Music for the perfect wedding day... religious service civil ceremony & reception-Whether it be a traditional white wedding in church or a contemporary civil ceremony in non-religious surroundings everyone wants their wedding day to be perfect. The pieces in the Confetti and Cake volume will help wedding couples and choirs alike choose the most appropriate and effective music for any occasion.There is music that caters for all tastes and abilities offering plenty of balance and variety. Pieces range from very simple to the somewhat more complex. Standard sacred repertoire (Bach Gounod Mozart Walford Davies etc.) is followed by some contemporary church anthems one (by Will Todd) written specially for this book; favourites such as theperennial Flower Duet appear alongside other enticing non-religious music; finally we have some secular romantic love songs (Jerome Kern Swingle numbers and even some G&S!) which cannot fail to capture the mood of the day. Sing these either at the ceremony itself or perhaps later at the reception.There are notes at the end of the book which provide very brief background information: eg texts (with translation where appropriate) dates and approximate timings so the ceremony can be planned meticulously.Whatever the circumstances and size of your choir there will be a something within this volume that will suit you. But more than that the versatility of the Concerts for Choirs series is such that it can be used as an invaluable resource for choral material whatever your requirements.

The Mamas and The Papas' hymn to the West Coast state California Dreamin ' was actually written in chilly New York City by John and Michelle Phillips before they even formed the band that made them famous. Simon and Garfunkel were New York through and through and Simon's jaunty song about the Queensboro Bridge - aka Feelin' Groovy - uses its local colloquial name. Skeeter Davis, born Mary Frances Penick, was the survivor of a car crash that killed her singing partner Betty Jack Davis. They had enjoyed some success as The Davis Sisters but The End Of The World was the biggest hit of Skeeter's subsequent solo career. In My Room saw The Beach Boys moving indoors from all that sun and sand and recording one of their most reflective and lovely songs. Meanwhile the British invasion was threatening the pop status quo in America and Can't Buy Me Love , from the film Hard Day's Night, gave The Beatles yet another number one in the US charts. Novello Choral Pops: Sixties Hits contains these five decade-defining hits, newly arranged for SATB Choir with Piano accompaniment. / Choeur Mixte (SATB) Et Piano

The Mamas & The Papas’ hymn to the West Coast state California Dreamin’ was actually written in chilly New York City by John and Michelle Phillips before they even formed the band that made them famous.Simon & Garfunkel were New York through and through and Simon’s jaunty song about the Queensboro Bridge — aka Feelin’ Groovy — uses its local colloquial name. Skeeter Davis born Mary Frances Penick was the survivor of a car crash that killed her singing partner Betty Jack Davis. They had enjoyed some success as The Davis Sisters but The End Of The World was the biggest hit of Skeeter’s subsequent solo career.In My Roomsaw The Beach Boys moving indoors from all that sun and sand and recording one of their most reflective and lovely songs. Meanwhile the British invasion was threatening the pop status quo in America and Can’t Buy Me Love from the film Hard Day’s Night gave The Beatles yet another number one in the US charts.Novello Choral Pops: Sixties Hits contains these five decade-defining hits newly arranged for SATB Choir with Piano accompaniment.

