Richard Rodney Bennett: Choral Collection

The playful side of versatile British composer conductor arranger and performer Richard Rodney Bennett comes to the fore with this delightful setting of seven nonsensical poems by Mervyn Peake. It was said of Peake during his lifetime that his serious work was full of humour while his nonsense verse was full of philosophy. This duality makes his lyrics a superb match for Bennett a composer who it is impossible to categorise. Composer performer and arranger Richard Rodney Bennett was internationally respected for his serious music and many award-winning film scores (Murder on the Orient Express Nicholas and Alexandra) as well as his works for children and his religiouspieces. In addition this markedly versatile musician frequently performed as a jazz pianist and arranger. Nonsense works equally well for students Choruses as well as for adult groups.

However often Bennett may have employed serial techniques or introduced jazz and modern elements into his work his Choral compositions are always tonal and melodic. In A Farewell To Arms he displays an exquisite sensitivity to the poetry of Ralph Knevet (17th century) and George Peele (16th century) and their mediations on the homely life after years spent soldiering. The Cello can be heard to serve as the ‘Voice’ of the old soldier. The music combines the jaggedly Romantic Cello line with Choral writing that suggests early music motifs and harmonies.Composer performer and arranger Richard Rodney Bennett was internationally respected for his serious music and manyaward-winning film scores (Murder on the Orient Express Nicholas and Alexandra) as well as his works for children and his religious pieces. In addition this markedly versatile musician frequently performed as a jazz pianist.

Today's Choral Classics is a special collection of pieces from the most exciting talents in choral composition today. From the church to the concert hall, it is the perfect volume for choruses seeking a contemporary choral repertoire, rich in accessible, modern arrangements in a variety of styles. Featuring Paul Mealor's Wherever You Are , a Christmas #1 for The Military Wives choir, and Ubi Caritas , his specially commissioned piece for the royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - serene miniatures by John Tavener and Eric Whitacre - simple gems by Richard Rodney Bennett and Richard Blackford - and more substantial works by Judith Weir, James Whitbourn, Tarik O'Regan and Nico Muhly - choirs of all styles, sizes and abilities will discover a wealth of variety of inspiring pieces to delight singers and audiences alike. Today's Choral Classics is a fantastic addition to any music library or choral resource, and provides a solid and accessible basis for any contemporary choral concert programme. / SATB

Composed in 2010 by Richard Rodney Bennett to words translated by J.B. Trend (1887-1958) from ‘The Oxford Book Of Carols’.

Richard Rodney Bennett's Sea Change for SATB voices was commissioned for the Three Choirs Festival and was first performed by the Donald Hunt Singers conducted by Donald Hunt in Worcester Cathedral in August 1984.This work is for a minimum of 24 voices.Duration: 15 minutes.

Accessible and beautifully written this original setting of I Saw Three Ships by Richard Rodney Bennett is for SATB a cappella; a perfect addition for a carol service.

POD-Richard Rodney Bennett's Lullaby Baby is dedicated to the Choir of King's College Cambridge. This work for SATB choir unaccompanied is a setting of text by John Phillip.Duration: 3 minutes. 'This delightful setting of a 16th-century text was written for the choir of King’s College Cambridge and requires fine intonation especially in the jazz-influenced harmonies. A good performance of this carol will create a momentary time of peace amid the jollity of Christmas'. 'Sunday by Sunday’ December 2017   Lullaby Baby a 1986 setting of words by the 16th-century John Phillip (alsoset by Britten) is dedicated to King's College Cambridge and needs such a choir to do justice to the richly varied harmonies which set the repeated stanzas and refrain. Organists Review December 2017

Composed in 2010 by Richard Rodney Bennett to words translated by J.B. Trend (1887-1958) from 'The Oxford Book Of Carols'. / SATB

Richard Rodney Bennett's setting of the eighteenth-century poem, The Apple Tree, for SATB chorus unaccompanied. / SATB

For SATB chorus unaccompanied. Commissioned by the Friends of All Saints' Music, Northampton, for Lee Dunleavy and the Choirs of All Saints' Church, Northampton, in memory of Miss Valerie Travis (1918-2008). First performed by the Choirs of All Saints' Church, Northampton, conducted by Lee Dunleavy on 19 December 2010. Richard Rodney Bennett - The Shepherd's Carol by musicroom / SATB

Richard Rodney Bennett 'Town And Country' arranged for unaccompanined SSAATTBB. Duration 7 minutes.

Five carols by Sir Richard Rodney Bennett for mixed choir or SATB soloists in English.

The text of Susanni is a translation of Martin Luther’s hymn of 1535 Vom Himmel hoch. The music is based loosely upon the well-known chorale melody which at times is quoted in full in both voices and organ. Except where indicated singers should adopt a legato style especially in the repeated quaver patterns. In the bars which appear to be in compound time conductors should beat in crotchets.An inspiring selection of new works from a range of contemporary composers the Novello New Choral Series offers pieces for all types of choirs including sacred and secular works from simple four-part settings to more expansive yetaccessible repertoire in an exciting variety of styles. Bill Ives has spent his life in choral music as a singer conductor teacher and composer (writing as Grayston Ives). He was a chorister at Ely Cathedral and later studied music at Cambridge taking composition lessons with Richard Rodney Bennett. After Cambridge he sang in Guildford Cathedral Choir before joining the King’s Singers with whom he recorded and performed worldwide.For eighteen years he directed the Choir of Magdalen College Oxford. During his tenure the choir earned a Grammy nomination for a disc of music by Orlando Gibbons and gave the première of Paul McCartney’s Ecce Cor Meum written especially for them. In 2008 his work as a composer and conductor of church music was recognised with the award of a Lambeth DMus and a Fellowship of the Royal School of Church Music.