Download sheet music by Benjamin Nunn in PDF format
Benjamin Nunn was born in South London in 1977 to a highly musical family. He has sung in (and occasionally directed) church choirs and other choral groups since childhood.
He learned piano and composition from an early age and was taught for several years by the Rev. Dr. June Boyce-Tillman, one of the foremost academics in her field. He took an organ scholarship at St Martin-in-the-Fields at the age of 13.
Benjamin later studied voice under the Bass Brian Cooper (now perhaps best known as the father of ballet dancer Adam) and read Music at Brunel University.
He plays tenor guitar, bass, mandolin and various other instruments (with varying levels of ability!) and writes music across a variety of genres including folk, rock and electronic.
This site focuses on his choral music, much of which is unaccompanied and sacred in nature, intended primarily for use by church choirs. Stylistic influences include John Tavener, John Rutter, Arvo Part, Elizabeth Poston, June Boyce-Tillman and Thomas McLelland-Young.
These scores are ordered reverse-chronologically - at some point everything will be migrated onto a proper website with meta-tagging and there will be a way of sorting and filtering by theme, orchestration etc. but for now, reverse chronology is what it is.
This is Public Domain music (in most jurisdictions) so please feel free to download this sheet music for use with your choir or chamber group.
2020 to present
"I'm not to going to claim I've been massively prolific over the past few years, though hopefully what I have composed has been of a decent standard. Quality over quantity."
The Key note
A setting of a Christina Rosetti poem for eight part voices.
Ring out, wild bells
Orchestration: unaccompanied SATB choir
Duration: Around six minutes if all verses are sung, but there is an option to omit verses four, five and six by 'ignoring the repeat marks'!
The First Noel
Composed: 2021
Orchestration: SATB (optional solos and/or organ/piano accompaniment).
Duration: Depends on how many verses are sung and how fast you take it.
Difficulty: Fairly straightforward.
There is a blossom
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB, with some division in all parts, so a minimum of eight voices required, plus short passages for Soprano and Tenor soloists.
Duration: Around three minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Timeless Sirens
A barbershop original - with added existential melancholy.
Composed: 2020
Orchestration: Unaccompanied four-part male voices TTBB
Duration: Around three minutes
Difficulty: Fairly typical for barbershop - so possibly tricky for those not used to close harmony with plenty of chromaticism!
Directions: Maintaining tuning is critical, especially when
transitioning into, and out of, the 'middle eight', such as it is. The
top tenor goes high and the bottom bass goes low - don't make enemies by
going sharp or flat!
Download PDF
2010 to 2019
"This time period - my mid 30s and beyond - saw a number of pieces commissioned, many of which appear below. with the emphasis firmly on unaccompanied vocal music. And quite unashamedly so, I might add."
When I needed a Neighbour
An unaccompanied arrangement of Sydney Carter's well-known hymn with
small solo segments and plenty of harmonic and dynamic contrast.
Composed: 2019
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB choir with very short Soprano solo and SA duet
Duration: Around three minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Directions: Each verse/chorus should retain its own distinctive
flavour; Watch out for the key change before verse five. Tenors, your
little repeated 'Were you there' run down to the Supertonic is important
in bringing the whole thing together - it should almost sound like you
are 'interrupting'!
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I saw three ships
Another 'lower voices' arrangement. There are a lot of versions of this popular carol around - I tried to do something a little different here by modulating into the Subdominant at the end of every verse, ultimately cycling through nine different keys, as well as passing the melody through all three voices.Composed: 2019
Orchestration: Unaccompanied three part ATB.
Duration: Around two and a half minutes
Difficulty: Moderate - there a lot of different things going on and no part gets an easy ride
Directions: Keep it bouncing along and bring out the melody when you have it.
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Dixit Maria
A sort of Taizé-style 'pre-Magnificat', if there can indeed be such a thing. Which there can be, obviously, because I've composed it.
Composed: 2018
Orchestration: Soprano solo plus unaccompanied SATB choir
Duration: Around three minutes
Difficulty: Simple
Directions: The biggest challenge for the choir is probably how to avoid boredom when singing the same few bars over and over! Soloist - your challenge is making yourself heard without being loud.
