SKU: HL.48025282

UPC: 196288161431.

Let us build a house is the closing hymn of Kim André Arnesen’s large-scale work, The Stranger. Instead of a typical majestic endingto a large work, Arnesen went for a quiet one with only an unaccompanied choir. As the composer comments, 'sometimes a message feelsstronger like that and makes us listen more carefully'. The text is from the hymn by Marty Haugen, which concludes 'Let us bring an end to fear and danger: All are welcome in this place.' A stillness and serenity pervades this short piece, suitable for intermediate choirs.

SKU: PE.EP73184

ISBN 9790577015453. 190 x 272mm inches. English.

A New World is a musical story across five movements with texts by authors from Cicero and Ovid to George William Russel; from nursery rhymes to war poets.

The music and texts link to form a narrative that questions what sort of ‘New Worlds’ have come into existence, or could be created in our future, and considers how we balance human traits of fear, displacement, isolation and conflict with equally human traits of love, hope, forgiveness and unity.

2. The Dream

A standalone work for SATB choir and SATB solo quartet, painting a picture of the different characters of a dream. This movement is both comforting and confusing, and is inspired by the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish.

Series information

The internationally-renowned British vocal ensemble VOCES8 is proud to inspire people through music and share the joy of singing. The celebration of diverse musical expression is central to the ensemble’s ethos, and this is shown in their versatile concert programmes and innovative educational work. The ‘VOCES8 singles’ series includes songs for which the group is particularly well known and which have been composed or arranged specifically for VOCES8.

SKU: HL.48025409

UPC: 196288201595.

Written for the Pembroke College Chapel Choir in November 2022, Drop down, ye heavens is a setting of the refrain and final stanza of the Advent Prose, itself based on various portions of the Book of Isaiah. An incessant ostinato figure on the organ accompanies rich homophony in the mixed chorus (with occasional divisi), creating a sense of tension and mystery. The ostinato develops as the piece builds to its climactic phrase: 'I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions'. Here the ostinato ceases and the voices break free. However, it soon returns and the voices hush: 'Fear not, for I will save thee'. The return of the refrain text heralds a second climax ('let the skies poor down') when the ostinato and vivid harmonies modulate before a soft and content close.

SKU: HL.1122017

ISBN 9781705181744. UPC: 196288108986.

A Good Understanding (2005) was written for Tim Brown and the choir of Clare College, Cambridge with the generous cooperation of John Scott and the Boys of Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue. A Good Understanding, with texts culled from two psalms, is designed to share a program with Rutter's expansive and expressive Mass of the Children. The piece unfolds episodically short choral phrases alternating with longer instrumental interludes. The first half of the text is typical psaltry praise-making: outlining agreements, explaining the rules; the music is, accordingly, severe but practical. The second half of the text begins, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom/a good understanding have all they that do his commandments.?I find the idea of a good understanding?to be an especially exciting reward for following the rules; the boys sing pulsed syllables and long descants to celebrate the covenant while the choir sings a lilting, repetitive refrain. (Psalm 111, 10). - Nico Muhly.

SKU: HL.48024896

ISBN 9781540095800. UPC: 840126927818.

The title's Third Word of Creation refers to verses from Rilke's Book of Hours which indicate the fear of what other delicate experiments God might come up with after 'light' and 'man'. Schultz contradicts the text by combining it with the monolithic beginning of the First Book of Moses in the Old Testament, which is imbued with the rightness of God's actions, as well as with lines by the Persian poet Rumi in the translation by Friedrich Ruckert. The latter indicate the comforting certainty of rebirth as ahigher being up to the unfathomable spirit of God. The composer accomplishes the feat of weaving all three levels into a complex, ethereal structure in which the words nevertheless always remain clearly understandable.