This beautiful melody had slipped completely from my memory until I saw the phrase ‘Light of the World’ in “Walking Backwards to Christmas”, the text used by the Advent group in December … More Light of the World – Lyrics: Paul Wigmore (1925-2014), Music: John Dankworth (1927-2010)
On the twelfth day of Christmas my True Love sent to me…gold, frankincense and myrrh, delivered by an unspecified number of “wise” men who had travelled a long and arduous journey from the east, guided only by an unusually bright star in the sky … More Navidad Nuestra: Los Reyes Magos Ariel Ramirez (1921-2010)
A quote often attributed to St Francis of Assisi is that we should endeavour to “Preach the gospel at all times…use words if you must”. I myself have found that quite often, words are superfluous to finding spiritual meaning in music … More Instrumental Music for Worship
Navidad Nuestra (“First Christmas”) is a 6-movement work that takes us from the Annunciation through the Pilgrimmage, the Nativity, the Shepherds and the Three Kings to the Flight to Egypt … More Navidad Nuestra: El Nacimento Ariel Ramirez (1921-2010)
Written in 1942, this is a choral piece, scored for three-part treble chorus (usually children, but can also be women), solo voices, and harp … More Ceremony of Carols Op. 8 – Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
I have written before that sometimes I hear, sing or play a piece of music and just have to write about it immediately. It can then sit for quite some time waiting for an appropriate time for publication … More Better is Peace (Jenkins 2001)
November is truly a time of remembrance, and a few years ago Rev Debby wrote this song to help us remember all that should be remembered … More The November Song – D Plummer
As I have written previously, 2018 is a year of deep remembrance, being the centenary of the ending of the First World War … More A Flower Remembered (Rutter 1945-present)
At this time of year St Margaret’s Children’s Choir likes to sing a song about the process of planting, nurturing, growing and harvesting crops. It is a happy tune that swings along in lilting 6/8 time, and reminds me of the story of the Little Red Hen … More Harvest Song
2018 has been a year of remembrance with concerts to commemorate the centenary of the ending of the Great War reaching their climax in November … More We Shall Walk in the Valley of Peace
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 