A group of three Christmas Carols written for Jonathan Willcocks and Portsmouth Choral Union in 1997, in which Latin, French and English phrases are spun together in the medieval texts. The unaccompanied middle carol is contemplative and in contrast to the two outer ones. Joyful syncopated fun rounds off the sequence.
Novo Profusi Gaudio
That Yonge Child
Verbum Caro Factum Est
Cost of music
SATB with divisions / organ: £4.75 ISMN: M 708005 21 6 (9 minutes)
An anthem, commissioned for the completion of the nave organ at Romsey Abbey, 1999. It was written for performance by two choirs (SA & SATB) and two organs, however it is equally possible and acceptable to perform this work with one choir and one organ, or with two choirs and one organ - all from the same edition. A rhythmic piece with lively syncopations and joie de vivre.
Cost of music
SATB / org: SS / SATB / org: SS / SATB / 2 org: £2.40 ISMN: M 708005 24 7 (7 minutes)
A lovely Christmas carol; a simple canon. Though composed for St. Edmund's School Choir, this may be sung by two solo voices or by upper voices of any chorus - a delightful piece.
Cost of music
SS / piano or organ: £1.00 ISMN: M 708005 22 3 (2½ minutes)
Fire From Heaven
This cantata was written for Portsmouth Baroque Choir, with baritone soloist, brass, percussion and organ. The libretto is compiled by Daphne Burgess from the Book of Daniel of the Old Testament; with interpolations from Isaiah and Psalms. It deals with Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Mesach and Abednego, and the super-heated burning fiery furnace. The music, full of drama, vividly conveys the rages, the beseeching and the fear of the story - with fabulous brass writing and a stunning ending.
Performances
Portsmouth Baroque Choir 1983, 1988; Manchester Cathedral Cantata Choir 2001; Malvern Festival Chorus 2003.
Reviews
"direct in its emotional appeal ... superb control of form and forces. A triumph " - The News, Portsmouth
"the dramatic contrasts are well sustained and there is plenty for the choir to enjoy. The choral writing is grateful to sing and the musical language accessible ... choral societies would enjoy Fire from Heaven. Its possibilities are well worth exploring." - Organists' Review
"a substantial work in one continuous movement ... The music is highly dramatic with a great variety of textural contrast very much in the vein of the 20th century English Oratorio tradition and would be a challenging addition to the repertoire" - Sheet Music
Illuminare Jerusalem a sequence of Christmas carols
The six carols of this sequence are settings of medieval texts. While the two carols, Nolite and Dormi Jesu are in Latin the others combine English and Latin phrases within the verses.
There are two versions: 1. SATB / organ; 2. SSA / organ (no.5 is SSAA).
'Illuminare Jerusalem' was first assembled in 1992, and published by Oecumuse.
In 2009 the whole has been re-visited and revisions made for this new publication by Caddy Publishing. In a number of instances the revisions have been to simplify compound bars while retaining the original syncopated rhythms.
The style of these carols is of the essence of Ian Schofield's music: plangent lines, narrative, dialogue, vigorous syncopation, warm harmonies, tenderness and boisterous joyfulness by turn. Each carol relates a different aspect of the Nativity story, contrasting one with another, until it all ends in a riotous summation of joy.
The carols may be sung individually or in groups as recommended in the score.
Nolite timere vos
Make we joy now in this feast
Illuminare Jerusalem
A babe is born
Dormi, Jesu!
Letabundus
Cost of music
SATB with divisions / organ £7.95ISMN: 979-0-7080-0502-5 (22 minutes)
SSA / organ £7.45 ISMN: 979-0-7080-0503-2 (22 minutes)
Performances London 1992; Portsmouth Baroque Choir 1992; Birmingham Cathedral Choir 2001; throughout Great Britain - including the Royal Albert Hall; Plymouth, USA 2007.
