A new carol from composer Will Todd, written for a service of Jazz Carols at St. Martin in the Fields, London. Full of jazz inflections, this restrained and reflective piece will be a valuable addition to the Christmas choral repertoire.

Composer: Will Todd

A melancholic mood pervades throughout the setting, which is melodically rich, with subtle chromatic alterations colouring Paul Williamson's beautifully poetic text that evokes the genealogy of Christ, springing like a tree from the root of Jesse, King David's father. Long, legato lines are an integral part of this carol, emphasising the peaks and troughs of harmonic change and the dynamics underpin the twisting narrative of the text.

Composer: Thomas Hewitt Jones

A jazz influenced arrangement of the Christian hymn, written for Andrew Earis and the choir of St Martin in the Fields, London and performed at President Obama's Inauguration Day prayer service at St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington DC.

Arranger: Will Todd | Composer: John Newton

An Earthly Blessing is a gentle reflection on the miracle of God's arrival at Christmas in the recognisable jazz style of Will Todd. In the poem, written by the composer, the personal and individual nature of the Christmas story is brought out, and the music flows around the words, gradually building to the phrase 'open my heart' before returning for a gentle conclusion.

Composer: Will Todd

Predating the well-known Bethlehem Down by just a few years, As dew in Aprylle is one of several choral works by Warlock to draw on texts from the 15th century Sloane Manuscript, yet musically this work demonstrates a similar mastery of part writing and fondness for chromatic harmonic language. First published on 12th June, 1924, following a period of unavailability this is now restored to the catalogue in a newly-prepared edition. For unaccompanied mixed voices, with occasional divisi.

Composer: Peter Warlock

Equally successful in concert or worship, this beautiful and short piece by Will Todd uses his characteristic rich, warm harmonies and shapely melodies. The piano accompaniment is supportive by never gets in the way of the subtle shifts of the melody.

Composer: Will Todd

Setting of the traditional vesper hymn (Hail, O Star of the ocean), commissioned by Christopher Gray and the Choir of Truro Cathedral. The texture is homophonic and sustained, with much use of pedal points in the chord progressions, and the closing amens bring a melodic flowering in the sopranos.

Composer: James MacMillan

A rapt meditation on this sacramental medieval poem, composed to mark the 400th anniversary of the of St John Ogilvie at Glasgow Cross in 1615 in a performance by pupils from six local junior schools. Masterfully cast with young children in mind, the vocal material is expressive and diatonic throughout, with some optional divisi. The organ accompaniment is soft, with gentle manual clusters giving a punctuating effect in the outer sections, framing a central passage of sustained chordal texture. Momentary chromatic tension in the postlude is dispelled by a peaceful resolution.

Composer: James MacMillan

From the major work Songs of Peace for treble voices and written in memory of his mother, Will Todd has taken the vivid and powerful imagery of this 14th century text and shaped it into a beautiful and lyrical song. Your choir will enjoy shaping this beautiful melody.

Composer: Will Todd

Balulalow is a simple but effective carol, starting with a unison, lilting melody which breaks into two parts for the second verse. This carol, for many years out-of-print, is here restored to the choral repertoire as part of the Boosey & Hawkes Choral Treasury. Drawing upon a rich archive, the Boosey & Hawkes Choral Treasury presents a wealth of choral opportunities for choirs of all types and abilities wishing to explore new choral territories. A perfect resource for accessible and inspiring choral masterworks of the twentieth century and beyond, this series restores many difficult to obtain sacred and secular classics to the repertoire. Text: O my deir heart, young Jesus sweet, O my deir heart, young Jesus sweet, And I sall rock Thee in my heart, And never more from Thee depart. But I sall praise Thee ever moir With songes sweet unto Thy gloir; The knees of my heart sall I bow, And sing that richt Balulalow!

Composer: Elizabeth Poston

Latin text.

Composer: James MacMillan

Commissioned to celebrate the 20th wedding anniversary of friends, this poem by Catherine Lomas works beautifully for any celebration of love. There is a beautiful lyricism to the imagery of these words which choirs love to sing.

