Full Catalogue

New to Morton Music – digital copies are now available from RSCM Music Direct (UK) via the Other Countries link.

Suitable for college or church choir. A strophic setting that builds to an exciting climax. Appropriate for Advent or Christmas use.

This setting captures the sense of longing that can be found in the text.

Composer Joe Twist writes,

On The Night Train sets the scene of a train dashing through the Australian bush at dusk, as described by Henry Lawson’s graceful poetry. The emptiness of the Australian outback is represented by long, sustained pitches in the opening and closing sections of the work, above which a simple, folk-like melody is sung. This melody is also used throughout a rhythmic contrasting section where the singers create the impression of a moving train with ‘scat-like’ nonsense syllables and whispered vocal effects.

An Australian interpretation of a traditional English folksong. Appropriate for various groups but particularly suitable for women’s voices. SSAA unaccompanied.

The demonstration recording is:
Once I Had A Sweetheart, trad. arranged Mark Puddy: Perth Modern School (Western Australia) Schola Cantori, 2006.

Part Needle, Part Thread was composed in 2020 for the Adelaide Chamber Singers, though due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was unable to be performed at the World Choir Games in Belgium as intended. It was later video recorded by the Adelaide Chamber Choir for online release.

The text by Ann Nadge explores the delicate connection between love and time, describing that connection as an entity, a process and a protection against emotional darkness. Carl Crossin, effortlessly weaves the voices between each other, painting the metaphor of needle and thread before time seemingly stops in the dramatic B section. Listen below.

Australia’s most iconic choral work to date, and featured on the Hollywood film Boychoir. This version is for SA divisi choir a cappella. There is also a treble voice version of the score for choir and an accompaniment for cello only.

Commissioned (in the SATB version) for Graeme Morton’s high school choir, the work can be performed by choirs of modest training, and yet has made it all the way to Chanticleer, and other professional groups, such is its broad appeal.

Accompaniment available for Full Orchestra or Concert Band, String Orchestra or Cello Ensemble.

Recording by The American Boychoir · Fernando Malvar-Ruiz · Sarah Hopkins

Australia’s most iconic choral work to date, and featured on the Hollywood film Boychoir. This version is for SATB divisi choir a cappella. MM2003 is a treble version and MM2004 uses the treble voice version of the score for choir and an accompaniment for celli only.

The work distinctively features Harmonic Overtone Singing. A rehearsal guide to Past Life Melodies, also available through Morton Music, shows you how to teach this technique to your choir.

Commissioned by Graeme Morton’s high school choir, the work can be performed by choirs of modest training, and yet has made it all the way to Chanticleer, and other professional groups, such is its broad appeal.

Accompaniment available for Full Orchestra or Concert Band, String Orchestra or Cello Ensemble.

New to Morton Music – digital copies are now available from RSCM Music Direct (UK) via the Other Countries link.

This well-loved text, often referred to as the “Shepherd’s Psalm” offers the promise of comfort and solace in times of turmoil and distress. It is often paraphrased and sung as a hymn or sung in chant.

Here Australian composer John Nickson’s setting is more in the form of an unaccompanied motet, suitable for choral performance within liturgical or concert settings.

A highly imaginative choral piece for SSAA choir and piano. In it a young child who lives in the dry central Australian outback and has never seen rain dreams of what it would be like to be in a thunderstorm. The work eventually becomes a sort of rain dance with chanting of “Wandjina”, an Australian Aboriginal rain spirit.

Recording by Gondwana Voices, January 2013 at Verbrugghen Hall (Conservatorium of Music in Sydney).

The first of the Ancient Cries set; Rainbird begins with a dramatic and evocative piano introduction and includes some Australian aboriginal words as well as aleatoric sounds.

New Release – One of Stephen Leek’s exclusive digital releases directly through Morton Music – email admin@mortonmusic.com for details.

Rainstorm from Reef Songs is suitable for SSATB and percussion.

This seven page compendium of information and resources helpful to choir directors, choristers and music students. Much of the material in this booklet is different from that in the CD. There is biographical information, a discussion on the process of composition and suggestions for rehearsal. It includes information on Sarah’s compositional process, Rehearsal suggestions, frequently given feedback to Choirs plus bio info.

