'Another fine volume, striking in its diversity of styles and approaches. All the contents extremely worthwhile. It's not often that anthologies maintain this level of excellence. Many congratulations on curating such a rich collection, and for your very high editorial standards. You are doing a great job not only for the cause of women composers but for the repertory of sacred vocal music, period'.
Professor Edward Higginbottom
Emeritus Professor of Choral Music, University of Oxford
1.
Amy Beach
Lord, now lettest thou (Nunc dimittis)
Gloria editorially constructed by Sarah MacDonald
SATB & optional Organ
SoundCloud recording by The Gesualdo Six
4.
Maddalena Casulana
Attesa (Expectation)
SATB (performed in Italian)
SoundClound recording by Siglo de Oro
4.
Maddalena Casulana
Expectation (Attesa)
SATB (performed in English)
SoundCloud recording by Siglo de Oro
5.
Sarah Cattley
Ivy, chief of trees it is
SA or TBar solos, SATB (some divisi)
SoundCloud recording by Siglo de Oro
7.
Libby Croad
Silent night
SATB
Listen to the choir of All Saints' Putney (directed by Patrick Allies) here (SoundCloud)
10.
Tamsin Jones
Noel: Verbum caro factum est
SABarB or TBarBB
SoundCloud recording by The Gesualdo Six
12.
Isabella Leonarda
Alma Redemptoris Mater
SATB & continuo
SoundCloud recording by The Gesualdo Six
13.
Sarah MacDonald
Hymn for the Feasts of St Joseph
T solo, TBarB (orig. poem in English, with opt. A (trad. Anon) in German)
SoundCloud recording by the Gesualdo Six
15.
Emma Mundella
The Desert
SATB & optional Organ and S descant
SoundCloud recording by Cambrideg Chorale
16.
Helena Paish
While Mary Slept
S solo, SSAATTBB
Listen to the choir of Truro Cathedral perform the work here (Spotify)
17.
Maria Theresia von Paradis
(additional soprano 2 line by Olivia Sparkhall)
Es ist ein' Ros'
SS & piano
SoundCloud recording by Aurora Nova
18.
Katharine Parton
Gaudebat et Ridebat!
SSATB & snare drum
SoundCloud recording by The Gesualdo Six
19.
Yshani Perinpanayagam
In Bethlehem above
SATB
Watch the video premiere (in lieu of live performance during Covid) by Siglo de Oro here
22.
Rhian Samuel
Rhyfedd, rhyffed/Wonder, wonder
SATB & Organ
Watch the world premiere performance in Welsh here (begins at 57:16)
23.
Olivia Sparkhall
Gabriel's Message
S & T solos, SAT/B & piano
SoundCloud recording by Cambridge Chorale
25.
Alice Tegner, arr. Sarah MacDonald
Bethlehem's Star/Betlehems stjarna
S and B solos, SSAATTB & Organ
(English with optional Swedish)
SoundCloud recording by Cambridge Chorale
Watch the choir of Ely Cathedral perform the work here
‘We’ve just started singing from the Sacred Music by Women Composers anthology in my chamber choir and I was honestly nearly brought to tears. I don’t think I’ve sung more than a couple of songs by women in the years I’ve been singing, and I really felt the impact of just holding a book full of women’s music. I look forward to your future releases.’ Heather, choral singer.