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praise ye the lord (2019) for satb choir and organ
commissioned by Worcester College Chapel Choir premiere by Worcester College Chapel Choir at Worcester College, Oxford May 13th 2019 Commissioned by Worcester College Chapel Choir, praise ye the lord focuses on the joy of the world around us. Using Psalm 148 as the text the piece opens with solo organ playing transcriptions of stardust, with the choir joining in based on transcriptions of solar flares. This short but upbeat piece is unashamedly exuberant and attempts to emulate the ecstatic nature of the psalm. Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: Praise him in the heights. Praise ye him all his angels: Praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: Praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, And ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: For he commanded, and they were created. He hath also established them for . ever and ever: Let them praise the name of the Lord: For his name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven. Praise ye the Lord. here dead we lie (2019) for satb choir
workshopped by Scholar Cantorum, Pusey House Chapel Oxford March 4th 2019 here dead we lie was written to commemorate the First World War and follows in the style of a Remembrance Day Service. The piece, based on the poem of the same name by AE Housman, is built around a roll call of students names who fought from Worcester College, Oxford. The refrain of ‘Here dead we lie’ underpins the piece as each name is read out before falling into silence. Here dead lie we because we did not choose To live and shame the land from which we sprung. Life, to be sure, is nothing much to lose; But young men think it is, and we were young. it happened to me (2017) for mezzo-soprano and piano
premiere by Lucy Goddard and Siwain Rhys at The Recital Hall, The Purcell School January 31st 2018 it happened to me was written for Lucy Goddard and Siwan Rhys and was written as a reaction to the TIME Magazine 2017 Person of the Year ‘The Silence Breakers’. Using transcriptions from interviews of various women the piece attempts to capture the thought processes of someone dealing with sexual harassment and the strength required to face it. It happened to me. It happened to me too. I was a smart young women, that had gone to college that knew how to fight. I was tired of wondering if it was something I wore. I was tired of wondering if it was a vibe I was giving off. I felt this crushing sense of powerless. And I was blamed for it. I felt ashamed. I felt humiliated. I felt maniuplated. Conned. A lot of women mentioned to me ‘Are you sure you wanna do this? This is your career.’ I felt afraid of the retaliation. I know what men can do when they’re angry. I felt if I could speak out maybe if I could stand up then someone else will stand up with me. |
if i join up the dots in the stars (2019) for mezzo-soprano and piano
workshopped by Claire McCaldin and Libby Burgess as part of the Oxford Lieder New Music Workshop, The Schulamn Auditorium, Oxford October 26th 2018 if i join up the dots in the stars was written for the Oxford Lieder New Music Workshop. Based on a poem by local poet Lou Hough, the piece is based on transcriptions of sonifications of stars catalogued by astronomer Ulugh Beg and opens with a single note on the piano. if i join up the dots in the stars i’ll find you again but night’s a black ocean and the stars are so high and so far and so wide and I’m drowning, drowning, drowning. all shall be well (2017) for ssa & harp
commissioned by the Godolphin Vocal Ensemble for International Women’s Day Service at St Thomas’ Church, Salisbury March 8th 2017 london premiere St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden, February 23rd 2018 oxford premiere Performances by The Korrigan Consort University College Chapel December 29th 2018 all shall be well is part of a series of works for Godolphin Vocal Ensemble, directed by Olivia Sparkhall. The text is from Julian of Norwich’s ‘Revelations of Divine Love’ with the music based on transcriptions of readings by various women. A solo singer opens singing the full text before the choir delves into the deeper meaning of each line. All shall be well You shall see yourself that all things shall be well That which is impossible for your is not impossible for me I shall keep my word in all things and I shall make all things well. |