Cantata for string orchestra and chorus. Triptych represents the concatenation and re-orchestration of two extant works. Movement I was commissioned with funds from The RVW Trust for the inaugural concert of the Choir of London conducted by Jeremy Summerly in Christ Church, Spitalfields on 18th December, 2004 - the work, premièred as Threnody, was subsequently toured by the Choir to Jerusalem and the West Bank from 19th-26th December, 2004. Movements II and III, commissioned by Portsmouth Grammar School with financial support from the PRS Foundation, were premièred as And There Was a Great Calm in a contiguous version for lower strings and upper voices by the Portsmouth Grammar School Chamber Choir and the London Mozart Players in a concert at Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral on 13th November, 2005 conducted by Nicolae Moldoveanu. The title of this latter section is taken from Thomas Hardy's poem of the same name, written at the signing of the Armistice on 11th November, 1918 - a couplet from which is set, in a moment of tranquillity, in the final movement. Relatively new to living in New York, I am much more aware of the independent, vibrant cultural plurality that exists today - it's probably the single most dazzling facet of the City and is largely responsible for the infamous 'edginess' that pervades daily life there. With this in mind, I set to work on Threnody (movement I here) in 2004 - I wanted to write something that was relevant to the Israeli/Palestinian issue without losing that City 'edge'. The texts, in English, are excerpted from a variety of sources: William Penn, William Blake, the Psalms of David and Muhammad Rajab Al-Bayoumi, an Egyptian poet of the early twentieth-century. Fast and rhythmically influenced by the music of North Africa in its syncopations, this movement was the first composition that evolved entirely from my New York perspective. From the moment that the commission for And There Was a Great Calm (movements II and amp - III here) was offered, I knew the piece I was about to embark upon would end up being linked with Threnody in some way. I realized that what I had been aiming for in Threnody served as a template for this new piece, originally composed for a Remembrance Sunday concert. Musical works connected with commemoration or memorials are often suitably pensive and slow - I wanted to start with that concept, but to bring in some of the relentless urban rhythms that had been such a large influence on my life in the preceding two years. The result is that that the second movement is quiet and gentle (a moment of recollection), while the final movement is much faster and vibrant, returning to a more openly elated rendering of the start of Triptych (the texts here dealing with transmigration and the future). and nbsp - I gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Bruce Ruben and Judith Clurman, as well as that of my parents, with the collation of the texts. Tarik O'Regan New York, February 2006 / Soprano, SATB Et Orchestre De Cordes

Jesus Reassures His Mother is a setting of medieval lyric poetry written anonymously in the 14th century. The poet recounts a vision of the young Mary rocking the infant Christ to sleep. The child requests hismother to sing a lullaby but alas knowing her child’s fate she is too sad to sing. Jesus tells her that all mothers worry about their children’s futures and insists that she should sing nevertheless. Mary recounts the visit ofGabriel and the events of Christ’s birth but reflects how sad it is to have delivered a child to such a fate. Jesus reassures his mother that he will be with his father in heaven where Mary will come to join Him at the end oftime there to live in eternal bliss. At this point Mary is persuaded by and echoes her child’s reassuring words and she is joined in this by the choir (now representing us all). The vision fades away in the voice of the narratorwhose loneliness and longing return. We learn that it is Christmas Day. This setting grows from the visionary mystical world inhabited by Julian of Norwich whose Revelations of Divine Love provided the inspiration for awork Anne Boyd composed in 1994. The medium has been expanded from the Song Company’s six solo voices used in the Revelations to the double motet choir of the Sydney Philharmonia who commissioned this work for their 75thanniversary. The parts of the infant Jesus Mary the Narrator and the angel Gabriel are taken by choir soloists: soprano alto tenor and bass. The work is situated in the context of Boyd’s personal musical aestheticwhich she describes as the intersection of Christian Love with Buddhist silence.

Anna R. Matthews writes: 'Frederick Niven's poem tells the story of Christmas in 1914. On Christmas Day a truce was spontaneously enacted by the two sides fighting in Flanders in World War One. This was five months into the war which until this point many in Britain had confidently believed would be over by that time. When the two sides lay down their weapons in the name of humanity and met in the middle of no-man's-land they would not have realised the bloodshed that was to come as the war dragged on for a further four years - a conflict so atrocious that it came to be known as 'the war to end all wars'.This carol conveys the unknowing innocence of thosemen and the joy of Christmas yet explores the sinister context in which they met and the future which was to come. Ultimately the events of the 1914 Christmas truce came to symbolise the universality of hope and peace at Christmas. This carol brings this message into the twenty-first century.' Anna R. Matthews is a composer living in Exeter England. Born in Devon Anna studied music at Durham University where she was awarded the Rosalind Dickinson Prize. She enjoys working with some of today's most talented and creative ensembles: from Psappha to EXAUDI and from cathedral choirs to youth ensembles. Her music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and she has been a featured new music composer in Choir & Organ magazine. Anna was a finalist in the 2011 King James Bible Composition Awards and is a 2013/24 Arts Council England fellow on the Clore Leadership Programme. She is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

For mixed SATB chorus unaccompanied. Includes a Piano part on the score for rehearsal purposes only.'My God why hast thou forsaken me?' was originally written in the summer of 2006 on a course run by the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. It was first performed by the choir of Eton College directed by Ralph Allwood. This motet intends to capture the anguish of Jesus’ final moments on the cross. The opening bars attempt to convey the horrific pain sorrow and tragedy that these words and the climactic moment of Christ's crucifixion mean to Christians worldwide. It is also a human sentiment echoed every day by the needy regardless of their religious views. Thepiece ends with a repetition of the opening phrase followed by a blossoming 'Amen'. This expressive conclusion hints at a glimmer of hope although the final chord is left unresolved; resolution though suggested is not obtained.

