Make My Life an Alleluia

A jolly Christmas carol-This lively carol was commissioned in 2005 by Lichfield Cathedral Special Choir (now called the Cathedral Chorus) to celebrate the birth of Hannah Scriven and Holly Mason the daughters of the two cathedral organists at that time. The words were specially written by Tony Barnard the then Canon Chancellor at Lichfield and a member of the choir. This carol whilst not entirely foreign to my normal style touches more ‘country and western’/popular buttons than I am in the habit of touching. But I wanted to write a tuneful piece which swayed and danced and reflected the colourful imagery of Tony Barnard’s text. Recommended recording: Comeout Lazar – The shorter choral works of Paul Spicer (Regent REGCD280) by The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College Cambridge and Claire Innes-Hopkins (organ) directed by Sarah MacDonald. Text: This child of God who’s born on Christmas day whom shepherds view to whom kings homage pay is called to be a shepherd and a king. Sing alleluias praise this wondrous thing. This child of God is shepherd born to lead through pastures green by banks of golden reed; nor left nor right but ever on the way which leads to Calvary and endless day. This child of God this Son of David’s line is root of tree a shoot a fruitful vine it shelter gives to all who see the way which leads them to the cross and Easter day. This child of God this many spangled star is light’ning flash which dazzles near and far; bright light to guide our feet along the way that leads to Calvary and endless day. This child of God is called to save mankind to open eye and ear the heart and mind; to heal and make the lame man leap and play along the road that leads to Easter Day. This child of God let angel voices praise. Give God the glory live his loving ways. Let peace on earth o’er come our worldly strife through all who walk his road throughout their life. Tony Barnard

A beautiful song of faith and love “Jesus Is My Song of Grace” tells how God sang to us through His son and of our deep love and commitment to life with Him. “This shall be my alleluia...this shall be mybenediction...Jesus is my song of grace.” Lush harmonies and a gorgeous poetic text make this love song a must for many occasions.

The Novello Book Of Hymns is a collection of 50 favourite hymns, inspiringly and engagingly written for SATB Choirs. Edited by David Hill, all the arrangements in this book are designed to be singable by congregations without music, and can be used in any church or school service.As well as providing uplifting versions of hymns, these arrangements also work well as easy anthems, enabling church and school choirs to learn an often striking and dramatic piece of music quickly and easily.The hymns have been arranged by a range of well-loved composers including Richard Lloyd, John Bertalot, David Hill, Stephen Jackson, Philip Moore, Christopher Robinson and many others.Editor of the collection David Hill is a Choral Advisor to Novello. He is Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers, Musical Director of the Bach Choir, Chief Conductor of the Southern Sinfonia, Associate Guest Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of Leeds Philharmonic Society, and Professor of Choral Conducting at Yale University. / Choeur Mixte (SATB)

Spiral Bound. for SATB accompanied (piano or organ) and unaccompanied. The Oxford Book of Choral Music by Black Composers is a landmark collection of non-idiomatic compositions from the sixteenth century to the present day, providing a comprehensive introduction to an area of choral music that has been historically under-represented.