Recent Publications from RSCM Press

The RSCM Millennium Youth Choir's third CD includes a wonderful selection of music by contemporary church music composers associated with the RSCM, conducted by David Ogden.

The main work is James Whitbourn's setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, 'The Canticles of Mary and Simeon', scored for choir, organ and solo viola, which the choir commissioned and premiered in 2011. It also includes anthems by Thomas Hewitt Jones, Malcolm Archer, Philip Moore, David Ogden, John Rutter and the young composer Owain Park. Owain's piece, Let Thine Heart Keep Thy Commandments was runner-up in a composition competition run by the Kings James Bible Trust and RSCM.

The winning work from the same competition, Christopher Totney's The Mystery of Christ, is also included, and the choir's organist Daniel Moult contributes a recording of an astonishingly virtuosic work by Iain Farrington, Live Wire. The CD was recorded in the chapel of Tonbridge School.

The world's most famous hymn book has undergone a complete revision by our partners at HA&M, and now offers the broadest ever range of traditional hymns and the best from today's composers and hymn/song writers. It contains over 840 items, ranging from the Psalms to John Bell, Bernadette Farrell and Stuart Townend.

The guiding principles behind this collection are:

• congregational singability
• biblical and theological richness
• musical excellence
• liturgical versatility
• relevance to today's worship styles and to today's concerns

New features include added provision for all the seasons of the Church year, new items for carol services and other popular occasions where the repertoire is in need of refreshing, more choices for all-age worship, fresh translations of some ancient hymnody, beautiful new tunes, short songs and chants, and music from the world church.

For more information and an online sampler of the new book including index, go to the Ancient & Modern website here

Launch event: Sarum College, Salisbury
Friday 10 May 2013, 12.00-1.00pm

Members of the editorial team, including Tim Ruffer from the RSCM, will be talking about the new edition of Ancient & Modern.  Come and hear some of the newly included music and enjoy a glass of wine.

Please RSVP if coming: bookshop(at)sarum.ac.uk or 01722 326899

The first in a new series of volumes of well-known hymns and songs, flexibly arranged for instrumental ensembles.

Many churches have a number of musicians, but lack the time and skills to arrange music for the various combinations of instuments that might be available each week.

These new arrangements will work with practically any group. The book contains all the scores, whilst the accompanying CD-ROM provides an extensive range of instrumental parts which can be printed out.

Volume 1 contains 20 favourite Christmas carols and songs, making it suitable for Carol Service, Crib Service and other seasonal services.

A new collection of Evensong music for upper voices. In recent years there has been a growing demand for Evensong music for upper voices from churches and cathedrals with upper voice choirs.

This unique collection, edited by David Halls, provides exciting new settings of both Preces and Responses, and the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis. It includes music in a variety of styles and standards, with settings by some of our leading church music composers, published here for the first time.

These pieces, written to reflect the various moods and occasions of the Gospel readings, may equally well be played at home on the digital organ - to perhaps express more personal feelings.

A new cantata for Advent by Martin How, based on his previous, longer cantata Alpha and Omega.

This piece is scored for narrator (tenor), soprano solo, speaker, semi-chorus, full chorus of 'gathered singers' (with solos), solo violin, timpani and organ.

It is a full-scale work in three sections which uses a number of familiar seasonal texts to reflect the creation story, Christ’s birth, and the expectation of humankind.

