First International Choral Commission

     In Early 2004, 27 choirs from around the world, but predominantly from the United States and New Zealand commissioned me to write five works for unaccompanied mixed choir. The texts, both sacred and secular were selected from a possible sixteen through a ballot among the participating choirs. By early 2005 the five songs were complete and already many of them had received several performances. The songs, in order of completion are:

And I Saw The River
As I Walked Along The Street
A Voice From Heaven
Reflection On Palm Sunday
The Spark's Farewell To Its Clay

     Please contact me if you would like to see any of these pieces. Here is a PDF file of the texts. I have now posted all the recordings I have received, and will update this page regularly.

     I am very grateful to the choirs and choral directors who participated and supported this venture. It is always so easy to pay lipservice to the importance of new music. To actually take steps to bring about its creation takes commitment and courage. I will never take for granted the faith these fine musicians have placed in my ability. Their names and contact details are below. I am also grateful to funding advisor Rose Campbell of Wellington who gave me guidance in setting it up this project.

     In early 2006 I decided to group this series of songs under the title O Fragile Human, a title taken from the text of the third song, by Hildegard of Bingen. Here is a review of the premiere of the whole cycle in Washington DC.