Zulu song of liberation with additional verse of peace in English Aya ngena = They Come In, Aya phuma = They get out, Aya didizela = They're in a state of confusion, Aya sab' amagwala = The cowards are scared. Peace we bring you why must evr...  moreZulu song of liberation with additional verse of peace in English Aya ngena = They Come In, Aya phuma = They get out, Aya didizela = They're in a state of confusion, Aya sab' amagwala = The cowards are scared. Peace we bring you why must evr'ybody keep on fighting when hunger needs to be fought leave your guns now fight with ploughshares leave your guns now  

The 50s song Mister Sandman by Pat Ballard, which I arranged, on request, for our local choir. After a few concerts, I thought it would also be fun to sing it all myself (multitracking), so here it is. I have now published the score; see below

Improvisation for meditation on Gu-Cheng or "Cheng" or "guzhen" 古筝 (Chinese zither) small bells (Xing or Peng Ling 碰铃- also known as touch bells) and bass and alto voices Performed by David W Solomons

Madrigal by Thomas Vautor for five part choir. (a vulture composes a song about an owl!? - political correctness gone mad!) The owl is depicted as a thing of beauty a fierce force of nature and a mysterious companion to dying souls The drawin...  moreMadrigal by Thomas Vautor for five part choir. (a vulture composes a song about an owl!? - political correctness gone mad!) The owl is depicted as a thing of beauty a fierce force of nature and a mysterious companion to dying souls The drawing is by my late mother, the painting is by Caspar David Friedrich the carvings are by my father  

La Folia (literally "madness") was a Portuguese dance from the renaissance, and it has been used by many composers in the ensuing centuries. This version is for voices and guitar. It introduces the theme as a repeated verse on voice 1 and then adds a co...  moreLa Folia (literally "madness") was a Portuguese dance from the renaissance, and it has been used by many composers in the ensuing centuries. This version is for voices and guitar. It introduces the theme as a repeated verse on voice 1 and then adds a couple of vocalize additions above and below it. The pdf file contains the score and a separate guitar part. The sound sample is performed by the composer. Let's sing la Folia Oh let's sing la Folia Oh let's sing la Folia as in the Baroque time Oh let's sing la Folia Oh let's sing la Folia It spans all the centuries up to now (la la la) (cu cu cu!)  less

Vivaldi Gloria sung by a one-man choir (sopranos are transposed in order to keep the key changes - sorry for the "Pinky and Perky" effects)

Lamento d'Arianna (Ariadne's Lament) This is the five part madrigal version of Ariadne's Lament, which she sings when she is abandoned on the island of Naxos by her lover Theseus. The translation is by Francesco Campelli on CPDL The performance was cre...  moreLamento d'Arianna (Ariadne's Lament) This is the five part madrigal version of Ariadne's Lament, which she sings when she is abandoned on the island of Naxos by her lover Theseus. The translation is by Francesco Campelli on CPDL The performance was created in memory of the late Richard Gofton, who introduced me to the music back in 1976 (Our Strasbourg choir Psalterion performed it at that time)  

Sweet Kate, of late Ran away and left me 'plaining: “Abide,” I cried, “Or I die with thy disdaining.” “Tee! hee! hee!” quoth she, “Gladly would I see, Any man to die with loving. Never any yet, Died of such a fit, Neither have I fear of proving.”...  moreSweet Kate, of late Ran away and left me 'plaining: “Abide,” I cried, “Or I die with thy disdaining.” “Tee! hee! hee!” quoth she, “Gladly would I see, Any man to die with loving. Never any yet, Died of such a fit, Neither have I fear of proving.” “Unkind, I find Thy delight is in tormenting, Abide,” I cried, “Or I die with thy consenting.” “Tee! hee! hee!” quoth she, “Make no fool of me, Men I know have oaths at pleasure; But their hopes attained, They belay they feigned, and their oaths are kept at leisure.”  less

Improved version - This satirical little frottola by Josquin is believed to be a gentle reminder to his patron Galeazzo Sforza that his musicians need paying. Josquin may be punning on the name of a fellow impecunious musician (Frillo) by calling him a...  moreImproved version - This satirical little frottola by Josquin is believed to be a gentle reminder to his patron Galeazzo Sforza that his musicians need paying. Josquin may be punning on the name of a fellow impecunious musician (Frillo) by calling him a cricket (Grillo). This performance is by the dwsChorale (David Solomons) It can be downloaded at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dwsChorale3  

Motet by Thomas Tomkins - one of the greatest emotional expressions of the late Renaissance. Absalom, son of King David, was a handsome prince and considered by some to be worthy of the throne of Israel, even before David's death. One day, as Absalom w...  moreMotet by Thomas Tomkins - one of the greatest emotional expressions of the late Renaissance. Absalom, son of King David, was a handsome prince and considered by some to be worthy of the throne of Israel, even before David's death. One day, as Absalom went riding, a tree's branches caught his luxuriant hair and he hung there helpless. He was slain by his enemies. King David was inconsolable. Performed by the dwsChorale, a multitracking one-man choir