The Stable Carol - Malcolm Archer
RSCM Order Number: A2713
Price: £2.50 (£1.88 affiliate price)

O my dear heart - Peter Aston
RSCM Order Number: A1257
Price: £2.10 (£1.58 affiliate price)

Chester Lullaby - Patrick Gowers
RSCM Order Number: A1957
Price: £2.60 (£1.95 affiliate price)

The babe in glory crowned - Thomas Hewitt Jones
RSCM Order Number: A2651
Price: £2.60 (£1.95 affiliate price)

O remember Adam's fall - Grayston Ives
RSCM Order Number: A1256
Price: £2.10 (£1.58 affiliate price)

The Lord at first did Adam make - Peter Nardone
RSCM Order Number: A1427
Price: £2.60 (£1.95 affiliate price)

Sweet dreams form a shade - Margaret Rizza
RSCM Order Number: A2758
Price: £2.50 (£1.88 affiliate price)

Advent Carol - Richard Shephard
RSCM Order Number: A1929
Price: £2.10 (£1.58 affiliate price)

This collection of four anthems for communion is made up of two very simple anthems with words by David Adam and two chants which can be used in many different ways according to the changeable time that is needed for communion and for the resources of the choir.

Margaret says: "Chants are so easy to perform and also lovely to sing and to work at. Through the repetitions, a chant starts in the head with all its thinking and begins the long journey into the heart. There one begins to be open to the beauty of prayer, and drawn into deeper levels of reflection and stillness. Singing chants is a wonderful way to share, as we come to celebrate the Eucharist together."

A selection of new and recent publications from Malcolm Archer FRSCM, composer, arranger, and Director of Chapel Music at Winchester College.

Recorded in Portsmouth Cathedral by Convivium Singers, directed by Malcolm Archer, with Dr David Price at the organ, and with contributions from Portsmouth Cathedral Choir and organist William Drakett. Produced by Convivium Records

Listen to some of the pieces here:

At the round earth's imagined corners:

The stable carol:

An Irish blessing

Good Christians all, rejoice and sing

The latest Young Voices Festival from the RSCM, touching on major themes in Christian life: poverty and hunger, harvest, One World Week, and Christ the Bread of Life. It includes hymns and songs which your choir will love to sing, as well as readings and prayers. It can be used for upper, equal or mixed voice groups, and much of the material will be suitable for use at other services, concerts and school assemblies throughout the year.

For details of festival services to join around the country, or for help with organising your own event for young singers, go to www.rscm.com/youngvoices

Each choir will need just one copy of the book with accompanying CD and CD-ROM, from which all materials can be reproduced.

A festival service book to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (BCP).

At All Times and in All Places includes readings, prayers, hymns and choral anthems, and its three main sections reflect on particular parts of the Book of Common Prayer:

• ‘Into his courts with praise’ – Daily Prayer in the BCP
• ‘Take this holy Sacrament to your comfort’ – Holy Communion in the BCP
• ‘Make prayers and supplications’

Suggested hymns are drawn from the Anglican ‘prayer book tradition’ and include the one hymn text included within the Prayer Book, Bishop Cosin’s translation of Veni Creator Spiritus.

The choral pieces include works by:
Peter Aston
Benjamin Britten
William Byrd
Harold Darke
Thomas Hewitt Jones
John Ireland
Grayston Ives
Philip Moore
Hubert Parry
Henry Purcell

This new addition to the Voice for Life resources introduces the concepts of singing well, musical knowledge, understanding the music we sing and belonging to the choir.

It provides beginners with a step by step approach which will provide a solid base for the following Voice for Life levels.

Read more about ongoing revisions to Voice for Life resources here. The Light Blue, Dark Blue, Red and Yellow Level Singer's Workbooks have now been revised and are available. See the online shop for details of all Voice for Life resources.

The second of our series of graded organ tutors from the RSCM.

This volume builds on the skills learnt in the first level, and introduces wider use of the pedals. It further enhances the technical skills necessary to play hymns and worship songs, accompany anthems and anglican chant psalms, and play voluntaries.

Complements the Church Music Skills programme

The four anthems shortlisted for the King James Bible Composition Competition, including the winning entry by Christopher Totney, The mystery of Christ.

Also includes:
Let thine heart keep my commandments by Owain Park Sing, O heavens by Andrew-John Bethke
Thou art worthy, O Lord by Thomas Hewitt Jones

This sequence of words and music provides the framework for a devotional service and also a wide range of choral resources for use during Epiphany.

