Sheet Music by Female Composers: A Rich and Diverse Selection

A syncopated opening bass lick lays the groundwork for this quintessential a cappella spiritual. When the other voices join, we begin a journey of texture, harmonic development, and form, indicative o...

The bass section lays out a captivating minor key line, followed by the entrance of syncopated tenors. Altos add their percussive part, and the sopranos offer another layer in the exciting contrapunta...

The traditional Latin "eternal light" text is beautifully brought to life in this artful a cappella work by contemporary choral composer Ruth Morris Gray. With plenty of room for rubato and dynamic ex...

Gothic horror in music: This chamber choir miniature in 3/4 time, as entertaining as it is creepy, pays homage to Alban Berg's Wozzeck, which is directly quoted with the line 'Ein schöner Mord, ein gu...

A beautiful short setting of the ordinary of the Latin mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus & Benedictus, and Agnus Dei) by emerging Cornish composer Becky McGlade. The Kyrie finds beauty in its simplicity, w...

A contemplative and affecting setting of the opening two verses of Psalm 91, which tells of God's protection for those who follow Him, by Cornish composer Becky McGlade, one of the fine emerging voice...

A reflective setting of the one of the Marian antiphons (‘Hail, Queen of Heaven') by emerging composer Kerensa Briggs. A continuous, largely homophonic choral texture underpins the work, with rich har...

A tender shoot is a new setting of a 15th century German poem, poetized by Otto Goldschmidt and translated into English by William Bartholomew in the 19th century. The setting was commissioned by the...

In this contemporary setting of the traditional text Hodie Christus natus est, the piece begins in a hushed, exultant manner marking the news that 'today Christ was born'. The piece then slowly builds...

A setting of verses 7 and 8 of Psalm 57 ('My heart, O God, is steadfast. I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn.') this work celebrates music's impor...

Commissioned by the Choir of Pembroke College, Cambridge, for the first ever BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong broadcast from the college, this introit or short motet was written to commemorate the occasion...

Adapted from Velvet Shoes by Elinor Wylie, the text of this carol portrays the tranquil, almost eerie, atmosphere of walking alone in fresh snow. The musical setting reflects scenery, with a soaring s...

As an accessible and versatile opener or introit, this piece sets an uplifting verse of poetry by Nigerian poet Ozioma Ogbaji. Though not overtly sacred, the spiritual message of the text is hopeful a...

Seeking You was commissioned by the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus, where Kerensa Briggs held a three year tenure as composer-in-residence. The text by Charles Anthony Silvestri tells of a weary traveller...

Inspired by and incorporating the plainsong melody, this exquisite new choral work by Kerensa Briggs breathes new life into the cherished Latin text 'Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est' ('Where charity...

Ave virgo sanctissima was commissioned by Robert Sharpe and the Choir of York Minster, for the service of "Nine Lessons and Carols" in 2023. The text is a lyrical prayer which praises the virtue of Ma...

O sing to the Lord was commissioned by Peter Asprey and premiered by the Choir of Holy Sepulchre, London, as the introit for a special service to mark St Cecilia’s Day in 2024. The uplifting text, tak...

Bird Raptures, a set of three pieces which draw inspiration stylistically from twentieth-century partsong, was composed for St Martin’s Voices in spring 2025, especially for Lucy Walker’s debut album...

Echo is the third movement of Seascapes, which was commissioned by the BBC Singers, as companion music to the Four Sea Interludes by Benjamin Britten, arranged for the organ by Anna Lapwood. It was pr...

This setting of the familiar opening lines of Henry Vaughan’s 'The World' was Lucy Walker's first commission as Composer-in-Residence with St Martin’s Voices, and was premiered by the ensemble in June...

Commissioned by St Martin’s Voices to mark Remembrance Day in 2024, There will come soft rains showcases the range of the choir’s musical colour-palette through the repetition of the opening motif in...

Love Flows was commissioned by the Choir of Wells Cathedral and Alexander Hamilton to mark the occasion of the installation of the Reverend Canon Toby Wright as Dean of Wells in June 2024. The etherea...

Written for the BBC Singers in 2019, Stars above, earth below is a hopeful and reflective setting of the poem Leaves by Sara Teasdale (1884–1933). The piece begins with celestial, descending lines acr...

Setting a prose text penned by Helen Keller in her 'The Open Door,' composer and conductor Andrea Ramsey has created a sensitive yet powerful new work exploring 'All that we love deeply becomes part o...