Welcome to our new titles!
ORGAN MUSIC
(All titles are graded [1] to [6] where [1] is easy and [6] is difficult)
S S WESLEY (1810-76)
This year marks the bicentenary of the birth of Samuel Sebastian Wesley. Son of the wayward genius Samuel, he was a chorister at the Chapel Royal before holding appointments at Hereford and Exeter Cathedrals, Leeds Parish Church, Winchester and Gloucester Cathedrals. Samuel Sebastian is remembered for his exquisite anthems and fine hymn tunes but he also left a small quantity of organ music of which Holsworthy Church Bells is probably the best known. To mark this special anniversary we have produced a new edition of his early work The National Anthem, a set of variations which the composer first performed on the organ of St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol in October, 1829.
We also publish his Six Pieces for chamber organ of 1842 (in two sets) and A Voluntary: Grave and Andante. Details of all these titles are given below:
S S Wesley - The National Anthem: Variations on God save the King [6] £5.00
A completely new edition of the work composed by the nineteen year-old Wesley to demonstrate the organ in St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol and, more to the point, perhaps, to showcase his own phenomenal performance abilities.
S S Wesley - Six Pieces for chamber organ Set 1 [4-5] £7.00
Andante in Eb (4/4) - Andante in F - Choral Song [and Fugue]
Dedicated to Wesley's former pupil, Lady Acland of Killerton Park, near Exeter. The Choral Song is, of course, well known, but this first set also includes the Andante in F which is, arguably, Wesley's finest organ composition. Lady Acland clearly found them far too difficult, so he duly produced:
S S Wesley - Six Pieces for chamber organ Set 2 [3-4] £5.00
Andante in G - Larghetto in F# minor - Andante in Eb (2/4)
A little less technically demanding, this second set includes the beautiful Larghetto, with variations, in F# minor.
S S Wesley - A Voluntary: Grave and Andante [3] £2.50
Originally published in the Organist's Quarterly Journal, the Andante features extensive use of hand-crossing: our edition includes an alternative version for players of portly disposition!
GEORGE BERG (1730-75)
Little is known about Berg, who studied in London with Pepusch and was organist of St. Mary-at-Hill in the City. His Ten Voluntaries for the Organ or Harpsichord were published by J. Johnson of Cheapside in 1757. Six of them are available in modern editions (including numbers 7 and 10 which can be found in our publication The Georgian Organist (ed. Edwards) and published in 2002). This new volume completes the series by offering new editions of the four voluntaries otherwise unavailable: numbers 2, 3, 5 and 6. These substantial examples of the eighteenth-century voluntary have been carefully transcribed from the original source and edited by Paul Edwards. They are, of course, for manuals only.
George Berg (ed. Edwards) - Four Voluntaries [2-4] £6.00
JOHN ELLIS (b. 1943)
We already have a number of John's organ and choral titles in the animus catalogue and are delighted to add this substantial work to their number. John was a consultant paediatrician in Bolton until his retirement and, for twelve years, Organist of St. Mary's Parish Church, Prestwich, Manchester. He is now Organist of Bury Parish Church. His organ music has been widely performed and recorded and his superb craftsmanship and invention has attracted a great deal of admiration and respect. The première of his large-scale Symphony in Blackburn Cathedral last March was an unforgettable occasion. John's music speaks with a highly individual and immediately recognisable voice and this Triptych is every bit as inspired and well-constructed as his superb Symphony but without its considerable technical demands.
John Ellis - Triptych (Scherzo-Fantasie/Minuet/Toccata) [4-5] £5.00.
CHORAL TITLES
These days church choirs are frequently both fewer in number and membership. Much of the long-accepted 'standard repertoire' is difficult to produce on a regular basis and it may be the case that extra singers come together to augment the choir for special occasions, leaving a small group of singers to lead the worship at other times. With this in mind, we have tried to produce simple church music for regular use and also slightly more demanding titles for those special services when more singers are available. We hope that you will find something of value in the new titles listed below.
Looking ahead, here is a selection of newly-published anthems suitable for specific seasons in the Church year:
LENT
Adrian Self - Tantum ergo [1] £1.00. unison upper voices & org.
EASTER
Alan Smith - Now glad of heart be everyone [2] £1.20. unison voices & pno. or org.
ASCENSION
Derek Tinsley - God is gone up [3] £1.20. SATB & org.
PENTECOST
Adrian Self - Holy Spirit, ever-dwelling [2] £1.00. SATB & org.
TRINITY
Adrian Self - O lux beata Trinitas [4] £1.20 SATB unacc.
GENERAL USE
Alan Smith - O for a closer walk with God [4] £1.20 SATB unacc.
Derek Tinsley - Four short introits [3] £1.00 SATB unacc.
Sacerdotes Domini - Lo! star-led chiefs - Save us, O Lord - I will lay me down in peace
Derek Tinsley - Yes, God is good [3] £1.20 SATB & org.