The service is conceived as a procession in which words, music, movement, symbol and ceremony play their part to help deepen our understanding of the mystery of God who, in Jesus, shares our life by taking human flesh.

The choral music is in a variety of styles and levels of difficulty for choirs of all standards and has been chosen with limited rehearsal time in mind. Congregational items include new and established Epiphany hymns and contemporary worship songs.

Includes music by:
Malcolm Archer
Thomas Hewitt Jones
Martin How
Grayston Ives
Andrew March
Peter Moger
David Ogden
Richard Shephard
Ian Wicks

The Mass of Saint Peter was written at the request of the Dean of Lancaster Roman Catholic Cathedral. This setting of the new translation of the Roman Missal has a strong melodic content that congregations will easily pick up, and optional SATB choir.

As well as the main movements of the Mass, Malcolm has set music for the Memorial acclamations, Doxology and Great Amen. The unified style provides a setting that will be easily learnt and enjoyed by congregations, whilst churches with choirs will appreciate the choral writing by an expert in his field.

The Dominican Mass was written at the request of a church in Baltimore that wanted an approachable and singable congregational setting of the new translation of the Roman Missal.

The setting has a strong melodic content that congregations will easily pick up, and optional descant parts for either choir or instruments.

Following publication of Another Music in 2007, you can now hear this collection of new settings of words by George Herbert on a recording by Sarum Voices, alongside some familiar settings.

Includes music by:

• Barry Ferguson
• David Halls
• Grayston Ives
• Simon Lole
• Howard Moody
• Alec Roth
• Richard Shephard

A new book about Sydney Nicholson and the setting up of the College of St Nicolas and the School of English Church Music (now the RSCM).

Through the testimony of former choristers, archive letters and photographs, together with Nicholson’s personal accounts, the authors have pieced together a detailed account of the College’s first ten years, creating a fascinating insight into what life must have been like at this unique college.

Dr John Henderson is Honorary Librarian of the RSCM, and Trevor Jarvis is Honorary Assistant Librarian.

See more details here.

From the team that brought you The Carol Book and Season by Season, this new collection is suitable for all seasons and all occasions.

A fully photocopiable* resource providing arrangements of attractive and easily learned material, including choral arrangements of worship songs and a range of psalms and spirituals.

Contains more than 50 pieces in contemporary styles of the highest standard which will give pleasure to choirs and help meet the needs of their worshipping communities.

Arrangements are mostly in four parts, while the accompanying CD-ROM provides a wealth of extra material:

• arrangements in unison, two or three parts
• vocal parts alone - less pages to photocopy!
• accompaniments alone - less page turning!

* CCLI Licence required

This new anthem for harvest by Malcolm Archer is a great addition to the repertoire, setting words by Fred Pratt Green. Also useful for general 'Creation' themed services, choirs will find this easy to pick up but rewarding to sing.

This new collection of organ music by Grayston Ives brings together new and previously published works, including a new suite of pieces commissioned by the 2011 Sewanee Church Music Conference in the USA.

The new Partita is a set of traditional dance variations on the 17th century German hymn tune Grosser Gott, ending with a lively and loud Toccata. The pieces are wide-ranging in their difficulty. Another new work included in the collection is a gentle Lullaby.  Two older works are also published including an Intrada written for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Thanksgiving Service in St Paul’s Cathedral.

Bill Ives (as he is popularly called) is well-known as a singer as well as an organist. He was a chorister at Ely Cathedral and a choral scholar at Cambridge, before joining The King’s Singers as a tenor. He was Informator Choristarum at Magdalen College Chapel Oxford for eighteen years.

Margaret Rizza's Mass of Saint Benedict has been written in response to the introduction of the new translation of the Roman Missal in 2011. The setting has a strong melodic content that congregations will easily pick up, and also has optional SATB choir and flexible instrumental parts.

