appearances of the summons from the angel and how Abraham must have felt each time he was called. The choir sometimes acts as an instrumental texture, allowing the words to be heard clearly as the story unfolds, then culminating in a burst of glory as the Lord declares repeatedly that “earth shall be blessed for ever more, for your true love for me.”
Score coming soon at Composers Edition, in the meantime contact Alison. Listen here.
I SING OF A MAIDEN (2016) (CHRISTMAS) - SATB, Some divisi
Difficulty: Moderate Duration: c. 3'30'' A setting of a medieval poem, winner of the Nick Edwards Prize 2016. First performed by The Music Makers of London (dir. Hilary Campbell)
Preview/Buy score here or here. Listen here.
LIKE THE DOVE (2018) - SATB + Piano/Organ
Difficulty: Simple/Moderate Duration: c. 3' A short setting of some beautiful words from the Anglo Saxon Old English Martyrology. Particularly suitable for Pentecost.
Preview/buy score here. Listen here.
O MOST MERCIFUL (2016) - SATB + Organ
Difficulty: Simple/Moderate Duration c. 2'40" A short setting of the text of the hymn of the same name by Reginald Herber. First performance by Seraphim (dir. Robert Mingay-Smith), St Mary at Hill, London as part of LFCCM
Preview/Buy score here. Listen here.
OF A ROSE WE SING (2016) (CHRISTMAS) - SATB Some divisi + Organ
Difficulty: Moderate Duration c.4' A setting of a medieval text about Mary.
Score coming soon - Contact Alison. Listen here.
ROSARIUM (2016) - SATB Extensive divisi (Also available as SSA div.)
Difficulty: Moderate Duration c.15' A garland of five medieval texts about Mary.
Score coming soon - Contact Alison .
I. Ave Rosa - Listen here
II. There Is No Rose - Listen here
III. Ave Domina - Listen here
IV. Flos Florum -Listen here
V. Rosa Sine Spina - Listen here
SALVE DEUS (2019) - SATB Extensive divisi (Can be performed as Chamber Choir supported by Full Choir) Organ and Soprano Difficulty: Moderate Duration c.20' Five short movements telling the story of the Passion from a female perspective, with text taken from the poem Salve Deus, Rex Judaeorum by Aemilia Lanyer, the first woman to publish a collection of poems under her own name in England (1611). The piece can be performed as a whole, interspersed with Good Friday service or as stand alone movements. Soprano solo could be sung from within the choir.
Score (Composers Edition) available after premiere (rescheduled to December 2020 due to Covid-19) - Contact Alison for further details and mock up recording/perusal score.
THOSE THINGS THREE (2015) (CHRISTMAS) - SATB, Some divisi
Difficulty: Moderate Duration: c. 3'30'' A setting of a medieval poem, winner of the Ray Bardsley Carol Competition 2015. First performed by Dorking Choral Society (dir. Hilary Campbell)
Score coming soon at Composers Edition. In the meantime please contact Alison directly. Listen here.
VESPERS inspired by the Medieval Old Hispanic Office (2015) - SATB, Extensive divisi and solos from within choir Difficulty: Moderate/Advanced Total duration: c. 16' Four pieces reflecting the structure and liturgy of the Vespers. Commissioned by Bristol University's Old Hispanic Office Project and first performed by Bristol Cathedral Choir (dir. Mark Lee) The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) / ERC grant agreement n° 313133.
You can learn more about the Old Hispanic Office Project here and about the compositional process here.
Scores available from Composers Edition.
I. Quem Timebo - (SATB occ. divisi). Moderate, dur. c. 3'40'' Score here. Listen here.
II. Ego Dormivi et Quievi - (SATB extensive divisi and optional soprano solo) dur. c. 3'30''- Score here. Listen here.
III. Preces and Responses - (SATB occ. divisi) Moderate. Score here. Listen here.
IV. Gustate et Videte - (SATB div. and Bass solo from within choir) Moderate, dur. c. 3'40'' Score here. Listen here.
SSAATTBB
A ROSE HATH BORNE A LILY WHITE (ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER) (2017) - SSAATTBB
Difficulty: Advanced Duration c. 4'30'' A setting of a medieval poem combined with the words of the Alma Redemptoris Mater, using elements of psalmody and plainchant with some aleatoric soprano writing. Performed in workshop by The BBC Singers, Aberdeen 2017.
