Par WOOLRICH JOHN. Spring in Winter by John Woolrich for SATB was commissioned for the expansive acoustic of King's College, Cambridge. Taking an extract from Christopher Smart's Hymn 32: The Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, this short yet effective setting was first performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge at the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols 2001, and has subsequently been adopted into their repertoire./ Feuillet / Choeur

Par BURTON KEN. British composer Ken Burton uses the writing of Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906), the black American son of emancipated slaves, in his 3-minute work A Prayer. The text of the three verses is bitter-sweet, filled with hope and sadness, and the music combines with this to make a rhythmically simple reflective evening hymn. Burton draws on Spiritual, Gospel and Blues to write a piece for SATB with divisi that will be a popular piece both to sing and to hear. New commission from The Jason Max Ferdinand Singers and premiered in their inaugural concert as part of the online LIVE from London – Spring Festival 2021. Follows Descend to Earth, VOCES8’s own commission of Ken Burton in the LIVE from London – Christmas Festival 2020. UK-based Ken Burton is known for his work on UK television programmes, particularly in BBC TV’s Songs of Praise. Burton was choirmaster for the multi Oscar winning and Grammy winning Marvel film Black Panther./ Répertoire / Choeur Mixte SATB

Par DEARMER PERCY / VAUGHAN WILLIAMS RALPH. Un favori ferme avec des choeurs pendant de nombreuses années, il s'agit d'une collection classique des chants traditionnels. Au cours des cinquante années écoulées depuis sa mort, Vaughan Williams est venu à être considéré comme l'un des meilleurs compositeurs britanniques du 20e siècle. Il dispose d'un catalogue particulièrement vaste d'oeuvres, y compris les oeuvres chorales, symphonies, concertos et opéras. Ses recherches et son imagination visionnaire, combiné avec une flexibilité dans l'écriture pour tous les niveaux de la création musicale, a signifié que sa musique est aussi populaire aujourd'hui qu'il l'a jamais été./ Recueil / Chant