There is no rose of such virtue is an anonymous mediaeval text, already well known through beautiful settings by Britten (in his Ceremony of Carols), John Joubert and others. The poem is 'macaronic' (it presents a verse in English, followed by a varying Latin refrain). This new version follows the illustrious examples above by remaining strophic and presenting broadly the same music in a succession of slightly different guises. The first verse is a straightforward four-part setting, the second gives the melody to the tenors and surrounds them with hushed, wordless writing for the other parts, and the third explores a freely canonic relationship between the tenor and soprano lines before carrying the previous verse-endings to a higher, more exalted pitch and mood. The fourth verse then expands its texture in a free climactic passage evoking the songs of praise sung by the angels. This subsides towards the final verse, where the texture of the music attenuates again to four parts, and canonic writing (based on the first four notes of the original melody) permeates all of them. This slightly extended statement leads to a hushed final cadence. Francis Pott (b. 1957) began musical life as a chorister at New College, Oxford. He held open music scholarships at Winchester College and at Magdalene College, Cambridge, where he studied composition with Robin Holloway and Hugh Wood while pursuing piano studies privately in London with the distinguished British artist, Hamish Milne. Throughout the 1990s Francis was John Bennett Lecturer in Music at St Hilda's College, Oxford, and a lay clerk in the Choir of Winchester Cathedral. In 2001 he became Head of London College of Music, University of West London, later leading research across the University's Faculty of Arts and acceding in 2007 to its first Chair in Composition. Francis Pott has become recognised particularly for his sacred choral and organ music. This has been performed in concert and on radio in over three dozen countries worldwide, published by four major UK houses and released extensively on CD. Winner of four national composition awards, in 1997 he received first prize in the piano solo section of the S. S. Prokofiev Composing Competition, Moscow. In 2006 and 2011 he was a nominated finalist in the BASCA/BBC Annual Composer Awards. In summer 2012 he was winner of the international composing competition of the Cheltenham Festival, which sought new piano variations on the arioso song Bist du bei mir, well known in the arrangement by J. S. Bach. Francis lives with his wife and two children on the outskirts of Winchester. An inspiring selection of new works from a range of contemporary composers, the Novello New Choral Series offers pieces for all types of choirs, including sacred and secular works from simple, four-part settings to more expansive, yet accessible, repertoire in an exciting variety of styles. / Choeur Mixte (SATB)

A Symphony-Cantata after texts from the Holy Scriptures-Mendelssohn’s contemporaries frequently mentioned his “Hymn of Praise” in the same breath as Beethoven’s Ninth – and often enough viewed it as an imitation. Mendelssohn authority John Michael Cooper in his extensive Introduction to this new Urtext edition shows that the comparison is completely unfounded: with this work Mendelssohn created a new genre to which he gave the name “symphony-cantata”. Later he added a secular counterpart with “Die Erste Walpurgisnacht”.Drawing on all relevant sources Cooper provides a detailed account of the genesis and structure of this monumental work. Rounding off his scholarly performing edition are notes on the work’s performance e.g.tempo articulation and dynamics.For the first time the piano reduction includes Mendelssohn’s authorised version of the “Sinfonia” based on the first edition of No. 1 for piano solo.

Sarah Quartel's In Time Of Silver Rain for SA and piano. Commissioned by the Treble Makers Women's Choir to celebrate both their 10th anniversary and the 150th anniversary of Canada this secular work for upper voices sensitively sets Langston Hughes' poem of the same name. A lilting melodic line eloquent part-writing and an effective piano part combine to create a piece that will appeal to both youth and adult upper-voice choirs.

