SKU: HL.48024550
ISBN 9781784543914. UPC: 888680917289. 9x12 inches. Text: Michael Robert Symmons, James MacMillan.
Setting of four poems by Michael Symmons Roberts for male voices a cappella, commissioned by the King's Singers and first performed by them in April 2014.MacMillan has been repeatedly drawn to Symmons Roberts's output and his selection here is from Drysalter and Corpus, with a return to the Raising Sparks collection, previously featured in the eponymous 1997 cycle for mezzo-soprano and ensemble. A Rumoured Seed exploits advanced vocal techniques to illuminate these evocative texts.
SKU: HL.48025184
ISBN 9781784548162. UPC: 196288113201. 7.25x10.25x0.035 inches.
Especially commissioned by the Dean & Chapter of Westminster for performance at the funeral service of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on Monday 19 September 2022. The text, from St Paul's Letter to the Romans, perfectly reflects the late Queen's steadfast Christian faith, as demonstrated by her unswerving devotion to her destiny as a national and world leader, and as personally expressed in her annual Christmas broadcasts. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nothing present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, whichis in Christ Jesus our Lord. Alleluia. Amen.†The work expresses hope, triumph and rejoicing; while fitting for memorial and remembrance services in general. it will also be found suitable at Easter and for general use. As an alternative to “Allelulia,†a verse from the Book of Revelation is provided, for use during penitential seasons. “Composer Sir James MacMillan's anthem hits the right note ... He joins a list of composers of royal funeral music stretching back to Henry Purcell and George Frideric Handel.†–The Times.
SKU: HL.48024806
ISBN 9781784543792. UPC: 888680978648. 8.25x11.75 inches.
Scored for baritone solo, small 'narrator' chorus, large chorus and orchestra, MacMillan's first Passion setting was composed in 2007. Lasting 87 minutes the work is divided into two parts, with 10 movements overall. As Paul Spicer has commented, “The originality of the St John Passion lies in MacMillan's ability to mix old with new, rather in the manner of Bach in his day. There are passages of sumptuous polyphony and there is a fresh look at the text where passages of Latin are interspersed with the Gospel story in English. In movement seven ('Jesus and his Mother'), MacMillan introduces not only part of the Stabat Mater but also his own words ('Lully, lulla, my dear darling'). The final movement, which is purely orchestral, is a kind of via doloroso march with a Scots lament over quite brass chords. The string writing here, with its elegiac cello lines, is deeply reminiscent of the early 20th-century English school. This should be the War Requiem of the 21st century.&rdquo.
SKU: HL.48024592
ISBN 9781784540685. UPC: 888680931285. 9.0x12.0x0.226 inches.
This 17-minute choral sequence is scored for mixed chorus and organ, with optional percussion, and presents five of the Latin motets’which occur at the end of movements in MacMillan's St John Passion (2007): Astiterunt reges terr, Judas, mercator pessimus, Peccantem me quotidie, Crucifixus etiam pro nobis, Stabat Mater. In the last of these, MacMillan quotes Bach's Passion Chorale; Bach's original is therefore included as an optional opening movement in the sequence, to be sung in German or English. The sequence was selected by Nigel Perrin (Bath Camerata), who comments, “I chose these movements because they stand on their own and are effective as 'motets' with organ accompaniment. The order of movements forms a sort of chronological sequence. Although the keys do not relate I felt that this did not matter as each movement is completely different, creating its own sound-world and emotion. I have not added to the original settings; rather, I have removed material so that the choral construction can stand alone.†A Choral Sequence from the St John Passion represents a significant addition to the repertory of devotional works for Passiontide and is appropriate for church and concert performance alike.
SKU: HL.48025441
ISBN 9781835680025. UPC: 196288216407.
In its original scoring for mixed voices MacMillan's The Gallant Weaver has become a favourite; this arrangement now extends the setting to upper voices. Paul Spicer comments, 'This ideal introduction to MacMillans secular choral music is rich in Scottish flavour, appropriate to its Robert Burns text. Characteristic vocal elements are the ornamental inflections drawn from Scottish folk music and Gaelic psalmody, and the overall mood is one of tranquillity.' The poem celebrates love and the joys of nature: '... While birds rejoice in leafy bowers; While bees delight in opning flowers; While corn grows green in simmer showers, I love my gallant Weaver.'.
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