Birthday Madrigals was written at the invitation of Brian Kay, conductor of the Cheltenham Bach Choir, to celebrate the seventy-fifth birthday of the great jazz pianist George Shearing. The first performance was given, in his presence, in Cheltenham Town Hall on June 3, 1995 by the Cheltenham Bach Choir with Neil Swainson (double bass), John Rutter conducting. The seed of the composition was 'It was a lover and his lass,' witten in 1975. The other four movements, their texts also drawn from the madrigal era (hence the work's title), were added in 1995 to make the present choral suite.

Songlist: It Was A Lover And His Lass, Draw On, Sweet Night, Come Live With Me, My True Love Hath My Heart, When Daisies Pied

This collection is sixth in a series of musical settings of lyrics to songs in Shakespeare's plays. This grouping opens with When Daisies Pied, in a colorful madrigalian style, followed by the more ominous Fear No More, and concluding with the sprightly Where the Bee Sucks, There Suck I. Duration: ca. 7:30.

Songlist: Fear No More, When Daisies Pied, Where The Bee Sucks

An excellent collection of 34 songs, especially useful in teaching students. This collection is a good alternative or companion to the standard Baroque Italian songs and arias. Now with recorded accompaniments on included CD by pianist Laura Ward.

Songlist: Have You Seen But a White Lily Grow?, Pastime With Good Company, Willow Song, Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind, O Come, O Come, My Dearest, Thou Soft Flowing Avon, When Daisies Pied, Whither Runneth My Sweetheart, Tell Me No More, Fair, If You Expect Admiring, Jack and Joan, Flow My Tears, Weep You No More, Sad Fountains, What If I Never Speed?, Since First I Saw Your Face, The Silver Swan, Come and Trip It, Here Amid the Shady Woods, Let Me Wander Not Unseen, Where E'er You Walk, Fain Would I Change That Note, As I Walked Forth One Summer Day, In Sherwood Lived Stout Robin Hood, How Happy Art Thou, It Was a Lover and His Lass, My Lovely Celia, Diaphenia, Rest Sweet Nymphs, Hark! The Echoing Air, I Attempt from Love's Sickness, and more

An excellent collection of 34 songs, especially useful in teaching students. This collection is a good alternative or companion to the standard Baroque Italian songs and arias. Now with recorded accompaniments on included CD by pianist Laura Ward.

Songlist: Have You Seen But a White Lily Grow?, Pastime With Good Company, Willow Song, Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind, O Come, O Come, My Dearest, Thou Soft Flowing Avon, When Daisies Pied, Whither Runneth My Sweetheart, Tell Me No More, Fair, If You Expect Admiring, Jack and Joan, Flow My Tears, Weep You No More, Sad Fountains, What If I Never Speed?, Since First I Saw Your Face, The Silver Swan, Come and Trip It, Here Amid the Shady Woods, Let Me Wander Not Unseen, Where E'er You Walk, Fain Would I Change That Note, As I Walked Forth One Summer Day, In Sherwood Lived Stout Robin Hood, How Happy Art Thou, It Was a Lover and His Lass, My Lovely Celia, Diaphenia, Rest Sweet Nymphs, Hark! The Echoing Air, I Attempt from Love's Sickness, and more