The Top 10 Gawthrop Tunes You Should Know

This really ought to be a “guest blog” so that someone else could rave about these pieces. As it is, I’m going to have to take the risk that some folks will find this list rather…um…self aggrandizing. What can I say? The plain truth is that lots of choral directors, singers and audience members have been finding these pieces effective and useful for quite a while. I hope some others will discover something effective and useful that they don’t already know.

[…and yes, Sing Me to Heaven is here. It’s down at the bottom. No comment on anything—the list is alphabetical by title!]

A Pirate’s Life  TTBB & piano

Pirates have come a long way since the days of topsails & treasure chests, parrots & peg legs! Modern pirates have all gone online and this humorous shantey tells the tale! Audiences will giggle at this rollicking piece and your singers will love the opportunity to ham it up with facial expressions, costuming, hand motions or even choreography! All in unison except for the chorus, which divides briefly into four parts. Not suitable for worship…   INFO

Before the Paling of the Stars  SATB & piano

New for Christmas 2019, this work features an evocative and rarely heard text by poet Christina Rossetti which describes the night of the nativity of Jesus. Suitable for either adults or a youth chorus (or why not a mixed youth/adult group?). Moderately easy, melodic and memorable. Appropriate for either concert or worship use.   INFO

Bredon Hill   SATB a cappella & tubular bells

A powerfully tragic tale of young love and death from English poet A. E. Houseman gives this piece its emotional impact. The mostly a cappella musical setting calls upon a few tubular bells to evoke the sound of distant church bells, lending the piece a sense of reality. Moderately difficult. Suitable for concert use.   INFO

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus   SATB a cappella

This very popular four-page anthem is a fresh take on the familiar and much loved Advent text by Charles Wesley. Only moderately difficult, this piece is well suited for either worship or concert use.   INFO 

Gloria   SATB, organ, brass quintet & percussion

Often programmed at Christmas, this universal text is really useful at any time. This setting is fairly easy for the choir to learn and only slightly more challenging for the instrumentalists. Duration about 15 minutes. Useful either in concert or worship.   INFO

Good Christian Friends Rejoice   unison chorus & piano

Here is a sparkling opener or closer for a concert which is quite easy for the chorus as they will already be familiar with the material. Also useful in worship where something festive is needed. This piece calls for a confident pianist who is capable of a bit of bravura.   INFO

Hope of Israel   Soprano & baritone soloists, SATB chorus & orchestra

This 48-minute Advent/Christmas cantata is somewhat challenging but within reach of the majority of either church or community volunteer choirs. It makes use of the familiar O Come Emmanuel melody but is otherwise all fresh, original music. Suited well for either concert or worship.   INFO

Lead Kindly Light   TBB & organ

The rich sound of men’s voices plus lush harmonies brings great warmth to this beloved hymn. An a cappella section may be doubled by the organ if desired. Moderate difficulty. Useful in either concert or worship.   INFO

No End to Singing   SATB & piano

This original text nicely balances a wry poke at the foibles of each of the choir’s four vocal sections with a chorus which lauds the benefits of singing together. This one will please a wide variety of audiences. Moderately easy. For concert use.   INFO

Sing Me to Heaven   SATB a cappella (also available for SSAA, TTBB and vocal solo)

With sales now approaching the one million mark, this can justifiably be called an American choral classic. Widely performed by high school, college, church and community choirs around the world, this piece combines a moving text about singing with a musical setting of powerful sensitivity. Moderate. Suitable for concert or worship.   INFO

To be notified of news and recent publications, join my email list!