Tag: Unaccompanied

Words of Salvation

SATB with Soprano and Baritone Solos, splits up to SSAATTBB

c. 4’30”

Commissioned by Max Barley, Sarah Colley and The Choir of St Mary’s, Wimbledon, as part of the choir’s “Seven Last Words from the Cross” project

Performed by the Choir at St Mary’s Wimbledon, directed by Max Barley

Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. He replied, Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.

Luke 23:42-3

O keep my soul and deliver me; let me not be
put to shame, for I have put my trust in you.

Psalm 25:20

Save your people and bless your inheritance;
shepherd them and carry them for ever.

Psalm 28:9


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.

Wither’s Rocking Hymn

SATB

c. 3’15

Sweet baby, sleep; what ails my dear?
What ails my darling thus to cry?
Be still, my child, and lend thine ear
To hear me sing thy lullaby.
My pretty lamb, forbear to weep;
Be still, my dear; sweet baby, sleep.

Whilst thus thy lullaby I sing,
For thee great blessings ripening be;
Thine eldest brother is a king,
And hath a kingdom bought for thee.
Sweet baby, then, forebear to weep,
Be still, my dear; sweet baby, sleep.

The King of kings when he was born,
Had not so much for outward ease;
By him such dressings were not worn,
Nor suchlike swaddling-clothes as these.
Sweet baby, then, forbear to weep;
Be still, my dear; sweet baby, sleep.

George Wither (1588-1667)


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.

We Three Kings

This is an arrangement of the setting by J. H. Hopkins (1820-91).

SATB

c. 5’15”

Performed by Avon Chamber Choir, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2026

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star:

O star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Born a king on Bethlehem plain,
Gold I bring, to crown him again –
King forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign:

O star of wonder…

Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh:
Prayer and praising, all men raising,
Worship him, God most high:

O star of wonder…

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom;
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the stone-cold tomb:

O star of wonder…

Glorious now, behold him arise,
King, and God, and sacrifice!
Heav’n sings alleluya,
Alleluya the earth replies:

O star of wonder…

J. H. Hopkins (1820-91)


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.

This Joyful Eastertide

This is an arrangement of the setting by Charles Wood (1866-1926).

SATB, splits up to SSAATTB

c. 4’05”

Commissioned by Joe Cryan and St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, for the 2025 Easter morning service, broadcast on BBC 1

Performed by the Choir at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, directed by Joe Cryan, 2025. Broadcast on BBC 1 as part of the Easter morning service.

This joyful Eastertide,
Away with sin and sorrow!
My Love, the Crucified,
Hath sprung to life this morrow.

Had Christ, that once was slain,
Ne’er burst his three-day prison,
Our faith had been in vain:
But now hath Christ arisen.

My flesh in hope shall rest,
And for a season slumber:
Till trump from east to west
Shall wake the dead in number.

Had Christ…

Death’s flood hath lost his chill,
Since Jesus cross’d the river:
Lover of souls from ill
My passing soul deliver.

Had Christ…

G. R. Woodward (1848-1934)

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.

The Sun Has Set

SATB with Alto Solo, splits up to SSATTB

c. 6’20”

Performed by Avon Chamber Choir, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2024

The sun has set, and the long grass now
Waves dreamily in the evening wind;
And the wild bird has flown from that
old gray stone
In some warm nook a couch to find.

In all the lonely landscape round
I see no light and hear no sound,
Except the wind that far away
Come sighing o’er the healthy sea.

Emily Brontë (1818-1848)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.

Psalm 22:1-2

I call on the Lord in my distress,
and he answers me.

Psalm 120:1

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.


The Mock Turtle’s Song

SSAATTBB

c. 4’05”

Commissioned for the National Youth Choir Fellowship Ensemble

‘Will you walk a little faster?’ said a whiting to a snail.
‘There’s a porpoise close behind us, and he’s treading on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingle – will you come and join the dance?
Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you, won’t you join the dance?

‘You can really have no notion how delightful it will be
When they take us up and throw us, with the lobsters, out to sea!’
But the snail replied, ‘Too far, too far!’ and gave a look askance –
Said he thanked the whiting kindly, but he would not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not, could not, would not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not, could not, could not join the dance.

‘What matters it how far we go?’ his scaly friend replied.
‘There is another shore, you know, upon the other side.
The further off from England the nearer is to France –
Then turn not pale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance.
Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won’t you, will you, won’t you, won’t you join the dance?’

Lewis Carroll (1832–1898)
From Alice in Wonderland

This piece will be published soon – keep an eye out!

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.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

SATB with Soprano, Tenor and Baritone Solos, splits up to SATTBB

c. 3’20”

Performed by Avon Chamber Choir, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2025. Soloists: Alex Scott and Peter Waters

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all aglimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

W.B. Yeats (1865-1939)

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.

The Cloths of Heaven

SATB, minimal splits up to SSAATTBB

c. 1’40”

Performed by Avon Chamber Choir, directed by Esther Bersweden, 2022

Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

W. B. Yeats (1865–1939)

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.

Surge Illuminare

SATB with Soprano, Alto and Tenor Solos, splits up to SSAATTB

c. 4’30”

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

Arise, shine for thy light is come:
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
For behold the darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people.
But the Lord shall arise upon thee:
And his glory shall be seen upon thee.
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light:
And Kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Therefore the gate shall be open continually:
They shall not be shut day nor night.
Violence shall no more be heard in thy land:
Wasting nor destruction within thy borders.
But thou shalt call thy walls salvation and thy gates praise.
The sun shall be no more thy light by day:
Neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee.
But the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light and thy God thy Glory.
And they shall call thee the city of the Lord:
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

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.

Matins Canticle during Epiphanytide
(Isaiah 60:1-3, 11a, 18, 19, 14b)

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.