Compositions by DAVID SANGER

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Church Choral Works | Christmas Carols | Secular Choral Works | Organ Works | String Music | Miscellaneous | Editions

CHURCH CHORAL WORKS

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Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis (St. Paul's Service)

SSA & organ

Published by Banks Music Publications

This setting was written for John Scott and the choristers of St Paul’s Cathedral, London, for the occasional service at which the trebles alone sing. It is sung about twice each term and is especially suitable for the resonant acoustics there.

Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis (St. Paul’s Service)

SATB & organ

Published by Banks Music Publications

Almost identical to the above in an arrangement for full choir.

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O Filii et Filiae

SATB, Congregation & (two) organ(s) approximate duration 7’

Published by Banks Music Publications

This ancient Easter hymn was arranged for the large resources of Westminster Cathedral, where it was first performed on Easter Day, 1992. It is possible to perform it with choir and one organ, with or without the congregational refrain.

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Mass for the Parishes

SATB and organ, with optional congregational participation

Published by Banks Music Publications

Intended for use in churches with varying resources, Mass for the Parishes may be sung as a unison congregational setting, with or without choir, or as a choir and organ only setting. The musical style is simple and singable, and caters for choirs and congregations of average competence.

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Missa Brevis

SSA & organ

Published by United Music Publishers

Written for James O'Donnell and the Choristers at Westminster Cathedral (Iain Simcock, organ), this work is taxing and requires voices with a wide range.

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Go forth into the world in peace (A Blessing)

SATB & organ approximate duration 4'

Published by Banks Music Publications

A short and simple choral piece, effective as a Blessing or Doxology.

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Let all the world in every corner sing

SATB, Baritone soloist and organ, approximate duration 4'

Published by Banks Music Publications

A lively giocoso anthem setting George Herbert's well-known words. Rhythmically and tonally challenging, and with the soprano and bass parts occasionally dividing, this is a piece for the choir with expertise. It was written for the choir of St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh under the direction of Timothy Byram-Wigfield.

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Father, we thank Thee for the night

S and optional A, and organ, approximate duration 3'

Published by Banks Music Publications

An easy to sing melody for children's choir, with a second verse optional alto part. It was dedicated to Richard Tanner, who has since recorded it with his former choir, that of All Saints, Northampton (A Celebration of British Cathedral Music LAMM 091D).

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Salve Regina

SATB, unaccompanied approximate duration 4'

Published by Banks Music Publications

A challenging choral piece written for the choir of Lincoln College, Oxford, and subsequently recorded by them (Magnificat REGCD125).

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Spring Rising!

SATB, Soloists and piano, approximate duration 40'

Published by Banks Music Publications

Spring Rising! is a modern dramatic musical in popular style, which tells the story of the first Easter. It contains many easy-to-sing melodies, and is designed for church or school choirs and youth groups interested in presenting their musical skills to the general public. It may also include some drama, whose form will become obvious to the imaginative director. The use of stage lighting, audio techniques and costume could enhance the performance considerably, but is by no means an essential part of a successful rendition.

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Two Spirituals

    Swing low, sweet chariot

    Steal away

SATB, unaccompanied

mss

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CHRISTMAS CAROLS

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Sweet was the song the virgin sang

SATB, unaccompanied

Published by Banks Music Publications

A Brittenesque setting of Ballett’s words in which a unison refrain alternates with sensitive SATB verses. An alternative easier third verse is included.

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Shepherds, shake off your drowsy sleep!

SATB & organ

Available through Banks Music Publications

A sprightly organ introduction sets the scene for this lively setting. The Tenors are given the melody in the third verse, when an aura of tranquillity prevails. The opening material soon returns, and the sudden ending displays an apt modality.

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Whence is that goodly fragrance?

SATB & organ

Available through Banks Music Publications

A flowing organ accompaniment graces the traditional melody.

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From East to West

SATB & organ

Published by Oxford University Press

A richness of harmony pervades this piece, which also has a varied organ accompaniment. The colour of the text is dramatically portrayed, and the last verse is given an exciting treatment.

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Christmas Day

SATB & organ

Published by Oxford University Press

Choir and organist alike will be tested to the full in this engaging piece. It is full of dance and drama, including a "bell" effect in the organ part. A refrain appears in which Vom Himmel hoch is sung, but with a jaunty rhythm. It was written for the choir of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh under the direction of Timothy Byram-Wigfield and may be heard on a CD they have made (In the Bleak Midwinter HAVPCD 163).

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SECULAR CHORAL WORKS

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The Sun has got his hat on

Close Harmony arrangement approximate duration 6’

Published by Banks Music Publications

Written at the request of The King’s Singers, and dedicated to them, this jaunty piece is best suited to a barbershop group but may also be performed by SATB choirs.

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Two Northumbrian Folk Songs

    The Water of Tyne

    Blow the wind southerly

SSA, unaccompanied

mss

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ORGAN WORKS

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Sonata fort’ e piano per organo

Approximate duration 4’

Published by Banks Music Publications

A piece written for Westminster Cathedral’s Grand Organ Recital series, in which the composer gave the first performance [1994]. It treats choruses antiphonally, and is a ‘play’ on early cadences. Although written for the Cathedral’s two organs, it may be played on one organ with contrasting choruses.

