This is an a cappella arrangement of the tune Stowey, which is a traditional English folksong often paired with these words by Frances Chesterton: How far is it to Bethlehem, not very far? Shall we find the stable room lit by a star? Can we see the l...  moreThis is an a cappella arrangement of the tune Stowey, which is a traditional English folksong often paired with these words by Frances Chesterton: How far is it to Bethlehem, not very far? Shall we find the stable room lit by a star? Can we see the little child, is He within? If we lift the wooden latch, may we go in? May we stroke the creatures there, ox, ass or sheep? May we peek like them and see Jesus asleep? If we touch His tiny hand, will He awake? Will He know we've come so far just for His sake? Great Kings have precious gifts and we have nought Little smiles and little tears are all we have brought. For all weary children Mary must weep Here, on His bed of straw, sleep, children, sleep. God in his mother's arms, babes in the byre Sleep as they sleep who find their heart's desire.  less

Let it snow - by Cahn and Styne Choral arrangement

This was written as an ironic parody response to that Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer song we sing every year! (Rudolphus Rubrinasus syndrome!) (Note: the score has a slightly more ornamented piano part than this performance)

Zulu song of liberation with additional verse of peace in English Aya ngena = They Come In, Aya phuma = They get out, Aya didizela = They're in a state of confusion, Aya sab' amagwala = The cowards are scared. Peace we bring you why must evr...  moreZulu song of liberation with additional verse of peace in English Aya ngena = They Come In, Aya phuma = They get out, Aya didizela = They're in a state of confusion, Aya sab' amagwala = The cowards are scared. Peace we bring you why must evr'ybody keep on fighting when hunger needs to be fought leave your guns now fight with ploughshares leave your guns now  

The 50s song Mister Sandman by Pat Ballard, which I arranged, on request, for our local choir. After a few concerts, I thought it would also be fun to sing it all myself (multitracking), so here it is. I have now published the score; see below

Improvisation for meditation on Gu-Cheng or "Cheng" or "guzhen" 古筝 (Chinese zither) small bells (Xing or Peng Ling 碰铃- also known as touch bells) and bass and alto voices Performed by David W Solomons

Madrigal by Thomas Vautor for five part choir. (a vulture composes a song about an owl!? - political correctness gone mad!) The owl is depicted as a thing of beauty a fierce force of nature and a mysterious companion to dying souls The drawin...  moreMadrigal by Thomas Vautor for five part choir. (a vulture composes a song about an owl!? - political correctness gone mad!) The owl is depicted as a thing of beauty a fierce force of nature and a mysterious companion to dying souls The drawing is by my late mother, the painting is by Caspar David Friedrich the carvings are by my father  

La Folia (literally "madness") was a Portuguese dance from the renaissance, and it has been used by many composers in the ensuing centuries. This version is for voices and guitar. It introduces the theme as a repeated verse on voice 1 and then adds a co...  moreLa Folia (literally "madness") was a Portuguese dance from the renaissance, and it has been used by many composers in the ensuing centuries. This version is for voices and guitar. It introduces the theme as a repeated verse on voice 1 and then adds a couple of vocalize additions above and below it. The pdf file contains the score and a separate guitar part. The sound sample is performed by the composer. Let's sing la Folia Oh let's sing la Folia Oh let's sing la Folia as in the Baroque time Oh let's sing la Folia Oh let's sing la Folia It spans all the centuries up to now (la la la) (cu cu cu!)  less

Vivaldi Gloria sung by a one-man choir (sopranos are transposed in order to keep the key changes - sorry for the "Pinky and Perky" effects)

Lamento d'Arianna (Ariadne's Lament) This is the five part madrigal version of Ariadne's Lament, which she sings when she is abandoned on the island of Naxos by her lover Theseus. The translation is by Francesco Campelli on CPDL The performance was cre...  moreLamento d'Arianna (Ariadne's Lament) This is the five part madrigal version of Ariadne's Lament, which she sings when she is abandoned on the island of Naxos by her lover Theseus. The translation is by Francesco Campelli on CPDL The performance was created in memory of the late Richard Gofton, who introduced me to the music back in 1976 (Our Strasbourg choir Psalterion performed it at that time)