Composer: Will Todd

Composer: Karl Jenkins

Beginning with the repeated phrase Hey! now, now, now as a whisper in the bass voice and expanding to all voice parts throughout the piece, this carol portrays the exciting news of the new born baby Jesus. The excitement of sharing a secret becomes too much to contain by the end of the music.

Composer: Hywel Davies

James MacMillan (b. 1959) was born in Scotland, studied at Edinburgh and Durham Universities and now lives in Glasgow. His works feature Gaelic inflections and characteristic mixing of ancient and modern. This work, with text by St. Thomas Aquinas, translated by James Quinn, was first performed in 1980.

Composer: James MacMillan

With an aching melody which starts on upper voices and gradually builds to the whole choir, this work features the composer's characteristic lush vocal harmonies and improvisatory accompaniment. The result is a very emotionally charged piece in which the words and music complement each other greatly.

Composer: Will Todd

Featured in the 2019 Christmas Concert from St Olaf college, this is a beautiful and lush setting of the Howard Thurman text. It reminds us that Christmas is a time of light over darkness. The message in the carol inspires us to become carriers of a light that brings joy, hope, courage, peace, grace, and love.

Composer: Kim André Arnesen

Beginning and ending quietly and with a sense stillness, this starkness is conveyed with gentle dissonances and slow, homophonic movement. Each verse is set to the same music but with the sense of climax in the final verse.

Arranger: Becky McGlade

Beginning from a place of rubato and allowing this ebb and flow of the music to inform the performance this is music for a celebration. An original poem by the composer is one of renewal and both the text and the music build to a thrilling climax at the final phrase.

Composer: Will Todd

Here is the first movement from Will's major work Jazz Missa Brevis. This music works equally well in liturgy or in concert ands can be performed with only piano, a jazz trio or a full jazz ensemble. All options are available from the publisher.

Composer: Will Todd

Lullay, my liking was commissioned by BBC Music Magazine for the publication's December 2014 issue. The brief was to compose a carol with simplicity of form, and this Middle English 15th century carol text lends itself to an expressive yet succinct setting. For unaccompanied mixed voices with no divisi, the carol works just as well with four solo voices as it does with a larger SATB choir.

Composer: Thomas Hewitt Jones

Christmas setting for upper voices (three parts) of a traditional 15th-century English text with Latin refrain: 'Gabriel of high degree...'/ 'Ut nova: Ave fit ex Eva'. An explanation of the Latin pun is included in the publication.

Composer: James MacMillan

This work was commissioned by the Friends of Cathedral Music to mark their Diamond Jubilee in 2016, with the intention of performance by as many of the affiliated choirs as possible. Naturally a celebratory anthem was envisaged but with a text that is general enough to allow its performance throughout the church's year. The opening section features a joyful, energetic setting of the first five verses of Psalm 105 (King James Version). A contrastingly quiet and gentle passage follows, the text being Robert Herrick s (1591-1674) To Music. A Song ('Music, thou Queen of Heaven, Care-charming spell..). The opening material then returns, with a short, ecstatic organ postlude bringing the piece to its conclusion.

Composer: James MacMillan

This work, a setting of a 4th-century hymn text ascribed to St Ambrose of Milan, contrasts a plainsong style melody over the organ pedals with the rich and lyrical outpouring of larger choral sections. Although challenging in places, the subtle chromaticism and occasional lush close-harmonies create a very powerful and impressive anthem for general sacred use (the text is particularly fitting for evening use or on Trinity Sunday) but also as a striking addition to a concert programme.

Composer: Will Todd

This song is the second movement of Todd's Songs of Peace, written in memory of the composer's mother. The first verse, with voices singing in unison, presents a contemplative and memorable melody over characteristic, jazz-inspired harmonies in the piano (or organ) accompaniment. This melody is then beautifully interwoven with a counter-melody as the voices split into two parts for the second verse. Precious Moment is featured on Tenebrae's album Lux et Veritas.

Composer: Will Todd

A setting of the Latin text from the Roman Missal, Requiem is the opening movement of a larger work entitled Songs of Peace, which was written in 2012 in memory of the composer's mother. Todd's gently chromatic, but undaunting, harmonic language combined with the powerful and personal text makes for a very effective piece, suitable for general performance as well as at sombre or memorial occasions.

