Matthew Owens' St Matthew Passion for soloists SATB and Organ. Written for the Choir of Wells Cathedral of which Matthew Owens is Organist and Master of the Choristers this setting of the St Matthew Passion is ideally suited to liturgical performance during Holy Week. The principal role of the Evangelist is taken by a baritone soloist who narrates the story of Christ's trial and Crucifixion in unaccompanied chant. The other smaller solo roles of Judas (Tenor) Pilate (Tenor) Jesus (Bass) and Pilate's wife (Alto) continue in the same vein with four-part choral interspersions from the crowds soldiers and priests providing acontrast in texture. The hymn 'When I survey the wondrous cross' set to the Rockingham hymn tune appears twice throughout the work and the congregation are encouraged to join in on both occasions. The simple organ part supports the voices for the hymn and may also optionally double the choir during the narrative.

Commissioned by the Hickory NC Choral Society for their 35th anniversary season Dan Forrest's Requiem For The Living is scored for mixed choir with solos for boy soprano and/or mezzo-soprano soprano & tenor. The instrumentation is available for large orchestra or chamber ensemble. Combining both liturgical and non-liturgical texts in some cases the traditional texts are slightly re-arranged for contextual emphasis. This powerful five movement work projects a wide range of meaningful expression from a biting essay on the vanity and pain of existence to a plea for mercy and a celebration of eternal light. The work standsalone - but would be especially moving for all saints Good Friday or even Palm Sunday. Movements: Introit - Kyrie Vanitas Vanitatum Agnus Dei Sanctus Lux Aeterna 3. Instrumentations available on rental only: 1. Full orch. (HMB265a): 2 flutes 2 oboes 2 bb clarinets 2 bassoons 2 horns (or 1-4: if performing with a large choir horn lines may be doubled by a second player on each part) 2 bb trumpets 2 trombones bass trombone or trombone 3 tuba percussion (1 player: suspended cymbal crash cymbal bass drum triangle glockenspiel crotales (bowed) snare drum low tom-tom (opt.)(or other low drum) timpani (3) (one player) harp strings (min. Suggested count 4.4.2.2.1) full score. 2. Chamber version (HMB265b) - flute oboe horn in f (optional) combined percussion (one player: timpani suspended cymbal crash cymbal triangle glockenspiel crotales (bowed) snare drum low tom-tom (optional) (or other low drum) harp violin cello organ full score. 3. Expanded chamber version (HMB265c) - flute oboe horn in f(opt.) percussion from full orchestra version (1 player: suspended cymbal crash cymbal bass drum triangle glockenspiel crotales (bowed) snare drum low tom-tom (opt. or other low drum) timpani (3) from full orchestra version (1 player) harp strings from full orchestra version