TEXT: O Virgo virginum, quomodo fiet istud?
Quia nec primam similem visa es nec habere sequentem.
Filiae Jerusalem, quid me admiramini?
Divinum est mysterium hoc quod cernitis.

English Translation:
O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be?
For neither before thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after.
Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me?
The thing which ye behold is a divine mystery.

Composed December 2022.

Performed by: Anchorae

O Virgo virginum

TEXT
From the Exercitium Viae Crucis de Sancto Alphonso Maria de Ligorio1
Jesu Christe crucifixe, miserere mei.
I Christus condemnatur ad mortem.
II Jesus Suscipit crucem.
III Jesus prima vice sub cruce labitur.
IV Jesus obviate matri.
V Ubi Simoni Cyrenaeo crux imponitur.
VI Veronica Christo sudarium porrigit.
VII Jesus ad portam Urbis Jerusalem cadit secondo.
VIII Turba mulierum plangent super Jesum.
IX Jesus tertio cadit ad ascensum Calvariae.
X Jesus exuitur vestibus.
XI Jesus cruci affigitur.
XII Jesus in cruce moritur.
XIII Corpus Christi de cruce deponitur.
XIV Corpus Christi in sepulchre ponitur.
Jesu Christe crucifixe, miserere mei.
1 Preces Latinae. (2020). Exercitium Viae Crucis de Sancto Alphonso Maria de Ligorio 1888. [online] 
Available at: http://www.preces-latinae.org/thesaurus/Filius/ExercitumVC.html. [Accessed 30 July 
2020].
iv

INSTRUMENTATION
Choir SM-SATB (with divisi)

Via Crucis was commissioned by The Handful Chamber Choir.

Duration: c. 9-12 minutes.

Via Crucis (2022)

A bonus track from our upcoming 'Sound Garden' project, launching in collaboration with the CCT.

Brokkeleyghe - Variation 1

A second bonus track from the 'Sound Garden' project, launched in collaboration with the CCT.

Brokkeleyghe - Variation 2

Part written, part improvised, Memoriam is a two part piece based on Eastern textures. Scored for Korean Flute, Tuba, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Two Pianos and Cymbal

Premiered by Notes Inégales in concert at the University of Cambridge, UK on the 24/11/2015

Memoriam (2015) for Mixed Ensemble

Written for and performed by Magdalene College Chapel Choir on 18/11/2015 

O Sapientia (2015) For Choir SSAATTBB

Nunc Dimittis (2016) for lower voices ATTBB

Nunc Dimittis, Compline (2016) for Lower Voices

Dedicated to Jonathan Hellyer-Jones and the Magdalene College Chapel Choir; for the choir tour to Malta 2016. 

Premiered by them on the 26/05/2016 in Magdalene College Chapel. 

Words by St Ambrose of Milan (c.347-390A.D.)

Tenebrae Lumini

Performed by Magdalene College Chapel Choir, 2016

Two Chorales To The Source Of Uncreated Light

Set Me As A Seal

When I met Kelsey Rose in Oxford in St Stephen’s House chapel over the summer of 2017, we had both just attended a very moving candlelit concert by Westminster Williamson Voices, featuring my Tenebrae Lumini. I was delighted to be asked to write a piece for compline in Princeton University Chapel, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Anglican/Episcopal chaplaincy at Princeton University. 

This piece is the result of that meeting. 
Composing by commission often throws up some interesting challenges. This piece had to fit both as an accompanying piece to the plainchant of compline, whilst simultaneously being a celebratory anthem. I was instantly drawn back to the poetry and hymns of St Ambrose of Milan, and in particular his hymn Aurora iam spargit polum. As I began to write the music for this text I became increasingly introspective. Fragments of chant (both real and imagined) are used to create the powerful imagery of the descending golden light of dawn. The piece reaches its climax with the plea for the despair of night to ‘vanish’, which it then does, leaving the sopranos alone on a high G.

Aurora

In A Dream Extract

In 2018 Anchorae, a vocal quartet specialising in new and ancient music, was founded in Bristol, England. This piece, a Nativity lullaby, was premiered at their first performance in Wills Hall Chapel.

In A Dream

Weep No More, here performed by Anchorae (anchorae.co.uk) and John Pearson (tuned wine glasses), November 2019.

Sleep Now and be Still Carol

Intonation (2019) for Flute, Clarinet in Bb and Violoncello.

Intonation

The recording of the premiere of the choral cycle 'In a Dream' - performed by Anchorae.

In A Dream Choral Cycle Premiere

Peter Relph is a contemporary classical composer. His music is strongly influenced by his home in the Lake District; its history and culture. Peter's music has been performed across Europe and the United States.

Peter Relph - Composer

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