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

My Love - a hypnotic and yearning quasi-canon for three equal (alto) voices, with an ostinato guitar motif.

Jingle Bell Rock by Joe Beal and Jim Boothe arranged for one-man choir.

Patapan is a traditional song from the Burgundy region in France. It’s also known in English as Willie Take Your Little Drum. It was written by Bernard de la Monnoye around 1700. My English version here is a singing translation, so feel free to sing ...  morePatapan is a traditional song from the Burgundy region in France. It’s also known in English as Willie Take Your Little Drum. It was written by Bernard de la Monnoye around 1700. My English version here is a singing translation, so feel free to sing along in English :-) Guillaume prends ton tambourin Toi, prends ta flûte, Robin; Au son de ces instruments "Turelurelu, patapatapan" Au son de ces instruments Je dirai Noel gaîment. Willie take your little drum With your flute oh Robin come With the sound of flute and drum tootle tootle toot, bing a bang a boom with the flute and with the drum I will say Nowell with joy. C'était la mode autrefois De louer le Roi des rois Au son de ces instruments "Turelurelu, patapatapan" Au son de ces instruments Il nous en faut faire autant. In the goodly olden days The king of kings we'd praise with the drum and with the flute tootle tootle toot, bing a bang a boom, with the flute and with the drum we should do alike just so  less

Ave verum Corpus natum de Maria virgine. Vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine. Cujus latus perforatum unda fluxit sanguine Esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine. O dulcis. O Pie. O Jesu Fili Mariae, Miserere mei. Amen. Hail, true Body, b...  moreAve verum Corpus natum de Maria virgine. Vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine. Cujus latus perforatum unda fluxit sanguine Esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine. O dulcis. O Pie. O Jesu Fili Mariae, Miserere mei. Amen. Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary, who truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for humankind, from whose pierced side water and blood flowed Be for us a foretaste in the trial of death O sweet one, O holy one, O Jesus son of Mary, have mercy on me. Amen.