Seven
Planets and a Cosmic Rock, a setting of
new texts by Derek Roberts for unison choir
(optional divisi) with piano accompaniment. Commissioned by the National
Youth Choir of Scotland
National Boys' Choir and first performed by them in
April 2008.
This piece is so refreshingly different from other composers' treatment of
the subject that I found myself fully absorbed by Cunningham's use of vocal line
and harmonic dexterity ... a truly fine piece of music
... both musically accessible and vocally challenging.
Music Teacher, November 2008.
After the first performance, Christopher Bell wrote:
Thank-you very much for the Seven Planets and a Cosmic Rock.
The boys did us proud and pulled it off on the day. I still can't quite get
over that they sang it all from memory, despite the fact that it is longer
than Saga, and pretty much memorised it all - some occasional lapses not
withstanding. Everyone will have their own favourite movements of course,
and it pains me to choose any over the others but I do love Mars, Uranus,
and Saturn especially. Saturn struck me as unlikely favourite when we
started it, but there is something very moving about the melody, angular and
profound, and I love the little calling cry and the round. I can hear Saturn
orchestrated actually - full Hollywood treatment.
Here are one or two pages from each song and a complete recording:
| Mercury | listen | |
| Venus | listen | |
| Mars | listen | |
| Jupiter | listen | |
| Saturn's Rings | listen | |
| The Uranoid | listen | |
| Neptune | listen | |
| Pluto, the Cosmic Rock | listen |
The performance is by the NYCoS National Boys' Choir conducted by Christopher Bell, accompanied by Stephen Doughty:
The vocal score is now available from the National Youth Choir of Scotland Shop.
The Saga of the Seven Days, a setting of
new texts by Derek Roberts and Paul Wigmore
for unison choir
(optional divisi) with piano accompaniment. Commissioned by the National
Youth Choir of Scotland National Boys' Choir and first performed by them in
April 2006. Available from the National Youth Choir of
Scotland Shop.
Music Teacher review (April 2007) says:
"At last – songs the boys in your choir will enjoy! This cantata by
Scottish composer Tom Cunningham certainly ticks all the boxes when it comes to
finding music for boys which is fun and chorally satisfying. Witty and
informative narratives are coupled with well-crafted songs in a variety of
styles. If you are looking for something new for that
end-of-term concert this cantata has much to offer children in
upper-KS2/lower-KS3. Try it! I am certainly going to."
The first page of each song and recordings are on the NYCoS website.
Nearly there, a pentatonic melody setting a
new text by Louise
Cunningham about the pleasure and pain of a long walk in the country. Available
2009 from the National Youth Choir of
Scotland.Bogle Boogie, the
new text by Derek Roberts on the subject of a Bogle
(a Scottish sprite that loves to play tricks on humans, especially children) seemed ideal for a boogie so here it is.
Available 2009 from the National Youth Choir of
Scotland.
Up in the morning early!: I have set Robert Burns' well-known text
(Up in the morning's no' for me, up in the morning early!) to a
mixture of 6/8 and 3/4 which seems to suit the poem. Available 2009 from the National Youth Choir of
Scotland.For Unto Us a Child is Born, a
setting of the famous text from Isaiah for two- or three-part youth choir with piano accompaniment. Available direct from
Tom Cunningham.Esta Noche, an arrangement of a Spanish Christmas song
(with Spanish and English words) for SSA with piano accompaniment and optional
percussion (castanets, tambourine, claves). Available direct from
Tom Cunningham.
Have a look at an extract of Esta Noche.
Fear a' bhàta (The Boatman),
a beautiful, haunting Gaelic song
arranged for SSA with piano accompaniment. Published by Roberton (UK).Sweet was the Song, a beautiful Christmas lullaby in
a gentle, Latin American rhythm for SSSAA, available from
Tom Cunningham.
Have a look at a page of Sweet was the Song
A Silver Lining, a bright and cheerful song
on "the power of positive thinking" with simple
two- and three-part writing for equal voices and a lively piano
accompaniment which will provide a bright spot on any concert program.
Published by Hinshaw HMC-1351.
In J.W. Pepper catalog, reference 1921147.
Have a look at a page of A Silver Lining
The Duke of Perth (and other
Scottish reels), a typical sequence of Scottish reel tunes arranged for
two-part choir and piano. The voices sing nonsense sounds as in
traditional Gaelic mouth music. Published by Roberton (UK).
Three Donkeys, a popular Christmas song for unison
or two-part children's
voices with piano accompaniment. Published by the Royal School of
Church Music in The Carol Book (Catalogue No: M570180639). Or
available direct from
Tom Cunningham.