Genre: Secular Choral Pieces

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.

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.

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

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.

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).

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

This piece is available 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)

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 conducted by Celia Christmass, 2006

An Australian interpretation of a traditional English folksong that is a good companion piece to Once I Had A Sweetheart. SA and piano.

Demonstration Recording:
Come All Ye Fair and Tender Ladies, trad. arranged Mark Puddy: Gulf Coast Youth Choir, Florida, Conducted by Lynne Gackle, 2001

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

From the Torres Strait Islands north of Australia’s Cape York comes a beautiful song which depicts the progress of the ship Black Swana as it glides across the sea. Recording from “Great Southern Spirits” by The Australian Voices, released in 1994.

An arrangement in treble voicing is also available: Black Swana SSAA

Three songs from the Torres Strait Islands to the north of Australia. Comprises Monkey and Turtle, Trade Winds and Morning Tide. Good for use in classrooms or with choirs at elementary or high school level.

The SATB version is for unaccompanied choir. The treble version  has a piano accompaniment.

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

Monkey and Turtle:

Trade Winds:

Morning Tide:

An SATB version can be found here.

A humorous look at the monkey and turtle who go looking for bananas and get shot! Suitable for children of all ages! Only available within the collection of Island Songs (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, from Great Southern Spirits by The Australian Voices. Released: 1994.)

A beautiful song of travel and love. This is a lovely arrangement of a Torres Strait Island song. Only available within the collection of Island Songs.

This piece is available 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.)

“Dolphins” are the subject of this highly energetic and rhythmic piece.

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

A slow meditative work. A beautiful imaginative piece that stands among the best.

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

A masterly and unique arrangement of Australia’s favourite song.

Also from Songs of Passage, “coraparena” means “flat place”. The writing is easy to sing though it contains some chord clusters. Commissioned by Graeme Morton’s St Peters Chorale.

This is the fourth title of Songs of Passage, the work which includes Ngana. “Ceduna” means “waterhole”. The music includes “boxes” of material for singers to work through as well as traditionally scored sections. Commissioned by Graeme Morton’s St Peters Chorale.

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.

This secular piece laments the loss caused to both western and indigenous cultures when white miners arrive to mine for gold.

A rollicking piece for a good high school choir. Bullock teams were an important form of early transport for heavy loads in Australia and each one was driven by a “bullocky” – a pioneer of great character. Requires a skilled pianist.

Recording from “Our Time And Place” by St Peter’s Chorale, directed by Graeme Morton, released in 1997.

Combines the traditional music and text of the Australian folk song Andy’s Gone With Cattle with the American folk song He’s Gone Away. Would suit a high school choir.