Judith Weir Sheet Music & Tabs

COMPOSER'S NOTESThe music of these violin duos has been influenced by the centuries-long flow of traditional music from the British Isles to North America and back again. The compositions are dedicated toseveral people who are keeping that transatlantic musical flow in motion today.Sleep Sound Ida Mornin'Sleep Sound ida Mornin' is a very short duo for two violins based on a traditionaltune which I first heard in the Orkney Islands although played there on the banjo by a native of Kansas. My extended version with a slow introduction was first played in Boston on 29th January 1995 by Lesley Chen and NathanSchmidt members of the New England Conservatory's Preparatory Division during their annual weekend festival of contemporary music. This very remarkable and encouraging event was devised and organised by Rodney Lister to whomthis piece is dedicated.Duration c. 2 minutes.Atlantic DriftAn earlier even shorter version of Atlantic Drift written for violin and piano was first performed by PeterSheppard Skaerved and Aaron Schorr at the Royal Academy of Music London on 9th May 2006 in a concert to celebrate the 70th birthday of the American composer and transatlantic communicator Elliott Schwartz. The melody isoriginal though clearly influenced by the music and perpetual tides of the Hebrides. Duration c. 3 minutes.Rain and Mist are on the Mountain I'd Better Buy SomeShoesThis four-movement duo for two violins is based on a fragment of a Gaelic folk song from Barra in the Western Isles of Scotland. The title suggests that although the Gaels of yesteryear were rich inpoetic expression and the beauties of nature they were otherwise not very affluent. Rain and Mist was first performed at the Wigmore Hall London on 6th February 2005 by Corina Belcea and Laura Samuel.Duration c. 6

Judith Weir's The Wild Reeds for Organ.'The Wild Reeds is a ten-minute partita made up of an original theme followed by six variations which are played continuously. The theme was partlyinspired by folk music for outdoor wind instruments from eastern Europe rugged yet delicate at the same time. Another important inspiration has been the Organ sonorities which result from unusual divisions of the octave producing strange chords and ghostly harmonisations of melodies. Above all The Wild Reeds has been written for Thomas Trotter (who personally commissioned this music and gave much valuable advice during its composition) in honourof his remarkable thirty years as Birmingham City Organist.' - Judith Weir

A Spanish Liederbooklet is a short song cycle(of about eight minutes’ duration) for high soprano and piano written for Eileen Hulse in 1988. Eileen gave the first performance accompanied by Graham Johnson at the 1988 CheltenhamFestival. The texts are all Spanish Romances by anonymous authors from the 15th/16th centuries. The songs are sung in the original Spanish.

This work was commissioned by the BBC. It was first performaed in 11 August 1995 as part of a Henry Wood Promenade Concert at teh Royal Albert Hall London by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Singers conducted byAndrew Davies. Text by Emily Dickenson.

Written for the Endellion Quartet in 1990. Duration 13 minutes. Parts available: SOS03190

For Tenor (or Soprano) and Piano. Scotch Minstrelsy is a song cycle comprising settings of five Scottish ballads whose subject matter is almost exclusively violent happenings which take place against the beautiful background of the Scottish countryside. 'It was my intention to reflect this underlying irony in the way words are set to music.' (J.W.) First performed on 14 May 1982. Duration: c.12 minutes.

Winter Song is a 17-minute continuous movement for a small orchestra consisting of 12 winds and aminimum of 24 strings in which every player isa soloist. This glorious piece was beautifully composed byWeir JudithThis amazing piece includes sheet music for parts oboe 1+2 clarinet 1+2 bassoon 1+2 horn 1+2 trumpet 1+2 string section and score.

His Mercy Endureth For Ever is a work by Judith Weir for SAATTBB Chorus and Organ Accompaniment. This was commissioned by Her Majesty's Government and the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. It was firstperformed by the Choir of Westminster Abbey at a service of thanksgiving held in Westminster Abbey marking the 70th anniversary of VE Day.

A3 Size Score of the Opera in 3 Acts with libretto by the composer based on the 13th Century Chinese drama The Chao Family Orphan.

Work for Violin and Piano commissioned with funds from the Greater London Arts association.

For SATB Chorus and Trombone. Commissioned to celebrate the 800th Anniversary of the Unversity of Cambridge and first performed on St Cecilia's Day 2009 by The Choir of Gonville & Caius College with Matthew Knight (Trombone).

Judith Weir's Madrigal for TTBB choir unaccompanied. This work was commissioned by the BBC Singers in celebration of the sixtieth birthday of Stephen Cleobury. The lyrics are from aSardinian folk tale.