The Christ-child
A Christmas carol; words by G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936). Technically I probably finished this in early 2018 but it was still the festive season.
Composed: 2017
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB choir, with optional Soprano solo
Duration: Around two minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Directions: Keep it gentle throughout, with the possible
exception of the 'Kings' passage in the Tenor/Bass verse which can be a
little more full-on.
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Be not afraid
I don't often write choral pieces with an accompaniment, so this is something of a rarity (you might very well take one look at this and say you don't blame me!) The aim here was to come up with something simple, singable, joyful and accompanied, but it turned into a bit of an epic. Words adapted from Barney E. Warren, whoever he is!
Composed: 2017
Orchestration: SATB choir (with optional Sop/Alto solo) plus piano
Duration: A good five minutes, possibly even six!
Difficulty: Moderate - there are some very simple 'big tune' passages but also some pretty tricky harmonies and the whole thing is a 'big sing'
Directions: Watch out for the odd couple of places where the harmony gets weird. Keep together in the unison passages and don't oversing the refrain. Sometimes the biggest risk is going out of tune in an unaccompanied section before the piano comes back in, so watch your intonation!
Wolsey's Bones
Some strangeness based on the reputed last words of Cardinal Wolsey. This was written for inclusion in a much larger theatrical performance piece that never really got off the ground, but it just about works as a piece of music in isolation!
Composed: 2016
Orchestration: TTBB male voices
Duration: Around 90 seconds
Difficulty: Moderate, but maybe just a little bit weird
Directions: Hmm...
Christe Dominum Natum
A carol juxtaposing English language verses with a Latin Refrain.
Composed: 2015
Orchestration: Unaccompanied Six part AATBrBrB - written for all male voices, but in a mixed choir the upper Alto part my be sung by the Sopranos
Duration: Two to Two-and-a-half minutes
Difficulty: Moderate - some parts are more challenging than others
Directions: Big contrasts in dynamics are vital, as is accurate intonation on the false relations.
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Stars that shall be Bright
An anthem for Remembrance, based on words from 'For the Fallen' by R.
Laurence Binyon. Intended as a companion piece for 'They shall grow not
old' which comes from a different part of the same poem.
Composed: 2014
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB quartet or small choir (in which case the Tenor part in the middle section may be sung as a solo)
Duration: Around 90 seconds
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging
Directions: Watch out for the rhythmic variation. Big breaths needed for the humming section to keep things running smoothly.
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The Fairy Song (from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream')
The style is swing-jazz-barbership. The words are from Shakespeare, obviously.
Composed: 2014
Orchestration: Unaccompanied mens TB voices with Tenor/Baritone solo
Duration: Around two minutes
Difficulty: May be moderately challenging if not used to singing in this style
Directions:
Underparts must keep the rhythm crisp, precise and together to allow
the soloist plenty of freedom and flexibility by way of contrast.
Download PDF
Marian Lullaby
A Christmas carol; words trad Middle English.Composed: 2013
Orchestration: Soprano solo with unaccompanied SATB choir, with some splitting
Duration: Around two and a half minutes
Difficulty: Moderate (the solo and language may be found challenging)
Directions: Keep the 'Lullays' nice and gentle. Tenors - don't get caught out by unexpected harmonies!
Download PDF
O for a closer walk with God
A lower voices setting of the tune Beatitude by J. B. Dykes.
Composed: 2012
Orchestration: Unaccompanied ATB
Duration: Around two minutes
Difficulty: Fairly simple
Directions: Don't start verse 3 (where the gentlemen have the tune) too loudly or there'll be nowhere to go in the final verse. And, talking of verse 4, that Ab open+9 chord on the word 'close' is one of the hardest to keep in tune - but get it right and it'll be magic, I promise!
Set me as a Seal
A motet written for my wedding, with words from the Song of Solomon.
Composed: 2011
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB quartet or small choir
Duration: Around two minutes
Difficulty: Fairly Challenging
Directions: Look out for the changes in time signature and false relations. Nobody gets an easy ride here.
