English Choral Music A Cappella Arrangements

King's Singers : Billy Joel Songs

Review: A lush a cappella setting - Billy Joel's hit ballad 'And So It Goes,' arranged by Bob Chilcott, is one of the King's Singers' most requested arrangements. 'Lullaby,' now available in a revised edition with optional parts for a second choir, this sweet and simple lullaby by Billy Joel on his River of Dreams album is stunning. Lush harmonies and challenging vocal lines will inspire singers to do their best in the new arrangement of the Billy Joel classic 'She's Always a Woman.'

Songlist: Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel), She's Always A Woman, And So It Goes

King's Singers : Book Of Rounds, Canons and Partsongs

Review: This delightful collection of 99 rounds, canons and partsongs makes a delightful introduction to part-singing to kids from 6 to 106! The selections are arranged by categories including English Pre-1700 (Secular), Pre-1700 (Sacred), Post 1700, From Around the World and Wordless Rounds. There's also a surprise or two! Includes: Alleluia (Boyce), Christmas Is Coming, Coffee Canon, Come Follow, Come Let Us All A-Maying Go, Dona Nobis Pacem, Hava Na Shira, If Turn'd Topsy Turvy, Jubilate Deo, Mi Gallo, My Dame Hath a Lame Tame Crane, Non Nobis Domine, Oaken Leaves, Shalom Chaverim, The Silver Swan, Summer Is A-Coming In, Tallis' Canon, Viva la Musica, When Jesus Wept and 80 more.

Songlist: Alleluia (Boyce), Chistmas Is Coming, Coffee Canon, Come Follow, Come Let Us All A-Maying Go, Dona Nobis Pacem, Hava Na Shira, If Turn'd Topsy Turvy, Jubilate Deo, Mi Gallo, My Dame Hath a Lame, Tame Crane, Non Nobis Domine, Oaken Leaves, Shalom Chaverim, The Silver Swan, Summer Is A-Coming In, Tallis' Canon, Viva la Musica, When Jesus Wept, and 80 more selections...

King's Singers : Choral Library Vol 1

Review: This collection brings together some of the more popular pieces sung by The King's Singers over the past years. With the possible exception of "This Old Man" and "Mariri's Wedding", all the pieces have a gentle and rather wistful quality that perhaps reflects more reserved side of the British character in both the arrangers and the singers.

Songlist: This Old Man, The Gift To Be Simple, Irish Lullaby, The Three Ravens, Time After Time, Mairi's Wedding, Lavender's Blue, The Long Day Closes, Phillis is My Only Joy, Charm Me Asleep

King's Singers : Choral Library Vol 2

Review: This second collection brings together some of the more popular pieces sung by The King's Singers over the past years.

Songlist: Con Amores, La Mi Madre, Who Is Sylvia, Golden Slumbers, Joshua, Frog Went A-Courtin', Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Hush Little Baby, Il Est Bel Et Bon, Sweet Nightingale, Four Vocalises

King's Singers : Christmas Collection

Review: What a wonderful way to enjoy singing by the fire during the holidays! This book of arrangements is done just the way you'd expect the King's Singers to do it: with grace, class, and just a touch of humor.zzs

Songlist: The Gift, Boar's Head Carol, Joy to The World, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, The Twelve Days Of Christmas, Gaudete, Noel! Sus Troupe Chanteresse

King's Singers : Christmas Songbook

Review: This songbook includes eight arrangements from the King's Singers 2016 album of the same name. A blend of carols and holiday pops as arranged by Robert Rice and Keith Roberts.

Songlist: Carol Of The Bells, Ding Dong! Merrily On High, The First Nowell, Frosty The Snow Man, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, It Came Upon The Midnight Clear, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Silent Night, White Christmas

King's Singers : Encores

Review: Enjoy the applause as your group performs some of the most often requested King's Singers selections in a variety of styles.

Songlist: The Barber of Seville Overature, Chanson D'Amour, The Creole Love Call, Honey Pie, I Know an Old Lady (There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly),, If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band), Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da, The Pirate King, Seaside Rendezvous

King's Singers : English Renaissance

Review: A variety of music from the great flowering of the English choral art in the king'singers' own editions. Includes a general introduction to the era and background on each work. A must for every high school and college choral library! Includes pieces by: William Byrd (Sing Joyfully, Haec Dies), Orlando Gibbons (Drop Drop Slow Tears, The Silver Swan), John Bennett (All Creatures Now, Weep O Mine Eyes), Thomas Weelkes (As Vesta Was), Thomas Morley (Fire Fire), Edward Pierce (Hunting the Hare), Thomas Ravenscroft (A Round of Three Country Dances, The Three Ravens), Thomas Tallis (If Ye Love Me).

