Tag: Sacred

Let Every Knee Bend

SATB

c. 2’45”

Let every knee bend before thee,
O greatness of my God,
so supremely humbled in the Sacred Host.

May every heart love thee,
every spirit adore thee,
every will be subject to thee!

Margaret Mary Alcoque (1647-1690)

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.

Karitas habundat

SATB with Alto Solo

c. 2’15”

Karitas habundat in omnia,
de imis excellentissima super sidera
atque amantissima in omnia,
quia summo regi osculum pacis dedit.

Love abounds in everything,
From the lowest depths to the highest stars,
And is loving to all,
For the supreme King gave a kiss of peace.

Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179)
Translation by Carol Anne Perry Lagemann

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.

Interlude on St Botolph

Organ

c. 4′

Performed by Isaac Powell

Oxford Hymn Settings for Organists: Holy Communion

Published by OUP in October 2020, this anthology of organ music contains Esther’s Interlude on St Botolph. Below is a video of its premiere at All Saints’ Church, Clifton, Bristol on 17th October 2020, played by David Bednall.

Oxford Hymn Settings

Interlude on Aus der Tiefe (Heinlein)

Organ

c. 4’40”

Performed by Sarah MacDonald in Ely Cathedral, 2025

By Arrangement

Published in 2024 by Encore Publications, this anthology of organ music contains Esther’s Interlude on Aus der Tiefe (Heinlein).

By Arrangement

In the Bleak Midwinter

SATB with Soprano Solo, splits up to SSAATTBB

c. 4’50”

Performed by Bristol University Singers, directed by David Bednall, 2017. Soloist: Emma Huggett

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

Christina Rossetti (1830—1894)

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.

If Ye Love Me

SATB, splits up to SSAATB

c. 3′

Performed by the University of Bristol, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2019

If ye love me, keep my commandments,
And I will pray the father,
And he shall give you another comforter,
That he may abide with you forever,
E’en the spirit of truth.
That he may abide with you forever,
E’en the spirit of truth.

John 14:15-17

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.

I Saw Three Ships

This is the version for SSA (accompanied). If you would like to see the version for SATB (accompanied), please click here.

SSA and Piano/Organ

c. 4′

Commissioned by the Music Department at Redmaids’ High School, Bristol

I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three?
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
And what was in those ships all three?
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Our Saviour Christ and His Lady,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
Our Saviour Christ and His Lady,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Pray whither sailed those ships all three?
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
Pray whither sailed those ships all three?
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the Angels in Heav’n shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
And all the Angels in Heav’n shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the Souls on Earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
And all the Souls on Earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice amain,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
Then let us all rejoice amain,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Traditional

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.

I Saw Three Ships

This is the version for SATB (accompanied). If you would like to see the version for SSA (accompanied), please click here.

SATB and Piano/Organ

c. 4′

Performed by the Choir at St Barnabas, Oxford, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2024. Organ: Martin Payne

I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
I saw three ships come sailing in,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three?
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
And what was in those ships all three?
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Our Saviour Christ and His Lady,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
Our Saviour Christ and His Lady,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Pray whither sailed those ships all three?
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
Pray whither sailed those ships all three?
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the Angels in Heav’n shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
And all the Angels in Heav’n shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the Souls on Earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
And all the Souls on Earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice amain,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day,
Then let us all rejoice amain,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Traditional

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.

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

SATB, splits up to SSATB

c. 4′

Performed by the University of Bristol Church Choir, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2021

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, O weary one, lay down
Thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, and worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting-place,
And he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down, and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quench’d, my soul revived,
And now I live in him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s Light;
Look unto me, your morn shall rise,
And all your day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In him my Star, my Sun;
And in that Light of life I’ll walk,
Till trav’ling days are done.

Horatius Bonar (1808–1889)

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.