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Poor little Jesus
A barbershop setting of a traditional
Appalachian carol. I admit that this arrangement owes more than a little
inspiration to the Carnival Band's version of the carol (though they
presumably didn't think they could get with that minor iv chord what I
done snuck in!)
Composed: 2010
Orchestration: Unaccompanied TTBB Barbershop Quartet.
Duration: Just under two minutes
Difficulty: Fairly easy
Directions: As with most barbershop, blending and keeping
together is very important here. If you have a low bass in your group
you are more than welcome to sing a bottom B at the end of the last
verse!
2000 to 2009
"A difficult time of my life, and one which saw many changes. I had plenty to be getting on with outside of choral music, but apparently managed to compose or arrange at least one thing every year!"
The Fall of the Year
A simple two-part arrangement of an 'Autumn carol', originally written by Rev Dr. June Boyce-Tillman, under whom I learned piano and composition when young, and who has been a friend and inspiration for many years. The words (F. Pratt Green) and melody (June Boyce-Tillman) are used with kind permission.Composed: 2009
Orchestration: Unaccompanied two part - Upper and Lower voices. May be transposed up or down as appropriate
Duration: 2-3 minutes
Difficulty: Fairly easy
Directions: Dynamic contrast between the different verses is important. The lower part may contain one or two 'surprises' for those unfamiliar with my style of harmony.
Download PDF
Servants of God
A two-verse motet based on words from the poem 'Rugby Chapel' by Matthew Arnold (1822-1888). Discord and Resolution combine to create a sense of mystery.Effective as either an Introit or a Communion Anthem, and ideal for small groups.
Composed: 2009
Orchestration: Unaccompanied ATB trio or small choir
Duration: 90 seconds
Difficulty: Moderate to Challenging (though there are only a few bars to learn)
Directions: Watch the phrasing, which is irregular and differs between the verses. Make sure the intonation is precise, particularly in the bass part.
Download PDF
The Angel Gabriel
An arrangement of a well-known carol, written especially for lower voices, with the aim of being a little more 'spiky' than other harmonisations.Composed: 2009
Orchestration: Unaccompanied three part ATB
Duration: A little over two minutes
Difficulty: Straightforward, with some complexity in the underparts
Directions: Note the dynamic contrast from verse to verse. It may add variety to have a verse with the underparts singing 'ooh' or humming. This arrangement may be used in conjunction with a more standard SATB harmonisation as an alternate middle verse.
Download PDF
See amid the winter's snow
Oh look, another Christmas carol arrangement. Alternating verses give the melody to the Sops and the Tenors to keep things interesting as it's quite a long carol with five verses and a refrain after each one. Overall it's quite Soprano-lite, and therefore suitable for choirs who don't have strong or plentiful top line!Composed: 2009
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB
Duration: Around four minutes
Difficulty: Fairly simple
Directions: Verses 2 and 4 should be quieter than the others, but none of them should be loud - save your forte for the refrains so we get a decent contrast. It's not marked in the music, but you can maybe rall the final refrain ever so slightly. You know, just a tad.
This joyful Eastertide
One of the best-known Easter carols, arranged for lower voices.Composed: 2009
Orchestration: Unaccompanied three part ATB
Duration: Around two minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Directions: Some of the harmonies can be deceptively tricky and/or busy so stay alert.
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The God, whom Earth and Sea and Sky
This is one of the oldest known hymns, dating back several centuries though it has probably been through numerous changes and re-translations during that time. My arrangement is for lower voices in three parts, with the melody line split between all three for variety.Composed: 2009
Orchestration: Unaccompanied three part ATB
Duration: Around two and a half minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Directions: Don't let it drag; Tenors and Basses, be ready to come in strongly at the start of the verses where you take on the tune.
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In Christ Alone
An SATB re-harmonisation of the popular Getty/Townsend hymn, as an alternative to the more common Unison arrangements. The eagle-eyed (eared?) will notice that I've changed the rhythm in places too.
Composed: 2008
Orchestration: SATB (organ or piano accompaniment optional)
Duration: Usually two to three minutes
Difficulty: Straightforward
Directions: I like to perform this in a way as distinctly different from the original as possible. Think 'Bach chorale'.