Songlist: All Creatures Now, As Vest Was from Latmos Hill Descending, Drop Drop Slow Tears, Fire Fire, Haec Dies, Hunting the Hare, If Ye Love Me, Round of Three Country Dances in One, The Silver Swan, Sing Joyfully, The Three Ravens, Weep, O Mine Eyes

King's Singers : Ensemble Singing Collection

Review: This collection is a diverse array of songs and styles. Most are arranged by members of the King's Singers, with background notes from the arranger. The neat thing about this collection is the notes from the Singers on how to sing the different parts, what to watch out for and suggestions on interpretations. SATB Octavo.

Songlist: Im Herbst, Dindirin, Dindirin, Plaisir d'amour, Quick! We Have But A Second, S'vivon, Takeda Lullaby, Humpty Dumpty Medley, Blackbird, I Bought Me A Cat, Back In The U.S.S.R., Seaside Rendezvous, Sing We Chant It

King's Singers : Folk Songs

Review: In celebration of the King's Singers anniversary, this is a beautiful collection, complete with photos and stories from members of the King's Singers over the years. This makes for enjoyable reading as well a interesting singing. SATB Octavo.

Songlist: Im Herbst, Bobby Shafto, Dance To Thy Daddy, O My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose, Barbara Allen, Early One Morning, Migildi Magildi, She Moved Through The Fair, The Oak And The Ash, Nae Luck About The House, Londonderry Air, Glossary

King's Singers : Folk Songs and Fantasies

Review: In this 50th Anniversary year of The King's Singers there is much celebrating to be done. A 3 disc CD has been recorded by the current members of the group and from that new recording, the most popular songs have been selected for this collection. Known for their consummate artistry in all genres and styles, their interpretations of pop and folk music are legendary. Songs include: And I Love Her - And So It Goes - Danny Boy - Down by the Riverside - Down with Love - I'll Follow the Sun - Loch Lomond - Love Is Here to Stay - MLK - Quand Tu Dors Pres De Moi - That Lonesome Road

Songlist: MLK, Danny Boy, And I Love Her, And So It Goes, Down By The Riverside, Loch Lomond, Down With Love, That Lonesome Road, Quand Tu Dors Pres De Moi, I'll Follow The Sun, Love Is Here To Stay

King's Singers : Gold

Review: Always known for their stylistic interpretation of standard, a cappella repertoire, here is a collection of 14 songs edited and realized by one of the greatest a cappella ensembles of all time. An IPA pronunciation guide along with translations and insightful performance tips are included.

Songlist: Abendlied, Alle meine Herzgedanken, Baisez-moi (Kiss Me), Das G'laut zu Speyer, Das ist je gewusslich wahr, Dessus le march d'Arras, Die Nacht, In Manus Tuas, Musica Dei Donum, Rest, Sicut Cervus, Sing Joyfully

King's Singers : Here's A Howdy Do

Review: These inventive settings of eight Gilbert & Sullivan favorites offer a multitude of musical rewards. Brilliant farce, understated spoof and delicate nuance are all present in abundance.

Songlist: A British Tar, Ah Leave Me Not, Brightly Dawns Our Wedding Day, Here's A Howdy Do, Take A Pair of Sparkling Eyes, The Pirate King, The Sun, Whose Rays Are All Ablaze, Tilt Window

King's Singers : Lennon & McCartney Connection

Review: The King's Singers do the Beatles. The songs are interesting, with classic Beatles tunes arranged by members of the King's Singers. Some of the songs are done in different periods and styles, all are accesible and fun to sing. SATB Octavo.

Songlist: Back In The U.S.S.R., Blackbird, Can't Buy Me Love, Eleanor Rigby, Honey Pie, I Feel Fine, I'll Follow The Sun, If I Fell, Michelle, Yesterday, You've Got To Hide Your Love Away

King's Singers : More from 'The Beatles Connection'

Review: From the King's Singers' Beatles album, 'Penny Lane' has been one of the most requested by choir directors. The excellent writing of Chilcott breathes new life into this favorite. From the King's Singers and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra "Music of the Beatles" album, 'When I'm 64' is a fun and swinging arrangement of the Lennon and McCartney classic. Featuring inventive jazz band-style vocal accompaniments throughout, everyone gets their turn singing the clever lyrics of the melody. From their recording, Beatles Connection, the often-requested arrangement of 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' is available for the first time. The setting of the heart-felt Lennon and McCartney ballad, 'Here, There and Everywhere' is featured on the King's Singers and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra "Music of the Beatles" album. In this Paul Hart arrangement, the melody is supported by gentle rhythms and countermelodies in the other voices. A perfect opportunity to feature soloists.

Songlist: Penny Lane, When I'm Sixty-Four, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Here, There And Everywhere

King's Singers : North American Folksongs

Review: Bob Chilcott joined the King's Singers in 1987 and sang tenor in the group for 12 years while also serving as their primary arranger. This collection includes 8 favorite North American folksongs, now available for the first time in a single volume. Piano for rehearsal only.