Composer: Will Todd

Stay with me, Lord was originally commissioned by the Genesis Foundation as one of three commissioned settings of Padre Pio's Prayer after Communion, and first performed in June 2008 at Westminster Cathedral, London by The Sixteen, conducted by Harry Christophers. This version was arranged for the 2012 album The Call of Wisdom, an album of a selection of choral music by Will Todd, performed by Tenebrae and The English Chamber Orchestra and conducted by Nigel Short. Padre Pio (1887-1968), in his lifetime a controversial and holy man, was canonised St Pius of Pietrelcina in 2002. He is known unofficially as 'the patron saint of stress relief', in accord with his most famous dictum, 'Pray, hope and don't worry.' Stay with me, Lord sets an English version of the text by Ben Dunwell; by turns gentle and intense, the resulting choral prayer captures the reflective and emotional core of Pio's words. The Tenebrae version of the work may be accompanied by piano alone, or by string orchestra an

Composer: Will Todd

Sweet was the Song is a traditional English carol dating from the 16th century depicting the Virgin Mary singing a lullaby to the new-born Jesus. This setting for mixed voices (no divisi) and organ reflects the text with gentle rocking phrases, static harmonies and a simple melodic line. The music is coloured by soft dissonances, conveying a sense of mystery and uncertainty.

Composer: Iain Farrington

This setting was written as the 4th movement of Todd's 2009 Te Deum which was commissioned by the Vivace Chorus. Todd's jazz background is evident in this approachable but effective setting of the famous psalm text.

Composer: Will Todd

This setting was written as the 4th movement of Will Todd's 2009 Te Deum which was commissioned by the Vivace Chorus, conducted by Jeremy Backhouse, and may be performed with string orchestra or piano.

Composer: Will Todd

This piece by Astor Piazzolla (1921-92) first appeared in a comedy theatre show by Kado Kostzer and Alfredo Arias called Famille d'Artistes. The original piece, La Chanson de la Naissance, had a French text. Piazzolla is best known for his development of Tango Nuevo through his many works that cross the boundaries between tango, jazz, and classical music. This arrangement, which is true to his original tune and harmonic scheme, shows many of these traits. Here, the simple tune and chorus is passed around all sections of the ensemble - including an unaccompanied section - building to the choral tutti with the words joy to the world.

Composer: Astor Piazzolla

Inspired by workshops with the pupils of All Hallows School in Shepton Mallet, this work is about how the world around us can support us, change us, and lead us in our lives. The text is drawn from a pool of lyrics written by the pupils.

Composer: Will Todd

Innovative jazz arrangements of three carols originally created for a service of Jazz Carols at St Martin in the Fields, London by Will Todd. Rich harmonies serve to bring new expression to familiar Christmas material which is written for SATB voices and piano, with scope for optional congregational singing. Includes: Silent Night, Once in Royal David's City, Away in a Manger.

Arranger: Will Todd

A second set of innovative jazz arrangements of three carols originally created for a service of Jazz Carols at St Martin in the Fields, London by Will Todd. Rich harmonies serve to bring new expression to familiar Christmas material, written for SATB voices and piano, with scope for optional congregational/audience singing. Includes: We Three Kings, In the Bleak Midwinter, Personent Hodie.

Arranger: Will Todd

Devised as a choral Christmas waltz, this carol for unaccompanied mixed voices (no divisi) by Welsh composer Gareth Treseder is a jolly setting of a traditional text. The work is structured in the manner of a hymn that becomes increasingly complex via different vocal textures. The catchy melody is passed around each part of the choir and interweaving textures should offer a welcome contrast to the common homophonic textures of Christmas music. A sure audience-pleaser, this carol will also be very rewarding for the singers and will add a jovial twist to a Christmas concert of service.

Composer: Gareth Treseder

This Maundy Thursday/Last Supper text is all about loving one another, a much needed sentiment in these turbulent times. The music is flowing but should never be hurried.

Composer: Kim André Arnesen

This Maundy Thursday/Last Supper text is all about loving one another, a much needed sentiment in these turbulent times. The music is flowing but should never be hurried.

Composer: Kim André Arnesen

Composer: James MacMillan