A new commandment
Another one that I've arranged for 'proper choir' singing.
Composed: 2008
Orchestration: SATB (organ or piano accompaniment optional)
Duration: This one does tend to go on a bit - four minutes plus!
Difficulty: Straightforward
Directions: Not a whole lot to say about this - don't forget that it ends in 'the middle' after a final chorus.
Have yourself a Merry little Christmas
A Barbershop arrangement of a secular Christmas classic. Like a cracker full of slushy harmonies.
Composed: 2008
Orchestration: TTBB Barbershop quartet
Duration: Around two and a half minutes
Difficulty: Fairly challenging, though established Barbershop singers will cope better.
Directions:
While shepherds watched
This is the 'Ilkley Moor' tune, arranged for Barbershop quarter. Verses other than 1,2,3 and 6 may be sung if you want a longer performance. For me, four verses is probably enough.
Composed: 2008
Orchestration: TTBB Barbershop quartet
Duration: Around two minutes
Difficulty: Simple
Directions:
Joy to the World
Another relatively simple Barbershop arrangement of a festive carol - if you're wondering why there are so many of these from 2008, my Barbershop Quartet had several Christmas gigs that year and needed a few well-known
carols arranged pretty sharpish. These were my contributions.
Composed: 2008
Orchestration: TTBB Barbershop quartet
Duration: Two to two-and-a-half minutes
Difficulty: Simple to moderate.
Directions: The melody is mainly in the top Tenor part but does occasionally switch to the other voices - be ready for this and - I shouldn't have to say this - make sure the chap with the tune is the loudest at that point! Verse 3 can be taken very slowly for humourous effect if you like - it can even be one continuous, dragging Rallentando before picking up the pace in the last verse!
Hilariter (Easter carol)
I've written a lot of music for Christmas, but this is a little something for Easter. The words are translated from the German (originally by Friedrich Spee)
Composed: 2007
Orchestration: Unaccompanied ATB, with solo verses suitable for any voice.
Duration: Around a minute and a half.
Difficulty: Simple
Directions: Not a whole lot to say about this, at it's really very simple indeed - the only vague quirk is that it is in the Dorian mode so don't get confused by the key signature.
A boy was born
A traditional Medieval Christmas Carol, set to a very simple three part lower voices arrangement. (Not everything I do is harmonically complicated!)
Composed: 2007
Orchestration: Unaccompanied ATB, though of course Sops are welcome to sing the melody too.
Duration: 90 seconds or so
Difficulty: Very simple
Directions: Aim to vary the dynamics between verses and don't be afraid to really rall it up big in the final refrain.
Rejoice and be merry
Another lower voices arrangement of a traditional gallery carol.
Composed: 2007
Orchestration: Unaccompanied ATB voices
Duration: Around two minutes
Difficulty: Very simple
Directions: Make sure the Unison line is strong, but that it
gives way to a gentle diminuendo at the end of each verse. Tenors, yes,
you have a fun line, but don't get carried away!
Reynard the Fox
A male-voice arrangement of a folk song. While I did arrange this for my Barbershop Quartet, the style isn't particularly 'Barbershoppy' and offers more than a nod to the Fairport Convention version of the song.
Composed: 2006
Orchestration: TTBB Barbershop quartet, with the melody in the top tenor part.
Duration: Around two and a half minutes
Difficulty: Fairly simple
Directions: All four verses are harmonised in the same way, so ensure some dynamic variation. (And feel free to swap parts with another member, obviously!)
One more step along the world I go
A simple SATB harmonisation as an alternative to the more common Unison arrangements. NOTE: Melody and words remain the copyright of Sydney Carter.
Composed: 2005
Orchestration: SATB choir with congregation (organ or piano accompaniment optional)
Duration: Two to three minutes, depending on number of verses sung.
Difficulty: Easy
Directions: This is a pretty straightforward harmonisation that shouldn't be too difficult - the only quirk is arguably the triplets in the Tenor part. Keep up the 'bouncy' walking along feel throughout. If accompanying on the organ, try really hard not to let it drag.