Preview/Buy score here. Recording coming soon.
MAGNIFICAT AND NUNC DIMITTIS (Db Major) (2017/2019) - SSAATTBB + Soprano Solo (from within choir)
Difficulty: Moderate/Advanced Duration c.4'40'' + 2'40'' The Magnificat was written as a companion piece to Arvo Part's Nunc Dimittis and awarded the Audience Prize at it's first performance - The Cantus Ensemble, (dir. Dominic Brennan), St Gabriel's, Pimlico, London, July 2018
Score coming soon at Composers Edition, in the meantime contact Alison.
Listen to the Magnificat here and the Nunc Dimittis here.
UPPER VOICES
IN MENTE HABETE DIEM (2018) - SSA
Difficulty: Simple/Moderate Duration: c. 5'20'' An experiment in medieval phasing! Building on my work with the Old Hispanic Office Project at Bristol University, exploring processional chant.
Please contact Alison for score.
ROSARIUM (2016) - SSA Extensive divisi (Also available as SATB div.)
Difficulty: Moderate Duration c.15' A garland of five medieval texts about Mary.
Score coming soon - Contact Alison . (Recordings below SATB versions)
I. Ave Rosa - Listen here
II. There Is No Rose - Listen here
III. Ave Domina - Listen here
IV. Flos Florum -Listen here
V. Rosa Sine Spina - Listen here
ANTIPHON FOR ST.MICHAEL (2013) - SATB + Organ. Some divisi
Difficulty: Advanced, Duration c. 3'20'' A motet for Michaelmas, describing the War in Heaven depicted in Revelation 8:1 and Revelation 12:7-12. Premiered Bournemouth Symphony Chorus cond. Gavin Carr, Corfe Church, 2013
Contact Alison for score. Listen here.
ASK MERCY WHILE THOU MAY (2016) - SATB Extensive divisi
Difficulty: Moderate/Advanced, Duration c. 6'40'' Setting of a Middle English poem combined with the words of the Kyrie.
Preview/Buy score here. Listen here.
GOLD AND SPICES (2018) (CHRISTMAS) - SATB
Difficulty: Moderate Duration: c. 3' A setting of a poem by Christina Rossetti, premiered by Reading Phoenix Choir (dir. Christopher Hann) at Reading Minster, December 2019.
Score coming soon a as part of the Sarah MacDonald Choral Series. Listen to the ORA Singers recording here.
HERE I AM (2017) - SATB, Some divisi
Difficulty: Moderate Duration: c. 3'15'' A setting of words from Genesis about the binding of Isaac. It is driven by the repeated phrase that starts each verse, "“Abraham! Abraham!”, “Here I am,” says he". I was struck by the three appearances of the summons from the angel and how Abraham must have felt each time he was called. The choir sometimes acts as an instrumental texture, allowing the words to be heard clearly as the story unfolds, then culminating in a burst of glory as the Lord declares repeatedly that “earth shall be blessed for ever more, for your true love for me.”
Score coming soon at Composers Edition, in the meantime contact Alison. Listen here.
I SING OF A MAIDEN (2016) (CHRISTMAS) - SATB, Some divisi
Difficulty: Moderate Duration: c. 3'30'' A setting of a medieval poem, winner of the Nick Edwards Prize 2016. First performed by The Music Makers of London (dir. Hilary Campbell)
Preview/Buy score here or here. Listen here.
LIKE THE DOVE (2018) - SATB + Piano/Organ
Difficulty: Simple/Moderate Duration: c. 3' A short setting of some beautiful words from the Anglo Saxon Old English Martyrology. Particularly suitable for Pentecost.
Preview/buy score here. Listen here.
O MOST MERCIFUL (2016) - SATB + Organ
Difficulty: Simple/Moderate Duration c. 2'40" A short setting of the text of the hymn of the same name by Reginald Herber. First performance by Seraphim (dir. Robert Mingay-Smith), St Mary at Hill, London as part of LFCCM
Preview/Buy score here. Listen here.
OF A ROSE WE SING (2016) (CHRISTMAS) - SATB Some divisi + Organ
Difficulty: Moderate Duration c.4' A setting of a medieval text about Mary.
