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Chris's choral piece, Blake's Cradle Song, published by Recital music has been reviewed in the magazine of the Royal School of Church Music:
From Sting to Benjamin Britten, Blake’s elusive words have inspired many composers in different genres, and this new setting is certainly worthy of a place among them. The idiom is a sort of Tavener-meets-Howells; an apparent simplicity covers a subtle responsiveness to the words and a beguiling fluidity of musical effect. There are a few tricky harmonic corners but the piece is written with an evident delight in musically shaped phrases that are rewarding to sing.
James L. Montgomery in Church Music Quarterly
September 2011 Chris's descant to the hymn-tune 'Blaenwern' is to be sung at the Patronal Festival at the church of St Francis of Assisi in Parkview, Johannesburg, South Africa on 2nd October. August 2011
Having had the honour of being a judge for the 2011 Recital Music Choral Composition Competition , Chris has been invited to be a judge for the 2012 Recital Music Carol Competition.
July 2011
Chris is adudicating the Recital Music Choral Music Composing Competition. The winners will be announced soon on the Recital Music website.
Blake's Cradle Song (SATB) and Hurry to Bethlehem (version for SATB and organ) are now published by Recital Music, both priced at £2.50 per copy.
April 2011 The first two of Chris's pieces to be published by Recital Music are now in print: There is Sweet Music (baritone & piano) and The Oxen (SATB). Chris has approved the proofs of Hurry to Bethlehem (version for unison voices with optional descant, and piano), which will be available shortly.
Chris's hymn-tune Woodbury [http://www.sibeliusmusic.com/index.php?sm=home.score&scoreID=99407] is to be sung by the Devon-based vocal ensemble Con Spirito at a concert in Woodbury Church [http://www.woodburydevon.co.uk/stswithuns.htm] on 13th May at 7.30pm. March 2011
Chris has completed a Processional for organ, commissioned by Miss Vanessa Hare and Mr Andrew Colley for their wedding on 2nd July.
February 2011 Chris has conducted his Sixth Service at Choral Evensong at Derby Cathedral , sung by the Cathedral Voluntary Choir. The cathedral organist, Peter Gould, played Chris's Toccata Nuptiale as the voluntary. December 2010 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Chris's carol The Jolly Shepherd was sung by the Derby Cathedral Voluntary Choir (Director: Dr Tom Corfield) as part of the Radio Derby Carol Service from Derby Cathedral.
Recital Music are to publish the following choral works by Chris:
Shakespeare's Song of Winter (2003) The Oxen (2005) Hurry to Bethlehem (both versions: SATB+organ, Unison voices with optional descant+piano) (2005)
Blake's Cradle Song (2008)
Chris has been invited to be a judge for the 2011 Recital Music Choral Music Composition Competition.
Chris's song 'There is Sweet Music' (a setting of Tennyson), premiered in St George's Bloomsbury by Christopher Goodwin in 2007, has won second prize in the Recital Music 2010 Song Writing Competition (open category). The song will be published by Recital Music and performed in Yeovil at 4.00pm on Saturday 26 February 2011. November 2010 Chris's choral carol "With Merry Heart" , composed for the 2009 Carol Service at St Matthew's Bethnal Green, London, has been featured in the November 2010 edition of Organists' Review and is published by Allegro Music. October 2010 The City Chamber Choir, conductor: Stephen Jones, are to perform The Jolly Shepherd in two concerts this Christmas: in Northamptonshire on Saturday 11th December, and at St Olave, Hart Street, London at 6.30pm on Tuesday 14th December.
September 2010 Chris's anthem 'Stars of the Morning' has received its first performance, given by the St Paul's Cathedral Consort (conducted by Timothy Wakerell) in St Paul's Cathedral, London on 8th September.
May 2010 Chris's choral piece "To God who gives our daily bread", commissioned by Mr Simon Daniels and Miss Leila Ward for their wedding breakfast on 31st July 2010, has been featured in the May 2010 edition of Organists' Review and is published by Allegro Music. April 2010 Chris has composed a new tune for the Easter Hymn "Jesus Christ is risen: the feast, good Christians, therefore keep" (G. R. Woodward, based on Victimae Pachali). The music was written at the request of the Reverend Kevin Scully, Rector of Bethnal Green, London, and was sung by the congregation of St Matthew's Parish Church on Easter Day. The music is available to download free of charge on the Sibelius website.
March 2010 Chris's new hymn-tune Cloth Fair, composed for the well-known words "There's a wideness in God's mercy" has been sung at St Matthew's Bethnal Green and is available to download free of charge on the Sibelius website.
