An Irish Blessing

Warmups

Original composition inspired by photo by Dave Nitsche

Esther Barnum, Flute
John Tocco, Acoustic Guitar
Michael Sisto, Bass

Cradle

I will come to you
I will fulfill my promise
To bring you home.

For I know the plans I have for you.
Plans to guide you, and keep you from harm.
I will bring you a future filled with hope.

And you will speak to me.
To me you will call,
And I will listen.

I will sing to your heart.

I will come to you.

— Michael Fairbairn, adapted from Jeremiah 29:10-14

2016 Choral Composers Forum

I Will Come to You - Mike Fairbairn

Winter Travels [sampled guitar]

Mixed & Women's Ensemble of the Young New Yorkers' Chorus
Lydia Jane Pugh - Adirai (Misplaced)
Year: 2018
St. Michael's Church / 225 W 99th St, New York, NY 10025

Lydia Jane Pugh's piece, Adirai (Misplaced), was the 2018 winner of YNYC's annual Competition for Young Composers. It was commissioned for combined choir and premiered by both the Mixed and Women's Ensembles of the Young New Yorkers' Chorus as a part of their spring concert, Only All of Us.

Sound Engineer, David Merrill
Photography, Carlos Gomez

Lydia Jane Pugh - Adirai (Misplaced)

Recorded in The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, VA.  Composed by Lydia Jane Pugh.

The Piedmont Singers of Central VA, a professional vocal octet, specializes in 20th and 21st century a cappella choral music of various styles, gathered in innovative programs sung throughout central Virginia.

My Hiding Place by Lydia Jane Pugh, The Piedmont Singers of Central VA

Lydia Jane Pugh: Northern Star
From "Dreams & Desires" © 2015 Australian Boys Choral Institute

Northern Star (2015)

In our latest disc experience amazingly varied compositions from solo guitar, to solo instrument with electronics, to full orchestral and wind ensemble works. These are the works of composers with great performances and recordings who need them to be heard in this vibrant compilation series

Milennial Masters Vol. 9

Voul-ous enne p'tite goute?

Original piece, performed during Choral Chameleon's 2019 Summer Institute. 

For scores/performance rights, go to https://laurenlynnmusic.com/

I have left pieces of my heart 
All across the world 
And I have been working my whole life 
Just to leave where I've come from

Searching for answers to the questions I didn't know
Craving freedom from the black and white routine

Some have the path fall before them 
Some are caught, entangled 
Venturing to make a way through a journey not forseen

And now that I've wandered a distance away
I don't even know where I'd go
Besides the places that I've been 
Or the one that I call home 

Taking for granted the wide open spaces 
Ignoring the sky brimming with kaleidoscope sunsets

I have left pieces of my heart 
All across the world 
But they're not left in the places I've been
They're with the people I've met

Pieces Of My Heart

During World War II the island of Alderney, like the rest of the Channel Islands was occupied, and heavily fortified by Nazi forces. Unlike the other islands however, concentration camps were built on the island of Alderney, housing slave labour and prisoners of war predominantly from Eastern Europe, although some locals from the island found themselves in the camp. Over 700 inmates were interned, and as many as 400 lost their lives during the time the camp was active; between March 1943 and June 1944. Before British forces liberated the island, the Nazis burnt the camp to the ground, leaving only the gateposts and a few tunnels as any sign of the camps presence.

There are eight languages featured in this piece to represent the variety of races affected by these camps – Jews and Russians made up the majority of inmates, but there were also polish, Spanish republicans and of course local people from Alderney. The name of the camp, “Lager Sylt” is of course in German, named after the German North Sea Island “Sylt”, which itself was heavily fortified during the war. Only in recent years has Lager Sylt been spoken of, and a small plaque now exists to commemorate those who died at the camp. 

This recording is from the World Premiere on September 7th 2018 at St James Concert Hall, performed by a composite choir of invited male voice singers, and conducted by Marilyn Pugh.
- Recorded by Flexagon; mixed by Flexagon at Stretchy Studios

The Spirits of the Lager Sylt

Singer, Composer, Vocal Coach

Hailing from the island of Guernsey, Lydia Jane Pugh is an award-winning composer specialising in choral and chamber music, with much of her work being inspired by the islands’ history, culture, and beautiful landscapes. Her music’s universal appeal has lead to performances around the world by several professional groups, including the ‘Ebor Singers’ (UK), and the ’Empire City Men’s! Chorus’ (USA). Her work has made the finals of several awards, including the National Centre for Early Music's Young Composer Award (UK), the Songdoor International Songwriting Competition, and the Australian Boys Choir Choral Composition Competition. Most recently she was awarded the Nathan Davis Prize in Composition at the Young New Yorker’s Chorus Young Composer Competition 2018 for her piece ‘Adiraï (Misplaced)’. She has also had the great joy of being selected to participate in several Composer Institutes, including the Lehigh Choral Composers Forum, the Choral Chameleon Summer Institute, and the Charlotte New Music Festival. Her chamber piece ‘Voul-ous enne p’tite goute?’, written for and recorded at the Charlotte New Music Festival was recently released by Ablaze Records on their compilation album, ‘Millennial Masters; Volume 9’. As a singer, she delights in exploring genres with a soaring range, writing original songs and creating insightful interpretations of modern day songs in the jazz idiom. Lydia’s music truly transcends genres, and gets straight to the heart of it’s listeners.

The Spirits of the Lager Sylt

Lydia Jane Pugh

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