As well as the main movements of the Mass (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei), Margaret has set music for the Gospel acclamation, Memorial acclamations, Doxology and Great Amen.

The unified style provides a setting that will be easily learnt and enjoyed by congregations, whilst churches with choirs will appreciate the choral writing by an expert in her field.

The congregational parts at the back of the book may be photocopied for local church use.

An edition of Margaret Rizza's new Mass of Saint Benedict for use with Common Worship.

A festival service for young voices celebrating God's physical and spiritual gift of water. Includes hymns, songs, readings and prayers. It can be used for upper, equal or mixed voice groups, and the material will be suitable for use at other services, concerts and school assemblies throughout the year.

For details of festival services to join around the country, or for help with organising your own event for young singers, go to www.rscm.com/youngvoices.

Each choir will need just one copy of the book with accompanying CD and CD-ROM, from which all materials can be reproduced.

The publication in 1611 of the King James Bible was a landmark event in English history that has reverberated down the centuries.

This festival service has been commissioned by the King James Bible Trust. It seeks to trace through history the place of the Bible in Christian life and worship, as well as celebrating the effect the King James Bible has had on generations of Christians since its publication.

It includes a varied selection of hymns, songs, readings and anthems, some specially written for this festival, and is ideal for RSCM choral festivals and special services.

Includes pieces by:

Philip Wilby
David Ogden
Thomas Hewitt Jones
The Taizé Community
Stuart Townend

Also pieces by Attwood, Batten, Handel and Mendelssohn

For more information about the anniversary and other events happening during 2011, go to the King James Bible Trust website

A new collection of hymns, songs and short musical items from Canterbury Press and the RSCM, to refresh the repertoire of congregational song wherever Christians gather to worship God together.

Initially conceived to complement Common Praise, but will be a valuable supplement to many mainstream collections.

Sing Praise aims to bring together new and as yet untested material with recently written songs and hymns already becoming familiar but not included in most standard hymn books.

For more information and an online sampler of the new book including index, go to the Sing Praise website here

HA&M Grant Scheme
See the Sing Praise website for details of Hymns Ancient & Modern's Grant Scheme, offering a 25% discount to churches and schools ordering 20 books or more across the printed editions.

A stunning new carol sequence for upper voices and piano, which would make a great companion piece to Britten's Ceremony of Carols. With its melodic invention and rhythmic intensity, this Christmas choral work is sure to become a favourite with boys and upper voice choirs.

A performance of Nowell! Nowell! by the Quiristers of Winchester College Chapel is available on their latest CD - The Time of Snow, along with Christmas music by Rutter, Chilcott, Hadley and Britten. Available from RSCM Music Direct or Cornflowers gift shop at Winchester College.

Stanford's Communion Service in C, together with the Benedictus and Agnus Dei in F he wrote to go with it, and a Kyrie written by Stanford expert Jeremy Dibble skilfully using themes from Opus 115.

A festival service for young voices celebrating God's gift of diversity. Includes a wide-ranging selection of hymns, readings and songs suitable for Years 5-8.

For details of festival services to join around the country, or for help with organising your own event for young singers, go to www.rscm.com/youngvoices.

Each choir will need just one copy of the book with accompanying CD-ROM, from which all materials can be reproduced.

A devotion for congregation and choir, first published in the 1950's.

This revised edition has been updated by Revd Peter Moger using Common Worship prayers and responses, but with the same format and readings as the original. An alternative set of readings, based on John’s Passion narrative, gives a fresh perspective.

The selection of music that has moved generations of church-goers remains the same, although re-set to enable a clearer score, so the music is fully compatible with the previous edition. Alternative hymns have been provided in the appendix.

A reprint of Charles Wood's Passiontide cantata based on the Gospel of Mark, devised in collaboration with Eric Milner-White and first performed in 1921.

The work calls for solo tenor and baritone, chorus and organ, with other minor solo roles, and lasts approximately one hour.

