Judith Weir

This work was commissioned by the Master and Fellows of St John’s College Cambridge to mark the 500th anniversary of the founding of the College. The Magnificat was first performed by Andrew Nethsingha and the Choir of St John’sCollege on 30th October 2011 and the Nunc Dimittis (as part of a complete performance) on 5th February 2012.

His Mercy Endureth For Ever is a work by Judith Weir for SAATTBB Chorus and Organ Accompaniment. This was commissioned by Her Majesty's Government and the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. It was firstperformed by the Choir of Westminster Abbey at a service of thanksgiving held in Westminster Abbey marking the 70th anniversary of VE Day.

Libretto for the Opera in Two Acts. Scored for SATB Soli SATB Chorus and Orchestra. Commissioned by English national Opera with funds from the Arts Council. Text: Judith Weir after Ludwig Tieck.

Judith Weir's Heaven Ablaze In His Breast for SSAATTBB Chorus 2 Pianos and 8 Dancers. Text: The composer after The Sandman by E.T.A Hoffman.

Judith Weir's Illuminare Jerusalem for SATB choir and Organ. This beautiful carol was written for the choir of King's College Cambridge. Watch them performing the piece:  

Full Score for the Opera in Two Acts. Scored for SATB Soli SATB Chorus and Orchestra. Commissioned by English national Opera with funds from the Arts Council. Text: Judith Weir after Ludwig Tieck.

Two Human Hymns comprises of settings for six-part choir and organ of two poems by 17th century English poets who are almost exact contemporaries; George Herbert and Henry King.The music for the choir is mostly composedin simple songlike shapes which are little hymns. The texts though clearly relate to Christian beliefs could be more widely applicable to all human experience which is why they have called them 'Human Hymns'.Thus Love BadeMe Welcome (G.Herbert) whilst obviously a Christian allegory can be read as a gently hypnotic love song and it is attempted to capture something of this atmosphere in the setting. Like to the Falling of a Star (H.King) although it mentions no God could be a Calvinist sermon capping its lovely account of the wonders of nature with an almost operatically sinister denouement. In the first half of the piece the music bubbles upwards fresh andoptimistic; in the second half like all those doomed sinners it is going down down down.The first performance was given by University of Aberdeen Chapel Choir on 22nd October 1995. Duration: c.7 minutes.

Judith Weir's Leaf From Leaf Christ Knows for SATB choir with Organ accompaniment. Leaf From Leaf Christ Knows was commissioned by Cathedral Commissions of Wells Cathedral. Itsfirst performance took place during the festival 'New Music Wells 76-16' on Thursday 20th October 2016 where it was performed by the Choir of Wells Cathedral with James Kealey on Organ and Matthew Owens conducting.

In 1994 for the 500th anniversary of the University of Aberdeen Judith Weir wrote two settings of 17th century English verse and choir entitles Two Human Hymns. In 1997 Weir arranged the first of these ‘Hymns’ asetting of George Herbert’s poem Love Bade Me Welcome - for a cappella choir of mixed voices (SSATBB).A piano accompaniment part is scored for rehearsal purposes.

Master of the Queen’s Music Judith Weir was commissioned by St Paul’s Cathedral in London to write a piece for SATB choir and organ in celebration of HM The Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016.The piece is now available from Chester Music so that choirs all over the world can join in with the festivities. Churches and other local organisations are planning events on Sunday 12th June and many may want to include thisapproachable setting of Robert Bridges’ poem.Directed by Andrew Carwood the St Paul’s Cathedral Choir performed I love all beauteous things as part of the National Service of Thanksgiving whichtook place on at 11am on 10 June 2016 in the presence of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. At the service the Archbishop of Canterbury gave the address and the Prime Minister read a lesson.  Judith Weircomments:'It is a particular honour to contribute new music for this great occasion and a pleasure to write a choral version of Robert Bridges’ beautiful verse.'COMPOSER’S NOTEAt the suggestion of Michael Hampel Precentor of St Paul’s Cathedral I have set words by Robert Bridges who was Poet Laureate from 1913–1930. Bridges was an outstanding humanitarian and writer whose poetry hasinspired me before in The Voice of Desire a song-cycle for mezzo-soprano and piano. This short fast-tempo setting aims to emulate the swift fleet-footed rhyme and metre of the two-verse poem with its unobtrusive but tellingreference to ‘man in his hasty days’.J.W.Commissioned by the Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral to mark the 90th birthday of HM The Queen generously supported by the Boltini Trust. Performed at theNational Service of Thanksgiving for HM The Queen’s birthday at St Paul’s Cathedral London on Friday 10th June 2016 in the presence of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.Music by Judith Weir Master of

For SATB Chorus and Trombone. Commissioned to celebrate the 800th Anniversary of the Unversity of Cambridge and first performed on St Cecilia's Day 2009 by The Choir of Gonville & Caius College with Matthew Knight (Trombone).