Performed by Avon Chamber Choir with guest singers, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2022. Organ: Isaac Powell
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed in He who come in the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
If you would like to perform the whole Requiem or individual movements, please get in touch via the Contact page. I am happy to send perusal scores if interest is expressed.
SATB with Baritone Solo and Organ, splits up to SSATB
c. 4′
Performed by Avon Chamber Choir with guest singers, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2022. Organ: Isaac Powell. Soloist: Alex Scott
Kyrie eleison
The night is darkening round me, The wild winds coldly blow; But a tyrant spell has bound me And I cannot, cannot go.
Christe eleison
The giant trees are bending Their bare boughs weighed with snow. And the storm is fast descending, And yet I cannot go.
Kyrie eleison
Clouds beyond clouds above me, Wastes beyond wastes below; But nothing drear can move me, I will not, cannot go.
Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
English Text: Spellbound by Emily Brontë (1818-1848)
If you would like to perform the whole Requiem or individual movements, please get in touch via the Contact page. I am happy to send perusal scores if interest is expressed.
Performed by Avon Chamber Choir with guest singers, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2022. Organ: Isaac Powell
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Ierusalem: exaudi orationem meam ad te omnis caro veniet. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine: Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. A hymn, O God, becometh Thee in Zion; and a vow shall be paid to Thee in Jerusalem: hear my prayer; all flesh shall come to Thee. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
If you would like to perform the whole Requiem or individual movements, please get in touch via the Contact page. I am happy to send perusal scores if interest is expressed.
SATB with Baritone Solo and Organ, splits up to SSAATTBB (splits are minimal)
c. 30′
The themes of this Requiem are rest and light. The texts were chosen to reflect this; the movements which usually appear in a Requiem Mass were selected because they contain phrases that fit with these themes, such as ‘et lux perpetua luceat eis’ (let perpetual light shine upon them’) and ‘dona eis requiem (‘grant them rest’).
The Kyrie, which is combined with the poem Spellbound by Emily Brontë, provides a foil for the tranquility of the other texts; the element of darkness inherent in the Brontë poem complements the beseeching quality of the Kyrie. It also adds contrast to the other movements, which overall have a more meditative, restful character (the exception being the more joyful Sanctus and Benedictus). Spellbound highlights darkness as being the opposite of light, and encompasses the inevitability of darkness and death, whilst retaining a sense of strength and resolution.
The other two texts used in this work which are not commonly found in the Requiem Mass are the first verse of I Heard the Voice of Jesus say, the hymn written by Horatius Bonar, which focuses on the theme of rest; and a few verses from Psalm 139, where the baritone soloist and choir declaim the words ‘If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.’
The premiere was given in November 2022 by Avon Chamber Choir with guest singers. The organ was played by Isaac Powell, and the soloists were Alex Scott and Ben Pennington.
If you would like to perform the whole Requiem or individual movements, please get in touch via the Contact page. I am happy to send perusal scores if interest is expressed.
Performed by St Martin’s Voices, directed by Andrew Earis, 2024. Broadcast on BBC Radio 3 as part of a service of Choral Evensong.
Preces
O Lord, open thou our lips. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise. O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Praise ye the Lord. The Lord’s Name be praised.
Responses
The Lord be with you. And with thy spirit. Let us pray. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.
O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us. And grant us thy salvation. O Lord, save the King. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee. Endue thy Ministers with righteousness. And make thy chosen people joyful. O Lord, save thy people. And bless thine inheritance. Give peace in our time, O Lord. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God. O God, make clean our hearts within us. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
[The Collects]
O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed; Give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments, and also that by thee, we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
SATB with Soprano, Alto and Tenor Solos, splits up to SSAATTBB
c. 6′
Commissioned by Neil Edington
Performed by Thames Chamber Choir, directed by Andrew Campling, 2023
Bring us, O Lord God, at our last awakening, into the house and gate of heaven, to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music; no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity; in the habitations of thy glory and dominion world without end. Amen.
John Donne (1572–1631)
If you would like to perform this piece, please get in touch via the Contact page. I am happy to send perusal scores if interest is expressed.
Commissioned by David Bednall and Bristol Bach Choir, to mark the 650th anniversary of the City of Bristol
Performed by Avon Chamber Choir, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2024
O sing unto the Lord a new song: Sing unto the Lord, all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; for he hath done marvellous things.
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: Make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
Sing unto the Lord with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad: let the sea roar, and all the fullness thereof. Let the floods clap their hands: Let the hills be joyful together.
Extracts from Psalms 96 and 98
If you would like to perform this piece, please get in touch via the Contact page. I am happy to send perusal scores if interest is expressed.
Commissioned by David Ogden and the City of Bristol Choir, in memory of Pamela Pepler
O magnum mysterium Et admirabile sacramentum Ut animalia viderent Dominum natum Jacentem in praesepio! Beata Virgo, cujus viscera Meruerunt portare Dominum Christum Alleluia
O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the newborn Lord, lying in a manger! Blessed is the virgin whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord, Jesus Christ. Alleluia!
Matin Responsory for Christmas Day
O Magnum Mysterium
This piece was published by Encore Publications in 2023.
Performed by Avon Chamber Choir, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2023
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary; and, gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth, and praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth.
How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv’n! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav’n. No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
Phillips Brooks (1835-93)
If you would like to perform this piece, please get in touch via the Contact page. I am happy to send perusal scores if interest is expressed.
