"Comin' Thro' the Rye" is a poem written in 1782 by Robert Burns (1759–96). The words are set to the melody of the Scottish Minstrel "Common' Frae The Toun". (This is a variant of the tune to which Auld Lang Syne is usually sung—the melodic shape is alm...  more"Comin' Thro' the Rye" is a poem written in 1782 by Robert Burns (1759–96). The words are set to the melody of the Scottish Minstrel "Common' Frae The Toun". (This is a variant of the tune to which Auld Lang Syne is usually sung—the melodic shape is almost identical, the difference lying in the tempo and rhythm.) It is performed here by the dwsChorale, with a cheeky insertion of a hornpipe! Gin a body meet a body Comin' thro' the rye Gin a body kiss a body Need a body cry? Ilka lassie has her laddie Nane, they say, hae I Yet a' the lads they smile at me When comin' thro' the rye. Gin a body meet a body Comin' frae the toun Gin a body greet a body Need a body froun? Ilka lassie has her laddie Nane, they say, hae I Yet a' the lads they smile at me When comin' thro' the rye. Gin a body meet a body, Comin' frae the well, Gin a body kiss a body, Need a body tell? 'Mang the train there is a swain I dearly lo'e mysel' But what his name or whaur his hame I dinna care to tell  less

This version of "While Shepherds watched their flocks by night", composed by D W Solomons, is based on the tunes On Ilkley Moor bah t'hat, Este's Psalter, Auld Lang Syne, Scotland the Brave and Sing a Song of Sixpence. Three versions are available in s...  moreThis version of "While Shepherds watched their flocks by night", composed by D W Solomons, is based on the tunes On Ilkley Moor bah t'hat, Este's Psalter, Auld Lang Syne, Scotland the Brave and Sing a Song of Sixpence. Three versions are available in score form: While shepherds (G major ATBB) (the version sung in the video) http://dwsolo.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/sm-196259_while_shepherds_watched_-_in_various_melodies_-_version_in_g_major_atbb.html While shepherds (C major SATB) http://dwsolo.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/sm-196258_while_shepherds_watched_-_in_various_melodies_-_version_in_c_major_satb.html While shepherds (B flat major SATB) http://dwsolo.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/sm-196257_while_shepherds_watched_-_in_various_melodies_-_version_in_b_flat_satb.html  less

La Folia (literally "madness") was a Portuguese dance from the renaissance, and it has been used by many composers in the ensuing centuries. This a-cappella 4-voice version uses three altos and one bass, a cappella. It explores a couple of alternative m...  moreLa Folia (literally "madness") was a Portuguese dance from the renaissance, and it has been used by many composers in the ensuing centuries. This a-cappella 4-voice version uses three altos and one bass, a cappella. It explores a couple of alternative modes for the theme: Octatonic and Dorian. Singing of folia this old tune repeats all day and even in the new Octatonic mode we can sing folia all the day long in this five time and we sing it in Octatonic mode madness all is madness while we're singing of la folia and in five time and Octatonic mode can't leave off la folia it will drive me round the bend soon and I'll shortly change to some other mode Sing it in the Dorian sing it in the Dorian oh I love the Dorian it makes me dream on  less

Performance with words for singing along: Based on The Expotition to the North Pole (Winnie the Pooh). Narrator, various spoken and singing voices and instruments

Setting of the incantation of the three witches in Shakespeare's Macbeth, for three altos and guitar. Performed by the composer.

Arrangement based on Bach's harmonisation of the old German Christmas tune O Jesulein süß O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild! Des Vaters Willn hast du erfüllt; Bist kommen aus dem Himmelreich, Uns armen Menschen worden gleich, O Jesulein süß, o Jesule...  moreArrangement based on Bach's harmonisation of the old German Christmas tune O Jesulein süß O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild! Des Vaters Willn hast du erfüllt; Bist kommen aus dem Himmelreich, Uns armen Menschen worden gleich, O Jesulein süß, o Jesulein mild! [O little one sweet o little one mild You have fulfilled your Father's will You've come down from the heavens and become the same as us mortals O little one sweet o little one mild] [etc]  

A choral spoof on the 12 Days of Christmas, composed and performed by David W Solomons A version for SATB is also available at the link below The cartoon animation was created, from a "choirboy" caricature of the composer by "Dale", by David Marsh (Para...  moreA choral spoof on the 12 Days of Christmas, composed and performed by David W Solomons A version for SATB is also available at the link below The cartoon animation was created, from a "choirboy" caricature of the composer by "Dale", by David Marsh (Paramolehill) The words (taking the last verse) are ...on the twelfth day of Christmas the choir processed in song and twelve candles dripped eleven altos flipped and ten lines were clipped and nine gins were sipped and eight crept to the crypt and seven hymn books slipped and six basses quipped and five sang in tune! and four cassocks ripped and three lost their script and two tenors tripped and the soloist got it all wrong.  less

Sung here as ATTB Also Score for SATB: https://dwsolo.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/sm-326575_dal_lecto_me_levava_for_satb_choir.html Arrangement of a madrigal by Michele Pesenti (also known as Micha Pesentus, Michael Pesentus and other versions of the n...  more Sung here as ATTB Also Score for SATB: https://dwsolo.musicaneo.com/sheetmusic/sm-326575_dal_lecto_me_levava_for_satb_choir.html Arrangement of a madrigal by Michele Pesenti (also known as Micha Pesentus, Michael Pesentus and other versions of the name). He was a priest in Italy (possibly Verona or Ferrara) and lived from about 1470 to 1521. This song "Dal lecto me levava" appears to have been one of the first of its kind to signal the move from the traditional frottole (which had mainly a homophonic movement, and often had just a single voice with instruments) into the more familiar madrigal style, where all the lines were sung and where the movement was more contrapuntal. My understanding of the original madrigal is that the priest is considering getting up for another day devoted to the Lord, but the crane, some kind of holy messenger, possibly even St Michael (who is sometimes referred to as the ambassador of the Lord), tells him that it is not yet time to get up . . .  less

Song of the two snails who go to the funeral of a dead leaf. Poem by Jacques Prévert. Music composed for two unaccompanied altos (countertenors) and sung by David W Solomons (one of my first multitrack recordings back in the early 1980s).

The Elves after Leconte de Lisle - a mini-cantata English version by S N Solomons after the poem by Leconte de Lisle Music composed and performed by David W Solomons with Helge Øye playing alto and tenor recorders