Orchestral Version-John McCabe's Psalm-Cantata (Orchestral Version). Full score for Soprano Baritone SATB choir and small Orchestra.This work was commissioned by the English Baroque Choir and their music director Jeremy Jackman who gave the first performance on 16th March 2013 at St. John’s SmithSquare London.'I’ve wanted to write a choral/instrumental piece based on texts from the Psalms for a very long time so this commission from the English Baroque Choir and their music director Jeremy Jackman (to whom the work is dedicated) was a wonderful opportunity to put this idea into practice. I decided to write a kind of latter-day equivalentto the Bach cantatas with two soloists (soprano and baritone). The texts are derived from a variety of Psalm sources: some in Latin some in English a meditation by Savonarola and a Henry Vaughan poem.' - John McCabe

Reduction For Satb/Organ-John McCabe's Psalm-Cantata arranged for Soprano Baritone SATB choir and Organ by Iain Farrington.This work was commissioned by the English Baroque Choir and their music director Jeremy Jackman who gave the first performance on 16th March 2013 at St. John’s SmithSquare London.'I’ve wanted to write a choral/instrumental piece based on texts from the Psalms for a very long time so this commission from the English Baroque Choir and their music director Jeremy Jackman (to whom the work is dedicated) was a wonderful opportunity to put this idea into practice. I decided to write a kind of latter-day equivalent to the Bachcantatas with two soloists (soprano and baritone). The texts are derived from a variety of Psalm sources: some in Latin some in English a meditation by Savonarola and a Henry Vaughan poem.' - John McCabe

This work was commissioned by the Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts Ltd. with theaid of funds provided by the John S. Cohen Foundation and the PRS Foundation. The firstperformance was given by Rachel Nicholls and Paul Plummer at St. Andrew’s Church Presteigne on 29 August 2005.Composer's NoteGladestry Quatrains is a setting of 12 short poems by Jo Shapcott from her collection of the same title. It originated in a project for the 2003 Presteigne Festival called A Garland for Presteigne in which 10 composers associated with the Festival were asked to write a short song each celebrating the Welsh border country the choice of poetryranged widely and I chose two of Jo Shapcott’s evocative miniatures (still adding up to slightly less than the timing I had been requested to provide!). As I wrote them I started to make sketches for some more settings from the same collection and the Presteigne Festival of Music and the Arts very kindly commissioned this new larger song-cycle proper for their 2005 Festival. The original pair of poems form the third (Gwaithla Brook) and last (Cefn Hir) of the songs in which the eighth combines two poems Burl Hill and Newchurch. Throughout I have been aware of the sights and sounds of nature the character of the landscape and the sense of history and timelessness of this beautiful part of the world as reflected in Jo Shapcott’s poetry as well as (I hope) the wit and directness of her expression. The whole work though it has eleven songs still lasts only about 20 minutes the concision of the texts and the need to find musical equivalents to this was an important part of the concept of the piece.        John McCabe 2005

For SATB soli or semi-chorus and SATB chorus a cappella. I sing of a Maiden by John McCabe was commissioned by Liverpool Cathedral and first performed by the Choir of Liverpool Cathedral directed by David Poulter on 20th December 2008.

John McCabe one of Britain’s best known contemporary composers was specially commissioned in 1976 to compose this work by the Northampton Philharmonic Choir to celebrate its 80th Season.

Arranged for SSSAAATTTBBB the lyrics are from an anonymous writer of the fourteenth century and have been adapted by the composer.The composer says: 'Woefully arrayed is a supreme choral setting by William Cornysh Junior who died in 1523 of a text usually regarded as of anonymous composition though there have been some attributions to John Skelton. It is a thoughtful powerful meditation on Christ on the Cross and though Cornysh’s setting has remarkable intensity and contrapuntal artistry I felt a strong wish to add my own response to this fine text. The different versions of it have different verses that used by Cornysh has three verses (plus therefrain) while there are others with four or even five (one attributed to Skelton has five). I have chosen to restrict myself to the three used by Cornysh using my own adaptation of the modernised words which yet incorporates some archaisms a deliberate choice for reasons of rhythm and verbal sound. This setting was commissioned by the Three Choirs Festival 2009 for Stile Antico to whom it is dedicated.''Difficult to perform but not difficult to listen to this 2009 Three Choirs Festival commission was first performed by Stile Antico who have since toured it. It is a heartfelt response to the fourteenth-century text passionate and anguished Christ is on the cross ‘woefully arrayed’. Although written for a secular choir it is a piece that could be sung by many cathedral and collegiate choirs: there is considerable doubling between the sixteen lines and a keyboard reduction to help the initial sorting out. Above all it is dramatic and would communicate directly to audiences if given a chance to hear it.'       - James L Montgomer RSCM review

Originally written in 1967 for the Aeolian Singers who gave the first performance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall London in that year this Cantata was revised in 1969. The text is taken from the chapter in Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick entitled The Whiteness of the Whale and it is an exploration of the nature of the colour white and some of its significance for us.

For Baritone and String Quartet.Commissioned by Jo Boosey in memory of her husband Simon.First performance: 17th March 2012 at St. Mary's Church Pembridge Herefordshire by Marcus Farnsworth (Baritone) and the Alberni String Quartet.

Upon The High Midnight contains three nativity carols for unaccompanied SATB Soli and Chorus. An optional organ accompaniment is provided for No.3 Duration c. 7 minutes. A piano part is included for rehearsal purpose only.

First performed at the Festival of Saint Cecilia Service on 19th November 2003 in St.Paul's Cathedral.