James MacMillan

Composer's Notes In writing this work I wanted to compose something which was both timeless and contemporary, both sacred and secular. The title (Sacred Songs) is therefore slightly misleading as the...

Christmas setting for upper voices (three parts) of a traditional 15th-century English text with Latin refrain: 'Gabriel of high degree ...' / 'Ut nova: Ave fit ex Eva'. An explanation of the Latin pu...

In its original scoring for mixed voices MacMillan's The Gallant Weaver has become a favourite; this arrangement now extends the setting to upper voices. Paul Spicer comments, 'This ideal introduction...

This liturgical setting dates from 1977, but has recently been released by the composer. Latin text: Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, At the conclusion. Taut scoring (with some divisi) contains both...

A touching setting of an anonymous love poem in broad Scots, this part-song was composed for the wedding of some friends of the composer. A welcome addition to the canon of MacMillan's secular choral...

Birthday tribute piece first performed in 2006 at a Glasgow restaurant by a quartet of students from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. The text is the well-known eulogy To laugh often and...

A powerful setting for 8-part choir of three of the Good Friday responses at matins: 'Tenebrae factae sunt', 'Tradiderunt me' and 'Iesum tradidit impius'. Commissioned by Cappella Nova (director: Alan...

The Strathclyde Motets are communion motets setting propers of the mass for various Sundays and feasts. Latin text from the Graduale Romanum. Suitable for intermediate standard choirs.Pascha nostrum i...

The Strathclyde Motets are communion motets setting propers of the mass for various Sundays and feasts. Suitable for intermediate standard choirs. The Canticle of Zachariah takes Luke chapter I as its...

From a 15th-century Canterbury pontifical.

Text from Psalm 51:3-21.

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 rhy...

Communion antiphon for Ash Wednesday, from the Strathclyde Motets, set II. Latin text from Psalm 1: 'Qui meditabitur in lege Domini die ac nocte dabit fructum suum in tempore suo'. Suitable for interm...

A setting of the final paragraph from Alasdair MacIntyre's book After Virtue, A study in moral theory.

Communion motet for Trinity Sunday.

Composed in 1980 and revised in 2010 this is a setting of verses from Aquinas's Pange lingua in modern English translation. The choral writing is appropriately hymn-like, with one a cappella passage....

Text from 1 John 3:1, and from the baptismal rite.

Setting of Revelation 21: 1-6a commisioned by Soli Deo Gloria with support from Crossway Bibles and from the University of Chicago, and premiered in June 2011 by the University of Chicago's Rockefelle...

Latin setting commissioned by St Patrick's Church, Soho, London, to commemorate its major refurbishment and reopening on the Feast of the Visitation in May 2011. Elaborate, predominantly homophonic, c...

English setting of Psalm 127 for SSATB a cappella. Commissioned by the Marquess and Marchioness of Salisbury to mark the 400th anniversary of Hatfield House. First performed there on 11 September 2011...

Setting of the traditional vesper hymn ('Hail, O Star of the ocean'), commissioned by Christopher Gray and the Choir of Truro Cathedral. The texture is homophonic and sustained, with much use of pedal...

Heart-felt setting for SATB a cappella of words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St Juan Diego, December 1531 (English), with bass 'cantus firmus' from a 14th Century Marian antiphon (Latin): 'Listen, put...