News
Blessed be that maid Mary, English trad. tune arranged by Stephen Cleobury
Stephen Cleobury’s new arrangement of Blessed Be That Maid Mary featured in the broadcast of A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from the candlelit chapel of King's College, Cambridge, on Christmas Eve 2011. It was also used in the traditional celebration, Carols from King’s, broadcast on BBC2.
Philip Ledger’s carol, A Spotless Rose, composed in 2002 was broadcast for the third time in A Festival of Nine Lesson and Carols.Two Hymns from the Royal Wedding
The first two congregational hymns used at the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton both have strong Welsh melodies. The thrilling arrangements of Guide me, O thou great Redeemer and Love divine, all loves excelling were made for the ceremonial occasion by James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers of Westminster Abbey, who conducted the Choirs of Westminster Abbey and HM Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, during the marriage service. This special music is published by Encore Publications and features on the official album (Decca cat. no. 2770662).
Toccata (1998) by Simon Preston
Simon Preston’s exciting Toccata for solo organ is scheduled for publication shortly. The highly dramatic and virtuosic piece was originally composed for Sarah Baldock and, more recently, has been recorded by Tom Winpenny on the organ of St Albans Cathedral.
Fairytale Sleighride by Adam Saunders
Adam Saunders (b. 1968) was born in Derby and studied at the Royal Academy of Music and London University, winning several prizes for composition. As well as concert works, he has established a career writing primarily for the screen, with his music being used in American series such as The Sopranos and Desperate Housewives. Fairytale Sleighride is composed for orchestra and paints a picture of a magical sleighride, journeying through a fairy-tale wintry landscape. Duration 4:37.
The risen Christ by Philip Ledger
This newly published Easter cantata with carols portrays three appearances of the risen Christ. The first of these is to Mary Magdalene at Christ's tomb, the second to Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus, and the third to Simon Peter at the Sea of Tiberias.
Composed for soprano, tenor and baritone solo, mixed choir and either chamber ensemble, or orchestra, or organ, The risen Christ sets to music words compiled from various sources including original texts by Sir Philip Ledger, Robin Morrish and Robert Woodings. The choral piece also contains words by anonymous authors, two settings that have been adapted from texts by G.R.Woodward and Christopher Wordsworth, as well as a short extract from a poem by Olivia Ward Bush-Banks. The Christian faith stands and falls with the resurrection. Yet, far fewer musical works focus on the events of the resurrection, compared with the number that are based on Jesus’ crucifixion. In this respect, Sir Philip’s new work is fresh and original. Like his Requiem, composed in 2007, the music is crafted and elegant, and the composer's clear understanding of words enables the meaning and significance of the Easter story to be enhanced by his appropriated musical language. Three major performances of The risen Christ were given during Eastertide 2011: US premiere at Washington National Cathedral (Cathedral Voices, conducted by Jeremy Filsell); UK premiere at Canterbury Cathedral (Choir of Canterbury Cathedral, conducted by David Flood); and the first liturgical performance at Christ’s College, Cambridge (Choir of Christ’s College, conducted by Philip Ledger).In memoriam Robert Tear
The musical world is deeply saddened by the news of Robert Tear’s death and, at this time, our thoughts are with his family and friends. As well as being a truly great singer, we remember him as a gifted composer and writer. We have been proud to work with Robert Tear publishing several of his original choral pieces, most of which set to music his own thought provoking words. Robert Tear’s optimistic outlook of life was a hallmark of his music and words. He had a clear understanding of the world, which he was able to explain and share in both his musical and literary works. In a collaboration with James Whitbourn dating from 1999, he wrote the text for a striking carol, Hodie, which affirms the Divine gift of love in a most exciting and jubilant work.
The holly and the ivy arranged by June Nixon
June Nixon’s imaginative new arrangement for mixed voices and organ is based on a traditional French carol. Her setting featured in the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols broadcast live on BBC radio from King’s College, Cambridge, on Christmas Eve 2010. The Christmas piece was also included in the traditional televised celebration, Carols from King’s. To hear the carol, use this YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDaxz3GImRc.
Just For Starters
This new instrumental series has started with the publication of two books.
Philip Ledger and Hilary Tadman-Robins have contributed a new piano album containing 24 pieces suitable for players in the early grades (1-3). The repertoire is compiled from easy dances and miniatures in a broad range of styles including arrangements of works by Blow, Arne, Mendelssohn and Chopin, plus 12 original piano pieces. It provides both technical and musical challenges, encourages flexibility of hand positions, introduces triadic figures, and offers guideline fingering.
The second book in the Just For Starters series is by Bryan Kelly. It contains five original pieces for cello and piano which are suitable for players in the early stages. The suite of dances in contrasting styles ranges from brisk, rhythmic works to gentle sustained music. This attractive collection enables basic skills to be explored with plenty of scope for focused attention on musical detail. It could be used to supplement the prescribed music of graded exams 1-3. Cellists are encouraged to put character into the music and play out with confidence. In essence, the works by Bryan Kelly lay strong foundations for future development.
