Northumberland Impressions (Op. 42a) is a suite for solo Oboe with Piano accompaniment. It was written by Alan Bush in 1953, and first performed in the same year by the oboist Joy Boughton with the composer accompanying on the Piano. It is scored in three movements: Prelude - Lament - Dance

SKU: MN.56-0108

UPC: 688670221255. English, Latin. Psalms 142; Jeremiah 3:48, 52, 56.

Invictus: A Passion addresses one of the world’s most powerful stories through the lens of the modern world. The texts, written or inspired by women, describe not only human suffering and persecution but also the human capacity for love and humility in the face of tyranny. Composer Howard Goodall is uniquely suited to bring these texts to life with music of emotional clarity and sweeping force. This excerpt is scored for soprano solo, SATB choir and piano. This fourth movement of the larger work is inspired by the extraordinary story of Irena Sendler née Krzyżanowska, a Polish nurse and head of Żegota, the Polish Council to Aid Jews in the Second World War, whose personal interventions saved the lives of approximately 2,500 Jewish children in the Warsaw Ghetto, smuggling them to safety, acts of humanitarian bravery that eventually caused her arrest and torture by the Gestapo. She is honoured as Righteous Amongst the Nations at Yad Vashem, Jerusalem. The Latin texts of this movement are taken from the Book of Lamentations (“My eye hath run down with streams of water, for the destruction of the daughter of my people. My enemies have chased me and caught me like a bird, without cause…”) and from Psalm 142, the Old Testament being the meeting-point of Sendler’s Catholicism and the Jewish tradition of those whose lives she saved. Duration 6:19.

SKU: MN.56-0055

UPC: 688670220586. English.

Arranged for SATB choir, two keyboards, strings, and optional harp, with soprano, tenor (optional) and baritone soloists, this fresh and unorthodox interpretation reflects on the words of the Latin Mass by juxtaposing them with poems in English. For soprano solo and SATB choir, this movement begins with the choir on the English text by Phineas Fletcher (1633). A 32-measure soprano solo follows, which covers the majority of the English text. The soloist then begins the “Recordare,� �¢â‚¬Â a calm, descending melodic line with the choir singing the opening “Drop, drop” motif as accompaniment. The choir then concludes with the slow, descending lines “Jesu pie, Jesu pie.” Duration 4:04.

SKU: MN.56-0049

UPC: 688670220524. English.

Arranged for SATB choir, two keyboards, strings, and optional harp, with soprano, tenor (optional) and baritone soloists, this fresh and unorthodox interpretation reflects on the words of the Latin Mass by juxtaposing them with poems in English. The “Kyrie” uses Francis Quarles’ “Close now thine eyes and rest secure” as the opposing English text. After the choir begins the requiem text in Latin (“Requiem aeternam” through the “Kyrie eleison,”) the soprano soloist has a 27-measure solo in which the English text appears. Then the solo is repeated over choir accompaniment and the opening Latin text reappears to close the movement. Duration 9:13.

SKU: HP.GC4000O

UPC: 763628143626. Genesis 8:22, Lamentations 3:22-24, 1 Samuel 15:29, Hebrews 7:21, Isaiah 49:7, James 1:17, Jeremiah 29:11, Malachi 3:6, Psalms 33:4, Psalms 110:4, Psalms 111:7, Psalms 145:13, Psalms 146:6.

Medley of two classic worship songs This second offering for the contemporary blended service melds two wonderful pieces, Great Is the Lord and Great Is Thy Faithfulness, into a compelling medley about God's greatness and faithfulness. John F. Wilson's inspired rhythmic setting adds interest and delight.

SKU: AP.35998S

UPC: 038081414973. English.

A cool viola feature! Beginning with a solo introduction invoking a Celtic lament, it morphs into a driving rock pulse of 3+3+2. Unlike most rock tunes, there is no need for drums, guitar, or piano as those roles have been assigned entirely to the strings. So take the leap!