The Painter's Eye, five poems specially written by Alexander McCall Smith,
set for SATB
a cappella with divisi.
A Time of Gifts, six poems specially written by Alexander McCall Smith,
set for SATB
a cappella with divisi, a seasonal mixture of sentiment and humour.
Alexander McCall Smith writes:
A Time of Gifts is my third collaboration with the composer, Tom Cunningham.
Some years ago I was invited to write a series of short pieces about giving
for a concert in St Paul’s Cathedral in London. For that I wrote a number
of very short stories – a few lines long in each case. This work
represents a development of that idea, in which I have tried to say
something in verse about what it is to give to others. Giving brings people
into a relationship with one another that recognizes shared humanity and
vulnerability. But one should not be too solemn about giving: sometimes
gifts are unwanted, or awkward, or, as in one of these poems, they insist
on coming back.
1. Thoughts that come to mind
2. The only gift
3. My love gave me a cat
4. A gift of time
5. Fitting gifts
6. His and hers
The six songs are published by
Roberton
(UK).
The Painter's Eye, five poems specially written by Alexander McCall Smith,
set for SATB
a cappella with divisi.
When Alexander McCall Smith suggested basing
our second collaboration on poems inspired by some of his favourite paintings, I
was immediately captivated. The
musical language I have used is inspired by the poems and their contexts.
Some of the songs use open chords to give a feeling of space and peace;
some use close harmony and jazz-based chord progressions to reflect the spirit
of the images. Tower of
Babel illustrates the transition from a
single, universal language to an increasingly chaotic babble.
The Skating Minister is
adapted from the popular Skaters’ Waltz
and is the only number where the words were written to fit the music, rather
than the music to fit the words.
Alexander McCall Smith writes:
It is always thrilling, when visiting an art gallery, to
find a painting that one already knows. And it is interesting to watch the
reaction of other visitors to the painting when they come into the room and see
it. Do this in the Uffizi in Florence,
and see the delight on people’s faces when they see The
Birth of Venus for the first time, in the flesh. The
Painter’s Eye is an attempt to capture the thoughts that might go through
the mind on seeing these five very well-known paintings. What did the artist
have in mind? What does this great image mean to us now? That is the wonderful
thing about great art: its capacity to engender reflection and fantasies well
beyond what is actually on the canvas.
The five songs are published by
Roberton
(UK). You can see the whole score and hear it played on your computer on
Roberton Publications' website. A recording, with Laudibus
conducted
by Mike Brewer, is available on Delphian
Records DCD34060.
Listen to these short excerpts:
The Painter's Eye - Peaceable Kingdom
The Painter's Eye - The Skating Minister
The Painter's Eye -
An Old Man and his Grandson
Scotland
at Night, six poems specially written by Alexander McCall Smith, set for SATB
a cappella with divisi.
When Edison perfected his electric light bulb, he must have had little idea of the consequences. Some of these have been of great benefit to humanity; others have not. Night as a time of quiet and dark has been replaced by night as a time of work and activity. Artificial light has also largely cut us off from the heavens, as light pollution floods the world and obliterates the stars from view. Imagine a world without darkness – what a prison it would be.
Here and there, though, the magic of night persists, and we glimpse a world that is subtly different from the world of day. In these poems an attempt is made to reveal some of that other Scotland – the Scotland that begins at dusk.
Alexander McCall Smith, August 2007
This set of six poems was
written for Cappella Nova and first performed in December 2007. The six
songs are published by Roberton
(UK). You can see the whole score and hear it played on your computer on
Roberton
Publications' website. A recording, with Laudibus
conducted
by Mike Brewer, is available on Delphian
Records DCD34060.
Listen to these short excerpts:
Scotland
at Night - Dusk
Scotland
at Night - Ceilidh
Scotland at Night - Simmer Dim in
Shetland
Scotland at Night - Lullaby
Merry Christmas Jazz, a sure show-stopper in a Christmas
concert. With sparkling jazz piano accompaniment or can also be sung
a cappella. For SATB with optional Children's Choir. Published by
Hinshaw HMC-1029.
In J.W. Pepper catalog, reference 1717669.
(Full symphonic orchestration as performed by RLPO and RSNO available from Tom Cunningham).
“This is a cunning setting of We wish you a merry Christmas and the bounce and bright modulations of the tune offer a well-taken opportunity to build layers of ‘scat’ riffs. There is a witty, soft-shoe shuffle before the coda”. Music Teacher.
Pepper says: "A clever number that allows for several performance options. It may be performed a cappella, and you can use it with combined choirs by adding the optional children's choir. This fun-to-sing number culminates with the popular Christmas carol 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas.' Your audience will be impressed with this one."
A recording is available on “Christmas carols from the Liverpool Phil” RLCD251.
Have a look at an extract of Merry Christmas Jazz.
