Demo track and rehearsal tracks for 'Ten-Pint Smith', a folk song of deception and derring-do based on a folk-tale from Louth, Lincolnshire.

3. Ten - Pint Smith - TENOR

3. Ten - Pint Smith - ALTO

2. Ten - Pint Smith - SOPRANO

1. Ten - Pint Smith - DEMO RECORDING

A gentle, meditative and very singable motet suitable for the Eucharist. Setting words by Horatius Bonar and William Maclagan.

Contact Alison at www.alisonwillis.com for score.

Text:

Be still, my soul, for God is near.
Here O my Lord, I see you face to face.
This is the heav'nly table spread anew,
I have no help but yours
Nor do I need another arm but yours to lean upon.
Mine is the sin, but yours the righteousness,
Mine is the guilt, but yours the cleansing blood.
I come, O Lord, for thou dost call,
To thee I give myself, my all,
And feed on thee and make thee mine.
Amen.

BE STILL , MY SOUL - SSATB Demo Recording

Available for SATB (div.)Choir/Organ, Tenor and Piano, Contralto and Piano
Total duration c. 7'40''

1. Here are the wounds
2. Sweet Mists
3. Sacrifice

Preview score;
http://composersedition.com/docs/flippdf/ce-aw1ws1/ce-aw1ws1.html

Chloe Stopa-Hunt was another of the selected poets for JAM's “Writing for Voices” and worked with Alison on the “War Songs”. Both were inspired by the centenary of the start of the First World War, and shared ideas about a 
Lamb of God/ lambs to the slaughter collocation. As Chloe says “I think that fundamentally I love doubled meanings and the exploitation of ambiguities, which is why those two senses of lamb are so potent and so effective.”

Musically the songs are rooted in tonality, but with harmonic twists that work with the challenging imagery contained within the text to create a sense of unease. The first, “Here are the wounds” opens with dark cluster chords and references to the communion that eventually resolve to the major. “Sweet Mists” begins with a whistle like motif, building to a desperate cry of “Waken” then falls to “Bone white lambs grazing on the fields of Passchendaele”. The final song “Sacrifice” is more tonal in feel, once again referencing the Christian communion, “I give my body and my blood”, reprising elements of earlier themes before resolving to the closing phrase “and the sun sings on and on all night”.

The men that fought in the First World War were real people, our fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers and these songs are intended to honour their suffering and sacrifice.

War Songs - (2015 - Selwyn College Choir cond. Nicholas Cleobury)

A new Christmas Carol based on a medieval poem sometimes known as the "Adult Lullaby", set for SATB choir and piano/organ including the wise words;

"Ever have mind in your heart of those things three,
 Whence thou comest,
 What thou art and
 What shall come of thee"

I am delighted to announce it was awarded first prize from a very strong shortlist by Judith Weir (Master of the Queen's Music) and Stephen Jackson (Director of the BBC Symphony Chorus) in The Ray Bardsley Carol Competition. The video is of the Dorking Choral Society (cond. Hilary Campbell) giving it's second performance after the adjudication. 



Those Things Three - (2015 - first perf. Dorking Choral Society cond. Hilary Campbell)

A piece written for the fabulous Juice Vocal Ensemble (Kerry Andrews, Sarah Dacey, Anna Snow) as part of their "Snow Queens" season. 

A beautiful poem that tells a sad story of poverty, music and a mother's love. Recorded live at Kingston Arts, with thanks to Juice.

The Ballad Of The Harp Weaver (2015 - performed by Juice Vocal Ensemble)

Quem Timebo? - Vespertinus, the first music heard in the evening liturgy, offering light.

Preview score;
http://composersedition.com/docs/flippdf/ce-aw1qt1/ce-aw1qt1.html

Commissioned as part of The Old Hispanic Office Project at Bristol University, the Vespers reflect the structure and musical soundscape of the early medieval Christian liturgy in the Iberian peninsula. The chants of this region were written in non pitch-specific neumes (medieval squiggles in technical speak....sorry Emma Hornby and the OHO team!) so nobody really knows how they sounded. These pieces are my interpretation.

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) / ERC grant agreement n° 313133.

Quem Timebo - (from Vespers inspired by the medieval Old Hispanic Office)

Flexible composer loves history, forgotten women and English Folk. Performed by BBC Singers, Streetwise Opera & Gesualdo Six. 4 boys, 2 dogs, 4 chickens.

​Her music has been performed across the UK and internationally and described as "intensely moving" and "Beautiful yet pragmatic".

Her works are made available by Composers Edition, OUP,
Stainer and Bell, Multitude of Voyces, Poppy Harp, Selah and Encore Publications.

For all other queries contact Alison directly: ali@alisonwillis.com

Alison Willis Composer

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