Songlist: Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair, Feller From Fortune, The Gift To Be Simple, The Golden Variety, I Bought Me A Cat, L'Habitant De Saint Barbe, The Lazy Man, She's Like The Swallow

King's Singers : Postcards

Review: In their travels, the King's Singers have amassed a wonderful collection of songs from countries around the world that they regularly visit. Featured on their album, Postcards, here are several of their favorites. Bon voyage! Includes: Arirang (Korea), Pokarekare Ana (New Zealand), The Oak and the Ash (England), Botany Bay (Australia), Es dunkelt schon in der Heide (Germany), O My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose (Scotland), El Vito (Andalusia), Little David, Play on Your Harp (America).

Songlist: Arirang, Pokarekare Ana, The Oak and the Ash, Botany Bay, Es dunkelt schon in die Heide, O My Love Is Like A Red, Red Rose, El Vito, Little David, Play On Your Harp

King's Singers : Simple Gifts

Review: Based on their Grammy Award-winning album, this compilation by The King's Singers features an eclectic collection of songs. A stunning variety of folksongs, spirituals and pop songs.

Songlist: Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair, Deep River, The Gift to Be Simple, Helplessly Hoping, I Love My Love, She's Always A Woman, The Turtle Dove, Valparaiso, When She Loved Me, You Are The New Day, You Can Close Your Eyes

King's Singers : Sing Mika

Review: From their successful concert performances with the British pop star Mika, here are the King's Singers' settings of several of his most popular songs. Imaginative, joyful and empowering, this music is unique in the world of a cappella!

Songlist: Any Other World, By The Time, Grace Kelly, Lady Jane, Lollipop, Over My Shoulder, Rain, Toy Boy

King's Singers : Swimming Over London

Review: This collection of selected songs from the King's Singers album Swimming over London is a mixture of King's Singers pop favorites and brand new songs and arrangements.

Songlist: Andromeda, Angel, By The Time, Don't Know Why, Hide and Seek, Home, I'm Yours, It's A New World, Lazybones/ Lazy River, Swimming Over London

King's Singers : The Quiet Heart: Choral Essays Vol 1

Review: From the King's Singers' exquisite album The Quiet Heart - Choral Essays Volume 1, drawn from the sacred repertoire of the Salvation Army, these 13 selections are a reflective musical journey into the spirit. The invitation to perform in March 2005 as guest of the marvellous Hendon Salvation Army Band in heir special concert "Hendon Highlights" at London's Royal Festival Hall led to a relationship which resulted in the re-arranging and recording of 19 beautiful hymns for the CD, The Quiet Heart, on the SP&S label.Rather then just perform what were in many cases simple four-part hymns, they decided to take advantage of their six-part status, and so the hymns were mostly re-arranged with the inclusion of low 5ths to complement bass notes, double tunes (soprano and baritone) and the occasional extra harmony note. Some had Piano accompaniment, so for these they either converted them into vocal accompaniments or wrote a new vocal pattern to go with the tune. So here is the companion volume to the CD, in which we have included 13 of the tracks in the exact voicings as heard on the album. They work equally well in a concert hall or in a church.

Songlist: All For Thee, By His Hand, Christ's Part, Even Me, Grant Us Thy Peace, His Provision, Home To Thee (From Reflections), In The Secret Of Thy Presence, Intercede, O Lord, The Quiet Heart, Spirit Divine, To The Hills, When We Cannot See Our Way

Lee R. Kesselman : Nights in Armor

Review: Nights in Armor is a four-movement suite for a cappella chorus evoking the legend of King Arthur as related by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. The first movement "Merlin's Riddle" is a quirky, dance-like incantation, in which the famous sorcerer prophesies Arthur's coming. The second movement "The Knight and His Queen" is an imagined poem from the knight Lancelot to Queen Guinevere expressively calls forth feelings of unfulfillable love. "Tristram's Madrigal" - Sprightly, teasing music celebrates the joys of living in the moment, boldly blind to its consequences. "Arthur's Final Words" are the words of the mortally wounded King Arthur reflecting on life and the quest for ideals; the music artfully gives life to this wisdom.

Songlist: Arthur's Final Words, The Knight and His Queen, Tristram's Madrigal, Merlin's Riddle

Louis Halsey : Four Folksongs from the British Isles

Review: The English lecturer, conductor, adjudicator, composer and arranger, Louis Halsey, studied music at Cambridge, where he sang in the celebrated King's College Choir, before embarking on a music career which has taken him all over the world conducting, lecturing, examining and adjudicating. Here are a collection of folk songs from each of the four countries in the United Kingdom.

Songlist: Going to Mass Last Sunday, My Love She's a Venus, O No, John!, Ye Banks and Braes

Malcome Archer (Editor) : Epiphany To All Saints for Choirs

Review: A uniquely accessible and comprehensive resource for use in church services and concerts throughout the Church's year. The volume's 50 SATB pieces, both accompanied and unaccompanied, are suitable choirs of all sizes and abilities and provides an excellent choice of pieces for the Principal Feasts. The collection champions new, approachable, and unjustly neglected repertoire spanning all periods and traditions, whilst avoiding widely available or difficult music. The book includes many previously unpublished or newly commissioned anthems, arrangements, and editions by important composers and church musicians and contains useful musical and liturgical introductions in addition to full indexes, glossaries of additional uses for the repertoire.

