What Sweeter Music - Set of Full Orchestra Parts

Full score-John Rutter's What Sweeter Music for SATB and organ or string orchestra  The string accompaniment is available on hire and for sale.John Rutter was born in London in 1945 and studied music at Clare College Cambridge. His compositions embrace choral orchestral and instrumental music and he has edited or co-edited various choral anthologies including four Carols for Choirs volumes with Sir David Willcocks and the Oxford Choral Classics series. From 1975 to 1979 he was Director of Music at Clare College and in 1981 he formed his own choir the Cambridge Singers. He now divides his time betweencomposition and conducting and is sought after as a guest conductor for the world's leading choirs and orchestras.

John Rutter's What Sweeter Music for SSA or SSS and Organ or Strings.Originally published in a version for mixed voices this much-loved Rutter carol has been adapted by the composer for performance by upper-voice choirs. Full scores and Sets of Parts specially composed for the upper-voice version are available on sale and on hire/rental. The Set of Parts contains the following String parts: 4 x vln I 4 x vln II 3 x vla 2 x vc 1 x db.

This treasured 17th century text by Robert Herrick is set with an expressive melodic line over a flowing accompaniment and lush choral textures incorporating the full dynamic range. A wonderful addition to Christmas concerts orperformances at any time of year! Available separately: SATB SAB SSA. Duration: ca. 3:30.

Hugh Wood's Ballade Op.57 for Piano was commissioned by BBC Radio 3 and first performed by Joanna MacGregor on 7th June 2012 at the Guildhall Bath as part of the Bath International Music Festival.'The music of Chopinis a revelation which came disgracefully late in my life. To admire is one thing; to try to emulate is quite another: and all that I have borrowed here is a title. Perhaps memories of Joanna MacGregor performing the FourthBallade very beautifully long ago played a part in the naming. But to define what a Ballade should or should not be is quite beyond me: after all Chopin and Brahms both came to quite different conclusions. I just like theold rather poetic word.A fanfarish beginning ends in a falling arpeggionic cascade which will recur in varied form at turning points throughout the piece. A major third emerges to become the accompaniment to the mainlyrical melody which becomes more and more decorated until it ends with a second cascade. The tune resumes more urgently against an undulating semiquaver accompaniment. A bigger climax suddenly gives way to a reminiscence of oneof the opening figures and then introduces alla recit. a new motif. But immediately the main melody continues this time getting gradually calmer quieter and sweeter until the new motif takes over in a passage of 6 and ismore fully worked out.From very high up the opening fanfares are heard in the distance and a faster tempo brings a more vigorous passage culminating in the biggest and most climactic of the cascades. This might be theend of the piece but it is not. A sequence of soft velvety chords rises up eventually to reveal the original major third. Four phrases of the opening melody are then heard over it in their plainest form.' - H.W.