New Horizons

Commissioned by Ralph Woodward and the Fairhaven Singers in memory of Dora Kemp, one of the choir's sopranos, God is Light sets lines from Psalm 139, 1 Thessalonians, and 1 John. It moves from an unse...

Cecilia McDowall's fresh and appealing style is amply displayed in this cycle, subtitled 'Three Shakespeare Songs' and first performed by the BBC Singers. In total, six Shakespeare texts are used, and...

Traditionally sung on Christmas Eve, 'O Virgo virginum' is often described as the eighth ‘O' Antiphon and praises Mary, ‘O virgin of (amongst) virgins.' McDowall's setting is vigorous and joyful, with...

Experience the sublime beauty of sacred choral music with this magnificent edition of 'Regina Caeli', published by the renowned Oxford University Press. As a traditional Marian antiphon, this work emb...

Originally published in the New Horizons collection Cantica Nova, this expansive Advent motet creates a unique sound world through unusual harmonic inflections, striking spatial effects, unmeasured no...

For SSATB unaccompanied. New Horizons showcases the wealth of exciting, innovative, and occasionally challenging choral music being written today. It encompasses the whole gamut of small-scale choral...

SATB unaccompanied & with organ The Ivy and the Holly is a superb collection of carols and motets for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany by contemporary composers. Scored for mixed voices - a cappella an...

Displaying Chydenius's unique style, I am the great sun is a driven and focused setting of Charles Causley's poem. This is textured choral writing: you'll find imitative passages, melodic and rhythmic...

for SSATBB unaccompanied A beautiful 6-part unaccompanied Marian motet written for the Marian Consort. The work combines reminiscences of Renaissance settings of this text with McDowall's distinctive...

for SATB with divisions, unaccompanied This is a sensitive and uplifting setting of a text by Geraldine Atkinson, who tragically died aged 24. The reflective nature of the music makes it particularly...

for SATB (divisi) with 2 soprano solos This engagingly written piece sets the Lamentations of Jeremiah. The overlapping passages of music passed between the soloists and the choir create a dramatic ef...

Setting a text spoken by Nurse Edith Cavell on the eve of her execution in 1915 and re-fashioned by the poet Sean Street, McDowall has created a work of haunting beauty. It is equally suitable for fun...

Setting a well-known poem by Percy Shelley, Love's Philosophy is a sweet and tender choral song reflecting on the idea of love with reference to nature and the interdependent relationships evident in...

for SATB double choir unaccompanied Inspired by A. E. Borthwick's painting of the same title, The Presence sets lines from Psalms 18, 27, 36, 112, and 119 mainly concerned with light. While suitable f...

Skempton's setting of the Preces and Responses is simple, well-crafted, and harmonically rewarding, and is perfect for choirs seeking new material for the liturgy.

for SSSSAATTBB unaccompanied Gabriel Jackson's is one of the most striking modern settings of this ancient text. The composer's trademark diversity of texture is much in evidence, with passages of ric...

This solemn yet dramatic work sets a traditional Latin prayer lauding the Virgin Mary, with intense melodic lines that are at once steadfast and arresting, reflecting the mystery of the immaculate con...

The organ part is supportive, but full of interest and not merely accompanimental. Particularly memorable are the jaunty Gloria, with its constantly shifting time-signatures, and the haunting Agnus De...

Inspired by the legendary cyclists of the Tour de France, Yellow Jersey is a short wind sprint for two saxophones, originally composed for two clarinets. The form of the piece follows how the sprint w...

The patron saint of music is honoured in Cecilia McDowall's exuberant setting of Kate Wakeling's lyrics based on 'The Life of Saint Cecilia' in Jacobus de Voragine's 1275 The Golden Legend or Lives Of...

New Horizons showcases the wealth of exciting, innovative, and occasionally challenging choral music being written today. It encompasses the whole gamut of small-scale choral genres, both secular and...

Not no faceless Angel is a beautifully reflective work. Originally commissioned by Joy Hill and the RCM Junior Department, the work is a sensitive setting of words by Tanya Lake. The themes of loss an...

A setting of one of the seven Advent 'O' Antiphons, O Oriens makes use of luxurious and exotic harmonies, creating a shimmering texture. The focus on human enlightenment in winter's darkness means the...

Cecilia McDowall's fresh and appealing style is amply displayed in this cycle, subtitled 'Three Shakespeare Songs'. In total, six Shakespeare texts are used, and McDowall's response encompasses a flee...

This exquisite piece has been made available as a separate choral leaflet. It is also in the anthology Weddings for Choirs. Ideal for concerts, and special occasions such as weddings and anniversaries...