James MacMillan: Sun-Dogs: SATB: Score

Five-movement work for mixed chorus a cappella with mutiple divisi and semi-chorus.A setting of a poem by Michael Symmons Roberts (English) with Latin text from the mass and an English traditional rhyme. Co-commissioned in 2006 by the Indiana University Contemporary Vocal Ensemble ZaterdagMatinee the Three Choirs Festival and Soundstreams Canada. Recording: BIS SACD 1719 by Netherlands Radio Choir conducted by Celso Antunes. The music itself was a revelation: a mesmeric blending of traditional and contemporary elements a choral array of chanting and whispering of shouting and speaking of whistling and controlling disparate lines so that they wondrously merged Theco-creator of Sun-Dogs was British poet Michael Symmons Roberts who addresses theological and mythical symbolisms. Dogs beggars suns and stars turn into metaphors The whole settled upon the ears like magic Indiana Herald-Times. Suitable for advanced standard choirs.