Par MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY FELIX. Mendelssohn's contemporaries frequently mentioned his 'Hymn of Praise” in the same breath as Beethoven's Ninth - and often enough viewed it as an imitation. Mendelssohn authority John Michael Cooper, in his extensive Introduction to this new Urtext edition, shows that the comparison is completely unfounded: with this work Mendelssohn created a new genre to which he gave the name 'symphony-cantata”. Later he added a secular counterpart with 'Die Erste Walpurgisnacht”. Drawing on all relevant sources, Cooper provides a detailed account of the genesis and structure of this monumental work. Rounding off his scholarly performing edition are notes on the work's performance, e.g. tempo, articulation and dynamics. For the first time the piano reduction includes Mendelssohn's authorised version of the 'Sinfonia”, based on the first edition of No. 1 for piano solo./ Répertoire / Chant et Orchestre

For upper voices (SSSA) and piano. The music is dynamic with some funky writing for the piano and building to a fabulous climax where several themes are deftly combined together. A great piece to end a concert. Part of the Oxford Chilcott Secular series (BC33).

The vocal score for this popular and highly entertaining set of Madrigals for mixed chorus. Composed by John Rutter for the occasion of the 75th birthday of composer and musician George Shearing the set comprises five Madrigals written with an obvious and warming affection for the Renaissance secular polyphonic tradition. Some are unaccompanied and others have full Piano and optional Double Bass parts thus creating a rich and varied concert programme when performed as a set.

35 Favorite Christmas Songs and Carols In Easy Arrangements-CD-Rom including MP3 Piano accompaniments and lyric sheets in PDF format.It's no wonder that Play a Song of Christmas has been everyone's favourite holiday collection for generations. Part-books for each instrument provide the melody line plus 'Part B C or D ' so anyone can play the tune and any combination of instruments can play in 2- 3- or 4-part harmony. This collection of 35 favourite sacred and secular Christmas songs is wonderfully practical for school church parties and professional gigs. **Please note: The CD included with this title can only be played through an MP3 compatible program.**

Par GOODALL HOWARD. A beautiful cycle of six loosely interwoven movements for solo Harp or Piano and Upper Voices, by Howard Goodall. Although the story of the Nativity lies at the core of this work- celebrating Motherhood and the different moods that might be embraced by a lullaby- it also explores associated secular issues of homelessness, displacement and flight, showing the relevance that this timeless story continues to have for our modern lives./ Recueil / Voix Mixtes

Doc Watson was a legendary performer who blended his traditional Appalachian musical roots with bluegrass country gospel and blues to create a unique style and an expansive repertoire. His flatpicking style elevated the acoustic guitar to solo status in bluegrass and country music and whose interpretations of traditional American music profoundly influenced generations of folk and rock guitarists.Doc was born in Deep Gap North Carolina on March 3 1923 into a family already rich in musical tradition. His mother Annie Watson sang traditional secular and religious songs and his father General Watson played the banjo which was Doc's first instrument as well.In 1953 Doc met Jack Williams a local piano player and played rockabilly/swing music for seven years a period and a style that he later revisited in the album Docabilly. But he also continued to play acoustic traditional music with his family and with his banjo playing neighbor Clarence Tom Ashley. In 1960 spurred by the growing folk revival folklorists Ralph Rinzler and Eugene Earle came south to record Ashley and heard Doc Watson in the process. These sessions resulted in Doc's first recordings Old-Time Music at Clarence Ashley's.In 1961 the Friends of Old-Time Music invited Doc Ashley Clint Howard and Fred Price to perform at a now-legendary concert in New York City and one year later Doc gave his first solo performance at Gerde's Folk City in Greenwich Village. From then on he was a full-time professional playing a wide range of concerts clubs colleges and festivals including the Newport Folk Festival and Carnegie Hall.In the late 1960s Doc was joined on the road by his son Merle who provided both musical and emotional companionship; with Merle playing guitar and banjo and serving as partner and driver the father-son team expanded their audience nationwide. Sadly Merle died in 1985 from a tractor accident.A series of over 50 remarkable recordings including collaborations with Flatt & Scruggs Chet Atkins and

This Day by Bob Chilcott unites five very different texts both sacred and secular in an exploration of man's relationship with the world and with God. A wonderful concert piece for upper-voice choirs of all ages. For SA and Piano.

