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Choral Music Please contact me if you would like to see PDF perusal scores or hear additional recordings of any of this music. |
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| Advent Triptych | SATB | 3 contrasting anthems to New Zealand texts by Shirley Erana Murray. Advent or Christmas. Unusual, fresh harmonies; vigorous rhythms, exhilarating counterpoint. Also available individually. Moderate/advanced. ±10" LISTEN (recording used by permission of Musica Sacra and Atoll.) |
| Bless This House! | SATB + solo soprano and baritone, organ, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, 2 percussion | Exuberant, exciting, anthem for the dedication of a church. Text interpolates Biblical texts with prayers of New Zealand poet James K. Baxter. Moderate/advanced. ±10" |
| Blessed | SATB + solo soprano and bass | Reflective, atmospheric setting of the ‘Benedictus’. Moderate/advanced. ±3" |
| Cançó del Mar | SATBx2 + clarinet, bass clarinet, harp, violin, cello, double bass | Exciting setting of two Catalan texts full of maritime images by Jean Maragall. Not difficult. Catalan is similar to Spanish and phonetically consistent. Translation and pronunciation guide included. Recording of reading by native speaker available. Instrumental parts moderately challenging. ±10" |
| Christmas Carols from New Zealand |
SATB | 2 tuneful carols celebrating a summer Christmas: Jewel Carol is a cappella; Summer Carol comes with organ accompaniment and brilliant descant. Text: Jocelyn Marshall. Frequent performances in NZ and overseas. Moderately easy. ±6" |
| Consider the Lilies | SATB (some divisions) | Text from St Matthew. Lyrical, Romantic, contemplative. Moderate/advanced. Beautiful alto solo. ±3" LISTEN |
| Dona Nobis Pacem | SSATBB | Based on the famous canon and enclosing text ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ from the Beatitudes. Easy/moderate, ±5" |
| Earth Song | SA x3 + tamborines, with sop. instruments (ad lib). | Environmental theme. Theatrical and effective 3 part canon. Moderate, ±5” |
| Earthsong | SATB (some divisions) + SA with symphony orchestra | Linked in theme and some of the musical material to the above. A tuneful and moving 'cantata'. Moderate, ±15” LISTEN |
| Emily's Songs | SATB | Three brief settings of Emily Dickinson texts in contrasting and complementary styles. Moderate/advanced. ±5" LISTEN |
| High Flight | SATB + alto sax | Soaring, moving setting of the famous WW2 text by John Magee. Moderate/advanced, ±11”. LISTEN |
| I Hold Your Hand In Mine | SATB | Tom Lehrer’s song in an graceful setting. Warning: requires a warped sense of humour! Moderately easy. Hallowe’en fare? ±3" LISTEN (recording used by permission of Viva Voce) |
| Kyrie: Gaia | SATB + solo soprano, piano, organ, percussion | ‘Kyrie Eleison’ alternating with ‘environmental’ text. Flamboyant, intense, moving. Fin-de-siecle music. Choral parts are moderately difficult. Sop./Mezzo solo, piano and organ parts ‘concerto’ standard. ±20" |
| La Rose | SATB (high baritone and high soprano solos, divisions) | Passionate, Romantic setting of 16th century French text. Many divisions, needs two strong soloists and a committed performance. Not easy, but extremely rewarding. ±6" LISTEN |
| Levavi Oculos Meos | SATBx2 | Tuneful, contrapuntal setting of Psalm 121. Energetic and joyful music, builds up a great momentum. Spatial separation of groups desirable but not essential. Moderately easy. ±4" |
| Millennium Double | SATB | Two contrasting settings of Jocelyn Marshall's prize winning 'Millennium Hymn'. Easy ±3" |
| O Fragile Human |
SATB (several different voicings with divisions, solos in some songs) | Series of 5 ancient or modern, sacred or secular songs linked by their different takes on the frailty of the human condition. Also available individually. Moderate/advanced, ±25” LISTEN |
| Nobody | SSATBB | Sinister poem by Robert Graves in a very atmospheric setting. A real character piece. Moderate difficulty. Good for Hallowe’en. ±3" |
| Pastorale | TTBB + solo sop., flute, oboe, cor anglais, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, vibraphone | Lyrical, melodic setting of Psalm 23. Choir parts, moderate difficulty. Needs ‘operatic’ soprano middle C up 2 8ves. Instrumental parts idiomatic and moderately challenging. LISTEN ±10" |
| Real Gods | SATB (some divisions) | Cynical anonymous text in a musical battle with a religious text. Melodramatic and intense, gentle and lyrical; requires an advanced technique, but the result is electrifying! ±8" |
| Samoa Sings | SSAA or TTBB | 4 contrasting Samoan songs in editions either for SSAA or TTBB. Widely performed. Light-hearted and rhythmic. Moderately easy. ±10".LISTEN Please note: some of these songs are available as single octavos from Alliance Music Publications. |
| Songs of Samoa | SATB | Collection/cycle of 7 Samoan songs. Very singable arrangements, internationally popular. Not difficult. ±20". LISTEN Please note: some of these songs are available as single octavos from Alliance Music Publications. |
| Tangi | SATB + mezzo-soprano solo | Moving setting of Maori text in which the poet laments the death of his father. Full of bird imagery. Demanding solo part. Moderate/advanced. ±12" |
| Tihei, Mauri Ora! | TTBB + clarinet | Cycle of 6 contrasting Maori songs on aspects of life and death. Exciting, dramatic music. Pronunciation guide, translation. Moderate/advanced. ±20" |
| The Desert Shall Blossom | SATB | Motet with words from Isaiah. Exhilarating counterpoint. For Advent or general use. Rapid tempo, tricky cross rhythms. Unstoppable momentum. Challenging, exciting music. ±4" |
| The Last Ones | SATB + piano | Haunting, apocalyptic NZ text by Robin Hyde. Choral parts moderately easy. Soloistic piano part requires good technique. ±5" |
| The Water of Life | SATB + organ | Gentle, lyrical anthem for Advent or general use. Requires good organist. Choir parts not difficult. Rewarding piece. ±5" |
| This Big Moroccan Sea | SATB (some divisions, tenor and soprano solos) | Romantic setting of poignant letter from a castaway ±5" |
| To The Horizon: Images of New Zealand |
SATB (some divisions and solos) | Cycle of 12 New Zealand part songs, mainly melodic and folksong-like. Moderate/advanced. ±30" LISTEN |
| Two Samoan Folksongs | SA + piano | Dance songs with pronunciation guide and translations. Easy and great fun. Suitable for children. ±5" |
| Wings | SAB + piano | Simple Romantic setting (tricky piano part) of a text by Abdul Baha celebrating the equality of men and women. |
| U Trau | SSAATB + two wind bands | A Romantic setting of a simple text contemplating an ideal future world. Spatial separation of bands desirable but not essential. Only moderate difficulty for all concerned. Duration: ±10". |
| With Love At Christmas | SATB (some divisions) | Lyrical anthem for Advent or Christmas. Thoughtful text by Jocelyn Marshall links the Nativity with Passiontide. Moderately easy. ±5" |