Score coming soon - Contact Alison. Listen here.
ROSARIUM (2016) - SATB Extensive divisi (Also available as SSA div.)
Difficulty: Moderate Duration c.15' A garland of five medieval texts about Mary.
Score coming soon - Contact Alison .
I. Ave Rosa - Listen here
II. There Is No Rose - Listen here
III. Ave Domina - Listen here
IV. Flos Florum -Listen here
V. Rosa Sine Spina - Listen here
SALVE DEUS (2019) - SATB Extensive divisi (Can be performed as Chamber Choir supported by Full Choir) Organ and Soprano Difficulty: Moderate Duration c.20' Five short movements telling the story of the Passion from a female perspective, with text taken from the poem Salve Deus, Rex Judaeorum by Aemilia Lanyer, the first woman to publish a collection of poems under her own name in England (1611). The piece can be performed as a whole, interspersed with Good Friday service or as stand alone movements. Soprano solo could be sung from within the choir.
Score (Composers Edition) available after premiere (rescheduled to December 2020 due to Covid-19) - Contact Alison for further details and mock up recording/perusal score.
THOSE THINGS THREE (2015) (CHRISTMAS) - SATB, Some divisi
Difficulty: Moderate Duration: c. 3'30'' A setting of a medieval poem, winner of the Ray Bardsley Carol Competition 2015. First performed by Dorking Choral Society (dir. Hilary Campbell)
Score coming soon at Composers Edition. In the meantime please contact Alison directly. Listen here.
VESPERS inspired by the Medieval Old Hispanic Office (2015) - SATB, Extensive divisi and solos from within choir Difficulty: Moderate/Advanced Total duration: c. 16' Four pieces reflecting the structure and liturgy of the Vespers. Commissioned by Bristol University's Old Hispanic Office Project and first performed by Bristol Cathedral Choir (dir. Mark Lee) The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) / ERC grant agreement n° 313133.
You can learn more about the Old Hispanic Office Project here and about the compositional process here.
Scores available from Composers Edition.
I. Quem Timebo - (SATB occ. divisi). Moderate, dur. c. 3'40'' Score here. Listen here.
II. Ego Dormivi et Quievi - (SATB extensive divisi and optional soprano solo) dur. c. 3'30''- Score here. Listen here.
III. Preces and Responses - (SATB occ. divisi) Moderate. Score here. Listen here.
IV. Gustate et Videte - (SATB div. and Bass solo from within choir) Moderate, dur. c. 3'40'' Score here. Listen here.
SSAATTBB
A ROSE HATH BORNE A LILY WHITE (ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER) (2017) - SSAATTBB
Difficulty: Advanced Duration c. 4'30'' A setting of a medieval poem combined with the words of the Alma Redemptoris Mater, using elements of psalmody and plainchant with some aleatoric soprano writing. Performed in workshop by The BBC Singers, Aberdeen 2017.
Preview/Buy score here. Recording coming soon.
MAGNIFICAT AND NUNC DIMITTIS (Db Major) (2017/2019) - SSAATTBB + Soprano Solo (from within choir)
Difficulty: Moderate/Advanced Duration c.4'40'' + 2'40'' The Magnificat was written as a companion piece to Arvo Part's Nunc Dimittis and awarded the Audience Prize at it's first performance - The Cantus Ensemble, (dir. Dominic Brennan), St Gabriel's, Pimlico, London, July 2018
Score coming soon at Composers Edition, in the meantime contact Alison.
Listen to the Magnificat here and the Nunc Dimittis here.
UPPER VOICES
IN MENTE HABETE DIEM (2018) - SSA
Difficulty: Simple/Moderate Duration: c. 5'20'' An experiment in medieval phasing! Building on my work with the Old Hispanic Office Project at Bristol University, exploring processional chant.
Please contact Alison for score.
ROSARIUM (2016) - SSA Extensive divisi (Also available as SATB div.)
Difficulty: Moderate Duration c.15' A garland of five medieval texts about Mary.
Score coming soon - Contact Alison . (Recordings below SATB versions)
I. Ave Rosa - Listen here
II. There Is No Rose - Listen here
III. Ave Domina - Listen here
IV. Flos Florum -Listen here
V. Rosa Sine Spina - Listen here