Vytautas Mi?kinis (b.1954) is a composer, choir conductor and educator. His output encompasses over 400 secular, and around 150 sacred, works- in addition to over 100 folk song arrangements. Mi?kinis was Artistic Director of A?uoliukas youth choir, and music for children constitutes a large part of his work. His music is characterised by polyphonic and melodic material, as well as aleatoric and sonoristic effects. His works have become popular both in Lithuania and abroad. / Choeur Mixte Et Piano

Par PERGOLESI GIOVANNI BATTISTA. In 1732 Giovanni Battista Pergolesi composed a setting of the Vespers in honor of St. Emidius, Naples’s patron saint and protector against earthquakes. All that has survived are the introit Domine ad adjuvandum and three psalm settings: Dixit Dominus, Laudate and Confitebor. Malcolm Bruno’s reconstruction consists of Pergolesi’s Hymnus, Magnificat, several short instrumental interpolations, and the contrafactum of a secular cantata for the Salve Regina, thereby presenting a full cross-section of Pergolesi’s artistic evolution. The reconstructed Vespers ranges from the early Confitebor, with its allusions to Vivaldi, to the late Salve Regina with its reminiscences of thefamous Stabat Mater; from contrapuntal choral writing to operatic arias; and from the magnificently scored Dixit to the almost intimate Laudate. The present edition follows the original sources as closely as possible and contains an appendix with detailed notes on performance practice. Performance material available for hire Effective reconstruction of a full-length work Cross-section of Pergolesi’s sacred music Clear and easy-to-play piano reduction/ Répertoire / Solistes, Choeur Mixte (SATB) et Orchestre

Married To A Soldier is a three-part song for SSA Voices with Piano accompaniment. It was written in 1963 by John Clements and dedicated to the Jersey Ladies Choir and their conductor Arthur Lobb. It is a setting of the poem The Pride Of All The Village written in the 1830s by the English poet John Clare (1793-1864).John Clements (1910-1986) was a British composer who wrote both sacred and secular works. His best known work is probably There Is Sweet Music a setting of a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

This secular text written by Edgar Allen Poe is fanciful calling into question whether reality is a dream or even a dream within a dream. The music is lush and has a subtle hint of popular harmonies alongside well-written choral lines and an accessible piano part. This would be perfect material for a good secondary school choir.

Lullay, my liking is scored for accompanied two-part choir, allowing for various upper-/lower-voice combinations: two-part trebles or sopranos, upper voices only (S/A), or men only (T/B). If performed by a four-part choir, sopranos and tenors should read the upper line, and altos and basses read the lower. The keyboard part can be played on piano or organ, or harp. An inspiring selection of new works from a range of contemporary composers, the Novello New Choral Series offers pieces for all types of choirs, including sacred and secular works from simple, four-part settings to more expansive, yet accessible, repertoire in an exciting variety of styles. Graham Ross (b. 1985) is Director of Music and Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, and Principal Conductor and co-founder of the Dmitri Ensemble. A composer and conductor of a wide range of repertoire, he has had works performed throughout Europe and beyond. He has recorded many rarely performed and newly composed works, including pieces by Ralph Vaughan Williams (Albion Records) - James MacMillan, Judith Bingham and Giles Swayne (Naxos) - and Imogen Holst (Harmonia Mundi). He guest-conducts throughout the UK and abroad, with recent engagements in Palestine, Australia, Nigeria, Denmark, Aldeburgh and Glyndebourne. As a composer, recent performances have been given by, among others, Aurora Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra, comedian Barry Humphries, BBC Concert Orchestra, Choir of London, City of London Sinfonia, National Youth Choir of Great Britain, O Duo and the Solstice Quartet. / Choeur A 2 Parties Et Orgue