SKU: A0.1068420

This piece was written in April 2003 for the Thornesian Prize Competition for a piece for SATB. The composer, who sung in many choirs in his teens and twenties, before damaging his vocal chords, at last felt that he should write something for choir. The music uses a modal tune for the word lullaby, and interweaves this with the opening phrase of the 15th century Coventry Carol. Changing modulations and a few words and phrases are used to suggest the atmosphere of the coming of the angels and the three kings.
This is the performance  by the dwsChorale. A slower version by the Alteri Choir is also available.

SKU: A0.1266592

Heraclitus by Charles Villiers Stanford

Performed by David Warin Solomons as the one-man choir dwsChorale.

Callimachus of Cyrene (c. 310 BC – c. 240 BC) was a Greek poet, critic and bibliographer, of Libyan birth. 
He is considered the most influential figure of the Alexandrian school. 
He wrote this poem in memory of his friend Heraclitus. 


Εἰπέ τις, Ἡ�άκλειτε, τεὸν μό�ον �ς δέ με δάκ�υ
    ἤγαγεν �μνήσθην δ᾿ �σσάκις ἀμφότε�οι
ἠέλιον λέσχῃ κατεδύσαμεν. ἀλλὰ σὺ μέν που,
    ξεῖν᾿ Ἁλικα�νησεῦ, τετ�άπαλαι σποδιή,
αἱ δὲ τεαὶ ζώουσιν ἀηδόνες, ᾗσιν � πάντων
    ��πακτὴς Ἀίδης ο�κ �πὶ χεῖ�α βαλεῖ.

2 millennia later, William Johnson Cory, 1823-92 wrote this version of the poem:

They told me, Heraclitus, they told me you were dead;
They brought me bitter news to hear and bitter tears to shed;
I wept, as I remembered, how often you and I
Had tired the sun with talking, and sent him down the sky.

And now that thou art lying, my dear old Carian guest,
A handful of grey ashes, long, long ago at rest,
Still are thy pleasant voices, thy nightingales, awake;
For Death, he taketh all away, but them he cannot take.

... and this was set to music by Charles Villiers Stanford.

SKU: A0.1266606

Anthem by Johannes Eccard (1553-1611) about Simeon recognising Jesus at the temple. 
Performed by the one-man choir dwsChorale.

Maria wallt zum Heiligtum und bringt ihr Kindlein dar,
das schaut der greise Simeon, wie ihm verheißen war.
Da nimmt er Jesum in den Arm und singt im Geiste froh:

Nun fahr' ich hin mit Freud,
dich, Heiland, sah ich heut,
du Trost von Israel, das Licht der Welt.

(Translation by John Troutbeck

When to the temple Mary went, and brought the Holy Child,
Him did the aged Simeon see, as it had been revealed.
He took up Jesus in his arms and blessing God he said:

In peace I now depart,
my Saviour having seen,
The Hope of Israel, the Light of men.).

SKU: A0.1310121

Improvisation by the dwsChorale

A silly a-cappella number based on an idea from an old epigram Scylla is toothless. 
Scylla becomes a vintage headmaster in this version but the results are similar.

My old headmaster hasn`t got one tooth
But he had teeth enough back in my youth
He told me off then every single day
But now his tongue has worn his teeth away!

Original unattributed epigram dating from about 1640
On an old Scold
Scylla is toothless, yet, when she was young
She had both teeth enough and too much tongue.
What shall we, then, of toothless Scylla say
But that her tongue has worn her teeth away?

SKU: A0.1310128

Dutch Christmas carol sung in an English translation by the dwsChorale
(Also known as King Jesus hath a garden)

It is a version for mezzo, alto and bass.

Lord Jesus hath a garden full of flowers gay,
Where you and I can gather nosegays all the day:

Refrain:
There angels sing in jubilant ring,
With dulcimers and lutes,
And harps and cymbals, trumpets, pipes,
And gentle, soothing flutes.
And harps and cymbals, trumpets, pipes,
And gentle flutes.


There bloometh white the lily, flower of Purity;
The fragrant violet hides there, sweet Humility:
(Refrain)

And one thing fairest is in all that lovely maze,
The gard'ner, Jesus Christ, whom all the flowers praise:
(Refain)

O Jesus all my good and all my bliss! Ah me!
Thy garden make my heart, which ready is for thee!
(Refrain).

SKU: A0.1310123

Es ist ein Ros entsprungen, by Michael Praetorius
performed by the dwsChorale (one-man multitrack choir)

    [sung three voices to a part]
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen 
aus einer Wurzel zart, 
A rose has sprung up
from a tender root

wie uns die Alten sungen, 
von Jesse kam die Art 
as the ancients sang to us
the line came from Jesse


und hat ein Blümlein bracht 
and brought forth a little flower

mitten im kalten Winter wohl zu der halben Nacht.
in the middle of cold winter when the night was half spent

   [sung one voice to a part]
Das Blümlein, das ich meine, 
davon Jesaja sagt, 
The little flower I mean
of which Isiah speaks


hat uns gebracht alleine 
Marie, die reine Magd, 
was brought to us only
by Marie the pure maiden


aus Gottes ew'gem Rat 
from God's eternal wisdom

hat sie ein Kind geboren, welches uns selig macht
she bore a child who makes us blessed

     [sung three voices to a part]
Das Blümelein so kleine, 
das duftet uns so süss, 
The little flower so tiny
smells so sweet to us

mit seinem hellen Scheine 
vertreibt's die Finsternis. 
with its bright light
dispels the darkness

Wahr' Mensch und wahrer Gott, 
True Man and true God

hilft uns aus allem Leide, rettet von Sünd und Tod.
he helps us from all our sorrows and saves us from sin and death.

SKU: A0.1103921

Performed by the dwsChorale The silver swan, who living had no note, When death approached, unlocked her silent throat; Leaning her breast against the reedy shore, Thus sung her first and last, and sung no more: “Farewell, all joys; Oh death, come close mine eyes; More geese than swans now live, more fools than wise.�.

SKU: A0.1390717

The famous Halleluja chorus from Händel' Oratorio The Messiah, transposed for men's voices and performed by the one-man choir dwsChorale

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
The kingdom of this world is become
the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ,
and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever.
King of kings, and Lord of lords.
and He shall reign for ever and ever.
for ever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!