"Let's sing, it's Spring!" is dedicated to my uncle and aunt, James and Daphne Shaw, and their amazing clan, the "Bowen Island Shaws." I have given this song the sub-title: "A Crazy Choral Etude for Rolled Rs and Perfect 5ths." It is meant, no pun inte...  more"Let's sing, it's Spring!" is dedicated to my uncle and aunt, James and Daphne Shaw, and their amazing clan, the "Bowen Island Shaws." I have given this song the sub-title: "A Crazy Choral Etude for Rolled Rs and Perfect 5ths." It is meant, no pun intended, to be a musical lark, great fun for a choir to sing, rolling Rs like crazy, with no holding back. NB: One day I woke up to the realization that I had independently written four choral works, each of which had evoked a different season, and so it seemed natural to group them together into a choral suite that I have called "The Ottawa Four Seasons Suite." "Let's sing, it's Spring!", with its rousing coda section, works perfectly as the closing number of this suite. Also of note, in early 2018, I applied to be a participant at one of the Vancouver Chamber Choir's Interplay workshops funded by the SOCAN Foundation and to my delight I was accepted. "Let's sing, it's Spring!" was one of the pieces that this amazing choir sight read for me on the sp...    less

This brand new version of Good King Wenceslas is dedicated to my uncle Duncan Shaw of Vancouver. His "retirement project" - developing his own theory of gravity - has been a huge inspiration in my own compositional journey late in life. Some background...  moreThis brand new version of Good King Wenceslas is dedicated to my uncle Duncan Shaw of Vancouver. His "retirement project" - developing his own theory of gravity - has been a huge inspiration in my own compositional journey late in life. Some background: I have sung the traditional version of Good King Wenceslas since I was a kid. I fell in love with the lyrics and the story, but have always been puzzled by the way it was arranged, in particular the way that the "las" of Wenceslas lands on the downbeat. When I was young, I thought the lyrics were actually "Good King Wences last looked out!" All to say that I got inspired to create a totally different version. I used the 19th century poem by John Mason Neale, but I wanted to create a different "feel" to the story, to take it back in time to its origins in the Middle Ages - hence the medieval feel to much of the piece. I also felt that since the Wenceslas story is all about a journey, a setting in 3/4 time would create a better sense of that feeling, ra...    less

BENEDICTION, An Irish Blessing - by John Conahan, SATB a cappella. In this video, you'll be able to view the complete score in tandem with a performance. For more information and additional works, visit www.johnconahan.com. (© John Conahan)

A choir needs regular Rehearsals to improve their singing, but finding the right venue can be difficult. When you are first starting out, renting Rehearsal space and still being able to break even after subscriptions are paid, is often the most important ...

I have dedicated this song to health care workers and other courageous COVID-19 workers around the world. THANK YOU! "Where then could pain find a hold?" is a musical plea for reconciliation addressed to those (individuals, groups, nations) who find t...  moreI have dedicated this song to health care workers and other courageous COVID-19 workers around the world. THANK YOU! "Where then could pain find a hold?" is a musical plea for reconciliation addressed to those (individuals, groups, nations) who find themselves in conflict. I would like to acknowledge pianist Fred Hersch whose magical playing of Billy Joel's "And so it goes" in the middle of an Ottawa winter inspired me to start working on this piece. I would like to thank my Ottawa singing friends in the "Ad hoc Chorale" for testing out this piece in one of our informal workshops and offering valuable comments. I would also like to acknowledge the a cappella choir that I sing in, The Stairwell Carollers, and our director Pierre Massie, for their musical inspiration these past 27 years. And with deepest appreciation to my brother Adam Rain and my friend Geneviève Lajoie for their invaluable support throughout my composing journey. NB: choirs interested in obtaining copies of the score can conta...    less

This song is a wedding present for my daughter Salima and my son-in-law Tarik Talundzic. As a boy chorister I can remember singing Healey Willan's setting of "Rise up, my love", a true gem. The beautiful imagery of this text drew me to write my own s...  moreThis song is a wedding present for my daughter Salima and my son-in-law Tarik Talundzic. As a boy chorister I can remember singing Healey Willan's setting of "Rise up, my love", a true gem. The beautiful imagery of this text drew me to write my own setting. Sincere thanks to Matthew Curtis (choralTracks.com) for recording "Rise up, my love, my fair one." If you would like to obtain the sheet music for this song, please contact: info@leadingnote.com. I would like to acknowledge the a cappella choir that I sing in, The Stairwell Carollers, and our director Pierre Massie, for their musical inspiration these past 26 years. I would also like to thank my friends in our "Ad hoc Chorale" for testing out this piece in one of our informal workshops and offering valuable comments. And with deepest appreciation to my brother Adam Rain and my friend Geneviève Lajoie for their invaluable support throughout my composing journey.  less

No divisi parts – suitable for a sextet. Free sheet music. Please get in touch! • facebook: david [dot] basden.9 • New email: deebee123 [at] bigpond.com

Cat.No: TKM718. Another piece from the pen of Peter Thompson - useful for services or concerts. As is usual from Peter, the piece is well crafted and singable. Showcase your choir on our #youtube channel - we offer Free music and promotion in return for ...  moreCat.No: TKM718. Another piece from the pen of Peter Thompson - useful for services or concerts. As is usual from Peter, the piece is well crafted and singable. Showcase your choir on our #youtube channel - we offer Free music and promotion in return for a recording - please contact mail@timknightmusic.com for more info! See what other specialist services we offer (including commissions, singing holidays, choir and concert management workshops and composition courses) at www.timknightmusic.com. In the UK, all Tim Knight Music is distributed by and can be ordered through Spartan Press quoting the catalogue number on 01528 544770 http://www.spartanpress.co.uk/ or via www.timknightmusic.com shop page. Some pieces are also available via https://www.musicroom.com/. Those without a ‘TKM’ prefix can be ordered directly from the publisher’s website – please contact mail@timknightmusic.com if you are having trouble sourcing this piece. In the USA and overseas, you can order direct from the publisher, via www.timknigh...    less

I thought you might be interested in a new venture of mine.     I’m about to publish a Free, monthly roundup of music news delivered straight to your inbox. As those of you who follow my Facebook Page know, I regularly post interesti...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I went to see a concert by Village Harmony this week. It was over an hour long and included an amazing variety of songs from around the world: Georgi...