Francis Pott’s My song is love unknown sets all of Samuel Crossman’s famous verses but one (commonly omitted when the poem is sung metrically as a hymn). The music begins with offbeat repeated chords prompted—not inappropriately—by the opening to Richard Strauss’s tone poem  Death and transfiguration. In its early stages only trebles and altos are heard. The sequential flow of Crossman’s poem is soon disrupted with particular dramatic ends in mind. After a seemingly anxious harmonic distortion of the opening chords the word ‘crucify’ arises initially as a mere mutter from the lowervoices so timed as to afford assonance with other words in the upper parts and thus remain barely discernible as if only imagined. In due course however cries of ‘Hosanna’ find themselves on a collision course with a rising tide of ‘Crucify’ during which the ‘Hosanna’ faction gradually loses heart and sheep-like defects until a single treble voice—plaintively daring to repeat the ‘offending’ word—is swept aside by a murderous outcry. In due course ‘Crucify’ recurs as a further angry climax before the opening music returns this time expanding into an extended polyphonic final section for double choir and SATB soloists. The principal climax of the work subsides into a form of epilogue crowned sorrowfully by a treble soloist to whom the music in toto has by now presented many challenges. The anthem ends in the key and mood of its opening. The character of its demanding organ part reflects the possibility that it may one day be orchestrated.   My song is love unknown was composed in memory of Michael Renton a craftsman and largely self-taught ‘Renaissance’ man who was not only a member of the Winchester cathedral congregation but also the cathedral’s stonemason. He was beloved of many in the Cathedral community; a true and

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach wrote his first great vocal composition the Magnificat in 1749 at the age of 35. It bears all the earmarks of “audition music” i.e. a piece that organists and choir directors had to submit when applying for a new position. This feature is especially evident in its stylistic variety which makes the work a rewarding and colorful challenge for all church choirs. Special attractions are the work's contrapuntal passages which are very similiar in sound and structure to those of J. S. Bach’s B minor Mass. The present arrangement for soloists chorus and organ is intended as a self contained version accessible to a widerange of choirs even those with limited financial means. - Self contained version for soloists (SATB) chorus (SATB) and organ - Ideal for use in church and concert hall - Clear and well presented organ part - Duration: ca. 40 minutes The Bärenreiter CHOIR&ORGAN Series presents great choral works in arrangements for soloists choir and organ; no orchestra is needed. The original orchestral parts have been transcribed into straight-forward organ reductions whereby the contemporary tradition of such arrangements has been taken into consideration. In some cases the original organ version by the composer has been used. The Organ parts are presented on three staves. The choir and solo parts always remain true to the original. One edition can be used by soloists singers and Organist alike.

Mozart’s Requiem Truth and Legend Mozart’s “Requiem” is fraught with questions and emotions: the expressive depth of its music, sorrow at the great composer’s early death, truth and legend, fragments and attempts to complete the work. The surviving manuscript reflects its dramatic history: Mozart’s handwriting often appears on the same page as inscriptions by Süssmayr and others. One corner of a page with Mozart’s final musical thoughts was later stolen, but an old photograph bears witness to it. This high-quality new facsimile presents each page individually trimmed to convey a vivid impression of the original. Besides a detailed description of the manuscript by Günter Brosche, the volume contains a Foreword by Christoph Wolff depicting the work’s genesis. BÄRENREITER FACSIMILE The seal is used exclusively for facsimile editions published by Bärenreiter which meet the highest demands in both scholarly and technical terms. The distinguishing features include: - a facsimile in high-quality colour printing - scholarly commentary - attractive cover design Edition no.: BVK 2346 ISBN: 9783761823460 Volume / Series: Bärenreiter Facsimile Editor: Brosche, Günter Language(s) of work: English, German Product format: Book, Facsimile Binding: Half-leather binding Pages / Format: 200, 35 S. - 24,4 x 33,0 cm

Commissioned by Gavin Bryars' long-standing collaborators, ensemble Aventa, and with a libretto by author and poet Marilyn Bowering, Bryars' Marilyn Forever examines the inner life of Marilyn Monroe, and her intellectual and emotional relationships with death and love.Often seen as a victim, fantasy and sex object, the character of Monroe is fleshed out in this chamber opera: 'We are given through Monroe's own voice her combination of sensitivity and exhibitionism, allied to the narrative of the 'chorus', a view from the 'inside' of the conflicting emotion and ambitions of this compelling and timeless personality.' (Aventa) / Choeur