CHORAL WORKS

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Text: Eugene Field
SSA
Duration 10 mins

The Death of Robin Hood composed by Russell Hepplewhite performed live in London by the Trinity Boys Choir conducted by David Swinson with Rebecca Hepplewhite (cello)

Commissioned by Trinity Boys Choir
First Performance: St Mary-at-Hill Church London (March 2015)

Aren’t all children (and many adults) fascinated  by Robin Hood? The myth, the folklore and  of course the moral dilemma he poses as to  whether it is ever right to steal from the rich  to give to the poor. For all these reasons I had  always wanted to compose a piece about him,  and so when Trinity Boys Choir commissioned  a new work from me in 2013, I found the ideal  text by Eugene Field. The language of the poem  is wonderfully accessible to young singers, and  although it is a sad text, the words are actually  as much about friendship and the beauty and  power of the natural world as they are about  the final moments of Robin Hood.  For my setting the choir divides into three  vocal lines and is accompanied by a solo cello.  Young voices are the purest of all, and in this  work I wanted to showcase their clarity and  natural transparency. The singers narrate the  scene, while the cello both supports and adds  further commentary between certain lines and  verses. Some of the melodic writing is angular  and jagged, to reflect the tension and the  heightened emotional state being described. I  had even imagined the sound of the cello as  being like a ghostly echo of the voice of Robin  Hood himself. For some of the more dramatic  images that drive the poem forward – the bow  and arrow, for example – the choir combine  and punch out the words in rhythmic unison.  In contrast, they weave around each other  in polyphony when singing about the natural  world – the babbling brook, the birds singing  and the wild flowers of the forest. Towards  the end of the poem, Robin Hood is placed  in a marble vault in the forest and the choir  eventually fall silent. A solo singer concludes  the tale, and then with just one final plucked  note from the cello the piece disappears into  silence and the listener is left to contemplate  all that has just been told. 

© Russell Hepplewhite 

Choral Inspirations: Six new commissions inspired by six choral classics Visit http://www.sonoromusic.com    

How lovely are thy dwellings fair, O Lord of Hosts. 

My soul ever longeth yea fainteth for the courts of the Lord. 

My heart and flesh cry out for the living God. 

Blest are they that in thy house are dwelling. 

They ever praise thee, ever more!  

Sonoro Neil Ferris, conductor  

Available on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music and Resonus Classics.  

Published by Banks Music from 13 June 2019 http://www.banksmusicpublications.co.uk 

Text from Biblical Psalm 

SATB & Organ 

Duration 3 mins 

Commissioned by the Arcubus Ensemble 

First Performance at St Mary le Bow Church (September 2016) 

Published by Banks Music Publications 

Text from Latin Mass 

SSA

 Duration 3 mins 

Sung here by members of The Beauregard Youth Choir, directed by Vicki Beauregard. 

First Performance at the Brandeburg Choral Festival (September 2016) 

Published by Banks Music Publications 

Texts: Rossetti, Bronte, Teasdale, Dickinson, Lovell 

SA and Organ                                                                                                

Duration 12 mins 

Live Recording from World Premiere performance sung by the Girls' Choir & Girl's Concert Choir at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music.  Conducted by Joy Hill with Organ played by Graham Thorpe. 

Commissioned and first performance by Royal College of Music combined Girls Choirs, at the RCM London (24th March 2018) 

Text: Hymn books of Cologne (1623) and Strasbourg (1697)

SATB                                                                                                              

Duration 2 mins 

First Performance by Wimbledon Choral Society (Dec 2016) 

Published by Banks Music Publications 

Text: Responsory for Mattins on Christmas Day 

SATB (8 part) 

Duration 4 mins 

Sung by St Cyprian's Singers & conducted by Julian Collings 

Commissioned by the St Cyprian's Singers London 

First Performance: St Mary-at-Hill Church London (March 2015)       

Published by Banks Music Publications 

Text from Latin Mass                                                                                         

SATB & piano duet 

Duration 7 mins 

Recorded by The St Cyprian's Singers, with Melanie Jones and Russell Hepplewhite (piano duet) and conducted by Julian Collings. 

Commissioned by the St Cyprian's Singers London                                        

First Performance: St Mary-at-Hill Church London (March 2015) 

Text: Christina Rossetti 

SATB (8 part) & piano 

Duration 7 mins 

Performed by the St Cyprian's Singers conducted by Julian Collings. 

Commissioned by the St Cyprian's Singers London 

First Performance: St Mary-at-Hill Church London (March 2015)