Reviews "I cannot recommend highly enough this excellent suite of six carols setting medieval texts. The composer has something to say and yet he keeps practicalities in mind. For a start, there is a welcome flexibility over whether single carols may be performed - or some or all. The faster numbers are jazzy and witty and the slower ones atmospheric. The music has a real sense of occasion and yet choirs will find it quite approachable." - Organists' Review
"This is a series of carols based on medieval texts for SATB choir with organ accompaniment. The music, which captures the origin of the words, is full of vitality and rhythmic energy ... an SSA version is also available" - Sheet Music
Lauda Sion
Written for Portsmouth Baroque Choir. The full 6-part sections of this anthem are juxtaposed with 'statement and answer' sections between the upper and lower voices. There are passages of sumptuous harmonies, terminating in an extended Alleluia.
Audio Clip
Cost of music
SSATTB unaccompanied (3¾ minutes)
£1.99 ISMN: M 708005 64 3
Performance Portsmouth Baroque Choir 2000
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis
A setting, in Latin, of the Canticles for Evensong, extending to 6 minutes and 3 minutes respectively. They are suitable for cathedral service or concert performance - perhaps a bit too much for parish church choirs. The first Gloria and Amen bring the Magnificat to an exuberant conclusion. The Nunc Dimittis opens with a treble or soprano solo, the music matching the idiosyncrasies of the text throughout. The second Gloria and Amen give this setting a reflective conclusion.
Cost of music
SATB with divisions and treble or soprano solo / organ (9½ minutes)
£4.35 ISMN: M 708005 19 3
Review "Ian Schofield's Latin setting of the canticles has a lot of rhythmic vitality and some challenging vocal writing (with occasional divisi). While the music is broadly tonal, the key centre often shifts ... imaginative" - Church Music Quarterly
Lasting about 28 minutes, this setting of the Mass is ideal for concert performance by a good, competent chamber choir. Equally, it is a great Mass for a special liturgical occasion, sung by a fine choir of church or cathedral.
The Kyrie and 3-fold Agnus Dei are written in an unaccompanied quasi Renaissance idiom, without being in any way pastiche - the concluding Agnus Dei is in seven vocal parts and includes a series of elaborate 'sublime canons'. The lively Gloria and joyful Sanctus/Benedictus are highly rhythmic, whilst the central Credo is harmonically the most adventurous movement. A substantial work of quality.
This work was first published by Caddy Publishing in 1995. It has been revised by the composer and reprinted in 2009.
Cost of music
SATB with divisions / organ (28 minutes)
£7.50 ISMN: 979-0-7080-0527-8 - Revised version 2009
Performance Portsmouth Baroque Choir 1995
Reviews "a contemporary yet very accessible idiom .. many changes of colour .. lovely moments. Sanctus: dancing rhythms, cross accentuations and an exciting richly scored Hosanna" - Church Music Quarterly
"a fairly compact work; It is varied, with frequent changes of texture and style, now in chromatic polyphony, now in imitative chanting, reminiscent of medieval plainsong. Throughout, there seems to be a conscious effort to set the words as colourfully as possible." - Sheet Music
Of A Rose
This is another Christmas carol with a medieval text. Two soprano soloists sing gently of the Christmas mystery, whilst the choir revels in catchy syncopated octaves and four part harmony as they delight in the birth of Mary's son.
Cost of music
SATB with 2 soprano soloists / organ (3½ minutes)
£1.99 ISMN: M 708005 23 0
Review "a short anthem for Christmas. Its chromatic harmonies and changes of metre give it a sense of freedom and the 'misterium mirabile' of the text is amply reflected in the music." - Sheet Music
The Preces and Responses
Written for the Cappella Singers in Chichester Cathedral. Here is a nicely perceptive setting of the Preces and Responses. Schofield combines majesty and humanity, at times dividing the voices into six parts, notably for 'The Lord's name be praised', and into seven parts for the final Amen.
Cost of music
SATB with divisions
£1.95 ISMN: M 708005 20 9
Review "Harmonically stark in places, the five- and six-part textures add richness while the music is characterful. There is no setting of the Lord's Prayer in Schofield's set, but it is worthy of recommendation" - Choir & Organ
