'Seven Anthems' includes seven of Edward Elgar's most popular works. Six are arranged for SATB and Organ accompaniment while one more is arranged for SA and Organ accompaniment. Works included are: Doubt not thy Father’s care (SA) from The Light of Life  Fear not O land (SATB) Harvest Anthem  Light of the world we know thy praise (SATB) from The Light of Life  Light out of darkness (SATB with divisions) from The Light of Life  O hearken Thou (SATB with divisions) arranged by the composer from the Coronation Offertorium  The Spiritof the Lord is upon me (SATB)from The Apostles and They are at rest (SATB unaccompanied)    

There is no rose of such virtue is an anonymous mediaeval text, already well known through beautiful settings by Britten (in his Ceremony of Carols), John Joubert and others. The poem is 'macaronic' (it presents a verse in English, followed by a varying Latin refrain). This new version follows the illustrious examples above by remaining strophic and presenting broadly the same music in a succession of slightly different guises. The first verse is a straightforward four-part setting, the second gives the melody to the tenors and surrounds them with hushed, wordless writing for the other parts, and the third explores a freely canonic relationship between the tenor and soprano lines before carrying the previous verse-endings to a higher, more exalted pitch and mood. The fourth verse then expands its texture in a free climactic passage evoking the songs of praise sung by the angels. This subsides towards the final verse, where the texture of the music attenuates again to four parts, and canonic writing (based on the first four notes of the original melody) permeates all of them. This slightly extended statement leads to a hushed final cadence. Francis Pott (b. 1957) began musical life as a chorister at New College, Oxford. He held open music scholarships at Winchester College and at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he studied composition with Robin Holloway and Hugh Wood while pursuing piano studies privately in London with the distinguished British artist, Hamish Milne. Throughout the 1990s Francis was John Bennett Lecturer in Music at St Hilda's College, Oxford, and a lay clerk in the Choir of Winchester Cathedral. In 2001 he became Head of London College of Music, University of West London, later leading research across the University's Faculty of Arts and acceding in 2007 to its first Chair in Composition. Francis Pott has become recognised particularly for his sacred choral and organ music. This has been performed in concert and on radio in over three dozen countries worldwide, published by four major UK houses and released extensively on CD. Winner of four national composition awards, in 1997 he received first prize in the piano solo section of the S. S. Prokofiev Composing Competition, Moscow. In 2006 and 2011 he was a nominated finalist in the BASCA/BBC Annual Composer Awards. In summer 2012 he was winner of the international composing competition of the Cheltenham Festival, which sought new piano variations on the arioso song Bist du bei mir, well known in the arrangement by J. S. Bach. Francis lives with his wife and two children on the outskirts of Winchester. An inspiring selection of new works from a range of contemporary composers, the Novello New Choral Series offers pieces for all types of choirs, including sacred and secular works from simple, four-part settings to more expansive, yet accessible, repertoire in an exciting variety of styles. / Choeur Mixte (SATB)

The Light Of Life Op.29 (Lux Christi) a short oratorio for soli chorus and orchestra. Words written by Rev. E. Capel-Cure. First performed at the Worcester Festival September 1896. Full score and parts are available on hire.

Inspired by Sarah Williams' poem The Old Astronomer this new concert work tells of the irony of life's moments of a life long lived through joy sadness longing endurance love and so many other lessons rolled into a vessel of musical inspiration. The shadows give perspective on things already known and the light although familiar was only mine on loan. I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night. Optional cello included this work is outstanding in text and music.

