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Three Motets After Victoria (Victoria Triptych) |
New to Morton Music – digital copies are now available from RSCM Music Direct (UK) via the Other Countries link. This “Victoria Triptych” was written in 2011, the 400th anniversary of the death of the great Spanish polyphonist, Thomas Luis de Victoria. For unaccompanied SATB choir, and with divided parts, these wonderful Latin motets remind us that the great motet tradition is still vibrant and flourishing. The individual titles are: Click the links above for score previews and recordings of each movement. Recordings feature the choir of St James King Street, Sydney (one of three commissioning choirs).
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Tides Of Ocean |
A six-minute piece that uses the Victor Carrell poem which describes the poet’s return to Australia by sea. The musical setting of the poem falls broadly into four continuous sections. The opening section comprises a rhythmic and lively music as the choir sings of standing over “tides of ocean”. There follows a calmer music as the poem carries us into the night with images of moon-paths and flying fish which “flash sparks like jewels,” culminating in a “southward dip” which involves all the tenors and basses descending to their lowest registers. The slowly emerging Southern Cross and the excitement of its presence is reflected in the third section of the work by the gradual accretion of voices forming a natural crescendo. The zenith of this crescendo leads the piece to its joyful and spirited conclusion. The recording above features The Australian Voices (2010) directed by Stephen Leek. Or watch the Boston Choral Ensemble’s performance here!
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Tintinara – Morton Music Exclusive |
New Release – One of Stephen Leek’s exclusive digital releases directly through Morton Music – email admin@mortonmusic.com for details. Tintinara is for a medium choir of any age voiced fo SA and piano. This unusual piece employs some more unusual choral techniques to capture the calls of the bush reflected in the ringing of bells. |
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Tunggare |
“Tunggare” means “voice” or “to sing” in an Indigenous Australian dialect. This is a wonderful opening or closing to a concert. There is much repetition and very easy tenor and bass parts, so it is perfect for a high school choir (and other choirs as well!). It may also be used as a choral piece for audience participation.
Listen to Tunggare here! |
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Tunggare (SATB) – Morton Music Exclusive |
New Release – One of Stephen Leek’s exclusive digital releases directly through Morton Music – email admin@mortonmusic.com for details.
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Tunggare (SSAA) – Morton Music Exclusive |
New Release – One of Stephen Leek’s exclusive digital releases directly through Morton Music – email admin@mortonmusic.com for details.
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Two Kyries from the Winds of Heaven (SA) |
For treble voices a cappella.
These short songs are unusual, fresh and vivid. They resonate with ideas drawn from several religious philosophies. The composer sanctions performances within the context of Christian worship as well as any philosophic tradition which values the soul. Includes harmonic overtone singing. The individual parts are very simple and a large and sonorous ensemble is preferred.
Note: This score includes an additional alternative ‘Kyrie 11’
Listen to the SATB version here!
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Two Kyries From The Winds Of Heaven (SATB) |
These two songs are unusual, fresh and vivid. They resonate with ideas drawn from several religious philosophies. The composer sanctions performances within the context of Christian worship as well as any philosophic tradition which values the soul. Includes harmonic overtone singing. The individual parts are very simple and a large and sonorous ensemble is preferred. Mixed voices a cappella. Recording from”Honour the Earth” CD published by Sarah Hopkins
Performed by Canticum conducted by Emily Cox
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Ubi Caritas |
New to Morton Music – digital copies are now available from RSCM Music Direct (UK) via the Other Countries link. “Where charity and love are, God is there.” Composer Joseph Twist writes… A commemoration of Jesus Christ for Holy Thursday, for me, the Ubi Caritas has a few significant dimensions; the warmth of Christ’s love, the adoration and mystery of the holy spirit, and the idea of an ‘inclusive, universal’ celebration. Accordingly, my Ubi Caritas reflects this through contrasts in harmonic language, at times chromatic or mysterious, at other times diatonic or pentatonic, reflecting Christ’s love, as well as the influence of modal harmony from Eastern Europe and Africa. Similarly, contrasts in rhythm and texture are incorporated. The calm, sparse music which bookends the work is countered with rhythmic, syncopated music in a kind of ritualistic exultation.
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Underpants Anthem 2pt (Losing the Plot) |
Underpants Anthem is the second 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. |
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Underpants Anthem SSA (Losing the Plot) |
Underpants Anthem is the second 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. |
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Until I Saw |
A slow meditative work. A beautiful imaginative piece that stands among the best. |
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Versa est in Luctum |
Number one of Twist’s “Victoria Triptych”. My harp is tuned for lamentation, and my flute to the voice of those who weep. Spare me, O Lord, for my days are as nothing (trans. Miguel Iglesias) Available in the set of Three Motets after Victoria, linked here – not available singly. |
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Voice Of The River |
New to Morton Music – digital copies are now available from RSCM Music Direct (UK) via the Other Countries link. Orlovich has a keen ear for the way different texts resonate with each other. This piece uses the traditional Latin text Dulcis Jesu Memoria and Victor Carrell’s Voice of the River which draws on a series of images which address “love” as it is found in some of its myriad manifestations. Commissioned by Graeme Morton’s St Peters Chorale and suitable for a good high school or college choir. It could also be used in church situations as an anthem.