A  short song by Sarah Hopkins in a vibrant, joyful style. This is a combined score that can be used by either treble or mixed voices. The work divides into seven parts but many parts use sustained single tones so a choir of reasonable ability can perform the work. SA or SATB a cappella (or accompanied by any treble ensemble).

“Riawanna” is an Australian native word for “circles” and the piece is a do-it-yourself round with thousands of possibilities. It includes mixed meters. The final instruction in the accompanying notes says it all: “have fun”.

The sound file is by Eltham East Primary School Choir’s CD Sea Shapes, conducted by Anne Williams.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Carl Crossin writes that the brief given to him in the commission of this work was that the song be “uplifting and life affirming” – and that it certainly is. A wonderful piece for secondary choir.

“Rise” is also available for SSAA voicing.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Carl Crossin writes that the brief given to him in the commission of this work was that the song be “uplifting and life affirming” – and that it certainly is. A wonderful piece for secondary choir.

“Rise” is also available for SATB voicing.

This new piece, using text from Herry Lawson and Stephen Cronin, is also available as Double Choir.

This new piece, using text from Herry Lawson and Stephen Cronin, is also available as SATB

This seventy minute CD includes spoken commentary from Sarah Hopkins as she rehearses Past Life Melodies with St Peters Chorale and we also hear inspiring performances of the full piece. This is a marvelous resource which has the composer’s stamp of authority!

A four-part arrangement for treble voices of the traditional American folk song that concludes with the most magical and ethereal sounds!

Also available in SSAA voicing

A four-part arrangement for treble voices of the traditional American folk song that concludes with the most magical and ethereal sounds!

Also available for SATB

Sing Out! was commissioned for Australian Society of Music Education Conference 2005 as the opening massed work. It is a short, fun, rhythmic piece to be sung ‘with joy’.

The composer arranged the text using both his own verses in English and traditional Australian words. The latter have a sonorous quality and also match the theme of the song. The result is a work with a distinct Australian flavour which paints a visual image of the Australian outback. SSAA unaccompanied.

Listen to Sky Song on Spotify or Apple Music.

NOW AVAILABLE

Written after Perth’s first lockdown due to Covid-19, this simple yet lush setting of Coleridge’s poetry expresses a first glimpse of hope and return to normality. Both an expressive longing and a gentle dreaming to be with someone far away resonates through the harmony and melodic gestures.

A robust arrangement which includes two versions of an Australian sea shanty. The composer also sanctions a cappella performances.

Another in the Songs of Passage set, “tabulam” means “my home”. This song captures the energy and life of music-making from the north of Australia where part-singing is joyous, spontaneous and often improvised. The writing is lush, rich and repetitive. Commissioned by Graeme Morton’s St Peters Chorale.

Talking to my Shoe is the first piece in a collection of four pieces for treble voices and piano.

Composer Paul Stanhope writes:

Losing the Plot is a collection of songs for children’s voices and piano with texts by Michael Leunig. They were written as a follow up to my earlier cycle of Leunig pieces called Songs of Innocence and Joy for treble voices and chamber orchestra.

The first of these pieces, Talking to My Shoe was commissioned and premiered by the Sydney Children’s Choir as part of their 15th anniversary in 2004. The remaining three songs in the cycle were commissioned by the Network of Treble Ensembles (NoTE) which includes Brisbane Biralee Voices, Gondwana Voices,Young Adelaide Voices and Young Voices of Melbourne. All the songs in this set are tinged with an exuberant sense of the absurd, but as usual with Leunig’s texts, there are many layers of meaning and often twists in the tale.

The songs are written for upper-primary to high-school aged treble voices mostly in unison and two parts. In two songs—Talking to My Shoe and La–La Land—the choir splits into three parts, but only in a couple of short passages. A more difficult version of this piece also exists with the voices divided into three parts.

Permission should be sought from Penguin Books Australia before re-printing any of the texts.

The recordings are by the Australian Boys Choir conducted by Noel Ancell.

Talking to my Shoe is the first piece in a collection of four pieces by Paul Stanhope. This version is for SSA and piano.

Composer Paul Stanhope writes:

Losing the Plot is a collection of songs for children’s voices and piano with texts by Michael Leunig. They were written as a follow up to my earlier cycle of Leunig pieces called Songs of Innocence and Joy for treble voices and chamber orchestra.