The first of a series of graded organ tutors from the RSCM.

Church organists have to be extremely versatile, and many do not feel properly equipped for their role.

This first of three volumes for church organists is ideal for beginners and for pianists taking that first step to the organ bench, and complements the training provided by the Church Music Skills programme.

• Fingering and pedalling
• How to practise
• Technical exercises
• Hymns and worship songs
• Accompanying anthems and motets
• Solo repertoire

A new edition of The Coverdale Psalter, as printed in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, with interpretive pointing - each psalm is pointed to emphasise the meaning of the text.

The only psalter available with notes for choristers.

Almost 200 accessible chants, many traditional and some newly commissioned.

Textual notes, explaining much of the archaic language and cultural context.

16 further traditional carols from Britain and Europe in sparkling new arrangements to add new spice to your Carol Service and Christmas Services.

Carols for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, in the same fully photocopiable format as The Carol Book

Flexible arrangements for Four-Part SATB choir, SA Men or Unison with Descant

16 carols for the price of a choir set of just one carol

The RSCM Carol Service, with musical suggestions from The Carol Book and The Carol Book Supplement

A hugely enjoyable collection of seventeen new songs and choral pieces from John written for the glory of God. Suitable for every church including a number for use during Communion services. Some use the words directly from Common worship. Other songs are based on short passages of scripture and still others are uplifting new pieces on themes like creation and God's mercy. Choirs, look no further for new material!

Contains complete piano / guitar and choral arrangements. Enjoy this musical celebration of life!

Here is a selection of our latest publications, with a special emphasis on music for Advent and Christmas, as featured in CMQ September 2009.

View sample pages:

• Advent Carol
• And they shall protect thee
• Ave Maria
• Chester Lullaby
• The promise of peace
• Who would true valour see

This new sequence of words and music, from the team that brought you The Way of the Cross, provides all you need for an Advent Carol Service, plus a wide range of choral resources for use during Advent, in one convenient book.

The choral music offers great flexibility in a wide range of styles and levels of difficulty for choirs of all standards.

Congregational items include established Advent hymns and contemporary worship songs.

The Advent Sequence includes music by:

• John Barnard
• Jon Banks
• Bernadette Farrell
• George Guest
• Graham Kendrick
• Simon Lole
• Peter Moger
• David Ogden
• Margaret Rizza
• Richard Shephard

The Advent Sequence is an indispensable addition to the music and liturgy of Advent for churches of all sizes.

This brand new edition of The Chorister’s Companion is packed full of useful information for the budding chorister. It provides everything a new chorister needs to know in one handy pocket-sized book.

The Chorister's Companion makes an ideal gift for those joining a choir for the first time, and candidates for the RSCM Bronze and Silver awards will also find much to help them prepare for their exams.

Includes chapters on:

• Using the voice well
• Musical skills and understanding
• A guide to Church services
• Some difficult words we use in church
• What we wear in church
• Inside the Church – a guide to the building and its furniture, including the organ
  

And a foreword from singer and radio presenter Aled Jones.

An inspiring service for upper or equal voices to encourage music in worship for school, church and community.

The service is in three parts: Secure in God's love, Finding Direction and Let it Shine, and includes a varied selection of hymns reading and song ideal for Primary School singers.

This CD-ROM includes:
Service book for singers
Director's book
Order of service for the congregation
Performance and backing tracks
Training notes

A graded anthology of forty sacred and inspirational songs guaranteed to get your choir singing.

Aimed at young people and adult singers at intermediate levels of the Voice for Life Training Scheme (Dark Blue and Red), this songbook includes catchy warm-up songs, beautiful rounds and canons to help develop part-singing plus exciting new music in unison and two parts.

