SATB (no splits) – Page 2 – Esther Bersweden

The Lord is my Shepherd

SATB

c. 3’25”

Performed by Clifton Cathedral Choir, directed by David Bednall, 2023

The Lord is my shepherd:
Therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall feed me in a green pasture:
And lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.
He shall convert my soul:
And bring me forth in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil:
For Thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me
Thou hast anointed my head with oil and my cup shall be full.
But Thy loving kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 23

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.

So What is Love?

SATB

c. 2′

Performed by Avon Chamber Choir, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2025

So what is love? If thou wouldst know
The heart alone can tell:
Two minds with but a single thought,
Two hearts that beat as one.

And whence comes Love? Like morning bright
Love comes without thy call.
And how dies Love? A spirit bright,
Love never dies at all.

Maria Lovell (1803-1877)

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.

Search Me, O God

SATB and Organ

c. 3’50”

Commissioned for Christopher Powell

Performed by the University of Bristol Church Choir, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2021. Organ: Isaac Powell

You have searched me Lord, and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue,
you, Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:1-6, 23-24

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.

Requiem IV: I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

This is the fourth movement of the Requiem. Other movements can be found here:

I Introit
II Kyrie
III Sanctus and Benedictus

V Agnus Dei
VI The Darkness is as Light
VII Lux Aeterna

SATB and Organ

c. 7’15”

In this movement, an unaccompanied verse of singing is followed by an Organ Interlude based on the opening melody.

There a fully choral version of this movement with all three verses, which can be found here.

Performed by Avon Chamber Choir with guest singers, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2022. Organ: Isaac Powell

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘Come unto me and rest;
lay down, thou 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.

Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

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.

O Morning Star

SATB

c. 2’30”

Commissioned by Church House Publishing as one of the seven ‘O’ Antiphons

O Morning Star,
splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:
Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death.

O Oriens, the ‘O’ Antiphon for 21st December

Lullaby, oh, Lullaby!

SATB

c. 3’20”

Performed by the University of Bristol Church Choir, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2023

Flowers are closed and lambs are sleeping,
Lullaby, oh lullaby,
Stars are up, the moon is peeping,
Lullaby, oh lullaby.

While the birds are silence keeping,
Lullaby, oh lullaby,
Sleep, my baby, fall a-sleeping,
Lullaby, oh lullaby.

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.

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.

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.

God So Loved the World

This is an arrangement of the setting by John Stainer (1840-1901).

SATB

c. 5’30”

Commissioned by Joe Cryan and St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, for performance alongside Stainer’s Crucifixion

Performed by the Choir at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, directed by Joe Cryan, 2024

God so loved the world,
that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whoso believeth in Him,
should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:16-17

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.