Nursery Rhyme Medley
Something to challenge even the most accomplished of Barbershop quartets, this is a medley of 12 different Nursery Rhymes, in 12 different keys, taking in a range of different tempos and styles. Fun, but incredibly tricky. Don't let anybody tell you that Nursery Rhymes are simple - this is a real chance to show off your skills!
Composed: 2004
Orchestration: TTBB Barbershop quartet
Duration: Five to six minutes
Difficulty: Extremely challenging, even when you already know the tunes!
Directions: Oh my, where to start?!? Be aware of when you have the melody and bring it out as appropriate - the 'tune' flows from one voice to another and back many, many times during the piece. Watch out for the key and tempo changes at the bridges from one Nursery Rhyme to the next and make sure everybody stays together. Be prepared to practice the very difficult bits, such as the little duet in parallel semitones ('Wasn't that a dainty dish') and the syncopated doo-wop 'Baa Baa Black Sheep'. Don't give up!
Fat Bottomed girls
Barbershop arrangement of the Queen hit. Melody and words remain the copyright of Brian May.
Composed: 2004
Orchestration: TTBB Barbershop quartet
Duration: Around three minutes.
Difficulty: Could be considered moderately tricky, given that there are multiple syncopated rhythms, coupled with chromatic close harmonies. If you already know the song well it will help!
Directions: Be sure to maintain the rhythm and keep together - apart from the bits where you're not meant to be together! Some bits are slightly different from the original (and, being a Barbershop arrangement, some are naturally very different!) so watch the music carefully and don't assume anything.
People look East
An arrangement of the Advent carol for lower voices.
Composed: 2003
Orchestration: Unaccompanied three part ATB
Duration: A little under two minutes
Difficulty: The (Alto) melody is easy and well-known. The Tenor and Bass parts are of moderate difficulty.
Directions: The 6/8 needs to bounce along, but don't rush it too much or the words will be lost. Dynamic variation is important. Watch those accidentals!
Only you
Barbershop arrangement of the 1980s Yazoo hit - I've tried to work it into something a little different to the well-known Flying Pickets version, but still a compelling a capella listen.
Composed: 2002
Orchestration: TTBB Barbershop quartet
Duration: Three and a half minutes, or thereabouts
Difficulty: Moderate
Directions: As a general rule, where you have a 'dm' sound on an extended note, turn it into a hum. Similarly, 'ah' sounds should be produced with a semi-open mouth. Don't get caught out near the end where the Tenor II briefly picks up the melody. The fade-out at the end needs to be very soft indeed.
God moves in a mysterious way
This modern(ish) hymn tune Skent (CM) would work with many sets of words, but I've set it to these because the Flat VII chord serves as a nice underlay for the word 'mysterious'. The 'Amen' is optional but brings a resolution that otherwise wouldn't exist. Composed: 2001
Orchestration: SATB choir plus congregation and organ or piano.
Duration: A few minutes, depending on the speed and number of verses sung.
Difficulty: Simple
Directions: Perhaps a slightly lighter touch than you would with most regular (e.g. Victorian) hymn tunes!
Download PDF
Rock of ages
A simple SATB harmonisation of a well-known tune that is strangely absent from many British hymnals. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the tune Petra - this is just for the occasions you might like to sing Toplady instead.
Composed: 2000
Orchestration: SATB choir (organ or piano accompaniment optional) (congregation extremely optional!)
Duration: Depends how many verses you sing and the general sluggishness of the basses/organist/congregation!
Difficulty: Relatively straightforward.
Directions: As this is a hymn tune, I shall leave that entirely up to the choir director. (But Tenors please watch out for that double-sharp!)
Pre-2000
"This covers my younger years - essentially school and university. The music provided here is far from a comprehensive opus, but rather a snapshot. Much of what I attempted to write as a teenager simply isn't in a state to share, though I believe that I 'had my moments' even when relatively tender in years."
Bread of Life
A simple Communion Anthem for two part
Upper and Lower voices, with organ accompaniment. Written at the request
of the choir of St Augustine, Tooting
Composed: 1999
Orchestration: Two part mixed voices with Organ
Duration: Around two minutes
Difficulty: Straightforward
Directions: It's intended to be slow, but don't let it drag too much. There is scope for considerable Rubato within the Organ passages.