With musical styles ranging from traditional church music to gospel and jazz, as well as songs from around the world, this volume will appeal to choirs of all ages, whether at church, school or in the community. It features pieces by established experts in the choral education field – including Bob Chilcott, Mike Brewer, Ken Burton, Alexander L’Estrange, Bazil Meade, Colin Mawby, Chris Norton, Ronald Corp, Geoff Weaver and David Ogden – as well as fresh new works by up-and-coming young composers.

Complete with photocopiable vocal parts for each piece, piano accompaniment CD and demonstration recordings, this anthology represents excellent value for money. And, as it also includes guidance on running a choir and training notes on each piece, this resource offers inspiration and ideas for any choir trainer looking to get the very best from their singers.

Following on from the huge success of The Carol Book, RSCM Press has now published Season by Season, covering the rest of the Christian year.

Season by Season provides material aimed at choirs of moderate competence (sometimes able to sing only in 2 or 3 parts) to build on The Carol Book market and to appeal to choirs who have been pleased with what The Carol Book offers.

Containing 100 items, it addresses all needs for seasonal material, with music suitable for special occasions and more general purposes. All the pieces may be photocopied for use by choirs during worship.

The integral CD-ROM contains alternative arrangements of many items, for different numbers of singers, piano accompaniments as an alternative to organ arrangements, and items in different keys. It also provides choices between traditional and updated texts for some pieces.

Listen to the editors talking about the book in a podcast here.

A major new resource of songs from around the world, edited by World Music expert Geoff Weaver, In Every Corner Sing provides music from six continents. It is an invaluable resource for parishes hosting visitors from overseas, as well as those wishing to introduce new, diverse and vibrant repertoire.

With nearly 100 songs from around the world, reflecting different approaches to God’s world, In Every Corner Sing will be warmly welcomed by all those wishing to add an international perspective to their worship.

The accompanying CD includes backing tracks in mp3 format for all the songs, providing simple harmony, rhythm and melody to help you and your singers learn and perform the songs with an authentic flavour! And you may photocopy every song for use by your choir and in worship, so you only need to buy one copy.

Visit the website of the Church Mission Society for information about countries around the world needing our prayers, and other resources to complement the songs in this book.

Listen to Geoff Weaver talking about the music in the book in a podcast here.

Sunday by Sunday, the liturgy planner first launched by the RSCM 10 years ago, is much valued by churches, clergy and musicians worldwide.

Sunday by Sunday – Music for the Second Service Lectionary is a weekly guide for all who plan and lead worship. It will be indispensible to the many churches which routinely hold services based on the second set of readings – matins, evensong, family services, services of the word and other non-eucharistic acts of worship.

This comprehensive volume sets out a wide range of musical choices for congregational singing, choral and organ music for every Sunday of years A, B and C and also for holy days, major feasts and special occasions including:

Christmas ~ Epiphany ~ Candlemas ~ Annunciation ~ Ascension ~ All Saints ~ Ash Wednesday ~ Maundy Thursday ~ Good Friday ~ Mothering Sunday ~ Corpus Christi ~ Harvest ~ Bible Sunday ~ Dedication Festival ~ and more.

The Royal School of Church Music has drawn together an outstanding team of musicians and liturgists to create the only volume that will be needed by clergy, musical directors and all who are involved in planning worship for the second service in their church.

This sequence of words and music provides both the framework for a devotional service and a wide range of choral resources for use during Passiontide and Holy Week.

The 'stations' featured here are drawn from the selection in Common Worship: Times and Seasons. They follow the Passion narrative of the Gospel of Mark, from Gethsemane to Calvary, with readings and prayers.

The choral music offers flexibility in a wide range of styles and levels of difficulty for choirs of all standards. Congregational items include established Passiontide hymns and contemporary worship songs.

New or previously unpublished music includes:

• It is a thing most wonderful (Peter Moger)
• Wonderful Cross (Philip Wilby)
• The song of Christ's glory (Grayston Ives)

The Way of the Cross provides a valuable addition to the music and liturgy of Passiontide and Holy Week for churches of all sizes.