The text of Ubi caritas comes from an antiphon for Holy (Maundy) Thursday, during the washing of the feet.  This recording of Patrick O'Shea's setting for SATB choir and piano was premiered by the Saint Mary's University Concert Choir on April 24, 2021, with the composer conducting.

Ubi Caritas

The Dispossessed: Song Cycle for Baritone, Uilleann Pipes, Cello, and Flute.

The Dispossessed

Remastered complete set of Patrick O’Shea’s three settings of poems by Gaspara Stampa (1523-1554) for SATB choir and 2 violins, performed by the Saint Mary’s University Chamber Singers, with the composer conducting (April 2022).

1. Voi ch’ascoltate
2. Arsi, piansi, cantai
3. Voi che ‘n marmi

Piango, Ardo e Canto

Haill Quene of Hevin is a parallel setting of a Marian text in both Middle English and a modern adaptation by the composer, Patrick O’Shea, for SATB choir with divisi, a cappella.  The work was commissioned by the Caritas Chamber Choir, Canterbury, Benedict Preece, director.  This performance is by the Saint Mary’s University Chamber Singers in 2020, with the composer conducting, and uses the modern English text.

Haill Quene of Hevin

Dieu! qu'il la fait bon regarder!
Charles d'Orléans

Dieu! qu’il la fait bon regarder,
La gracieuse bonne et belle;
Pour les grans biens que sont en elle,
Chascun est prest de la louer.
Qui se pourroit d’elle lasser?
Tousjours sa beauté renouvelle.
Dieu! qu’il la fait bon regarder,
La gracieuse bonne et belle!
Par deça, ne delà, la mer,
Ne scay dame, ne damoiselle
Qui soit en tous biens parfais telle!
C’est un songe d’y penser.
Dieu! qu’il la fait bon regarder!

Dieu! Qu'il La Fait Bon Regarder! (text)

2002 Family Weekend

Jubilate Deo

Yver (Hiver), vous n’estes qu’un villain;
Esté est plaisant et gentil,
En tesmoing de May et d’Avril
Qui l’accompaignent soir et main.
Esté revest champs, bois et fleurs,
De sa livrée de verdure
Et de maintes autres couleurs,
Par l’ordonnance de Nature.
Mais vous, Yver, trop estes plain
De nège, vent, pluye et grézil;
On vous deust banir en éxil.
Sans point flater, je parle plain.

Yver, vous n’estes qu’un villain!

Hiver, vous n'estes qu'un vilain

Premiere performance of "Cantemus in omni die" (hymn text by Cu Cuimhne Sapiens of Iona, +727) by The Mornington Singers at St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland, conducted by the composer.  June 19th, 2014.

Cantemus in omni die

Shout For Joy (2003) for SATB and Piano

This performance December 7, 2023 by the College of DuPage Chamber Singers, with the composer conducting.

Shout for Joy - Text
(Based on Psalm 33:1-5)

Shout for joy before the Lord, 
shout for joy, all ye righteous; 
praise befits the upright.  
Give thanks to the Lord on the harp; 
sing your psalms to the ten-stringed lute.  
The Lord loves righteousness and justice, 
his love unfailing fills the earth.  
Shout for joy and sing a new song, 
with all your art shout now in triumph!  
The word of God is ever true.  
All God's work endures for evermore.

Shout For Joy

SATB and piano arrangement by Patrick O'Shea of the hymn Divinum Mysterium with the associated text "Corde natus ex Parentis."  Lessons and Carols 2012 (procession), Saint Mary's University Concert Choir, Patrick O'Shea directing.

Corde Natus Ex Parentis

April 2015 performance of Abbie Betinis' beautiful "Carmina mei cordis" by the Saint Mary's University Chamber Singers, Patrick O'Shea conducting.  Two movements: 1. Aeterna lux divinitas; 2. Angele Dei

Carmina mei cordis

La Marseillaise - the French National Anthem, as performed by the Saint Mary's Chamber Singers (2005 concert tour).  Arranged by Patrick O'Shea.

