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Judith Weir was born into a Scottish family in 1954, but grew up near London. She was an oboe player, performing with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and studied composition with John Tavener during her schooldays. She went on to Cambridge University, where her composition teacher was Robin Holloway; and in 1975 attended summer school at Tanglewood, where she worked with Gunther Schuller. After this she spent several years working in schools and adult education in rural southern England; followed by a period based in Scotland, teaching at Glasgow University and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. |
Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media
Displaying 1-15 of 15 items.
Judith Weir : By Wisdom Composed to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen in 2022. First performed at a Service of Thanksgiving for Her Majesty The Queen at St Paul's Cathedral, London, on 3rd June 2022 by the choirs of St Paul's Cathedral and Her Majesty's Chapel Royal conducted by Andrew Carwood, with William Fox, organ. Amongst many ancient writings which examine the importance of Wisdom in our life on earth is the Old Testament Book of Proverbs. The short selection of verses (from Proverbs, Chapter 3) set to music in this anthem celebrate 'the one who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding'. Judith Weir : Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis This work was commissioned by the Master and Fellows of St. John's College, Cambridge, to mark the 500th anniversary of the founding of the college. The Magnificat was first performed by Andrew Nethsingha and the Choir of St. John's College on October 30, 2011, and the Nunc Dimittis (as part of a complete performance) on February 5, 2012. Songlist: Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis Judith Weir : The Big Picture The Big Picture was written to celebrate the completion of a major redevelopment and refurbishment to Aberdeen Art Gallery. Wishing to examine a subject important, in different ways, to both the visual arts and music, the composer decided to write about colour. Judith Weir : Day by Day Day by Day was written for the Chamber Choir of Burntwood School and their conductor Debbie Lammin. It was first performed by them on 25th March 2019 at the Royal Festival Hall, London, as part of A Brighter Sound 2019, a concert presented by Wandsworth Schools' Music. Texts are by the Japanese poets, Matsuo Basho, Yosa Buson, and Kobayashi Issa, translated from The Essential Haiku by Robert Hass. Judith Weir : Sonnet 116 A short setting of Shakespeare's sonnet 116, Let me not to the marriage of true minds, for baritone and piano, first performed in Smithfield in July 2017. Judith Weir : The Sleeping-Mat Ballad Commissioned in 2014 by Welsh National Opera, Ffilm Cymru Wales and The Space as part of WMO's Occupation: Five songs that shook the world, directed by Margaret Constantas. Judith Weir : Ascending Into Heaven Scored for mixed voice choir SATB with organ accompaniment. Text by Hildebert of Lavardin (1056-1133), Bishop of Le Mans and Archbishop of Tours. Commissioned by the St Albans International Organ Festival 1983. Duration 7 minutes. Judith Weir : Vertue Three short choral settings of peoms by George Herbert, commissioned by The Spitalfields Festival in memory of Peter Lerwill, a generous supporter of the festival. The first performance of the set took place in June 2005 at Christ Church, Spitalfields, by The Cardinall's Musick with Andrew Carwood. The textures of Weir's settings range from the clarity of the Madrigal and Hymn to more complex writing with the choir splitting into as many as eight parts. Judith Weir : All the Ends of the Earth All The Ends Of The Earth is a choral motet written for a Europe-wide radio broadcast on Millennium Day 1st January, 2000. It is based on Perotin's organum Viderunt Omnes. Scored for S.A.T.B. chorus, percussion and harp. Judith Weir : Drop Down, Ye Heavens, from Above This short setting of Rorate Coeli a text associated with the Matins service at Advent was written in 1983 and first performed by the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge, as part of the Advent Carol Service held every year in Trinity College Chapel. Arranged for mixed voice choir, SATB. Duration 2 minutes. Judith Weir : Songs From The Exotic Songs from the Exotic were commissioned by Josephine Nendick, who gave the first performance with Michael Finnissy on 7th October 1987 in Cambridge. These four songs were inspired by folk traditions of Serbia, Spain and Scotland. In each case the text comes from a folksong source but the music is entirely invented. The duration is approximately 10 minutes. Judith Weir : Good Morning, Midnight This work takes its name from a poem by Emily Dickinson and includes 5 verses by different poets. Composed for mezzo-soprano and chamber ensemble. Judith Weir : Like as the Hart Composed for the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, London, on 19 September 2022, Like as the hart is a setting of verses from Psalm 42 for four-part choir with occasional divisi. The words and music speak at first of the soul's great sadness and thirst for reassurance; but as the psalm progresses, the mood becomes calmer and more resolved, culminating in consolation, with the words Put thy trust in God. Judith Weir : Indelible, Miraculous A short, simple setting of a poem by Julia Darling which builds to a climax to the words we all matter. Originally composed for youth singers and first performed at BBC Proms concert from Sage Gateshead, the piece is also suitable for choirs where a limited number of male singers are available. Judith Weir : The True Light This work for mixed voices and organ setting text from the First Epistle of St John and Psalm 107 was commissioned by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport for a Service to commemorate the centenary of the end of the First World War, held in Westminster Abbey on 11th November 2018, and first performed by the Choir of Westminster Abbey with Peter Holder (organ) conducted by James O'Donnell. |
Displaying 1-14 of 14 items.