February 2010 Chris's anthem The Seas are Quiet has been featured in Organists' Review and published by Allegro Music. You can hear the premiere performance of the piece, given by the Giltpsur Singers in 2007, by clicking here. January 2010 Chris's "Missa in Honorem Episcopi Challoneri", composed for the Mass to celebrate the dedication of the new buildings of Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate Schools by the Archbishop of Westminster, was performed by a choir of about 100 students, a 500-strong congregation and the school orchestra at St Mary's and St Michael's Church, Commercial Road, East London on 22nd January 2010. The conductor was Antonia Mott. December 2009 Chris's carol All and Some has received a number of performances this Christmas, including one conducted by Timothy Murray at St Mary's RC Church, Blackheath, London; another conducted by Nigel Alcock at St Swithun's Woodbury, Devon; and another conducted by the composer at St Clement Danes, The Strand, London. Two of Chris's new Christmas pieces have been premiered on the same day (20/12/2009). With Merry Heart was performed at St Matthew's Church, Bethnal Green, London, at 4.00pm, conducted by the composer (click here to watch the performance); and The Jolly Shepherd was performed at St Margaret's Church, Lee, London, at 6.30pm, conducted by Duncan Atkinson (who commissioned the piece). November 2009 All and Some, published by Allegro Music, has once again been featured in Organists' Review. October 2009 Chris has conducted his anthem The Peace of God at the wedding of Mr Stuart Burke and Ms Susan Moss, for which occasion the work was commissioned. September 2009 September 2009 Chris has been commissioned to compose a grace for the wedding breakfast of Mr Simon Daniels and Miss Leila Ward. The wedding is to take place in July 2010, with the reception being held in the Queen's House, Greenwich. August 2009 Chris's arrangement for recorder consort of his Prelude and Fugue has been performed at the Irish Recorder and Viol Course. August 2009 Chris has performed his Fanfare and Prelude and Fugue; plus The Mystic Bourdon by Marco lo Muscio in the 2009 Annual Festival of New Organ Music at St Marylebone Parish Church. July 2009 Chris has completed a commission for a Christmas choral piece for Duncan Atkinson and the choir of St Margaret's, Lee, London. 'The Jolly Shepherd' is scored for SATB choir (with some divisions), tenor and soprano soloists, and organ. The anonymous words date from the early 16th century. May 2009 Chris’s carol “All and Some” for four-part choir a cappella (premièred in 2008 at St Matthew’s Bethnal Green) has been published by Allegro Music and showcased in the May 2009 edition of Organists’ Review. This attractive and straightforward work is suitable for carol services and Christmas concerts, and is within the capabilities of most church choirs. Copies are available from the publisher (£1.50 per copy, minimum order of ten copies): BUY IT NOW February 2009 Chris’s latest academic article, ‘Where is Thy Zeal?: Jonathan Battishill, his Anthem O Lord, look down from Heaven, and a possible error in its musical text’ has been published in Organists’ Review, Vol.XCV No.1, No.373 (February 2009), pp. 31-37. A supporting document is available on the ‘Academic’ page of this website (click on ‘Battishill Scholarship’). February 2009 Chris has completed a commission for a friend’s wedding in October 2009: a setting for unaccompanied choir of a text by the bride’s great-grandfather. January 2009 Chris has been awarded the N.P.Q.H. (National Professional Qualification for Headship). December 2008 The Giltspur Singers gave the first performance of a new piece by Chris, a setting of William Blake, entitled Blake’s Cradle Song at St Clement Danes on the Strand on 16th December 2008. December 2008 Chris’s carol Let Christians All with Joyful Mirth for four-part choir and organ (composed in 1999) has been published by Allegro Music and showcased in the November 2008 edition of Organists’ Review. This work is suitable for services and concerts, and is composed in a lively and rhythmic style. Copies are available from the publisher (£1.25 per copy, minimum order of ten copies): BUY IT NOW November 2008 Chris’s organ piece Invocation and Paean was included in the 2008 Annual Festival of New Organ Music. Chris performed the piece in a concert on 1st November at St John the Evangelist, Duncan Terrace, Islington, N1 8AL. August 2008 Chris’s song “Fear no more the heat o’the sun”, the final movement of his song cycle Quatrefoil, was performed by Jeremy Huw Williams (baritone) and Nigel Foster (piano) to a capacity audience at the Machynlleth Festival on 19th August 2008. July 2008 The première performances of two new works by Chris were given at a concert at St Margaret’s, Lee Terrace, Lee, London, SE13 on Saturday 19th July 2008. Chris conducted the Giltspur Singers in a performance of his anthem The Seas are Quiet and performed his latest organ work: Prelude & Fugue. These performances can be heard on youtube: The Seas are Quiet, Prelude & Fugue May 2008 Chris’s anthem Jesus to Your Table Led for four-part choir and organ has been published by Allegro Music and showcased in the May 2008 edition of Organists’ Review. This work is suitable for Holy Communion services and is composed in a melodious and accessible style. Copies are available from the publisher (£1.50 per copy, minimum order of ten copies): BUY IT NOW |
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