Muir Songs

15 mins

for SATB and harp

Texts by John Muir (1838-1914)

Commissioned Matthew D. Nielsen & Brevitas
First performed by Brevitas, directed by Matthew D. Nielsen, at the Libby Gardner Concert Hall, Salt Lake City, UT on 3 July 2019

Exile Meditations

29 mins

for SATB ( 3 singers also playing Railwayman’s Whistle, Claves & Brake Drum)

Texts by Pēteris Ērmanis (1893- 1969), Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2008), Rūta Skujiņa (1907-1964), Ammar Tabbab (b.1984),Teodors Zeltiņš (1914-1991) & Kārlis Dziļleja (1891-1963)

Commissioned by Christopher Walsh Sinka with the generous support of the Portland State University Department of Music (Ethan Sperry, Director of Choral Activities), the Latvian Relief Society of Canada (Daugavas Vanagi), and the following individual donors: Andris Bankovskis, Beth Ann Beck, Mārtiņš Bruveris, Lennie Cottrell, Ed Frazier Davis, Teresa Dragonetti, Paul French, Māris Graudiņš, Evan Hirsch, Bob Iofis, Linda Jakobsone, Bill Keaton, Egils Levits, Anna Marasco, Brendan Monte, Inese Nielsen, Alison Piasecka, Charlie Poe, Bart Pushaw, Gunta Reynolds, Andrejs Ritiņš, David Rothzeid, Susan Saunders, Solveiga Silkalna, Anna Sinka, Aivars and Nicola Sinka, Maija Sinka, Gilbert Spencer, Jeff and Denise Walsh, Ģirts and Velma Zegners.
First performed by Agnese Urka (soprano), Dārta Treija (alto), Christopher Walsh Sinka (tenor) and Eduards Fiskovičs (bass)at the Latvian Railway History Museum, Riga on 30 July 2017

Blumbergs in Venice

7 mins

for SATB and tubular bell

Text by Ilmārs Blumbergs (1943-2016)

Commissioned by Youth Choir Kamēr… with funds provided by the State Culture Capital Foundation Latvia
First performed by Youth Choir Kamēr…, directed by Jānis Liepiņš, at Riga City Art Space on 23 May 2018

Exile Meditations

29 mins

for four solo voices (SATB) also playing Railwayman’s Whistle, Claves & Brake Drum

Texts by Pēteris Ērmanis (1893- 1969), Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2008), Rūta Skujiņa (1907-1964), Ammar Tabbab (b.1984),Teodors Zeltiņš (1914-1991) & Kārlis Dziļleja (1891-1963)

Stabat mater

18 mins

for SSSSAATTBB unaccompanied

Text attrib. Jacopone da Todi (1230-1306)

Commissioned by The Marian Consort for their 10th Anniversary
First performed by The Marian Consort and Merton College Girls’ Choir, directed by Rory McCleery, at Merton College, Oxford on 23 March 2018

How do I love thee?

4 mins

for SATB unaccompanied

Text by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

‘To Benjamin Nicholas and Georgina Hildick-Smith on their Wedding Day’
First performed by a choir directed by Daniel Hyde at St James the Elder, Horton on 28 October 2017

Nightingale Fragments

10 mins

for SATB unaccompanied

Text by John Keats (1795-1821) selected and editied by Simon Casimir Wilson

Commissioned by Simon Casimir Wilson in loving memory and eternal admiration of Alessandra Wilson (née Zerbino) 1943-2007
First performed by the Vigala Singers, directed by Joy Hill, at St James’s Piccadilly, London on 20 October 2017

Ave maris stella

10 mins

for SATB and alto saxophone in Eb

Texts: Hymn at First Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary & Anna Rancāne (b.1959)

‘To Arvydas Kazlauskas and Māris Sirmais’
First performed by the State Choir Latvija and Arvydas Kazlauskas (alto saxophone), directed by Māris Sirmais, at Old St Gertrude’s Church, Riga on 22 August 2017

I sing the birth was born tonight

4 mins

for SATB and organ

Text by Ben Johnson (1573-1367)

Commissioned by the Maryland State Boychoir
First performed by the Maryland State Boychoir, directed by Stephen Holmes, at the Maryland Boychoir Center for the Arts, Baltimore, MD

Seventy chords for Howard Skempton

1 min

for piano

‘To Howard Skempton on his 70th birthday’
First performed by Michael Finnissy at king’s Place, London on 13 October 2017

O Clavis David

3 mins

for SATB unaccompanied

Text: Magnificat Antiphon at Vespers on 20 December

Commissioned by the Revd Dr Simon Jones for the choir of Merton College, Oxford
First performed by the choir of Merton College, Oxford, directed by Benjamin Nicholas on 4 May 2012

Mass for All Saints

16 mins

for SATB and organ

‘To Jonathan Wikeley and the choir of All Saints’ Church, Fulham’
First performed by the choir of All Saints’ Church, Fulham, directed by Jonathan Wikeley, on 30 October 2016

This Paradise I Give Thee

7 mins

for baritone and 13 players (piccolo, cor anglais, Eb clarinet, 2 bass clarinets, soprano saxophone, contrabassoon, trumpet in C, euphonium, 2 violins, viola, double bass)

Texts by John Milton (16018-1674) and Charles Darwin (1809-1882)

Commissioned by the Natural History Museum
First performed by Sir Thomas Allen and the London Contemporary Orchestra at Hintze Hall in the Natural History Museum, London on 13 July 2017

A Piece of Sky (after Yoko Ono)

7 mins

for oboe d’amore, 2 percussion and koto

Commissioned by OKEANOS
First performed by OKEANOS at the Huddersfield Festival in November 2004

Christmas Eve

3 mins

for SATB unaccompanied

Text by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)
‘To Joy Hill and the Vigala Singers’
First performed by the Vigala Singers, directed by Joy Hill, at St James’s Church, Piccadilly, London on 20 December 2016

O Virgo virginum

3½ mins

for SSATB unaccompanied

Text: Magnificat Antiphon for 23 December (in the Use of Salisbury)

Commissioned by Wells Cathedral Chorister Parents’ Association and Wells Cathedral Music Foundation for Matthew Owens and the Choir of Wells Cathedral
First performed by Wells Cathedral Choir, directed by Matthew Owens, on 27 November 2016

Ubi caritas et amor

6½ mins

for SATB unaccompanied

Texts: Offertory at Maundy Thursday and John Boyle O’Reilly (1844-1890)

Written for the wedding of Ed Frazier Davis and Gabriela O’Grady
First performed by Bella Voce, directed by Andrew Lewis, at The Cliff Dwellers, Chicago, IL on 10 September 2016

Imaginary Birds

for piano

Commissioned by ABRSM for Spectrum 5

First performed by Faye Evans at the Royal College of Music, London on 5 November 2016

Untitled (for Robert Irvine)

3 mins

for cello

Written for Robert Irvine
First performed by Robert Irvine at Woodwick House, Evie, Orkney on 26 June 2016

Flying solo

6 mins

for SA, alto saxophone in Bb, bass clarinet, trumpet in C and piano (or electric piano)

Texts by Extraordinary Voices

Commissioned by Newham Music with funds provided by the PRS Foundation
First performed by Extraordinary Voices, directed by Oscar Wood, at the Troxy, London on 12 July 2016