for Upper Voices and Orchestra. The Lost Words by composer James Burton takes its inspiration and text from the award-winning ?cultural phenomenon? and book of the same name by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris: a book that was, in turn, a creative response to the removal of everyday nature words like acorn, newt and otter from a new edition of a widely used children?s dictionary. Both the book and Burton?s 32-minute work, which is written in 12 short movements for upper-voice choir in up to 3 voice parts (with either orchestral or piano accompaniment), celebrates each lost word with a beautiful poem or ?spell?, magically brought to life in Burton?s music. At its heart, the work delivers a powerful message about the need to close the gap between childhood and the natural world. Burton?s piece was co-commissioned by the Hallé Concerts Society for the Hallé Children?s Choir and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The piano accompaniment version was premiered at the Tanglewood Festival in 2019 by the Boston Symphony Children?s Choir, of which Burton is founder and director. The Hallé Children?s Choir will premiere the orchestral version of the full work in Manchester, UK, post-pandemic.

Masterpiece Edition-Franz Schubert was born in Vienna in 1797. He was involved in music at an early age learning music theory and many different instruments including piano violin organ and voice. During his brief but prolific life he wrote a wide variety of music. His compositions included symphonies piano sonatas piano duets operas masses chamber works and several hundred songs. Among the hundreds of songs the most loved and revered is Ave Maria. Ave Maria was first published in 1826 under the German title Ellen's Gesang 111: Hymne and die Jungfrau (Ellen's Song 111: Hymn to the Virgin). The text used was taken from a novel written by Sir Walter Scott entitled 'Lady of the Lake'. It was then translated into German as it appeared in Schubert's song. After Schubert's death in 1828 the Latin text began being used and eventually surpassed either the use of the German or English text. 'Antiphon of the Blessed Virgin' is a text which has been used in religious contexts since the beginning of Christianity. This vocal classic was originally envisioned as a devotional piece but over time the magnificent beauty of both music and text has made this song equally popular for secular performances. Schubert's Ave Maria arranged for High Voice is recommended for Soprano or Tenor ranges. We have included a separate vocal line with lyrics written in Latin just above the piano accompaniment stave(s). The English translation is also included to explain this fabled story. This Minstrel Press Edition of Schubert's Ave Maria for High Voice is exclusively distributed by Santorella Publications.

This joyful setting of the Benedictus was commissioned by St Catharine’s College Cambridge in 2009 for their newlyformed girls’ choir. Its theatrical exuberance made it instantly popular and it is now also available in an orchestral version (commissioned by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Chorus: contact hire@fabermusic.com for more information).An exciting addition to Faber's Choral Signature Series Nigel Hess' Benedictus is arranged for accompanied SSA voices.