Songlist: Arise Shine O Jerusalem, Behold the Lord, the ruler is come, Bethlehem of noblest cities, Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, It was a star, Lo star led chiefs, Magi venint ab orient, Surge Illuminare, The Journey, Tribus Miraculis, Hodie beata virgo, Maria das Jungfrauelein, Nunc Dimittis, Phos Hilaron, Prayer for the blessing of light, Angelus ad Virginem, Ave maria, Ave maris Stella, Dixit Maria, Hail Blessen Virgin Mary, Ne timeas Maria, Nova Nova, Ascendens Christus, Hail the day that sees him rise, He that descended, O clap your hands, O king of Glory, Lord ascendeth upon high, Gracious Spirit Holy Ghost, Holy spirit ever dwelling, and more

Michael Tippett : 5 Negro Spirituals

Review: These arrangements of the Five Spirituals grew from the arranger's desire to see a larger and more interesting repertoire for mixed choruses, and were created with the approval of Tippett's biographer and execture, Merion Bowen. Whilst the spirituals suit mixed choruses of various sizes and remain as 'basically simple' as the originals, there are several musical challenges in the arrangements.

Songlist: Steal Away, Nobody Knows, Go Down Moses, By And By, Deep River

Michael Tippett : Five Spirituals from 'A Child of Our Time'

Review: These arrangements of the Five Spirituals grew from the arranger's desire to see a larger and more interesting repertoire for male choruses, and were created with the approval of Tippett's biographer and execture, Merion Bowen. Whilst the spirituals suit male choruses of various sizes and remain as 'basically simple' as the originals, there are several musical challenges in the arrangements.

Songlist: Steal Away, Nobody Knows, Go Down Moses, By And By, Deep River

Morten Schuldt-Jensen : An English Christmas 1

Review: This first collection of five carols samples the vast spectrum of festive musical fare that still lies at the heart of the English Christmas tradition. The name SAM-Klang takes the three voice parts from the arrangements -- Soprano, Alto and Men -- and combines it with the Scandinavian and German words for sound to create the portmanteau word sound together or harmony. The series offers basic and advanced choral repertoire. In addition to new repertoire and new arrangements, you will also find essential parts of the classical German, Scandinavian, French and English SATB repertoire, carefully and considerately reworked for SAM. The arrangements retain the characteristic features of the original movements and have almost the same richness of timbre, resulting in works which sound nearly unchanged to an audience. Piano reductions of all choral movements facilitate rehearsal preparation. The arrangements offer development opportunities for all voice sections, bringing new life and new quality to SAM choir work. SAM-Klang enables youth choirs to gain access to classical choral literature and ensures that mixed choirs who face challenges in finding singers for all male voice parts continue to have access to well-loved repertoire.

Songlist: O Little Town Of Bethlehem, I Saw Three Ships, O Come, All Ye Faithful, Adeste Fideles, Once In Royal David's City, Ding Dong Merrily On High!

Morten Schuldt-Jensen : English Madrigals 1

Review: This collection features five of the most popular choral works from the English Madrigal School, a brief period from the 1580s to the 1620s that followed the arrival of Italian secular polyphony on English shores. The name SAM-Klang takes the three voice parts from the arrangements -- Soprano, Alto and Men -- and combines it with the Scandinavian and German words for sound to create the portmanteau word sound together or harmony. The series offers basic and advanced choral repertoire. In addition to new repertoire and new arrangements, you will also find essential parts of the classical German, Scandinavian, French and English SATB repertoire, carefully and considerately reworked for SAM. The arrangements retain the characteristic features of the original movements and have almost the same richness of timbre, resulting in works which sound nearly unchanged to an audience. Piano reductions of all choral movements facilitate rehearsal preparation. The arrangements offer development opportunities for all voice sections, bringing new life and new quality to SAM choir work. SAM-Klang enables youth choirs to gain access to classical choral literature and ensures that mixed choirs who face challenges in finding singers for all male voice parts continue to have access to well-loved repertoire.

Songlist: Since First I Saw Your Face, Weep, O Mine Eyes, April Is In My Mistress' Face, My Bonny Lass She Smileth, Come Again, Sweet Love

Nancy Wertsch : Shakespeare Suite

Review: The music here is meant to evoke the amorous thoughts and feelings of young lovers in Shakespeare's England. "It Was A Lover and His Lass" is a musical picture of a pair of happy young lovers meandering through the lush green countryside and enjoying the warmth of a spring day. It is obvious that these tow are a part of the total flowering spring. "Oh Mistress Mine" is a tender appeal by the young lover imploring his beloved to roaming and come to him. He employs various arguments to convince her that love should happen now and not later. His ardent desire is reflected in the music. However, at the end of the piece his love remains unrequited. In "Daffodils" there is so much youthful energy that it almost gets out of control. The key here is "tumbling." The whole piece goes in spurts and stops, with duddilly dum dum's and oo's containing little naughty thoughts here and there which can't say in words. All the chaos seems to come under control for awhile until the pent up energy bursts forth in "tumbling, tumbling, tumbling" and gleefully ends "as we go tumbling in the hay."

