9.
ANDREW DOWNES PUBLISHED WORKS
CHORAL accompanied (continued)
On this page: high voices; choral arrangements (sacred); music for church congregation (for works for accompanied SATB choir see page 8)
High voices with piano
accompaniment
PIANO Opus 32 (1985) 5' View
Score
Setting of the poem by D.H.Lawrence for high voices
(SSSA) with piano accompaniment.
Commissioned by Pamela Cook and her 'Cantamus'
girls' choir, with funds provided by East Midlands Arts, to celebrate the birth
centenary of D.H.Lawrence. First performed by Cantamus in their D.H.Lawrence
Centenary Festival Concert, entitled "Shall We Sing Thee Summat?", on September l4th 1985 at St.John's,
Smith Square, London.
Cantamus subsequently recorded the work for
two BBC Radio 3 broadcasts, and has regularly performed the song in their
concerts throughout the UK and on tours in the USA, Japan and Germany. In 2012, for example, they gave three
performances, at the Oundle International Festival
and venues in Worksop and Nottingham.
The Halesowen Girls' Choir, conducted by Margaret Pickford, who have also performed the song on many occasions, were first
prize winners at the Catshill (Worcestershire) and
Dudley Festivals singing the work, and included it in their programme for the
Sainsbury's Choir of the Year Competition in 1994. Other performers of the song
include Cheltenham Ladies College in the Cheltenham Competitive Festival in
1995 and in concerts at the College, and the South Hampstead High School for
Girls Singers.
'Andrew Downes' treatment of the poem was
carefully crafted so as to echo musically the atmosphere of nostalgia and
reminiscence bordering on strong passion, contained within the text.'
THE GUARDIAN
High voices with harp/piano
accompaniment:-
BALLADS FOR CHRISTMAS Opus 49 (1992) 30'
View
Score
8 Christmas poems from around the world set to music for high voices and
harp/piano.
The Huron Carol; Pilgrims in Mexico; The Virgin's Cradle Hymn; The
Mother's Song; Shepherd's Carol; Christmas 1924; The Holly Bough; New Year
Bells.
Commissioned by the Midland Chamber Players and first performed on 17th
December 1992 in Birmingham Cathedral by Hillcrest School Chamber Choir
directed by Valerie Pither, with Robert Johnstone, harp. Second performance by
the same choir the following year. Performed in Christchurch Priory in
December 1993 and 1994 by the Rilstone Singers,
conducted by Martin Schellenberg, with Susan Drake,
harp. Several annual performances by the Halesowen Girls’ Choir, conducted by
Margaret Pickford, with Keith Bradley and Heather Howell, piano, in Halesowen
Church and other Worcestershire churches as well as the Birmingham Buddhist
Centre. Other performers have included the Cadon
Chorus, Cornwall. The Chapel Choir of Royal Holloway, University of
London, directed by Lionel Pike, have also performed all of the ballads and
have recorded the Shepherd's Carol from the collection on their CD
entitled ‘Whom do you seek, Shepherds?’ (Royal Holloway
Recording 3689 RHC DPL 07/95). First London
performance 4th December 2004 by the Millennium Scholars with Tanya Houghton,
harp, directed by Paula Downes. Also directed
by Paula Downes, the Millennium Scholars in Boston
Massachusetts gave the first USA performance on 14th December 2005 at the
Friends Meeting House, Cambridge, Massachusetts. To hear an excerpt of this
performance, click play
The Mother's Song from the collection has been several times
broadcast on Dutch Radio. .
'Ballads for Christmas is a highly effective work
which, coupled with its directness and economy, should secure it a firm place
in the Christmas youth choir repertory.'
THE BIRMINGHAM POST
unaccompanied high voices - see
page 7; choral music for children - see page 10
CHORAL ARRANGEMENTS (Sacred)
VENI EMMANUEL (1979) 6' View
Score
Arrangement of 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel' for SATB choir, Organ and Brass
Ensemble (2 trumpets, horn, 2 trombones, tuba).
Commissioned by the Choir of Hereford Cathedral and first performed there on 15th
December 1979 by the Choristers of Hereford Cathedral, with Robert Green
(organ) and the Birmingham School of Music Brass Ensemble (director Frank Downes), conducted by Roy Massey.
Included in the Birmingham Festival Choral Society's 'Towards the Millennium'
concert series, for their concert on 4th April 1998 featuring music of the
1970s
THE COVENTRY CAROL (1979) 4' View
Score
Arrangement for treble solo and SATBB choir.
Commissioned by the Choir of Hereford Cathedral, director Roy Massey, and first
performed there on 15th December 1979.
Recorded by the Clent Hills Singers, conducted by the
composer, for the cassette, "Christmas in the Forest" (© 1989 Forest
Music).
CHORAL FOR CHURCH CONGREGATION
HOLY COMMUNION (1980) View
Score
Setting for Church congregation with organ accompaniment.
Commissioned by Cottingham Parish
Church, Bristol.
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