The idea for this piece came from a conversation/argument with a friend about which hymn tunes are 'bangers' (yes I'm aware how nerdy this is). I loved that we had very different but equally passionate opinions and so I decided to compose something which used two of our favourite tunes as the source material. 

The result was a light-hearted and exciting piece, radically different in tone from the original melodies, and as occasionally ludicrous as the conversation that inspired it.

For the purists, there is also a version for Organ.

Two-Tune Toccata

Three songs inspired in different ways by thinking about the environment. 

I wrote Beauty as a teenager; this is somewhat rewritten but the main tunes are the same, as are about 50% of the words. The other two songs were written after it was pointed out to me by Hazel Watson of Watson and Lockett commented on the dearth of folk music engaging with the ecological crisis. I set myself the challenge of writing a song that plays on folk tropes but accidentally wrote two. 

Recording and mixing aren't my fortes. I could spend ages trying to get these better, without achieving much, so I've posted them in rough and ready form as demos, because it's the songwriting I really want to share.

Carbon Kings demo

My 'Extinction Calypso' (words and music) orchestrated by John Cameron for Singing Allowed, conducted by Judith Sheridan.  

05. Extinction Calypso Final Mix.mp3

Conker Fight

https://choirsforclimate.com/2024/10/28/riversong/

A new #ChoirsForClimate piece - Riversong, with words by Rob MacFarlane!
Riversong is a “broadside ballad” which protests the slow death of rivers in the UK and around the world –– and sings for their revival. I’ve created a choral score for it and released it under a Creative Commons license: it is free to download and use.

It's available in two versions - a short version for smaller choirs and community groups, using the first half of the text (recommended for groups of 10 or more singers - if you can sing rounds like Frere Jacques, this should be easy enough for you), as heard in the demo here, and the large choir version which uses the full text (recommended 20+ singers - some trickier work but should be approachable for any experienced group).

Both are free to download at https://choirsforclimate.com/2024/10/28/riversong/

Riversong - Chris demo

"A Charm For Safe Crossing"
 CC Jennifer Vena Wood Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Lyrics:
middle part: I want to survive, I want to survive, I will survive, this crossing.
high part: All that I feel, is just feeling, I will survive, this crossing.
low part: Those that survived, and those that died, help me survive, this crossing

If you feel alone: https://livethroughthis.org

If you are in crisis, call the trans lifeline +1-877-565-8860, or the national suicide prevention hotline (988).

A Charm For Safe Crossing

Playing around with last verse arrangement for organ

Puer Nobis Unto Us a Boy is Born (Last Verse)

No Nos Moverán/We Shall Not Be Moved

"A Prayer of St. Anselm," is a setting of a text by St. Anselm of Canterbury (in English translation from the original Latin). This recording 2017 by the Caritas Chamber Choir, Benedict Preece directing - from their CD, 'A Caritas Collection 2017'

A Prayer of St. Anselm

Summer will come again (20th Dec. 2020)

Chris Hutchings is a Scottish composer based in Edinburgh, specialising in works for choir. His works have been performed by the National Youth Choir of Scotland, New London Singers, Cappella Nova, Scottish Voices, the Edinburgh Quartet, Daniel's Beard, Pure Brass, and a wide variety of professional and amateur groups around the world. He has received commissions from several groups in the UK and USA. Recent prizes include the Murau Music Festival Composition prize in 2019, Kantos Choir's composition prize in 2021, and winning the City of Oxford Choir's  "Breaking Ground" competition in 2025.

For more details, see http://www.hutchingsmusic.co.uk for details of upcoming performances, score samples, free arrangements, and more recordings.

Videos, many with scores, at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx7ao4fKMuVXVz0la0r0VrQ/

Riversong - Chris demo

hutchingsmusic

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