Download PDF
Jesu, name all names above
With words taken from a 9th century Greek text, this anthem is fairly interesting to me in retrospect as it marks a departure from my 'usual style' even as it was manifesting itself, although there are still some distinctive 'Benjamin Nunn' moments in there. This hasn't been performed in a long time, so please let me know if you decide to give it an airing.
Composed: 1999
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB choir
Duration: Around two and a half minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Directions: Keep it delicate and reverent throughout. The 'slower' call-and-response passages are actually faster because of all those semiquavers, which makes absolutely no sense at all - probably juvenile writing on my part! - but maintain a steady pace, feeling the pulse at all times and don't stumble over all those notes. So many notes... Tenors, you get some juice, particularly that word 'scourge' on the offbeat, so don't be afraid to make the most of it!
O clap your hands
An highly experimental piece, combining
'quartal' harmony with rhythmic hand-clapping. The words are more
conventional, taken as they are from Psalm 47.
Composed: 1998
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB choir, plus hand-clapping(!)
Duration: Around three minutes
Difficulty: Challenging, if only because of the somewhat unconventional nature of the music.
Directions: Where to begin... the clapping in the choruses needs
to be bang on as this beat holds everything together. This applies also
to the bass entry that begins every instance of a chorus. Watch your
intonation, particularly when all four parts are singing in perfect
fourths. The 'verses' aren't difficult per se, though all are different
from each other - the biggest challenge may well be breaking into and
out of the choruses.
If you attempt to perform this piece, good luck! And please do let me know that you've taken it on.
Download PDF
Responses for Evensong in G
A set of BCP Evensong responses. These were originally composed for an evensong at All Saints, Tooting Graveney.
Composed: 1998
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB choir
Duration: Similar to any other similar set of responses!
Difficulty: Moderate
Directions: As with any homophony and chanting it's of vital importance that everyone keeps together. There are lots of accidentals (indeed so many that the 'in G' is debatable!) so try to ensure accurate intonation.
The Boar's Head carol
A fun arrangement of a 15th century Macaronic carol, for full choir and optional percussion. May not be suitable for Vegetarians.Composed: 1998
Orchestration: Unaccompanied four part SATB, with some splits and optional Tenor and Bass solos. Optional drum/tabor accompaniment.
Duration: Around two minutes
Difficulty: Relatively straightforward
Directions: Intended to be boisterous and lively with a 'drinking song' vibe, but do stick to the beat, especially if singing with a drummer (who, incidentally will need to allow for the changes in time signature!)
Download PDF
Advent Responsory
A contemporary take on the traditional Matin responsory, for use during Advent.
Composed: 1998
Orchestration: Cantor and unaccompanied SATB choir
Duration: Two to three minutes, depending on chant speed and length of pauses
Difficulty: Moderate, though there are only a few bars of harmony to learn
Directions:
Confident and accurate intonation is absolutely critical, particularly
with the crunches and discordances which must not sound like mistakes.
The chanted passages do not need to stick rigidly to a beat, but
everyone must be together. Watch the conductor.
Download PDF
Magnificat and Nunc Dimmittis in F
A Mag and Nunc, using the BCP words but in a contemporary style.
Composed: 1998
Orchestration: SATB choir plus piano (Organ is optional but it was specifically composed for piano)
Duration: Mag - three minutes, Nunc - two minutes, roughly.
Difficulty: Easier than many traditional Mag & Nuncs
Directions:
Download PDF soon
'The Dublin service' Communion setting in F Minor
A setting of the Eucharist Service, in F Minor, for Choir plus congregation and and Organ. The name comes from the location where I first came up with the melodic ideas - Trinity College, Dublin.Composed: 1997
Orchestration: SATB choir, plus organ and congregation.
Duration: Fairly brief compared to some communion settings as there isn't that much repetition.
Difficulty: Moderate, for a communion setting.
Directions:
Download coming soon
Bread of the World
A simple two verse motet. The tune is a variation on the folk tune 'Lord Bateman'.
