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. 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.
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 in December 1979.
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 and first
performed there in 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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