Songlist: It Was A Lover and His Lass, Oh Mistress Mine, Daffodils

Orlando Gibbons : Five English Anthems

Review: The choral music of Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625) is unusual among his Tudor contemporaries for being all in English (as far as we know), and is of the very highest quality. This collection provides an excellent value and includes five examples of the work of this rare genius: Almighty and everlasting God; Drop, drop slow tears; Hosanna to the Son of David; Lift up your heads; O Clap Your Hands.

Songlist: Lift Up Your Heads, Drop Drop Slow Tears, O Clap Your Hands, Almighty And Everlasting God, Hosanna To The Son Of David

Paul Spicer (editor) : English Pastoral Partsongs

Review: These settings, breathtaking in their simplicity and beauty, reflect and confirm the wide view of English music in the first half of this century: the selections, by Delius, Holst, Howells, Ireland, Vaughan Williams, and Warlock--and others--uniquely give the choral sound and the imagery of nature. English Pastoral Partsongs nicely compliments other Oxford secular choral anthologies: English Romantic Partsongs, The English Glee, and English Madrigals.

Songlist: My Spirit Sang All Day, I Praise The Tender Flower, Haste On, My Joys!, In The Wilderness, The Splendour Falls n he Castle Walls, To Daffodils, Devotion, How Can The Heart Forget Her?, This I Have Done For My True Love, Dream Tryst, The Scribe, The Hills, Love Is A Sickness, O Mistress Mine, Three Shakespeare Songs, Full Fathom Five, The Cloud-Capp'd Towers, Over Hill, Over Dale, Silence And Music, Soft Music, The Spring Of The Year

Percy M. Young (editor) : The English Glee

Review: In the period between the deaths of Handel and Mendelssohn, the glee was the vehicle by which secular part-singing was carried in England. The form is descended from the madrigal, with texts chosen partly in reaction against the vulgarity of the catch. This new history of the glee begins with an introductory essay detailing the form's historical, musical, and social context. Young has selected twenty-six settings, mainly in four parts but with examples in three and five parts, to show the breadth of the glee in its heyday. A unique feature of the form, and of this collection, is the high literary quality of the text and the high musical quality of the settings. This fine new volume is an essential addition to the choral repertory, and is uniform with the other indispensable Oxford classic choral collections: English Romantic Partsongs, The Oxford Book of English Madrigals, The Oxford Book of French Chansons, The Oxford Book of Italian Madrigals, and The Catch Book.

Songlist: The Love Rapture, Death's Final Conquest, The Rose, The Poor Soul Sat Sighing, Thyrsis, When He Left Me, Hark, The Lark, Susanna And The Two Elders, Long May Live My Lovely Hetty, Lady Anne Bothwell's Lament, Ring Out Ye Crystal Spheres, The Nightingale, Take, O Take Those Lips Away, Slow, Slow, Fresh Fount, O Poesy, Here In Cool Grot, Hail! Hallow'd Fane!, Elegy For Cymbeline, Poor Barbara, Merrily Push Round The Glass, Ring Out Ye Crystal Spheres, Under The Greenwood Tree, Hail! Smiling Mourn, Doubt Thou The Stars Are Fire, Ye Spotted Snakes, When From The Skies Divine Cecilia Came, Divine Cecilia

Peter Skellern : Six Simple Carols

Review: Six original Christmas carols written by noted British choral composer Peter Skellern for mixed voices a cappella (optional piano). A refreshing change from the usual Christmas fare.

Songlist: Love Is Come Again, Love Divine Is Coming, Lullaby, Were You There?, How Long The Night?, So Said The Angel

Philip Lawson : The Birds and the Bees

Review: Mixed choruses and chamber ensembles will frequently use and enjoy this collection of English madrigals, selected and edited by former King's Singer Philip Lawson.

Songlist: The Nightingale, The Organ Of Delight, Of All The Birds, Sweet Honey-Sucking Bees, Sweet Suffolk Owl, The Silver Swan

Philip Ledger (editor) : Anthems For Choirs 2

Review: The two volumes Anthems for Choirs 2 and 3 form a comprehensive collection for soprano and alto voices ranging from the 13th century to the present day. They are suitable for cathedral, church, school, women's, girls', and boys' choirs. Volume 2 is devoted to unison and two-part anthems whilst Volume 3 comprises anthems in three or more parts and a set of five introits. Four new anthems have been specially commissioned from David Lord, John Rutter, Robert Sherlaw Johnson, and Phyllis Tate. With the exception of Christmas (most choir libraries already contain music for this festival) all seasons of the Church's year are represented in the collection. There are 24 anthems in each book.

