The opera company is "taking five" at the rehearsal of Gilbert and Sullivan's Princess Ida, and Arac's little sister Anita has come into the theatre from her job at the strip joint next door. She has already heard her brother Arac practising that so...  moreThe opera company is "taking five" at the rehearsal of Gilbert and Sullivan's Princess Ida, and Arac's little sister Anita has come into the theatre from her job at the strip joint next door. She has already heard her brother Arac practising that song in which he gradually removes all his cumbersome armour, and she decides it is also a song for her. Arac and his fellow guardsmen stand back and watch in great amusement as she performs her version of the song for them.  

Weaving a spell - Incantation for Pamela - magic for a while... This song can be understood on two levels. At first sight it is a simple sentimental piece, but beneath it lies a history of pure imagination, enchantment and impossibility. The co...  moreWeaving a spell - Incantation for Pamela - magic for a while... This song can be understood on two levels. At first sight it is a simple sentimental piece, but beneath it lies a history of pure imagination, enchantment and impossibility. The composer already realises he is no longer feeling what he is writing, he is just weaving a spell, over an ostinato guitar motif, to try to bring the feelings back (hence the title "Incantation"). He has found in his life that whenever he writes a song for the object of his desire, he has already begun to stop feeling that desire ... it is a sign that the relationship is about to change or disappear. But the whole thing is indeed enchantment and magic: you can dream and you can take the song at face value if you wish.  less

Refrain There were plums and prunes and cherries There were raisins and currants and cinnamon too. There were nuts and cloves and berries but the crust it was stuck on with glue. There were caraway seeds in abundance, It would give yer a fine stoma...  moreRefrain There were plums and prunes and cherries There were raisins and currants and cinnamon too. There were nuts and cloves and berries but the crust it was stuck on with glue. There were caraway seeds in abundance, It would give yer a fine stomach ache 'Twould kill any man twice to be eatin' A slice of Mrs Hooligan's Christmas cake. As I sat in me window last evenin' A letterman came unto me. He'd a nice little neat invitation Sayin' "Won't you come over to tea?" I knew it was Hooligan sent it So I went for our friendship's sake and the first thing he gave me to tackle Was a slice of Mrs. Hooligan's cake.  less

Parody of the Rudolph the rednosed reindeer song, new original words and music, sung in English and German

It all began with the idea one morning that the "other tune" for Nahum Tate's carol "While shepherds watched" is, of course, the Yorkshire ditty "On Ilkley moor bar t'hat". Well, as the day progressed to afternoon, other tunes got added, resulting in ...  moreIt all began with the idea one morning that the "other tune" for Nahum Tate's carol "While shepherds watched" is, of course, the Yorkshire ditty "On Ilkley moor bar t'hat". Well, as the day progressed to afternoon, other tunes got added, resulting in a curious potpourri for choir and piano. The choir gets to sing "On Ilkla Moor", the Este psalter tune known to all, and also Auld Lang Syne. The second voice, in its madrigalian way, gets a sly English cadence!. Meanwhile, the piano also gets some sly references to "Sing a song of sixpence" and "Scotland the brave". I sang it in G (ATBB) on this video, to fit my multitrack range, but mixed choir versions are also available on musicaneo: in C (SATB) (fairly high for the sopranos) http://www.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/sm-196257_while_shepherds_watched_-_in_various_melodies.html#196258 and in Bflat (SATB) (fairly low for the basses) http://www.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/sm-196257_while_shepherds_watched_-_in_various_melodies.html#196257  less

Setting by D W Solomons of a poem by Marie Keyser, for two equal voices Elle est près du fleuve dormeur debout It stands by the sleepy river mais le saule incliné toucherait de sa cîme l'eau But the bending willow would touch the water with its very...  moreSetting by D W Solomons of a poem by Marie Keyser, for two equal voices Elle est près du fleuve dormeur debout It stands by the sleepy river mais le saule incliné toucherait de sa cîme l'eau But the bending willow would touch the water with its very top L'église vieille dit les heures de l'île où la nuit descend The church - an old church - tells the hours from the island where the night descends Je la vois encore son toit de gris dans le gris de l'eau. I can still see it, its grey roof in the grey of the water pressens dans la tour de bois ma demeure la folie I have a presentiment in the tower of wood of my dwelling place, of madness la folie le silence of madness, of silence clos clos vigilance Closed in, closed in but keeping watch Oh Ne pas altérer ce qui reste, et le doit. Oh never change what remains and should remain "Was bleibt aber stiften die Dichter." What remains, however, is the stuff of poetry.  less

A simple Communion Service for choir, organ and congregation written for a local church. The photographs were taken by Keith Brownlow, fellow student at Sale University of the 3rd Age, with thanks.

Parody by dwsolo of Gruber's Christmas carol "Silent Night" sung by the composer multitracking. Here the would-be sleeper is kept awake by biting insects! A version for SATB is also available at http://www.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/sm-181539_silent_gnat...  moreParody by dwsolo of Gruber's Christmas carol "Silent Night" sung by the composer multitracking. Here the would-be sleeper is kept awake by biting insects! A version for SATB is also available at http://www.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/sm-181539_silent_gnat.html#181540  

Purcell's Hear my prayer o Lord transposed down a minor third for men's voices.

This version of The Snow by Alice and Edward Elgar is transposed for men's voices (so the second violin becomes a viola) This men's voices version is not yet published so the link references the original SSA version