The first of these pieces, Talking to My Shoe was commissioned and premiered by the Sydney Children’s Choir as part of their 15th anniversary in 2004. The remaining three songs in the cycle were commissioned by the Network of Treble Ensembles (NoTE) which includes Brisbane Biralee Voices, Gondwana Voices,Young Adelaide Voices and Young Voices of Melbourne. All the songs in this set are tinged with an exuberant sense of the absurd, but as usual with Leunig’s texts, there are many layers of meaning and often twists in the tale.

The songs are written for upper-primary to high-school aged treble voices mostly in unison and two parts. In two songs—Talking to My Shoe and La–La Land—the choir splits into three parts, but only in a couple of short passages. A more difficult version of this piece also exists with the voices divided into three parts.

Permission should be sought from Penguin Books Australia before re-printing any of the texts.

This piece is currently in preparation. For more information please contact admin@mortonmusic.com

This piece is currently in preparation. For more information please contact admin@mortonmusic.com

This recording of The Earth’s Prayer is sung by Lumens and directed by Kathryn Morton. Despite beautiful, moving harmonies throughout, it is the text that shines through in this piece.

Text by Sally Clarke:

Our Mother, whose Paradise is our Haven, 

Hallowed be thy top soil. 

Thy splendour, thy splendour, thy splendour be replenished, 

thy nurture be reciprocated on Land as it is in Sea/Sky/Mountain Range. 

Give us this day our daily mindfulness, 

forgive us our fossil fuel obsession as we forgive those who manipulate against us. 

Lead us back into balance and deliver us from separation, 

for thine is the Wonder of Biodiversity, the renewable power and the shared, sustainable glory. 

Now and forever. Amen! 

The Parting Glass is essentially an arrangement of a traditional Irish melody and has an alternative 2nd verse. The recording by the Adelaide Chamber Singers, was conducted by Carl Crossin in 2021.

This poignant piece, written for the Seymour College Chamber Singers, is based on the poem by the same name by Robert Frost. The text tells of a traveller who comes across a fork in the road and decides to take the road less travelled – a moving reflection on life’s decisions. Composer Carl Crossin’s decision to include violin adds a further element of emotion to an already very stirring piece. Highly recommended, particularly for youth choirs.

This poignant piece, written for the Seymour College Chamber Singers, is based on the poem by the same name by Robert Frost. The text tells of a traveller who comes across a fork in the road and decides to take the road less travelled – a moving reflection on life’s decisions. Composer Carl Crossin’s decision to include violin adds a further element of emotion to an already very stirring piece. Highly recommended.

A lyrical and charming Australian folksong set for SATB choir and piano. This is a simple arrangement that brings out the grace and charm of the melody. The score gives and explanation of all the Australian slang in the song, arising as it does from the Australian colonial period and the vast sheep-raising properties that were characteristic of this history.

This song makes a great contrast with Bullocky-O, also arranged by Graeme Morton.

A humorous song for young singers with references to unusually named and strange sounding Australian towns such as Burrumbeet, Beetaloo and Gundagai. The performance above is from the National Youth Choir of Australia directed by Noel Ancell.

New to Morton Music – digital copies are now available from RSCM Music Direct (UK) via the Other Countries link.

This is the ultimate in a flexible edition! Unison, SAA, TBB and SATB choirs can sing the music from this copy. Based on the old Dutch carol, McKinley’s accompaniment fairly bowls along in a quasi-Baroque style. An excellent addition to the sacred Easter repertoire for any choir.

This wonderful piece portrays three phases of the day: Sunrise, emerging in the stillness of the dawn, Birds, reflecting the vitality of the noonday, and the vibrant bird calls in the “Australian) bush, and Sunset, where the conclusion to the set of songs is a slow chordal diminuendo as the sun sets. Each movement can be performed separately.

Watch the full score preview video here.

New to Morton Music – digital copies are now available from RSCM Music Direct (UK) via the Other Countries link.

Three simple carols for women’s or children’s choir using the medieval texts Terly Terlow, When Christ Was Born of Mary Free and I Sing of a Maiden. The recordings below feature the Brisbane Chamber Choir.

(i) Terly Terlow

The old English text discusses the shepherds and the music suggests the sound of shepherds’ pipes.

(ii) When Christ was Born of Mary Free

The second song of the three also discusses the shepherds and the song of the angels.

(iii) I Sing of a Maiden

This one page piece is a hauntingly beautiful setting of the medieval text. For the most part in two parts, it divides into three at the end. Highly recommended!