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Voices Of A Land |
An anthology of three songs, Cutty Sark, Midsummer Noon and Drovers. The score includes instructions for “random bush sounds”. |
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Wake Up! |
Wake Up! is a rhythmic and energetic piece that re-imagines the choir ensemble as a contemporary band. Amongst the global frenzy of contemporary culture, hip-hop and urban music has become the ‘folk music’ that resonates strongly with our current generation. This piece captures the vibrancy of those rhythms and melodies through the imitation of driving hip-hop beats and vociferous rap vocal.
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Waltzing Matilda |
A masterly and unique arrangement of Australia’s favourite song. |
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Waltzing Matilda (SATB) |
A fresh take on an Aussie classic. |
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We Are The Future (SATB) |
A wonderfully uplifting piece with solos throughout, We Are The Future is highly recommended for youth choir. With text adapted from year 8, Brighton Secondary Student, Paris Maddern’s poem “The Future”, this joyous piece for SATB or SSA choir carries a strong, youthful voice and sings of their hope for the future, and their role in it. “And I cry at the glowing blaze of disaster in this world Yearning to reshape it, let goodness be unfurled Perhaps I am not good enough Perhaps my strength exceeds me, The world will see me.” “We Are The Future” is also available in SSA voicing. |
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We Are The Future (SSA) |
A wonderfully uplifting piece with solos throughout, We Are The Future is highly recommended for youth choir. With text adapted from year 8, Brighton Secondary Student, Paris Maddern’s poem “The Future”, this joyous piece for SATB or SSA choir carries a strong, youthful voice and sings of their hope for the future, and their role in it. “And I cry at the glowing blaze of disaster in this world Yearning to reshape it, let goodness be unfurled Perhaps I am not good enough Perhaps my strength exceeds me, The world will see me.” “We Are The Future” is also available in SATB voicing. |
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We Welcome Summer |
New to Morton Music – digital copies are now available from RSCM Music Direct (UK) via the Other Countries link. A wonderful piece which welcomes “the glorious blessing of light” asking us to “pour out our darkness into the glorious forgiving light”. Would suit a good college or church choir. It could also be used as an Epiphany anthem with a difference, since Epiphany appears in the middle of summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
The recording is track number 08, from The Australian Voices’ CD, “The Listening Land”. Conducted by Graeme Morton.
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When The Sleepy Man Comes |
A delightful choral piece for junior choristers aged six to nine. The three stanzas of this song feature graceful singable lines in a classical style. Highly recommended for a choir’s first competition. |
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Where Go The Boats |
A graceful setting of the Robert Louis Stevenson poem for young children. (The performance is by the Brisbane Birralee Voices Junior Choir) |
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White Horses (SA) – Morton Music Exclusive |
New Release – One of Stephen Leek’s exclusive digital releases directly through Morton Music – email admin@mortonmusic.com for details.
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White Horses (SATB) – Morton Music Exclusive |
New Release – One of Stephen Leek’s exclusive digital releases directly through Morton Music – email admin@mortonmusic.com for details.
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White Horses (TBarB) – Morton Music Exclusive |
New Release – One of Stephen Leek’s exclusive digital releases directly through Morton Music – email admin@mortonmusic.com for details.
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Winchester Service |
New to Morton Music – digital copies are now available from RSCM Music Direct (UK) via the Other Countries link. Winchester Service – Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis These canticles, suited for mixed voices and organ, premiered on May 6 2023 in the Winchester Cathedral. Joseph Twist comments, “It fascinates me that the words of the Magnificat were considered by some to be so radical that they were banned in some parts of the world. Believed to be the words of Mary, phrases like “filled the hungry,” “exalted the humble and meek” and “the rich sent empty away” resonate with me, and I believe they resonate with many people today just as they have for centuries, despite the bans. There is also a great sense of storytelling to the text, as these phrases take us from one idea to the next, ultimately offering a sense of peace and contentment, then reaffirmed by the uplifting words of the Nunc Dimittis. I’ve endeavoured to convey this story with music that rises and falls, contrasted by more static choral sonorities and underpinned by a gentle perpetuum mobile organ accompaniment. At the conclusion of each canticle, “Amen” takes us to a place that is vast, peaceful, and celestial. It is my hope that these canticles may offer a uniquely Australian response to a text that has echoed throughout churches and cathedrals for centuries. Winchester Cathedral Choir Recording of Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis – Conducted by Andrew Lumsden and Organist Claudi Grinnell Magnificat: Nunc Dimittis:
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Winter Stars (SATB) |
This piece for choir, piano and flute paints a cloudless winter night – the piano and flute adding a crisp clarity to the atmosphere. A lovely piece for secondary choir, and a great addition to your concert programme. “Winter Stars” is also available in SSAA voicing. |
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Winter Stars (SSAA) |
This piece for choir, piano and flute paints a cloudless winter night – the piano and flute adding a crisp clarity to the atmosphere. A lovely piece for secondary choir, and a great addition to your concert programme. “Winter Stars” is also available in SATB voicing. |