Listen to an extract of the version with orchestra.
Three Spanish Christmas Songs,
arrangements for SATB and piano of the three Spanish carols below:
Los pastores a Belén, En Belén tocan a fuego and Esta Noche.
Published by
Hinshaw.
Los
pastores a Belén, an arrangement of a Spanish Christmas song
(with Spanish and English words) for SATB with piano.
(Full symphonic orchestration as performed by RSNO available on request). Published
by
Hinshaw HMC-2175.
Pepper says: "This energetic arrangement for mixed chorus with piano is successful in Spanish or English (Eager Shepherds on Their Way). The exceptional accompaniment will highlight your fine pianist."
Have a look at an extract of Los pastores a Belén.
Listen to an extract
En
Belén tocan a fuego, an arrangement of a Spanish Christmas song
(with Spanish and English words) for SATB with piano.
(Full symphonic orchestration as performed by RSNO available on request). Published
by
Hinshaw HMC-2174.
Pepper says: "easy to rehearse and perfect for performance. The piano accompaniment adds a festive Spanish flare!"
Have a look at an extract of En Belén tocan a fuego.
Esta Noche, an arrangement of a Spanish Christmas song
(with Spanish and English words) for SATB with piano. (An a cappella version is available from
Tom Cunningham). Published by Hinshaw
HMC-1274. In J.W. Pepper catalog, reference 1869544.
(Full symphonic orchestration as performed by RSNO available on request).
“This is a very lively piece, well-arranged and tricky rather than difficult. The pianist needs to be good, and the optional percussion (castanets, tambourine and claves) would certainly add to the fun.” Music Teacher.
Pepper says: "A bright traditional Spanish carol, the Spanish flavor is evident from the 6/8 guitar meter and rhythm to the optional percussion (castanets, tambourine and claves). In Spanish with optional English lyrics provided, this carol will add diversity to your seasonal program."
Have a look at an extract of Esta Noche.
For unto us, a
setting of the famous text from Isaiah for SAB choir with piano accompaniment.
Rock o' my soul, the well-known spiritual adapted and
arranged for mixed voices with piano accompaniment. For SATB with
keyboard. Published by Hinshaw HMC-1542.
In J.W. Pepper catalog, reference 3094117.
Pepper says: "Here's a vigorous treatment of the traditional spiritual which incorporates Wake Up, Jacob in a very effective way. There is some very nice trading off on the two tunes between SAA and TTB sections as the arrangement builds to a powerful conclusion!"
I want to be my Father's children,
a spiritual in a fast, syncopated rhythm
arranged for SATB a cappella.Three Christmas Songs, simple a cappella arrangements
of three well-known Christmas carols from Germany, Spain and France, each in the original
language: Ihr Kinderlein, kommet!, Esta Noche (as above) and Il est
né le divin
enfant.
Ye Banks and Braes, arranged for SSATBB a cappella.
Published by Hinshaw HMC-1279.
In J.W. Pepper catalog, reference 1869700.
Choral Journal says: "The familiar Scottish ballad of poet Robert Burns has received sensitive treatment in this carefully executed choral arrangement. A key factor is the skillful, non-intimidating six-part writing. The divisi of the outer voices produces a most satisfying homogeneous effect of warmth and color."
Listen to an extract of Ye Banks and Braes
Sweet was the Song, a beautiful Christmas lullaby in
a gentle, Latin American rhythm for SATB divisi a cappella. Published by
Hinshaw HMC-1226.
In J.W. Pepper catalog, reference 1816826.
(A version for SSSAA is available from
Tom Cunningham).
Pepper says: "Such warmth and rich sounds from this sweet lullaby that Mary sang. Written for either SSATB divisi or SATB divisi with a soprano solo, a lyrical melody is over a chord pattern in the other voices. Gently rhythmic, if you have a soprano or group of sopranos capable of singing softly in their upper range, without a doubt this selection will be the highpoint of your holiday concert!"
The Good-Bye Jazz, for SATB a cappella or with
optional jazz-piano accompaniment. Published by Roberton (UK).
In the Theodore Presser catalog, reference 392-00797.Music Teacher says: "The Good-Bye Jazz is a concert finale or encore for SATB choir with optional piano. It is continuously in scat idiom, so it requires laid-back singers who can nevertheless turn a chromatic phrase or two. This could give a lot of fun to choirs and audiences."
A recording is available on CD "Feel Good" Lochshore CDLOC 1080.
Loch Lomond, the famous Scottish song arranged for SATB
a cappella. Published by Roberton (UK).
Dormi, Jesu!, a simple, original setting of the well-known
Latin text for SATB a cappella with optional (but recommended) flute.
When I'm Sixty-Four, the famous Beatles song arranged for SATB
a cappella. A recording is
available on CD "Kalliope" Quartz 1295306.