Commissioned in memory of Edmund Bridges for the choir of Eton College, and in Oxford for the choirs of Magdalen College, and Christ Church Cathedral. First performed by an ad hoc choir conducted by Anna Lapwood at St John's Church, Berwick St John, Wiltshire on 21 July 2021 and subsequently by the choirs of Magdalen College, Oxford on 31 October, Eton College Chapel on 5 November and Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford on 19 November 2021. Based on the poem by George Herbert.
Commissioned for Malcom Munro and the Choir of St. Mary the Virign, Dover, in loving memory of John Yarrow.
This piece was commissioned by Merton College, Oxford as part of the Merton Choirbook, a collection of music being assembled to celebrate Merton College's 750th anniversary in 2014.
This work by Judith Weir for SAATTBB chorus and organ accompaniment was commissioned by Her Majesty's Government and the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. It was first performed by the Choir of Westminster Abbey at a service of thanksgiving held in Westminster Abbey, marking the 70th anniversary of VE Day.
Holy Innocents is a work by Judith Weir for 2-part Soprano Chorus and Organ Accompaniment. Commissioned to mark the 20th Anniversary of St Albans Abbey Girls Choir, the piece sets a poem by Christina Rossetti and lasts around 3 and a half minutes.
Master of the Queen's Music, Judith Weir, has been commissioned by St Paul's Cathedral in London to write a piece for SATB choir and organ in celebration of HM The Queen's 90th birthday in 2016. The piece is now available from Chester Music, so that choirs all over the world can enjoy this accessible and festive work.
Carol for SATB and organ, written for the Choir of King's College, Cambridge.
Judith Weir's Leaf From Leaf Christ Knows for SATB choir with organ accompaniment. Leaf From Leaf Christ Knows was commissioned by Cathedral Commissions of Wells Cathedral. Its first performance took place during the festival 'New Music Wells 76-16' on Thursday 20th October 2016, where it was performed by the Choir of Wells Cathedral with James Kealey on Organ and Matthew Owens conducting.
In 1994, for the 500th anniversary of the University of Aberdeen, Judith Weir wrote two settings of 17th century English verse and choir, entitles Two Human Hymns. In 1997, Weir arranged the first of these 'Hymns' - a setting of George Herbert's poem Love Bade Me Welcome - for a cappella choir of mixed voices (SSATBB). A piano accompaniment part is scored for rehearsal purposes.
Commissioned by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, to mark the centenary of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
This setting of Christina Rossetti's poem Then Shall Ye Shout for unaccompanied double choir was commissioned by Help Musicians UK for its annual St Cecilia's Festival service and first performed by the Choirs of St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral on 17 November 2021. Rossetti's text describes singers biding their time and staying silent until the moment they are able to come together again and sing, loudly and with passion. The piece commemorates the period in 2020 during which musicians were unable to perform due to lockdowns caused by the global pandemic.
Judith Weir's Praise Him with Trumpets, a work for 2 trumpets, SATB choir and organ was commissioned by Historic Royal Palaces in collaboration with The Choral Foundation. The piece was composed for the Hampton Court Chapel Royal Choir in celebration of Hampton Court 500. A setting of text from Psalms 146 and 150, this work can also be performed without trumpets.
Truly I Tell You is a setting of Psalms 8:4-10 and 34:1-4 and Mark 10:15. The thread that marries these three texts together is the comparison between man and the name of God, the literal exposition of the word of God (working beautifully within the context of such a brilliantly-composed piece of music), and the hopeful entering of God's kingdom in general.
This short piece for three-part upper voice choir and harp, setting words by the Medieval English mystic Julian of Norwich, was commissioned for Godolphin School Vocal Ensemble in 2019. The largely homophonic setting is characterised by lilting, dance-like rhythms which broaden towards the work's climax before the harp brings the piece to a close in a contemplative mood.
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