Rooftops - for two unaccompanied altos Words and music composed and performed by David W Solomons composed as I walked one day from Denning Point in the East End to sing at a service at St Michael's Cornhill around 1986 (the streets were actually empty...  moreRooftops - for two unaccompanied altos Words and music composed and performed by David W Solomons composed as I walked one day from Denning Point in the East End to sing at a service at St Michael's Cornhill around 1986 (the streets were actually empty on Sunday mornings in those days!)  

Motet by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad Te, Deus. Like as the hart desireth the waterbrook So longeth my soul after thee o God

This 17-minute feature medley arranged by Roger Emerson is a salute to the music and the musicians of the Beatles who created the songs that make up the soundtrack of our lives. It includes: All You Need Is Love, A Hard Day's Night, Here Comes the ...  moreThis 17-minute feature medley arranged by Roger Emerson is a salute to the music and the musicians of the Beatles who created the songs that make up the soundtrack of our lives. It includes: All You Need Is Love, A Hard Day's Night, Here Comes the Sun, Imagine, The Long and Winding Road, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, She Loves You, Strawberry Fields Forever, Ticket to Ride, When I'm Sixty-Four, With a Little Help from My Friends, Yesterday Performed here by the dwsChorale  less

The silver swan, who living had no note, When death approached, unlocked her silent throat; Leaning her breast against the reedy shore, Thus sung her first and last, and sung no more: “Farewell, all joys; Oh death, come close mine eyes; More geese th...  moreThe silver swan, who living had no note, When death approached, unlocked her silent throat; Leaning her breast against the reedy shore, Thus sung her first and last, and sung no more: “Farewell, all joys; Oh death, come close mine eyes; More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise.”  

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

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.