Composed by Darius Milhaud  Quatrains Valaisans is a piece for SATB a cappella based on poems by Rainer Maria Rilke. This piece features five different parts each one from a poem whose lyrics are inspired by the Valais area in Switzerland. The composition includes polytonality and polyrhythms that make it highly lyrical cheerful and nice to sing. The five poems selected are: 1. Pays arrêté a mi-chemin / 'Country that stops half-way...' 2. Rose de lumiere / 'Rose of Light' 3. L'année tourne / 'The year revolves' 4. Chemins qui ne menent nulle part / 'Paths that take younowhere' 5. Beau papillon / 'Lovely butterfly' Darius Milhaud (1892-1974) was a composer and a teacher who was also known to be part of Les Six. His composition were known to use polytonality and to include some characteristics drawns from the jazz genre.

This title is taken from the compilation French Songs And Choruses For Mixed-Voice Choir (NOV165198) Both Beata Viscera Mariae and O Magnum Mysterium (AL30765) are taken from Milhaud's 5 Prières for Voice and Organ (or Piano) Op. 231c. Arranged by Rupert Jeffcoat. Though the Cinq Prières were originally composed for solo voice and organ Jeffcoat has happily resisted the temptation to adapt Milhaud's short but distinctive works beyond what is necessary to transfer the music effectively to mixed voices. - Geoffrey Webber of choirandorgan.com 

pour choeur a cappella-POUR CHOEUR A CAPPELLA (TEXTES EN LATIN) Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens (Durufle M.) ~ Alleluia (Koechlin C.) ~ O sacrum convivium (Messiaen O.) ~ Promesse de Dieu (Milhaud D.) ~ Trois Psaumes de David (Milhaud D.) ~ Quatre Motets pour le temps de Noël (Poulenc F.) ~ Ave Maria N.17 (1918) (Villa-Lobos H.) ~ Ave Maria (1932) (Villa-Lobos H.) ~ Bendita sabedoria (Villa-Lobos H.) ~ O magnum mysterium (Villette P.)

This collection of French Songs and Choruses includes a wealth of original choral music by French composers, as well as many wonderful arrangements of some of the greatest French songs ever composed. Suitable for Mixed-Voice Choirs of all sizes and abilities, this is the perfect collection for finding new performance pieces, but would work equally well as a complete concert programme. The selections in this songbook are second-to-none, with some of the most beautiful and affecting French choral music compiled into one volume. Many original works are included here, with these choral compositions by giants of French classical music often being regarded as some of their finest work. Pieces like Madrigal by Gabriel Fauré, a new edition of Maurice Ravel's incredible Trois Chansons, Camille Saint-Saëns's Calme Des Nuits and Trinquons as well as Reynaldo Hahn's three Rondels, originally written for SATB choir. French Songs And Choruses also features a great many arrangements of works that have been enjoyed by choirs and singers for many years. The harmonies of songs like Chanson D'Amour by Gabriel Fauré convey just how stunning a song this is to hear as well as to sing, while others like Debussy's Beau Soir offer a similarly beautiful take on a different theme. With all of these songs, the joy will be in careful selection, fantastic practice and the thrill of performance for you and your audience. Such a grand selection of Songs And Choruses For Mixed-Voice Choirs is sure to enhance or invigorate your choir's repertoire, giving you an enjoyable introduction to the finest choral music that France has to offer. The delightful arrangements of the carefully-selected French Songs And Choruses included in this collection will make a perfectly French-flavoured addition to your general repertoire, or simply a complete concert in itself. The clear and accurate engravings make this book a pleasure to dip in and out of in your search for the perfect song, and with so many great compositions included, we're sure you'll find it! Please note that most of the lyrics are in French, but translations are included that also serve the purpose of enhancing your understanding of such poetic music./ Recueil / Choeur Mixte (SATB) et Piano