SKU: ST.CN23P

ISBN 9790220225147.

Commissioned by the BBC as part of the celebrations for International Women's Day, and reflecting its theme of hope, Like a Singing Bird was premiered live on Radio 3 on 8 March 2015 by Sarah Connolly and the St Catharine's Girls' Choir, conducted by Edward Wickham. The distinctive vocal scoring features a small solo group of sopranos or mezzo-sopranos drawn from the upper-voice ensemble. The anthem is the first of three which are collectively entitled Echoes from Willow Wood, the second also being available in Choral Now. The text, Christina Rossetti's poem 'A Birthday', features in Virginia Woolf's classic essay A Room of One's Own, based on lectures delivered at Newnham College and at Randle's own Cambridge alma mater, Girton, an institution at the forefront of women's education for two centuries. Inspired by the clock in Girton's Stanley Library, the 'chiming rhythms' which are a driving force within the piece offer a further level of connection. The music moves from quiet anticipation to bright affirmation, the sense of something life-changing heralded by an Advent plainchant quoted in the second half. The final couplet is set apart in a hushed recitative, reflecting, in the composer's words, 'the hope I and other young female composers can have as we try to make our mark in what has traditionally been a male domain.'.

SKU: ST.CN27P

ISBN 9790220225512.

The words of Peaceful was the Night are taken from John Milton's ode On the Morning of Christ's Nativity, written in 1629. Milton describes the universe halting in utter stillness at the moment of Christ's appearing on the earth. (As the poet wrote: 'His reign of peace upon the Earth began.') In James McCarthy's carol, the voices play a dual role, as narrator, and by evoking the atmosphere of a singular moment of frozen time. Although commissioned by Sonoro for performance during the Christmas period, this singable, lyrical setting would fit well into a programme of music suitable for any time of the year.

SKU: ST.VS042

ISBN 9790220227356.

SKU: ST.VS069

ISBN 9790220227400.

SKU: ST.VS031

ISBN 9790220226878.

SKU: ST.M733

ISBN 9790220218514.

SSAATB. Revised by Thurston Dart.

SKU: ST.CN59P

ISBN 9790220227967.