Composed: 1997
Orchestration: Unaccompanied Four-part SATB
Duration: One to one-and-a-half minutes.
Difficulty: Relatively simple, though rhythmically irregular
Directions: The breathing is probably the biggest challenge here - making something that requires considerable control sound effortless.
Download PDF
Let all the world in every corner sing
A fairly early work. setting George Herbert's well known text to a
relatively straightforward SATB arrangement. The incorporation of a few
quirks and twists was perhaps a sign of things to come!
Composed: 1997
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB
Duration: Around two and a half minutes
Difficulty: Fairly easy
Directions: Don't let it drag and don't forget to enunciate the
words clearly, even though everyone already knows them! The 'call and
response' section can be a little more delicate.
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If ye love me
A short motet, suitable as an Introit or Communion Anthem. Words from John 14:15-21
Composed: 1997
Orchestration: Unaccompanied ATB choir, with minor optional splitting
Duration: Around two minutes
Difficulty: Simple to Moderate
Directions: Don't rush; Watch the conductor as the rhythms can be free and easy, not in strict time.
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O Bethlehem
A Christmas carol, words adapted from Rev. J O'Connor. It has an interesting lyrical structure, with the verses taking the form of call-response-mimick, I suppose. There is a sort of leitmotif with variations that passes through all four parts, and the two 'chorus' passages (which aren't really choruses, but for want of a better word...) are fairly juicy. This is one of the first compositions I could genuinely say I was truly happy with, and that I'd found my 'voice'. I know people usually enjoy singing it!
Composed: 1997
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB choir, with some splitting
Duration: Around two minutes
Difficulty: Moderate
Directions: Watch out for those variations on the leitmotif - it's subtly different each time / in each part. Enjoy the harmonic crunches, but don't be tempted to enjoy them too much! Watch out for those double flats (Yes, I do regret writing this in such an awkward key, thanks for asking!)
Download PDF | Play MP3
The Trees of the Field
A Christmas carol; words by E. M. Jameson. I've used the Dorian mode and gone for the vibe of an English folk melody, with a few quirks like the Blues progression at the end of the second verse. The 'Amen's in verse three are an homage to my favourite passage from Elgar's Dream of Gerontius.
Composed: 1996
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB choir, with some splitting
Duration: Around two minutes
Difficulty: Simple to Moderate
Directions: Bring the melody out at all times, and keep it moving along. There is plenty of scope for dynamic contrast.
Download PDF
Noël Nouvelet
Not so much a setting of the carol as something different, with the merest hints of the original that drift in and out.
Composed: 1996
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB choir, with some splitting
Duration: A little over a minute
Difficulty: Pretty simple
Directions: I wrote this to be sung by eight singers, two on each part, with each individual positioned in a different part of the church to create an 'octophonic' effect, or something like that!
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Shall we gather at the river
Another fairly straightforward arrangement of an old American hymn not often performed these days. I juxtapose rather static homophony alongside more dramatic lines of harmony to reflect the changing pace of the river.
Composed: 1996
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB
Duration: Three minutes or less, depending on how many verses you choose to sing
Difficulty: Moderate - some of the movement in the underparts can be challenging at first.
Directions:
Lively and bouncy. Dynamics can be varied between
verses to keep things interesting. There are some gymnastic lines, in
particular for the Altos.
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Your world
My fourth and final 'Worship Song'. There was a fifth planned ('Praise the love'), which I never got around to finishing, because I grew up.
Composed: 1996
Orchestration: Unison congregation (with optional SATB choir parts) and piano
Duration:
Difficulty: Fairly simple
Directions:
Blessings from Heaven
My third 'Worship Song'.
Composed: 1996
Orchestration: Unison congregation (with optional SATB choir parts) and piano
Duration:
Difficulty: Fairly simple
Directions:
Faith Alive
My second 'Worship Song'.
Composed: 1996
Orchestration: Unison congregation (with optional SATB choir parts) and piano
Duration:
Difficulty: Fairly simple
Directions:
NOTE: Different publishing laws apply in the US and Canada
He is Risen
My first 'Worship Song'.