Scrooge by Bryan Kelly
A new concert work for narrator and orchestra lasting about 20 minutes in duration. It is a unique mix of original extracts Charles Dickens’s classic, A Christmas Carol, together with colourful characterisations portrayed in the music. The light-hearted orchestral piece falls roughly into two sections. The first part presents some of the ghostly scenes from the well-loved tale, complete with chains in the percussion. Then the piece focuses on all the fun and merrymaking of Mr Fezziwig’s Christmas ball with a fiddler’s tune, Sir Roger de Coverley (which is mentioned in the book), combining with a seasonal carol. The work ends with a burst of We wish you a merry Christmas.
The first performance was given by the Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Neil Thomson, at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, in December 2010.
For arts organisations planning events to mark the bicentenary of the birth of Charles Dickens in 2012, Bryan Kelly’s new piece could be performed to tie in the celebrations for one of the most important figures in literature.
A Christmas Cracker by Thomas Hewitt Jones
for orchestra (2.2.2.2, 2.2.2.1, timp., perc. (1 player) & strings), duration about 3-4 minutes. Christmas is all wrapped up in this sparkling concert work. It's a glittering upbeat medley of the composer's favourite carols, which will help audiences get into the Christmas spirit. The festive fun begins with a burst of Deck the Halls. The musical fillers and jokes continue with decorated themes from Hark! the Herald-Angels Sing, The Twelve Days of Christmas and Ding Dong! Merrily on High. A grand rendition of O Come, all ye Faithful leads into a final fanfare delivering plenty of Christmas cheer. Just put on a paper party hat and enjoy this seasonal piece.
Requiem (A Thanksgiving For Life) by Philip Ledger
The world premiere of the original chamber ensemble version of this major choral work was given by the Choir of Christ Church, Christiana Hundred, USA in 2007 as part of a Choral Eucharist. The first UK performance was given by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, on Remembrance Sunday 2007 as the musical setting for a service in King’s College Chapel. Both performances were conducted by the composer.
The first performance of the music in its rescored orchestral version was given by Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with singers also from Eastbourne College Choral Society and Junior King’s School Canterbury Choir, conducted by Graham Jones with soloists Patricia Rozario and Mark Le Brocq in 2008 at Chichester Cathedral.
The BBC Singers, conducted by David Hill, recorded the chamber version of Philip Ledger’s Requiem for broadcast in an episode of The Choir on BBC Radio 3 in 2008. In addition, the Choir of Christ’s College, Cambridge, recorded the work under Philip Ledger's direction and released a CD on the Regent Records label in 2009 which includes new anthems and carols by the composer.
Subtitled A thanksgiving for life, this beautiful Requiem explores a range of emotions and has Latin movements interspersed with settings of some wonderful poems by the mystical English poet, Thomas Traherne (c. 1636-74). ‘The poems of Traherne are full of wonder at God's creation and the part that we play in it,’ says Philip Ledger. ‘For me, his joyful imagery ideally complements the more austere, but beautiful, Latin words of the Requiem.’
The piece begins with the birth of the soul and ends with its final journey to paradise. It may be sung liturgically, as well as in concert halls, and is scored with three different instrumentations.
Services of Thanksgiving are now often held in place of Funeral Services. Two movements in particular, Thanksgiving hymn and Agnus Dei and Pie Jesu (the two sections are set as one movement) may be performed separately on these occasions. Thanksgiving hymn, a unison setting with descant, is suitable for congregational participation.
The third movement, Thanksgiving hymn, is also published in the collection, The power and glory, containing eight hymns with descants. The Pie Jesu from the fifth movement is available as a separate anthem for soprano solo, mixed voices and organ.
REVIEWS
'The publishers have produced a clear and attractive edition…' - Choir & Organ
'The most striking music is in the Traherne settings, which have inspired the composer to match the words with appropriate musical imagery, and which provide the work with its distinctive features. It is well worth considering if you sing a Requiem setting on Remembrance Sunday or at All Souls.' - Church Music Quarterly, RSCM
'This work represents a new direction for Sir Philip both in scale and style. There is much that is immediately attractive; listener-pleasing features include descending basses, modulations to the flattened 7th key, and a cello obbligato in the Pie Jesu.' - Organists' Review
'Ledger’s integration of traditional and less familiar texts, and of Latin and English is appealing…the flexibility of the necessary performing forces, particularly the small size of the chamber ensemble required for the middle-sized orchestration option, and the relatively modest demands of the piece places on the choir, are practical plusses and do not detract from a musical result that is at once moving and tasteful.' - The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT Sir Philip Ledger CBE
If you would like more information about conductor, pianist and composer, Sir Philip Ledger CBE, visit his new website at www.sirphilipledger.com.
Choirs interested in arranging a workshop or training session based on the Requiem (A thanksgiving for life) or other compositions by Philip Ledger are invited to contact Tim Rogers at Encore Publications. Email info@encorepublications.com.