Genre: New Digital Release

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:

Versa est in Luctum

Lamentation of Jeremiah

Hombres, Victoria, Victoria!

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).

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

An energetic and exuberant paean on an Easter text by sixteenth century German writer, Michael Weisse. The music bowls along in changing meters from 4/4 to 7/8, 6/8 and 2/4. The choral parts are often in rhythmic unison or doubled by the keyboard, so the music is memorable and easy to sing by choirs of all abilities. There is a great balance between the asymmetry of the rhythm and the repetition of sections. The accompaniment lies “under the fingers” and is easily accessible to most church accompanists. This piece is suitable for any part of the Easter season, but particularly for Easter Sunday. Its dance like character also makes performance possible in choral programs outside religious services.This simple and vital anthem solves the problem of finding Easter music that is vibrant and energetic rather than grand and triumphant. If your choir likes John Rutter’s Easter music you may also like this piece, which makes references in the keyboard part to the well-loved hymn tune commonly sung to the same text.

This recent work by Australian composer/choral conductor Graeme Morton is an energetic and highly rhythmic setting of this familiar Catherine Winkworth translation of a sixteenth-century German hymn text.  The frequently changing meters from 4/4 to 7/8 to 6/8 add syncopation and rhythmic energy, a fitting complement to this joyful text.
The melody is memorable, and the composer has creatively, yet subtly alluded to the familiar Easter hymn tune Lyra Davidica in the instrumental introduction and interludes. Aside from some moderate rhythmic challenges, the choral writing is quite accessible, and range and tessitura are easily within the reach of the average church or high school choir. The accompaniment, while best suited to the organ can also be performed on the piano.  
This piece is suitable for the season of Easter and would make a great anthem for Easter Sunday for those churches that choose not to prepare works with brass ensemble. Highly recommended. (Review in the American Choral Director’s Association Journal)

Erratum – In bar 57 the bass part should be 2 b-naturals followed by 2 b-flats, as in bars 27, 78, 106.

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.

Combines the text of Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning with two verses of Australian bush poet “Banjo” Paterson’s Sunrise on the Coast. Excellent Christmas piece. This work was commissioned in 1996 by The Harvard University Choir.

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.

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

An energetic rhythmic Gloria with alternative texts for Christmas and general use.

Demonstration Recording:
Gloria In Excelsis, Mark Puddy: Gulf Coast Youth Choir, Florida, Conducted by Lynne Gackle, 2001

Arrangement for SAB choir. For SA arrangement, contact admin@mortonmusic.com.

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).

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

A humorous look at the monkey and turtle who go looking for bananas and get shot! Suitable for children of all ages!

This piece is also available in print as a part of the Island Songs set (available in both SATB and SA voicings).  The SATB version is for unaccompanied choir. The treble version has a piano accompaniment.

(The musical example is for mixed voices, from Great Southern Spirits by The Australian Voices. Released: 1994.)

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

A beautiful song of travel and love. This is a lovely arrangement of a Torres Strait Island song. The SATB version is for unaccompanied choir. The treble version has a piano accompaniment.

This piece is also available in print as a part of the Island Songs set (available in both SATB and SA voicings).

(The musical example is for mixed voices, from Great Southern Spirits by The Australian Voices. Released: 1994.)

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

An easy but effective strophic song emphasizing community. “Come my brother, come my friend, wait, wait in the deep”.

This piece is also available in print as a part of the Island Songs set (available in SATB and SA voicings). The SATB version is for unaccompanied choir. The treble version  has a piano accompaniment.

(The musical example is for mixed voices)

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.

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

An evocative setting of Tennyson’s text. Suitable for high school, community and church choirs.

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

This carol for Christmas manages to combine several opposing concepts. It mentions the traditional winter cold of Christmas and the summer heat which is part of the Australian Christmas experience. It also combines “scat” syllables in a style which is definitely Classical. This piece can be sung by any church or college ensemble which sings the standard repertoire of Christmas. Highly recommended!

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.

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

Birds Songs, featuring Wild Black Crows, Night Birds and The Seagull are three short pieces for young voices and piano which capture the colours and quirky characters of the three birds. These pieces are ideal for upper primary level and offer challenges that will develop the choir and skills of the singers.

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.

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!