A Universal Blessing

A Gaelic Blessing is a simple and catchy piece by Craig McLeish. This piece will be particularly useful for school, junior and community choirs, and a tuneful introduction to singing simple contrapuntal lines. The second soprano part repeats the tune at bar 33 and should dominate here - the first sopranos and altos should support appropriately. Ease and beauty of tone should be of paramount importance throughout. 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. Craig McLeish began his musical life as a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral under Barry Rose. He began composing at the age of ten and his preces and responses for four trebles are still in the repertoire. After a degree at York University he returned to London to study at the Guildhall and sang again at St Paul's as a tenor. At the time he also arranged and copied music for West End shows such as Les Miserables and Miss Saigon, and played bass guitar for various groups. This led to a spell in the cult pop band 'Fat and Frantic', who shaved the top 100 twice with the whimsical anthem Last night my wife hoovered my head. He also worked as musical assistant for David Heneker (Half a Sixpence) and David Fanshawe (African Sanctus). In 1992 Craig became director of the Methodist Association of Youth Clubs Orchestra and Singers, performing concerts throughout the UK and becoming involved in a number of recordings and BBC broadcasts. During this time he arranged more than 250 orchestral scores ranging from Queen to Calamity Jane, Stravinsky and Stevie Wonder. Alongside this he began arranging and writing songs for children's collections (Big Blue Planet, Love Shone Down) and producing recordings and string arrangements for various artists (Sheila Walsh, Kim Hill, Matt Redman). He is also well known as a conductor and arranger for Songs of Praise. Recently Craig has collaborated with composer Tolga Kashif writing orchestrations for the RPO's Seo Taiji Symphony, the Classic FM chart-topping CD by saxophonist Tyler Rix, and the Genesis Suite which was premiered at the Barbican. He has been musical director of Young Voices UK for 13 years, bringing large school choirs together to play with a live band and solo artists, and currently conducts the Milton Keynes Community Choir, Hart and Soul Community Choir and the Milton Keynes Youth Choir. / Choeur SSA

Par RUTTER JOHN. for solo organ A Gaelic Blessing is one of John Rutter's best-loved choral works, and now, thanks to the composer's own highly sensitive arrangement, it is available to organists to play as a gently expressive interlude or voluntary. / Date parution : 2022-03-05/ Répertoire / Orgue

For SATB and Organ.This tuneful and gentle setting of the Gaelic blessing is a perfect option for weddings and general use. Its shapely melody floating soprano descant and mellifluous closing 'Amen' make this a setting of great beauty.

Flute Oboe Harp Organ. for SATB and four-piece ensemble (flute, oboe, harp, organ) John Rutter's much-loved setting of the Aaronic Blessing (Numbers 6: 24). Compatible with SATB and SAB versions.

John Rutter's much-loved setting of the Aaronic Blessing (Numbers 6: 24) is here included in the John Rutter Anniversary Edition with an illuminating composer's note and useful performance hints. As sung at the wedding of Meghan Markle to Prince Harry in May 2018.

Cecilia McDowall's Bless To Me This Day for SA (with divisions) and Piano or Organ. Bless To Me This Day is a tranquil setting of 'The Journey Prayer' from the Celtic compendium Carmina Gadelica. The sense of prescient optimism is captured in the flowing Piano part while the simplicity of the vocal lines enables the text to be imparted with warmth and sincerity.

Bless the Lord is a set of three cheerful and merry movements which form Andrew Carter's superb choral work Benedicite. Jolly tunes with jovial lyrics that are ideally suited to children and children’s choirs. For Unison Children's voices with Piano accompaniment or Bassoon and Strings.

Paperback-John Rutter's The Lord Bless You And Keep You for SATB and String Orchestra. As sung at the wedding of Meghan Markle to Prince Harry in May 2018.

Par PART ARVO. Composed in 1990, and revised in 1991, for SATB Choir or soloists with organ accompaniment, Pärt's setting of The Beatitudes is one of only a handful of works (Litany and And One of the Pharisees also falling into that category) composed in English. Taken from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, as found in Matthew 5:1-12, The Beatitudes provide a fitting structure for Pärt's setting. Each verse states a godly quality and the blessing attached to it; all except the last verse begin with the word 'blessed'. The Beatitudes was premiered on 25 May 1990 at the Nathanaelkirche, Berlin, by the Theatre of Voices choir, conducted by Paul Hillier. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which before you. The gospel according to St. Matthew, 5, 3 - 12 / Musique contemporaine / Répertoire / Choeur Mixte SATB et Orgue

Blessing by Paul Mealor was written for the installation of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall GCVO as Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen and first performed by the Chapel Choir of King's College Aberdeen conducted by David J Smith June 2013

An unaccompanied choral work by the popular and successful composer Andrew Carter. For SA upper voices and based on an Old Gaelic blessing this is an uncomplicated and wonderful original piece suitable for any aspiring or established choir.

This is a warm simple setting. As a general blessing or benediction anthem it is suitable for performance at a wide variety of occasions.

The Lord Bless You And Keep You is a work scored for Unaccompanied SATB Chorus by Welsh composer Paul Mealor. The piece was first performed by the University of Aberdeen Chamber Choir conducted by Mealor himself in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

9 anthems for mixed voices-Mack Wilberg Anthems: 9 Anthems For Mixed Voices is for SATB and Organ or Orchestra or unaccompanied.This anthology of 9 mixed-voice anthems combines new material written specially for the collection with established favourites from the Oxford catalogue some of which appear here for the first time with SATB scoring. Containing both accompanied and A Cappella pieces and with festive anthems (with Keyboard or Orchestral accompaniment) alongside short gentle blessings Mack Wilberg Anthems: 9 Anthems For Mixed Voices contains an attractive selection of pieces suitable for a variety of liturgical seasons and will appeal to allmixed-voice church choirs.