Songlist: The Sorrows of my Heart, Christo Resurgenti, Lord What Love Have I, Duo Seraphim, Gaudent, O Salutaris, O Come Hither, The Lord is my Shepherd, Wash me Throughly, Litany to the Holy Spirit, I Will Always Give Thanks, Beatus Vir, Oculus Non Vidit, Close in my Breast, Give Ear Unto Me, The Souls of the Righteous, Abat Mater Dolorosa, Evening Hymn, O My God I Cry in the Daytime, Let Saints on Earth, Eins Bitte Ich Vom Herren, Come Ye Children, Sing We Merrily, The Song of the Tree of Life

Philip Ledger (editor) : Oxford Book of English Madrigals

Review: The madrigal composed in England during the late sixteenth century and early seventeenth centuries include some of the finest music of the period and are possibly superior in truth and expressiveness even to the madrigals composed in Italy, where the form was invented and flourished over a long period. Faced with many hundreds of possible candidates for inclusion in the edition, the editor worked on the principal that the major composers would each be represented by several madrigals, and the lesser figures by one or more. But no madrigal would be included if it fell below the high standard set by the collection as a whole. Over 60 madrigals are included.

Songlist: Those Sweet Delightful Lilies, All Creatures Now, Weep O Mine Eyes, Lullaby My Sweet Little Baby, This Sweet and Merry Month of May, Though Amaryllis Dance, Come Gentle Swains, Poor is the Life, Quick Quick Away Dispatch!, No Haste But Good!, Fair Nymphs I Heard One Telling, Fair Phyllis I Saw, Consture my Meaning, Ah Dear Heart, Dainty Fine Bird, O that the Learned Poets, The Silver Swan, Trust Not to Much Fair Youth, What is our Life?, Come Away Sweet Love, See What a Maze of Terror, April is in my Mistress' Face, Fyer Fyer!, Hard by a Crystal Fountain, I Love Alas this Tormenting, My Bonnie Lass She Smileth, Now Is The Month Of Maying, Sing We and Chant it, Through Philomela Lost Her Love, Whither Away so Fast?, and more

Philip Stopford : Choral Works

Review: In 'For The Beauty of the Earth,' such beautiful words deserve to be set to equally beautiful music, and here the textures unfold and the piece blossoms from bar one to the end. Starting in two parts and organically growing to seven, the music is designed to lift the hearts of all that perform and hear it. A new work for a new day. Famously set to music by Thomas Tallis, and taking words from the gospel of John, 'If Ye Love Me' is a fresh attempt at this famous passage of scripture. Rich harmonies will resonate in your performance space, enveloping your listeners with a tapestry of sound. The famous text of 'Tomorrow Will Be My Dancing Day' receives a madrigal-like setting with vibrant mixed meters and colorful vocal textures. Excellent for chamber groups and a cappella programs, this fascinating and rewarding work will surely delight! A new and simple arrangement of the famous prayer"God Be in My Head" joins the existing repertoire with rich harmony and strong melodic line. "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day" - soft, expressive and thought provoking phrasing shape this lovely setting for unaccompanied voices. With an interesting use of the 5/8 time signature, the melody flows endlessly and effortlessly.

Songlist: Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day, If Ye Love Me, For the Beauty of the Earth, Jesus Christ, The Apple Tree, God Be In My Head

Ralph Vaughan Williams : Nine Carols For Male Voices

Review: Vaughan Williams arranged these carols during World War 1 for the "choir" he developed among the men in his Field Ambulance unit. In 1917 they were stationed in Greece, near Katerini, on a hillside with Mount Olympus towering above. Ursula Vaughan Williams writes "Another experince, which no one who was there forgot, was carol singing on Christmas Eve: snow-capped Olympus, the clear night, the stars, and Ralph's choir singing carols of Hereford and Sussex with passionate nostaglia. The choir made that Christmas so far from home one that had a special quality, a special beauty, long remembered."

Songlist: God Rest Ye Merry, And Joseph Was A-Walking (Cherry Tree Carol), The First Nowell, The Lord At First, Coventry Carol, I Saw Three Ships, A Virgin Most Pure, Dives And Lazarus

Ralph Vaughan Williams : The Vagabond

Review: The Vagabond is based on words written by Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894). With their saucy praise of the life on the road and the freedom of nature, they are reminders of the ancient traditions of the wanderer. But the musical elaboration is far from being just simple and popular : Ralph Vaughan Williams employs refined means of composition, in order to realize varied colors and moods ; and he offers the voice the possibility to sing magnificent phrasing and to evoke strong emotional impact.

Songlist: The Vagabond

Ralph Vaughan Williams : Three Shakespeare Songs

Review: Here's a collection from the great English composer of his original arrangements of three Shakespeare songs, two from "The Tempest" and one from "Midsummer Night's Dream". These are classics!

Songlist: Full Fathom Five, The Cloud Capp'd Towers, Overhill, over Dale

Rebecca Clarke : A Choral Collection

Review: Rebecca Clarke is considered by many commentators to be one of the most important British composers in the interwar period and has been described as the most distinguished British female composer of her generation. Best known for her chamber music featuring the viola she also composed many choral pieces, a great deal of which were never published. Thanks to the recent efforts of The Rebecca Clarke Society, based out of the Women's Studies Research Center at Brandeis University, there is a renewed interest in her work. This is a collection of newly published arrangements for unaccompanied mixed chorus that clearly demonstrate why her work was recognized for its compositional skill.

