Hymns for Mixed Choir

Characteristically sung on Christmas Day, this Catholic chant depicts mystery and wonder at the birth of Jesus, as witnessed by the animals. The second half of the text relates to words spoken by Eliz...

The O nata lux text is taken from a 10th-century anonymous hymn that uses the concept of light to symbolise hope, a particularly pertinent theme for Advent. Throughout this setting the sopranos intert...

A reflection on the plainchant antiphon 'Pulchra es et decora', this hauntingly beautiful piece was commissioned by ORA100 for Suzi Digby and ORA Singers. The original antiphon has been transcribed an...

This short Missa brevis setting is perfect for choirs looking to bring a fresh soundworld to their worship. Each movement is distinct in character, but with an overall cohesiveness of harmonic languag...

Let all the world in ev'ry corner sing is an upbeat setting of a hymn text by seventeenth-century English poet George Herbert. Chilcott uses irregular metres, syncopation, and dancing melodic shapes t...

A Gaelic Blessing was commissioned by the University of Edinburgh, McDowall's alma mater, for performance by the Edinburgh University Singers conducted by Calum Robertson. This meditative, folk-style...

This gentle anthem, written for the Choir of St Chad's College, Durham, sets a text that is adapted from several prayers of St Chad. Warm dynamic swells and rich harmonies emphasize the meaning of the...

A powerfully emotive setting that contrasts moments of reflection with declamatory exultation, Psalm 57 uses passages from the eponymous psalm in the King James translation. Written in 1972, it is ded...

Dona nobis pacem is an expressive setting that combines two lines on the subject of peace from the Ordinary of the Latin Mass. A slow tempo lends grace and poise to the gentle, sustained vocal lines a...

Hazzard's enchanting Sanctus, setting text from the Latin Mass, captures the feeling of a rushing current throughout. Though the energy often pulsates below the surface, it bursts through at the zestf...

Skempton's After Rain sets an evocative text by Edward Thomas with a contemplative choral part over a rich and slow-moving cello line. Skempton alternates between contrasting upper-voice duets and ful...

This setting of the traditional hymn to 'Mary, the star of the sea' contrasts two moods and styles: the flowing simplicity of the 'Ave maris stella' refrain and the slightly faster and more homophonic...

This motet is the fifth of a set of seven relating the life story of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Finnissy's aim was to hint at technical and expressive continuity with the music of the 11th and 12th cent...

This setting of this popular text was composed in 1997; choir directors should feel free to put a few sopranos on the alto line in the two polyphonic sections. Offprinted from the collection Cantica N...

This setting was commissioned by Choir and Organ magazine in 2003 and first performed by St Alban's Cathedral Choir under the direction of Andrew Lucas. Offprinted from the collection Cantica Nova.

This Introit is the first of four Latin motets commissioned for the 1976 Edington Festival and first performed in Edington Priory. The Introit firsty pays tribute to Augustine, and then, in a more liv...

Aiming for weightless flexibility of expression, this setting employs an idiom detectably in keeping with aspects of medieval practise. Offprinted from the collection Cantica Nova.

At only one point in the piece (bars 37-9) does the the level rise above piano. Despite occassional tuning demands, it should be well within the reach of many choirs. Offprinted from the collection Ca...

A short, eloquant piece commissioned by Winchester College reflecting the spirit of Advent. Offprinted from the collection Cantica Nova.

Bob Chilcott wrote this piece at the request of a friend and colleague Michael Emery, the Producer of the BBC Singers, who wanted a new piece to sing at Mass in Notre Dame, Paris, while touring with t...

This motet was written to celebrate the golden jubilee of Canon Francis Bartlett's priesthood and first performed at the Church of St Anselm and St Cecilia, Kingsway on 29 June 1985. Offprinted from t...

This motet features text painting throughout the piece, with the music opening outwards from a unison F to reflect a flower slowly unfolding when exposed to sunlight, as well as a chill wind sweeping...

This echoing motet was composed for Edward Higginbottom and the Choir of the New College, Oxford, and was subsequently used for their tour around Europe. Offprinted from the collection Cantica Nova.

This exciting concert piece sets Latin words from the mass orders of the Catholic Church and the Book of Isaiah to form a versatile text that is suitable for both Christmas and for general use through...

In this arrangement of the Appalachian folk carol, Mack Wilberg provides a gentle harmonization suitable for a lullaby to the Christ child. A slight sense of foreboding is introduced in the central mi...