Ralph Vaughan Williams: Rest Context Composed in 1902, Ralph Vaughan Williams’ choral work, Rest, is scored for a mixed SATB choir without accompaniment. Lyrics were written by English poet, Christina Rosetti, and were part of her set of poetry, Goblin Market and Other Poems (1865). The Words O Read more…
Gabriel Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine Context Gabriel Fauré was born in 1845 in the south of France, and was the fifth son of six children. Out of his siblings, Gabriel was the only to pursue a career in music, as his four brothers went into journalism, and his sister became Read more…
Samuel Barber: Sure on this Shining Night Context Although perhaps most well-known for his orchestral works and concertos, Samuel Barber is also celebrated for his huge input into vocal and choral music. Barber composed over 100 works for voice and piano, with a majority still unpublished. Sure on this Shining Read more…
George Frideric Handel: Their sound is gone out into all lands Messiah Part II Context George Frideric Handel’s Messiah has remained one of the composer’s most beloved works. Incredibly, Handel completed this 260-page oratorio in just 24 days during the summer of 1741. The scriptural text was compiled by Charles Read more…
George Frideric Handel: The Lord Gave the Word Messiah Part II Context George Frideric Handel’s Messiah has remained one of the composer’s most beloved works. Incredibly, Handel completed this 260-page oratorio in just 24 days during the summer of 1741. The scriptural text was compiled by Charles Jennens, with Read more…
Libby Larsen: A Lover’s Journey Context Commissioned by The King’s Singers, Libby Larsen’s six-part male vocal suite A Lover’s Journey tells the story of love. A Lover’s Journey is set into four separate songs, with Larsen using text from William Shakespeare and James Joyce. The work was premiered on Valentine’s Read more…
Paul Mealor: I Am the Gentle Light Context Paul Mealor was born in North Wales, 1975, and as a young child he studied composition with William Mathias. He attended the University of York, and studied under John Pickard and Nicola LeFanu. For fourteen years now, Mealor has taught composition at Read more…
George Frideric Handel: Let all the angels of God worship Him Messiah Part II Context George Frideric Handel’s Messiah has remained one of the composer’s most beloved works. Incredibly, Handel completed this 260-page oratorio in just 24 days during the summer of 1741. The scriptural text was compiled by Charles Read more…
Pēteris Vasks: The Fruit of Silence Context Pēteris Vasks composed the haunting choral work, The Fruit of Silence in 2013. Commissioned by the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, the piece was premiered in 2013 at the event. Based on the words of Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu, also known more commonly as Mother Teresa, Read more…
Judith Weir: Stars, Night, Music and Light Context Judith Weir was born in 1954 in Cambridge, and at a young age she began learning the oboe. Weir in her youth performed regularly with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. She studied composition whilst at school with none other than John Read more…