Sixteenth composer John Farmer was a composer of church music and madrigals of which Fair Phyllis is the best known and most frequently performed. The finely textured work employs lightly skipping counterpoint in the ‘Up and down’ passages and an expressive change of time signature in the ‘kissing’ section.

Madrigals for SSATB and SSATBaB Edited by E H Fellowes. Revised by Thurston Dart CONTENTS ANONYMOUS How can the tree but waste (SSATB) BYRD, William Though Amaryllis dance in green (SSATB) EAST, Michael Your shining eyes (SSATBaB) FARMER, John Fair nymphs (SSATBaB) MARENZIO, Luca I must depart (Io partiro) (SSATB) MORLEY, Thomas My bonny lass (Questa dolce sirena) (SSATB) O grief e'en on the bud (SSATB) VAUTOR, Thomas Sweet Suffolk owl (SSATB) WEELKES, Thomas In pride of May (SSATB) WILBYE, John Lady your words do spite me (SSATB)

Introit for the feast of All Saints-'This short celebratory setting originally composed as an introit for the Wells Cathedral Girl Choristers was arranged for SSATB in 2010 (the upper parts unaltered) for the Exon Singes Festival. The text ('Let us all rejoice') exists in a number of versions and here honours 'all the saints at whose solemnly the angels rejoice'. The texture essentially imitative is governed by a syncopated melodic phrase which gives way to softer material in the middle section. The return of the opening idea drives the piece towards a broad jubilant conclusion.'John Phibbs

The new 2018 Edition of John Høybye's The Slow Spring from 1977. Dedicated to Thomas Morley in memory of his beautifuland optimistic madrigal “Now is the Month of Maying” The Slow Spring is a short and unusual choral setting of the writing of Tom Kristensen impatiently yearning for the coming of Spring. Kristensen's evocative and stirring poetry translated to English by Martin Allwood are employed as both song and accompaniment as the choral group is split into two factions. An set of SATB soloists are set against an SSAA chorus to provide a compelling variety of textures and the plosivepossibilities of the words themselves are fully explored with whispers held vowels and dramatic percussive consonants.

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.

A Candlelight Carol from the ever impressive works by John Rutter is the Silent Night for the 20th century. A piece that truly sets the tone for the Christmans season. With beautiful harmonies and touching words this is the perfect piece for singing by candlelight.Written for SSAA and Organ.

A short work for unaccompanied SSSAA choir with music by John Tavener and words by W.B. Yeats. Includes piano accompaniment for rehearsal purpose only.

John Tavener's popular setting of The Lord's Prayer is arranged here for Upper Voices and Piano or Organ by Barry Rose. The Lord's Prayer was originallycommissioned by the Guildford Philharmonic for the Tallis Scholars and first performed on 10th March 2000 by them at Holy Trinity Church Guildford.  This arrangement received a positive review fromGeoffrey Webber in the January/February 2016 edition of Choir & Organ.

Now adapted for SSAA by Richard Gabrillo Craig Hella Johnson's setting of Dolly Parton's Light of a Clear Blue Morning is infused with light and hopefulness as it opens with a solo soprano and gradually builds to a joyful overflowing of sound and vocal texture then gently relaxing into a reflective conclusion. With soprano recorder.

Available for mixed chorus a cappella (divisi) or in this accompanied version (no divisi) Dan Forrest sets the well-known text by Methodist founder John Wesley. The piece is excellent for any service of renewal covenant or stewardship.

The text for these two companion pieces might provide an opportunity to do some teaching on the importance of proper punctuation. For a little comic relief try this winner with your women's choir.

Evoking the visions of John the Revelator this African American spiritual depicts the twelve gates of the city that represents eternal freedom. This arrangement features the traditional as well as original melodic material with triadic harmonies and a percussive and rhythmic accompaniment building in intensity to the final Hallelu!

SSAA arrangement of HMC388A fairly advanced arrangement with varied harmonies from stanza to stanza and a contrapuntal treatment of the text

O that we were there! is a text taken from the Christian hymn In Dulci Jubilo. It expresses a longing to be present at the Incarnation of Christ but it also conveys a longing to be out of the world oftime and space and in an eternal world.This work was written for Sherborne Girls in gratitude for having educated my daughters Theodora and Sofia. It is dedicated to the memory of Blossom Perronelle Barrow who died ofcancer aged 12.