Composed: 1995
Orchestration: Unison congregation (with optional SATB choir parts) and piano
Duration:
Difficulty: Fairly simple
Directions:
My Lord, what a morning
An arrangement of a Spiritual, from some time ago. I was in two minds about publishing this one as I had yet to really find my style.
Composed: 1995
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB
Duration: Around two and a half minutes
Difficulty: Fairly simple
Directions: Keep it moving along and try to avoid going flat when the basses have a bottom D. Tenors, watch out for that jump of a minor seventh towards the end, which was very immature writing on my part...
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Turn thy face from my sins, O Lord
Also known, rather fancifully, as 'Canticles of Morning Solitude' this is a simple motet suitable for a small SATB choir. The words are from Psalm 51, with the contrast between cantor and choir lending the piece a 'call and response' feel.
Composed: 1995
Orchestration: Baritone Cantor and unaccompanied SATB
Duration: Around a minute and a half
Difficulty: Straightforward
Directions: The cantor has full permission to entertain some flexibility with regards note durations - 'speechlike' rhythms are more important than metrical accuracy here. Watch your intonation on the full choir entries and make sure you know where to get your note from!
A Hymn for the end of the day
The hymn tune Prokeworth (6.5.6.5) was one of a great many I composed while still at school, breaking a number of traditional harmonic rules in the process. It has had only very minor revisions since then, with a 'last verse' harmonisation coming slightly later. I always felt that it was best suited to the words 'Now the day is over', and in this form just two verses are paired together, designed to be sung as an Introit at Evensong.
Composed: 1994
Orchestration: Unaccompanied SATB choir (the tune also works for the full hymn sung with organ and congregation)
Duration: Around one minute
Difficulty: Fairly straightforward
Directions: Delicate and focused - don't be tempted to drown out the other parts with swell when you get a bar of juicy harmony. By the end it needs to be almost imperceptibly quiet.
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Study for Harpischord
There's little point pretending this is anything other than the lightest of light-hearted juvenilia.
Composed: 1994
Orchestration: Harpsichord (or piano).
Duration: Barely 30 seconds
Difficulty: About the same level as a Grade One piano piece
Directions: Feel free to add additional, more complicated ornaments!
Jesu, lover of my soul
Another very early attempt at a hymn tune. Stilchester Old (7.7.7.7D) still holds up fairly well I think given that I would've been about 16 when I wrote it. (I have made a couple of changes in the intervening years but nothing substantial). It works well with these words, but any text that fits the metre (and the style) would do.
Composed: 1993
Orchestration: SATB hymn tune that can be sung with organ and congregation.
Duration: Depends on the pace and number of verses sung
Difficulty: Fairly complex for a hymn tune, but overall not too difficult
Directions: Watch for the false relations and major-minor shifts!
Three hymn tunes
I believe that these three tunes - Jupton
(7.7.7.7), Chineham (7.7.7.5) and Bayconhurst (8.8.8.4) represent my first attempts at writing hymn tunes in four part harmony. As for suggested words, may I recommend 'Take my life and let it be', 'Gracious Spirit, Holy Ghost' and 'Christ is the King, O Friends rejoice!' respectively.
Composed: 1993
Orchestration: SATB hymn tunes, designed for organ and congregation.
Duration: Depends on the pace and number of verses sung
Difficulty: Fairly straightforward
Directions: Not a whole lot to say - they are simple hymn tunes after all.
Juxtaposunday
A piano piece composed as part of the coursework for my GCSE Music - which I sat in 1992, gaining an A Grade. I know that now I'd consider it fairly immature and clunky writing, but I was pleased with it at the time and so, presumably, were the examiners. My intent was to write a short piece contrasting two different styles, with the angle being that on a Sunday morning a rock band is trying to practice, while next door a church service takes place. Or something like that. Anyway I would've been 14 at the time. I barely knew how to dress myself. (I still don't, but that's not the point. Oh, and A* grades didn't exist then so I got the best possible result. And I sat it a year early. So there!)
Composed: 1991
Orchestration: Solo piano.
Duration: A couple of minutes
Difficulty: Fairly straightforward
Directions: Go back to 1991 and ask 14 year old me!
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