Lennox Berkeley

For unaccompanied chorus SSAATTBB. Text: Edmund Spenser.The Hill Of The Graces was commissioned by the BBC and was first performed on 20th October 1975 as part of a concert given by the BBC singers to mark the 50thanniversary of their first unaccompanied recital.

For Mezzo-Soprano (or Baritone) and Piano. Text: Walter de la Mare. Premiered by Janet Baker and Geoffrey Pratley in Chichester Cathedral July 1977.

For SSATB Choir A Cappella. Dedicated to Colin Mawby and the Choir of Westminster Cathedral. Piano rehearsal reduction provided.

A Vulgate setting of Psalm 23 for SATB chorus and orchestra. This edition contains a piano reduction of the orchestral score.

For Alto with Piano Reduction of String Orchestral Parts. Text: St Teresa of Avila translated by Arthur Symons. Premiered by Kathleen Ferrier in 1948.

For Tenor solo SATB choir string orchestra and organ.Vocal score in a new edition prepared by Christopher Brown. Includes a keyboard reduction of the orchestral score.Chorus Part available: CH55375

Five Pieces for Violin and Orchestra was commissioned by Frederick Grinke and completed on 20 December 1961. The BBC Symphony Orchestra with Frederick Grinke (violin) and conducted by the composer gave the first performanceon 31 July 1962 at the Royal Albert Hall London during the BBC Proms season.This work is so constructed that each piece is complete in itself and can be played separately while at the same time the whole set of fiveconstitutes a structural unit. A basic motif consisting of a rising semitone followed by a falling tone and its inversion plays an important part in every piece. Thus the first piece which is of a slow and meditativecharacter begins with this theme in the bass. It is also heard in the first entry of the solo part and thereafter every episode is in some way derived from it. The next piece a vigorous and strongly marked ‘allegro’ uses thesemitone of the original figure as its starting point. A second theme appears first on the horns and is later taken up by the solo violin while a third section has the initial idea as its accompaniment. Next comes an extendedscherzo in free form very closely based on initial motif. The fourth is a purely melodic piece containing allusions in its middle section to the basic figure. Here the strings only are used for accompaniment. In the firstsection violas and cellos are divided in the middle section and all the strings are used in the last which is otherwise an almost exact repetition of the opening. The Finale is a lighter movement than the others concernedmainly with giving the soloist material for display but not unconnected with what has gone before.

The poem I Sing Of A Maiden is one of the best known of the anonymous medieval hymns deceptive in its simplicity and full of grace and faith. The setting by Lennox Berkeley also has a deceptivesimplicity but reveals on repeated listenings or performances a harmonic integrity and subtlely that has made it a work that will continue to be performed and enjoyed for a long time to come. Lennox Berkeley wascomposing and having his works performed before he finished school then upon meeting Ravel was introduced to legendary teacher Nadia Boulanger in Paris with whom he studied. He mixed with the great artistic and musicalnames of prewar Paris before returning to Britain where he later met and lived with Benjamin Britten before the arrival of Peter Pears in Britten’s life. Berkeley was professor of composition at the Royal Academy of Musicand himself composed more than two hundred works of music many of them of enduring value.

Work for Recorder (or Flute) Violin Cello and Harpsichord (or Piano). Commissioned by Carl Dolmetsch.

Premiered by the Stratton Quartet at the Cambridge Theatre in June 1941. Parts available: SOS00881

Commissioned for the the Service of 9 Lessons and Carols by Stephen Cleobury and the Choir of King's College Cambridge. This short four-stanza carol follows an ABBA structure.

Work for Oboe Clarinet Horn Bassoon and Piano. Commissioned by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center New York.