'for the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain'for junior-upper voice SSSA Choir and Double SATB Choir a cappella (Score)Commissioned by the National Youth Choirs of Great BritainText is by Arthur W. E. O'Shaughnessy, adapted by Jessica Duchen.Composer's NoteWhen the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain requested a short piece for their gala concert at Birmingham's Symphony Hall, I was particularly excited about the prospect of writing for 300 singers. A recent research trip to Estonia resulted in somewhat of a revelation: having heard and seen their world-renowned choirs in action (literally!) has resulted in We are the Music-Makers having the less mainstream 'surround-sound' of upper voices/junior choir at the back and sides of the audience and a further stereophonic double-choir on stage.This poem was sent to me by Tim Williams (my ex Head of English at school), and immediately seemed to fit this occasion. This text has already been set magnificently by Elgar, so partly to avoid any kind of comparison and also to bring its timeless message up to date, I asked my poet friend Jessica Duchen to give it a sligtly more contemporary feel.A poem about global music-making (which ties in with the NYCGB's recent World-Music CD), it speaks about humankind, nation to nation, and the mention of Babel inspiring a 'speakng of tongues' effect by using as many different international words for 'music' as possible as an accompaniment (not an easy task, as many of them are similar to our own word!). These are: French (Musique), Romanian (Muzica), Swahili (Mahewa), Polish (Muzka), Estonian (Muusika), German (Muzik), Japanese (Ongaku), and Spanish (Música). / Choeur Mixte (SSAATTBB) A Cappella

Here is a spiritual that will please your choir and the audience alike! This festival arrangement stresses the rhythms and asks you to express the dynamics to bring out the contrasts of this fun arrangement! Keen attention in the rehearsal work may be required but it is well worth it. For worship good high school and beyond. Duration: ca. 2:20.

American Traditional-The ?VOCES8 singles? series includes songs for which the group is particularly well known in choral arrangements produced specifically for VOCES8. This beautiful folk song was commissioned as part of our fifth anniversary celebrations in 2012 and was included in our EP ?In the Beginning? and on our US concert tour. It has always been a fun challenge to perform with gorgeous flowing lines and a great opening solo for the bass. Our annual visit to sing for friends in the Shenandoah Valley is never complete without a rendition of this arrangement; performing it at Abbey Road Studios (the film can be found on YouTube) was also an unforgettableexperience.

Ola Gjeilo has pulled from his Norwegian heritage and used the lovely Solrenning Sæle tune to set a new text by Charles Anthony Silvestri. The text speaks of winter as a time of reset - a breath before the rebirth of spring. An excellent secular work for your winter concert. / SSAATTBB

This little-known African-American spiritual has a good high school or university choir in mind. In this arrangement about Mary and her baby the bass line rocks through the piece making this a great upbeat selection for your Christmas program! Duration: ca. 3:20.