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.This collection is perfect for choirs looking to broaden their repertoire and explore some of the best new music around.Angele Dei (Angel of God) is a prayer to the guardian angel suitable for general liturgical use in particular as an introit anthem or blessing at the Feast of the Holy Archangels or for concert performance.‘This piece was composed as a partinggift for my great friend and colleague Harriet Gedge. Recorded by the BBC Singers conducted by Bob Chilcott on 19 November 2010 at St Paul’s Church Knightsbridge London it was subsequently sung at Harrriet’s funeral in Brecon Cathedral on 16 December 2010.’     - Kate Johnson Kate Johnson - Angele Dei by musicroom Text.Angele Dei qui custos es mei me tibi commissum pietate superna hodie illumina custodi rege et guberna.Amen. Angel of God my guardian dear to whom God's love commits me here ever this day be at my side to light and love to rule and guide.Amen.The text is attributed to Reginald

As a singing teacher choir director and not least as a passionate professional choir singer Irina Rebhuna is perfectly familiar with the possibilities of the human voice. And so it is hardly surprising that the Latvian musician born in 1988 has devoted herself especially to the composition of vocal music. Her sacred choral work Libera me Domine for mixed a cappella choir (SSAATTBB) won the special prize for the 'best composition for 4-6 voices' at the International Composition Competition 'Musica Sacra Nova' 2016. This church music gem in which the eponymous Gregorian chorale is intonated by one of the (two) bass baritone sections at the beginning over a musicaltapestry woven by the remaining voices - and taken up again by all tenors at the end is ideal for ambitious amateur choirs.The idea behind this work says the composer is 'the human reflection on the uncertain on death on Judgment Day or on what is inexplicable to us. Such as humility excitement fear and atonement. The chant ends without ending there is no solution. Life goes on because we ask the following question again and again: What will happen next?'

Arranged for SATB chorus and Piano accompaniment. Commissioned by Gareth Malone for Series Four of BBC TV's 'The Choir' and first performed by Malone and the Military Wives' choir as part of The Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on 12th November 2011 in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen. A favourite for the 2011 Christmas Number One, with support from radio DJ Chris Evans who has suggested every choir in the country should sing this song, it's and nbsp - the biggest threat to X-Factor chart domination this year. The text is taken from poems, letters and prayers written by the Military Wives, selected and adapted by Paul Mealor, and a passage from the Book of John: Wherever you are, my love will keep you safe - My heart will build a bridge of light, across both time and space. Wherever you are, our hearts still beat as one, I hold you in my dreams each night, until your task is done. Light up the darkness, my wondrous star, Our hopes and dreams, my heart and yours, forever shining far. Light up the darkness, my prince of peace - May the stars shine all around you, may your courage never cease. Wherever I am, I will love you day by day, I will keep you safe, cling on to faith, along the dark, dark way. Wherever I am, I will hold on through the night - I will pray each day, a safe return, will look now to the light. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 / SATB Et Piano

Jubilate Deo was commissioned by William and Elizabeth Bayne for the Friends of Cathedral Music Cathedral of St John Albuquerque New Mexico as part of the Cathedral Commissions series. First performed by the Cathedral Choir under the direction of Iain Quinn with Maxine Thevenot organist. ' Tarik O’Regan’s setting in Latin was composed for the Cathedral of St John Albuquerque New Mexico. After a hushed unaccompanied opening that builds to a climax much of the choral writing is unison or homophonic supported by energetic syncopated organ accompaniment. This setting is the most contemporary sounding ofthose reviewed here but still very singable'RSCM (Sunday by Sunday - June 2011)

Cantata-Widely admired as one of MacMillan’s finest achievements this promises an absorbing and moving experience in concert for performers and audience alike. This cantata follows Christ’s final utterances at the Crucifixion meditating on each to form a dramatic and emotional sequence. Content Father forgive them for they know not what they do Woman behold thy Son!... Behold thy Mother! Verily I say unto you today thou shalt be with me in Paradise Eli Eli lama sabachthani? I thirst It is finished Father into Thy hands I commend my Spirit

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 percussionand harp.