When the BBC commissioned this work for the Last Night of the Proms 2018 I was given quite a detailed brief. First the work should be for the BBC Singers and BBC Symphony Chorus (with the BBC Symphony Orchestra) and the two choirs should be quite independent of each other. Secondly the words should acknowledge the centenary of the end of World War I but look optimistically to the future. For the centenary I chose In the Underworld by World War I poet Isaac Rosenberg written in 1914. Originally about unrequited love it can read if you do not know its context as a prophetic look at the next four years with the sense that the women left at home cannot begin tocomprehend the horrors their men face in the trenches. The BBC Singers represent Rosenberg and their music is based on a beautiful Ashkenazi-Jewish prayer mode â?? also known as the â??Ukrainian Gypsyâ?? mode. While I was reading The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran (written in 1923) I came across these lines which seem to answer and assuage the fears expressed in Rosenbergâ??s poem. The BBC Symphony Chorus take on the role of Gibran singing in a beautiful melismatic Maronite Syriac chant into which faith Gibran was born in Lebanon. Later in his life he became very interested in Islam particularly Sufism; therefore the whole piece is in the form of a Sufi Zikr with Sufi devotional rhythms in the percussion starting quiet and low but slowly becoming higher faster and louder. The two choirs start separately but merge into a â??conversation â?? sometimes overlapping and ending on a positive note: Rosenbergâ??s Creature of light and happiness over Gibranâ??s We shall build a tower in the sky. Quite by accident all three Abrahamic faiths are represented in this piece â?? but as Kahlil Gibran famously said: â??You are my brother and I love you. I love you when you prostrate yourself in your mosque and kneel in your church and pray in your synagogue. You and I are sons of one faith â?? the Spirit.'

A jolly Christmas carol-This lively carol was commissioned in 2005 by Lichfield Cathedral Special Choir (now called the Cathedral Chorus) to celebrate the birth of Hannah Scriven and Holly Mason the daughters of the two cathedral organists at that time. The words were specially written by Tony Barnard the then Canon Chancellor at Lichfield and a member of the choir. This carol whilst not entirely foreign to my normal style touches more ‘country and western’/popular buttons than I am in the habit of touching. But I wanted to write a tuneful piece which swayed and danced and reflected the colourful imagery of Tony Barnard’s text. Recommended recording: Comeout Lazar – The shorter choral works of Paul Spicer (Regent REGCD280) by The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College Cambridge and Claire Innes-Hopkins (organ) directed by Sarah MacDonald. Text: This child of God who’s born on Christmas day whom shepherds view to whom kings homage pay is called to be a shepherd and a king. Sing alleluias praise this wondrous thing. This child of God is shepherd born to lead through pastures green by banks of golden reed; nor left nor right but ever on the way which leads to Calvary and endless day. This child of God this Son of David’s line is root of tree a shoot a fruitful vine it shelter gives to all who see the way which leads them to the cross and Easter day. This child of God this many spangled star is light’ning flash which dazzles near and far; bright light to guide our feet along the way that leads to Calvary and endless day. This child of God is called to save mankind to open eye and ear the heart and mind; to heal and make the lame man leap and play along the road that leads to Easter Day. This child of God let angel voices praise. Give God the glory live his loving ways. Let peace on earth o’er come our worldly strife through all who walk his road throughout their life. Tony Barnard

The writing of a Requiem is a special challenge for any composer. The great Requiems of the past by composers such as Mozart Verdi and Berlioz interpret the sacred Requiem text literally offering prayers of salvation for the departed whose souls are assumed to be in purgatory facing a terrible judgement. Eternal Light: A Requiem by the award-winning British composer and internationally acclaimed broadcaster Howard Goodall is a stunning new requiem for the modern day. In contrast it is intended to provide solace to the grieving reflecting on the words of the Latin Mass by juxtaposing them withpoems in English. Speaking about the work Howard Goodall said 'For me a modern Requiem is one that acknowledges the unbearable loss and emptiness that accompanies the death of loved ones a loss that is not easily ameliorated with platitudes about the joy awaiting us in the afterlife. This like Brahms’ is a Requiem for the living addressing their suffering and endurance a Requiem focussing on the consequences of interrupted lives.” This piece of sheet music was commissioned by London Musici (Artistic Director: Mark Stephenson) to celebrate its 20th anniversary. It was commissioned as both a choral-orchestral-dance piece for London Musici The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral Oxford and Rambert Dance Company (Artistic Director: Mark Baldwin) and as a choral-orchestral work.