La Marseillaise

One of Newfoundland’s best known folksongs, “She’s Like The Swallow” was first collected by Maud Karpeles in 1930, but certainly dates from well before that, as evidenced by the appearance of several verses in various British laments.  The subject of the unfaithful lover is perhaps as old as song itself.

2006 Spring

She's Like The Swallow

Also popularly known as “The Ryans and the Pittmans,” this song recounts the romantic entanglements of a sailor named Robert “Bob” Pittman.  It is based on the English sea shanty “Spanish Ladies,” which has a number of variants known to sailors from New England to Australia.  Most of the verses in this version may be attributed to Henry W. LeMessurier, and were written about 1875.

We'll Rant And We'll Roar

Setting of a 9th century Irish prayer for a cappella SATB choir.  This performance 2010 by the Saint Mary's University Chamber Singers, with the composer conducting.

2010 Lessons and Carols

An Irish Benediction

TE DEUM, written 1997, revised 2016, for SATB choir, S solo and Organ.  Realization with Garritan Personal Orchestra.  The choral parts are played by string sounds, and the soprano solo by oboe.  Chamber orchestration (strings, flute, oboe, trumpet, timpani, optional harp & organ) in preparation and expected Fall 2017.

Te Deum

Te Deum (rev. 2016) virtual

Due Sonetti de Petrarca are settings of sonnets by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) (1304-1374), great Italian scholar and poet and one of the earliest humanists. The set was written for the Saint Mary’s University Chamber Singers, who premiered the works on their tour of France in March, 2009, with the composer conducting.  This recording is from 2017.

Pace non trovo

Benedetto sia'l giorno

World premiere performance of "Queen of Queens" by the Caritas Chamber Choir, Benedict Preece, conductor (December 7, 2017, St. Paul's Church, Canterbury, UK).  It is an a capella setting of a sonnet by John Donne, entitled "On The Blessed Virgin Mary."

Queen Of Queens

"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

Salve Regina

Setting of Psalm 122, dedicated to the late Cardinal Foley, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.  This performance is by the Saint Mary's University Chamber Singers in December 2010, prior to a tour to Rome and Assisi.

Remastered 2024

Text (Ps. 122:6-9):

O pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
They shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls,
And prosperity within thy palaces.

Peace be within thy walls…

For my brethren and companions’ sakes,
I will now say, peace be within thee.
Because of the house of the LORD our God
I will seek thy good.

O pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
They shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls…

O Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem

This short anthem was written for the 2003 commencement exercises of Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

One of three Swedish folksongs set by Hugo Alfvén, performed by the Saint Mary's University Chamber Singers on their 2012 tour.

Och jungfrun hon går i ringen

Barrett's Privateers

#1 of Tre Madrigali Amorosi - Saint Mary's University Chamber Singers, recorded during their Homecoming Concert following their 2013 France Tour, with the composer conducting.  David Leung, violin.

Felice primavera

#2 of Tre Madrigali Amorosi - Saint Mary's University Chamber Singers, recorded during their Homecoming Concert following their 2013 France Tour, with the composer conducting.  David Leung, violin.

Dispietata pietate

#3 of Tre Madrigali Amorosi - Saint Mary's University Chamber Singers, recorded during their Homecoming Concert following their 2013 France Tour, with the composer conducting.  David Leung, violin.

Ardi o gela a tua voglia

Go Lovely Rose by Halsey Stevens - Saint Mary's University Chamber Singers, 2013

2013 Spring

Go Lovely Rose

Dr. Patrick O’Shea is the Director of Choral Activities at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, where he directs the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and the DuPage Chorale, and teaches courses in music theory, aural skills, and music history.  Prior to coming to College of DuPage, he was Director of Choirs at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Patrick Michael O'Shea

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