SKU: HL.48023799

Author: Thomas Campion.

Thomas Campion's Never weather-beaten sail is a sprightly text that powerfully evokes the sailor's plea for God's calming presence upon the sea's unrelenting rushing waves. At the opening of this work for unaccompanied mixed voices, the jaunty alto/tenor movement in thirds symbolises the curling waves of the undulating sea, the mellifluous soprano melody represents the boat's sails, and the bass section's never-changing 'A' provides the anchor. All four voices then come together in homophony, urging God to come quickly...and take my soul to rest. Rather than a simple repetition of thematic material in the manner of a standard hymn, the texture alters through the rest of the work until the very end where all voices gradually fade away into the distance, leaving what seems like a lone voice in the wilderness to cry to Thee. Contrasting to other well-known setting of this text, this new work provides a fresh interpretation, suitable for intermediate choirs.

SKU: HL.48024225

7.25x10.25 inches.

The Minstrels was commissioned and performed by the BBC Singers in their Winter Solstice concert at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, London on 21 December 2016, which was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. This lively non-religious carol, a setting of the opening verses of the William Wordsworth poem of the same name, paints vivid images of jocular minstrels and their followers, completed with cittern effects in the bass part. The clever interplay between the vocal parts and opportunities for fun wordplay make this an exciting and rewarding sing, and a very engaging piece for an audience.