Le Charbonnier is a song for SATB a cappella by Paul Ladmirault. The song was written with a main theme two variations and a coda and features a total of 5 verses. The lyrics remind us of a time when coal sellers came to town to sell merchandise. To be sung a cappella all in andantino this song is very lyrical and has some polyphonic aspects and some merismas. Each verse contains different lyrics all revolving around the coal seller and his life:  - Verse 1: this verse settles the action with the seller trying to sell coal in the city - Verse 2: the seller is asked how much is the cost of a poundof coal - Verse 3: he is asked where his wife is - Verse 4: the beauty of his wife is highlighted - Verse 5: the seller explains why his shirt is so black Paul Ladmirault (1877-1944) was a French composer. He composed numerous pieces including: operas ballets orchestral works chamber music and vocal music.

A fabulous version of Cy Coleman’s Rhythm of Life from the 1966 hit Broadway musical Sweet Charity delightfully arranged here for SATB Choir and Piano Duet by Richard Barnes. Though some of the gimmicks and stage effects that were used such as freeze frame have become slightly outdated since the late 1960s these songs with music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields are as fresh as ever! This is perfectly demonstrated by this tremendous version of Rhythm of Life that features a magnificent 4-handed Piano accompaniment supporting the choir.

Uses: Advent Scripture: Numbers 6:25 Psalm 80:3 Isaiah 60:1 Matthew 5:16 An Advent song for our time petitioning for the Light of Christ to shine in our shadows and for the Love of Christ to dry our tears. The alleluia section is memorable and full of classic choral moments. The melody set in minor tones weaves a bittersweet spirit throughout the song bringing to life the heart-felt sentiment of the text.

Uses: Advent Christmas Epiphany Second AdventScripture: Luke 21:7-28 Job 38:7 Revelation 22:16Here is hopeful statement anticipating the life and ministry of Christ the Bright and Morning Star.Perfect for Advent the anthem celebrates the arrival of the Light of the World through the music and the original text.

I hide myself With a lily Go lovely Rose-Written early in Whitacre's career whilst at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Arranged for SATB choir includes a Piano line for rehearsal purposes.I Hide MyselfJust a simple song really. All of the musical suggestions come from a careful study of the poem a quiet passionate soul occasionally speaking a little bolder than the age will allow. She loves almost to the point of distraction and this mood mustprevail in the performance: shy and sullen her passion surging to the surface only to sink back into the silence that is herself.Go Lovely RoseThe piece is structured around the cyclical lifeof a rose and is connection throughout by the opening 'rose motif' a seed that begins on the tonic and grows in all directions before it blossoms dies and grows again. Each season is represented: spring begins the piece summerappears at bar 13 autumn at bar 26 winter at bar 39 with spring returning at bar 49. The form is based on the Fibonacci sequence (the pattern found in plant and animal cell divisions) - its fifty five bars are a perfectFibonacci number. The Golden Mean appears at bar 34 as all parts are reunited to complete the flower before its final blossom and inevitable cycle of death and rebirth.Each performance should be approachedwith a child-like innocence and naivety that allows us to marvel at the return of the rose each spring. The szforzandos throughout must be light and gentle.With A Lily In Your HandWater and Fire. If the performance of this piece connects these contrasting elemental ideas its success is guaranteed. Water: At bar 30 this ostinato should be fluid and gentle only interrupted at bar 32 asthe butterflies momentarily spring out of the texture; bars 35-38 the water should slowly transform back to fire. Bar 44 should be tiny bell-tones motivating the next nine bars another patient sensuous transformation back to

This original a cappella work sings of the star above Bethlehem shining to lead all to the gift of love and light. A tinge of Appalachian style can be heard in this vocal setting and should be embraced. Optional percussion is encouraged bringing rhythmic life below the pulsed vocals. A perfect selection that fits nicely at any point during your program.

Choral Highlights-Since its initial release in 1994 Disney's The Lion King and its many sequels TV shows remakes and theatrical productions have firmly placed this beloved retelling of Shakespeare's Hamlet among the ranks of the Mouse House's best deftly balancing humor grief joy and heart in an Elton John-composed and Hans Zimmer-scored cinematic treasure. Arranger Mark Brymer (also a Disney composer!) masterfully sets the best of the entire Lion King catalog in this brand new completely fresh medley which includes: Can You Feel the Love Tonight Circle of Life Hakuna Matata He Lives in You Never Too Late and Beyoncé's Spirit!