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Nocturne

Approximate duration 4’

Published by Banks Music Publications

First performed at the Fairfield Organ Festival, Croydon [1995], this piece uses momentary snatches of melody in inversion and imitation, eventually turning almost atonal, before sliding chromatically homewards.

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Prelude and Fugue for St. Paul’s

Approximate duration 8’

Published by Banks Music Publications

Written to be played at a recital given by the composer at the Cathedral in 1995, it contains passages displaying the different reed stops in the organ. The octatonic fugue subject emerges from the Prelude with the same rhythm heard in the trumpet passages, and the whole culminates in a stately appearance of the subject in augmentation on the Royal Trumpets.

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Petite Suite Française

Approximate duration 12’

Published by Banks Music Publications

1. Danse sur les Plains Jeux 2. Miroir pour le Cornet et le Cromhorne 3. Duo 4. Trio sur les Flûtes 5. Toccata sur le Grand Jeu

This work raises an eyebrow towards the Classical French suite with the titles of its movements, and lifts its hat off occasionally to Vierne, especially in the Trio and Toccata. The basic principle of the Suite is brevity and conciseness, with fleeting ironic glimpses at traditional forms. The Danse is a play on antiphonal aspects of the early Venetian school. The mysterious Miroir has the Cornet and the Cromhorne sounding together throughout, always travelling in contrary motion and mirroring each other. The Duo also contains mirror effects together with snatches of canon.......a minute in the life of two church mice? Both themes of the brief Toccata are taken from Missa Brevis [1989] written for the choristers of Westminster Cathedral, and the piece is intended as a possible postlude to the Mass.

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Four Miniature Ostinatos

Approximate duration 7’

Published by Banks Music Publications

Intended as teaching pieces, these offer different aspects of technique for the organist of about Grade 4 standard. They may be played together as a group in a recital as a ‘filler’ between weightier works.

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Marche Européenne

Approximate duration 4’

Published by Banks Music Publications

Written in August 1995, this piece was inspired by a Cochereau improvisation, clearly with the Cavaillé-Coll style of organ in mind. The first somewhat relentless theme, reminiscent of a theme from Dupré’s Deuxième Symphonie, is heard on the Grand Choeur, and later in combination with the chorale-like secondary material for the Fonds.

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A Christmas Rhapsody

Approximate duration 6’

Published by Banks Music Publications

For the organist with a competent technique, this work contains reference to no fewer than 20 carols. It will be most successful on an organ with a Tuba stop, although this is not essential. It was written to celebrate a friend’s 50th birthday.

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Sonata VII by Henry Purcell, arranged by David Sanger

Approximate duration 8’

mss

Purcell’s Sonata for Violins and continuo has four movements. It transcribes well for the organ, in the spirit of Bach’s Schübler Chorales, i.e. with their string parts alone, and no keyboard continuo. A challenge to the organist wishing for a change from Bach’s Trio Sonatas.

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Veni, Creator Spiritus

Approximate duration 7’

mss

Invited by the Organist of Guildford Cathedral, Stephen Farr, Sanger wrote this piece to celebrate the 40th Whitsun at Guildford. It requires duettists at the main console of the 4-manual organ there, another organist at the Positive-only console in the choir, and a fourth at the Lady Chapel organ way up beyond the altar. The work uses the famous Veni Creator theme, and alludes to compositions by Durufle, Hindemith (or Rutter?), Jongen, Bach and Dupre, and finishes with a great spatial hymn of praise, in which all three organs are used antiphonally.

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Passacaglia

Approximate duration 7’

mss

This was written  to celebrate the 50th birthday of Swedish organist Hans Fagius. It is based on an original theme, which appears at first to be quite atonal. In time, a second invertible counterpoint enters containing the BACH theme, in respect of Fagius' Bach recordings. The intention is to complete a Trilogy of pieces in celebration.

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Play the Organ, Volumes 1 & 2

Published by Novello

Volume 1 is designed to train organists with no previous keyboard experience. Volume 2, which may follow on from Volume 1, is aimed at the intending organ student who already has Grade 4 or 5 piano. It should help in study towards University and College entrance. For the church organist, there is a wealth of useful pieces suitable as voluntaries. Volume 2 contains sixty pieces. Play the Organ is now the most widely used organ tutor in the UK.

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STRING MUSIC

Lakeland String Suite

Approximate duration 15’

Published by Banks Music Publications

A work in 5 movements of moderate difficulty, scored for String Orchestra, with solo parts for Violin and Cello from within the ensemble, this work was inspired by the surrounding countryside in which the composer lives. It is not especially contemporary in style, having rich harmonies and melodic content. An easy-to-listen-to work, rewarding for string players to work with in terms of technique and colour.

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MISCELLANEOUS

Three Powell Songs

A cycle for Alto or Baritone and Piano.

Approximate duration 13'

Published by Banks Music Publications

A challenging work for pianist and singer, based on three poems by J Enoch Powell: Dancer's End XV, The Wedding Gift IV and V.

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EDITIONS

Introduction, Passacaglia & Fugue in E flat minor Healey Willan

Published by Oxford University Press

Voluntary in C by Johann Pepusch

Published by Oxford University Press

Favourite Organ Music by J. A. Lefébure-Wély, 2 volumes

Published by Oxford University Press

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Banks Music Publications