Choral Music

Original compositions for vocal ensembles and soloists

From SATB choral works to pieces for smaller groups and solo voice

Choral music is at the centre of my output as a composer. There is nothing more pure, more natural and therefore nothing more moving than the sound of the human voice. Well, actually, there is, and it’s the sound of many human voices acting in concert, as one instrument. Did you know that when people sing together in choirs their heartbeats actually synchronise? This tells you everything you need to know about the deep levels of communication that happen in choral music; and these deep affinities between people manifest themselves in the interpretation of the music. This is why choral music can be ineffably beautiful, and it’s why I love it as a musical genre.

Gallery

This is where you can listen to pieces and look at scores. If you like what you hear and see, and would like to perform the piece with your choir, you can then go to the shop to buy scores and parts.

I Can’t Breathe

I Can’t Breathe In 2020 two world-changing events coincided within a couple of months of each other. The first was the murder of George Floyd which, in turn, led to...

When A Baby Is Born (SATB & Band)

When A Baby Is Born (SATB & Band) A setting of one of my Christmas carols, for SATB choir and brass band. In this version I have added colourful interludes...

Music To Hear

Music To Hear A setting of Shakespeare’s foreboding 8th sonnet. Performed by Tenebrae under their Musical Director, Nigel Short. The sonnet, though seemingly about music, is in fact a warning...

Lullaby (sop, SATB, orchestra edition)

This Sweet Mother’s Lullaby This is a setting of one of my most popular compositions, ‘Lullaby’, for soprano, SATB choir and chamber orchestra. Performed by Crace Davidson, Tenebrae and the...

The Hanging Tree

The Hanging Tree A setting for female voices (SSSAA) of the haunting words from Suzanne Collins’ classic children’s trilogy ‘The Hunger Games’. The dark words of the text are here...

New Prince, New Pomp

New Prince, New Pomp This is a simple Christmas carol using the text by the English 16th Century jesuit priest, Robert Southwell. It uses modal harmony and fluctuated between the...

Music Fills My Very Soul

Music Fills My Very Soul This is a choral anthem for SATB choir and full symphony orchestra. It was originally composed to celebrate 85 years of Abbey Road studios. It...

A Boy Was Born In Bethlehem

A Boy Was Born In Bethlehem A Christmas carol for unaccompanied SATB. Words from the 16th Century German text, translated by Percy Bearmer. PURCHASE SCORE AND PARTS

Requiem Aeternam: ‘Hymnus’

Requiem Aeternam: ‘Hymnus’ For unaccompanied SATB choir. A setting of the Requiem Aeternam, subtitled ‘Hymnus’. Performed by Tenebrae, under their Musical Director Nigel Short. PURCHASE SCORE AND PARTS

Silence

Silence A setting of the poem by Thomas Hood, for SATB with multiple divisi. Recorded here by the choir Tenebrae, under their Musical Director Nigel Short. PURCHASE SCORE AND PARTS

When A Baby Is Born

When A Baby Is Born This is a Christmas carol, with words and music by Mike Sheppard. recorded here by the choir Commotio, under their Musical Director Matt Berry. PURCHASE...

O Wert Thou In The Cauld Blast

O Wert Thou In The Cauld Blast A setting of the poem by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. I composed this as a wedding gift to two special friends, and...

Audio player

This is an audio player that allows you to listen to pieces and view the wave form of the audio — useful if you want to listen to snippets rather than an entire piece. The user-friendly controls allow you to play, pause and jump about in the audio track.

Music to Hear

A setting of Shakespeare’s 8th sonnet for SATB, performed by Tenebrae (dir. Nigel Short).