Songlist: Come, Oh Come, My Life's Delight, A Lover's Dirge, Music, When Soft Voices Die, My Spirit Like A Charmed Bark Doth Float, Philomela, Weep You No More, Sad Fountains, When Cats Run Home and Light is Come

Robert Walker (editor) : The New Novello Part-Song Book

Review: 44 British classic and modern secular part-songs for mixed voices from Purcell to the present day. With this anthology, selected and edited by Robert Walker, choirs are provided with accessible material of many styles and eras: from arcadian Purcell, the classical simplicity of Arne, from Sterndale Bennett and Sullivan, writing during the golden age of glee clubs through the late-Romantic era of Elgar and Bantock, and the early twentieth century British renaissance of Holst and Moeran to contemporary composers like Musgrave, Bennett and Kelly.This set of works will be within the scope of all choirs and levels of accomplishment. All vocal ranges are given and rehearsal piano accompaniments provided.

Songlist: The Blue Bird, Breathe Soft, Ye Winds, Bring Us in Good Ale, Cargoes, Celandine, Come Away, Death, Come Let Us Join the Roundelay, Come Live with Me, Cupid and Rosalind, Echoes, Evening Has Lost Her Throne, Fruit Machine, Go, Lovely Rose, Inheritance, In These Delightful, Pleasant Groves, In This Hour of Softened Splendour, Invocation to Sleep, John Cook, Lay a Garland, The Long Day Closes, Madrigal, The Moon, Music, When Soft Voices Die, My Delight and Thy Delight, My Soul Would Drink Those Echoes, O Sing unto My Roundelay, Orpheus, with His Lute, The Prince of Sleep, Proud Songsters, A Shepherd's Carol, and more

Robin Holloway : Five Madrigals for Unaccompanied Mixed Voices

Review: Ranging between 4 and 6 parts, these 5 delightful madrigals were composed by noted arranger Robin Holloway and were set to the poems of T.S. Elliot and one of James Joyce. Fun!

Songlist: Ecce Puer, Children's Voices, Eyes That Last I Saw In Tears, Voices Of Birds, Red River

Ronald Corp : Forever Child - Seven Songs of Childhood

Review: Forever Child is a suite of seven pieces for unaccompanied mixed voices on the theme of childhood. it was composed in memory of a young boy, Ben Curiel, and is a celebration of his life in a sequences of well-loved texts. Corp skillfully evokes a variety of moods, from the innocence of childhood to the darker, more reflective mood of the final movements. The work forms an excellent concert suite, or any of its movements may be extracted for separate performance

Songlist: The Fly, New Year's Chimes, A Boy's Song, God be in my head, The Swing, On My First Sonne, Requiem, Where Go The Boats?

Royal School of Church Music : The Bronze Collection

Review: Voice for Life, RSCM Publications' indispensable guide to choral training, now offers four new choral anthem collections specifically designed to accompany their choral training program. These comprehensive and varied collections provide choirs with a vast assortment of anthems ranging in skill level from beginner to advanced. The pieces in each book correspond with the different skill levels in the Voice for Life program. These fine editions also stand on their own as valuable choral collections for any choir.

Songlist: A Gaelic Blessing, A Prayer of St Richard of Chichester, And didst thou travel light, Ave Maria, Ave verum corpus, Away with gloom, away with doubt, Child in the manger, Day by day, Fairest Lord Jesus, From the rising of the sun, Glory, love, and praise and honour, Hide not thou thy face, How beautiful upon the mountains, I am the bread of life, I give you a new commandment, In the heart where love is abiding, Let all the world in every corner sing, Listen, Love one another, Loving God, May the peace of God the Father, O for a closer walk with God, O mysterium ineffabile, O Holy Spirit, Lord of grace, Praise, O praise our God and King, Sent by the Lord am I, Steal away, The Easter Song of Praise, The fruits of the land, The Lord's my shepherd, and more

Royal School of Church Music : The Silver Collection: 30 Anthems and Songs

Review: Voice for Life, RSCM Publications' indispensable guide to choral training, now offers four new choral anthem collections specifically designed to accompany their choral training program. These comprehensive and varied collections provide choirs with a vast assortment of anthems ranging in skill level from beginner to advanced. The pieces in each book correspond with the different skill levels in the Voice for Life program. These fine editions also stand on their own as valuable choral collections for any choir

Songlist: Angel voices, As water to the thirsty, At the river, Blessed be the God and Father, Cantate Domino, For the gifts of life and love, Fountain of Sweets, Glorious and powerful God, How beauteous are their feet, I will sing of the Lord's great love, It is a thing most wonderful, Jubilate!, King of Glory, Listen sweet Dove, My Soul, there is a Country, Now go in peace, O God, thou art my God, O Lord, make thy servant, O magnum mysterium, O salutaris hostia, O thou the central orb, O vos omnes, Rejoice, the Lord is King, Salvator mundi, Shepherd of souls, Solus ad victimam, The Beatitudes, This lovely lady, Ubi caritas, Wash me throughly

