Written for the King's Singers, A Hymn To The Virgin won the 'A Carol for Christmas' competition run by the vocal sextet and Classic FM.Re-edited for SSATBB, the two languages of the text are set in contrasting styles of solo lines and chordal harmony, coming together at the end of each verse.A meditative work that would make an excellent concert ending. / Choeur SSATBB

Sleepsong is a rich, Celtic-inspired song for choirs looking to test their abilities with a new and exciting challenge. Released by Secret Garden in 2005, the song was written by Brendan Graham and Rolf Løvland who also penned the Westlife hit, You Raise Me Up . This beautiful and peaceful choral version has been arranged by Desmond Earley for six part chorus with Soprano solo. It was first performed by UCD Choral Scholars on April 19 2012. The piece is perfect for choruses looking to take their singing forward, with specific directions for staggered breathing throughout offering an added challenge for ensembles. Although designed to be sung A Cappella, the arrangement includes a piano reduction for easy rehearsal. / Choeur SSATBB

Composer's notes:The Fool is a time-honoured Orthodox religious figure: a Saint the highest of all who discards everything for Christ's sake. He discards all convention all decency all wealth actual and spiritual and turns himself into a figure of fun - defying all acceptable behaviour - and all religious decency. He stands in the square and lets down his trousers - he stuffs himself with food on Good Friday - he gets drunk - he 'appears'to fornicate wildly. There is a faint possibility (in not the highest of 'Fools') of gaining worldly popularity by such flagrant denial of all moral behaviour. Can such behaviour be too interesting? The true fool however embraces all of this and also (unseen) shrinks before the face of his God. By his behaviour he plucks out all hypocrisy false piety and corruption. He is a figure much needed in our times!!! The way I have tried to tacklethis extraordinary subject is to show him in seven stages from an obscene huge fat traditional clown who is drunk fornicating etc. through a stumbling frail agonized figure to a sallow-faced gaunt business man in a formalsuit staring at an empty glass. Having first revered him then mocked him the 'people' while they get drunk and jabber away at 'Christmas' and at the Feast of Feasts 'Easter' are no longer aware of him. But the audience seeshim - a tiny ragged scrap of mortality lying in a corner and faintly so faintly the voice of the Fool the true Fool for Christ's sake sings above the ribald crowd. 'He has given His life'. The Gogmagogs are the 'people' 'priests' 'singers' etc. and one male singer who can 'create' or 'uncreate' this vast role (singing and acting miming etc.) John Tavener Arranged for SSATBB chorus. Date of composition 2000. Chorus part only.