Gabriel Jackson

Set to words by the Estonian poet Doris Kareva Our flags are wafting in hope and grief is a humanist anthem to the power of conviction and community in times of social turmoil.

Rhythm and Blues is in two movements: the first is mainly fast and rhythmic with featured solos for the baritone soprano and alto saxophone; the second which begins with an unaccompanied monody for the tenor is largely slow and melancholy.

for SSAATB unaccompanied This short expressive piece sets a fifteenth-century penitential poem of great fervour. Jackson alternates a refrain in a simple plainsong style with more passionate homophonic verses to powerful effect.

Commissioned by King's College Cambridge for the 2009 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols this beautiful carol sets a well-loved text by G. K. Chesterton. With Jackson's trademark luscious harmonies alongside gentle changes in metre and mode this piece would make an ideal introduction to Jackson's music for mixed choirs.

To Music is a jubilant anthem set to a poem by Robert Herrick ('To Music - A Song'). Commissioned by the BBC to mark Stephen Cleobury's 60th birthday celebrations in 2009 the work perfectly captures the exultant mood of the text extolling the virtues of music.

This work presents two contrasting yet coherent motets: The joyful 'Confirma hoc Deus' with its jubilant melismatic motif; and the solemn 'Factus est' which features aleatoric sequences set against metred music to emphasise a reflective manner of worship.

This atmospheric piece sets a text by Christina Rossetti. The first stanza is for sopranos only with expressive chromatic lines evoking the 'darkness' and 'chillness' of the text. The music flowers into four parts for a sumptuous second stanza with rich harmonies and flowing melismas.

Gabriel Jackson's But Let My Due Feet Never Fail for SATB (with divisions) and Organ. This anthem sets a descriptive passage from Milton's Il Penseroso that sees the poet ask for guidance as he enters the 'studious Cloysters pale'. Jackson sensitively sets the words in homophonic and melismatic passages that build to a glorious climax for both Choir and Organ on 'And bring all Heav'n before mine eyes'. Ideal for dedications ordinations and confirmation services.

Commissioned by the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music this short work sets the Eucharistic hymn by Thomas Aquinas. It starts with an expressive rhythmic soprano line and finishes with a calm homophonic passage.

Exile Meditations by Gabriel Jackson for SATB soloists or choir unaccompanied.This powerful work is a sequence of meditations on loss and longing of fear and of hope by turns contemplative and dramatic. The narrative is made up of a selection of poems by four exiled Latvian writers from the group known as the Hell's Kitchen Poets and present-day displaced persons from Palestine and Syria. The text is in Latvian and English and a pronunciation guide for the Latvian text is included in the vocal score. Jackson also employs percussion for dramatic effect with three singers required to play Brake Drum Railway Man's Whistle and Claves. Withall of the trademarks of Jackson's compelling musical style this piece will be an exciting challenge for choirs looking to explore universal themes.

Gabriel Jackson's O Quam Gloriosum for SATB and Organ. Written for the 20th Anniversary of Norwich Cathedral Girls' Choir this setting of the well-known All Saints Day text juxtaposes flowing melodic lines in the sopranos with rich homophonic passages each bringing the text to the fore. The Organ plays a prominent role providing gentle undulating accompaniment as well as fanfare-like exclamations.

This is a joyful work for organ and trumpet. Jackson employs a sectional structure contrasting celebratory clamorous writing with moments of intimacy and reflection.