Royal School of Church Music : Voice for Life Songbook

Review: The Voice for Life Songbook contains a range of material compiled with young people and singers at beginner and intermediate levels in mind. With traditional church music, gospel and jazz, and songs from around the world, this volume will appeal to singers of all ages, and provide your choir with the opportunity to explore a range of musical styles. It comes with a demonstration CD to provide guidance on how the songs sound, and also for those who are not confident at reading music, so they can listen to their part and learn it. There are training notes which accompany each piece to provide ideas about how to introduce each song in rehearsals, ideas for a creative performance, and how to use the song to develop your singers' voices and musical understanding.

Songlist: Rehearsals, Warm-Ups, Amen, Say Amen, Hallelu, Hallelu, Kyrie Eleison, When the Spirit of the Lord, King of Kings, Shalom chaverim, Rejoice in the Lord always, Don't build your house on the sandy land, Freedom train, Now go in peace, Dona nobis pacem, Hallelujah4, Sing with me, Bring the children, Now thank we all our God, The fruits of the land, The Lord is my light, I will sing a song of l;ove, A blessing for Mother's Day, O when the saints, Amazing grace, Prayer of St. Benedict, God the singers, A song of peace and joy, He came singing love, Unfinished story, We rejoice to be God's chosen, For Mary, mother of our Lord, and more

Royal School of Church Music : Voice for Life Songbook 2

Review: The Voice for Life Songbook 2 is a graded anthology of more than forty sacred and inspirational songs guaranteed to get your choir singing. Following upon the first Voice for Life Songbook, this new collection will introduce your choir to a greater variety of musical styles and develop their confidence with part-singing and unaccompanied performance. With music ranging from gospel, jazz, and world music to plainsong and early music, the Voice for Life Songbook 2 will appeal to choirs of all ages. Many of the arrangements are flexible, allowing for either upper voice or mixed voice choirs to perform them. The volume includes catchy warm-up songs, rounds, and canons as well as plenty of helpful vocal warm-up ideas and training notes for every piece. This collection features specially commissioned new pieces by experts in the music education field, including Mike Brewer, Ken Burton, Alexander L'Estrange, Geoff Weaver, David Ogden, and Christopher Norton, as well as fresh new works by up-and-coming young composers. Complete with vocal parts for each piece and a demonstration CD, this anthology offers excellent value for the money and offers plenty of inspiration and advice for choir trainers looking to get the very best from their singers.

Songlist: Come on, all you people, Jesus walked this lonesome valley, Alleluya, By the waters of Babylon, Let us sing together, Laudemus, Of the Father's love begotten, Leaning on the Lord's side, Father God in heaven, Change is coming, My God, Non nobis Domine, God is love, Veni, veni, Emmanuel, I see his blood, Song of St Anselm, Nada te turbe, Come ye people, The bread you do not use, Stabat mater, Praise ye the Lord, Change of heart, Siyahamba (We are marching), Jesus Christ the apple tree, What wondrous love is this?, Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel, Alleluia Mozart, Spirit of mercy, Standin' in the need of prayer, The holly and the ivy, and more

Sarah Watts : Silly Songs

Review: Kids love a good silly song, and they don't come much sillier than these! All are great fun for classroom, choir and concert use, and many have actions.

Songlist: The smallest worm, Mary had some marmalade, The pork pie jig, I just got tired of waiting, Boom, The mad mower of Monmouth, Live a little, They never wrote a song like this!, On the train, The Limerick song, Be kind to your web-footed friends, I'm alive, I like bananas because they have no bones, The shrimpetty Song, The king kong konga!, There's a gnome called Fred, I'm a nut!, There once was a guy with a ping pong ball, A peanut sat on a railway track, Three blue pidgeons

Voicing: Children

Simon Halsey : A New Heaven

Review: 16 contemporary sacred works for mixed voices. Exciting new choral works by some of the most highly regarded British choral composers of our time - from Jonathan Dove and Howard Goodall to Judith Bingham and Jonathan Harvey. Contemporary settings of key sacred texts such as Agnus Dei, Gloria, and The Lord is my shepherd, for use in concerts, church services, and choral evensongs throughout the year. Includes accompanied and unaccompanied works for mixed-voice choirs (four to eight parts), from intermediate to more advanced level. Introduction and commentary with valuable rehearsal and performance tips by internationally acclaimed British choral conductor Simon Halsey

Songlist: A Blessing, Absolon, My Son, Adoro Te, Agnus Dei, A Song of the New Jerusalem, Ave Maria, The Call, God be in my head, Gloria (from Missa Brevis, Jubilate Deo, Let all the world in every corner sing, The Lord is my shepherd (Psalm 23), Oculi omnium, Remember, O Lord, The Souls of the Righteous, Now let us sing (Worcester Introit