Choral &
Solo voicE
All works available for hire or purchase from Philip, please get in touch directly here
Highlighted works are available for immediate purchase from reedmusic.com
denotes a recommendation for The Big Sing competition and youth choirs, or childrens' choirs
2017
Let Me Describe for You Her Eyes for soprano & piano 3' 30"
Composed as composer-in-residence at the 2017 IFAC Handa NZ Singing School, Hawkes Bay
2018
An Imaginary Menagerie for two--part choir & piano 2' 40"
(or 'The Sixth Sheikh's Sick Sheep' fun with tongue twisters)
Commissioned for the Christchurch Schools' Music Festival Association 2016
Performed by the massed choir of the Christchurch Schools' Music Festival 2018
2015
Pro Patria for SATB choir & brass band 13'
Commissioned by the Christchurch City Choir for performance with Addington Brass in a WWI Commemoration
Concert at the New Zealand Airforce Museum, November 2015
Performed by the Christchurch City Choir, Addington Brass and Andrew Withington (conductor)
2015
Four Songs by Douglas Lilburn orch. for high voice & chamber orchestra 8'
2 2 2 2 / 2 2 1 0 / timp, perc(1) / str brass optional
Commissioned by the Auckland Philharmonia for Lilburn 100 Celebrations.
I. Lines in Autumn (Basil Dowling, text) – II. The Picnic (Ruth Dallas, text) – III. Summer's Sadness (D'Arcy Cresswell, text)
IV. Holiday Piece (Denis Glover, text)
2015
Whalers of the Deep, Deep Sea arr. for soprano, strings & timpani 3'
Composed by Te Heu Heu, lyrics by Mrs St George – the oldest surviving composition by an NZ composer
Arranged for Resonance Ensemble, a Lilburn 100 project
2014
Earthquake Poem for high voice & piano 3' 30"
Composed for Keith Lewis (tenor) and Sue Melville (piano)
Commissioned by Hawkes Bay Singing School, 2015 Fundraising Tour. Text By Gary McCormick
2014
Wide Sky Shelter a celebration for choir, kapa haka group, clan dancers, speakers & orchestra 9'
3 2 3 1 / 3 2 2 1 / timp, perc(5) / str
Commissioned by Rangi Ruru High School and Janet Kingsbury (Director of Music) to celebrate the
125th anniversary of its founding. Texts: various, pertaining to the history and distinctive routines of the school
2012
At the Lighting of the Lamps > for SATB choir & orchestra 13'
2 2 2 2 / 2 2 3 1 / timp, perc(2), hp / str
2 1 1 0 / 0 0 0 1 / perc(1), hp / str (alternative reduced version)
Commissioned by the Christchurch City Choir for its 21st anniversary with funding from Creative New Zelaand
A setting of the first three cantos of the poem by the same name by Ursula Bethell
2011
Girl, Boy, Flower, Bicycle for unaccompanied SSAA choir 2' 30"
Commissioned by Julia Arden and Ann Woodham, members of The Cecilian Singers for their 30th anniversary, May 2011
2010
Missa Brevis for unaccompanied TTBB choir & flute 10'
Commissioned by Christ's College Chapel Choir and Robert Auburn (Music Director) with funding from Lochmaben Trust
2010
Psalm 150 > for SSAATTBB choir & organ with optional cymbals 3'
Commissioned by St Margaret's College Christchurch for its centenary celebration
2009
A New Sky > a song cycle for TTBB choir & piano 15'
Commissioned by the New Zealand Male Choir and Robert Auburn (Music Director) for the choir's 10th anniversary,
and their 2010 European Tour.
I. O Spirit of the Earth (Karakia, tras. G S Cooper) II. Keep Us Humble (Samuel Marsden) III. 'Tis a Silent Land (Edward Tregear)
IV. Our Christmas (Margaret Mahy) V. Our Cities Face the Sea (David McKee Wright)
2009
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis > for SATB choir & organ 6' 30"
Commissioned by Christ's College Chapel Choir and Robert Auburn (Music Director) with funding from Lochmaben Trust
2009
Transports of Delight > for childrens' choir & piano 3' 15"
A medley of short songs with SA harmony, poems by Margaret Mahy: I. My Sister II. The Flingamango III. Plans Gone Wrong
Commissioned by the Christchurch North-West Schools' Music Festival 2009
2008
Carol of the (New Zealand) Birds > versions for SA or SS & piano or a capella SATB 1' 30"
Words by Philip Norman and trad. Czech
2007
Songs of the Wild for massed choir & piano 8'
Commissioned by the Christchurch Schools' Music Festival Association 2008
I. Wild Bird Lullaby (Arthur Adams/Johannes Anderson) II. The Sea to the Shell (David Ross)
III. The Wasp and the Bee (anon.)
2007
Wenceslas cantata version for SATB & orchestra 9'
For more information, please get in touch with Philip directly
2006
Shipwreck > versions for SATB & orchestra (or piano) 12'
For more information, please get in touch with Philip directly
Performed by the Jubilate Singers from their CD 'Southern Landscapes'
2003
Ravenous Uncles (and Many Thin Greedy Aunts) > for childrens' choir & piano (or orchestra) 10'
Four song settings of poems by Margaret Mahy:
I. The Man from the land of Fandango – II. Uncle James – III. Wonderful Me – IV. Tarragon Vinegar
Commissioned by the Christchurch Schools' Music Festival Association, 2003. Funded by Trustpower
Performed by Juliet Reynolds–Midgley (singer) Malcolm McNeill (singer) and the CSO
2001
A Garland of Songs for male voice choir & piano 10'
Three songs set to the poems of the late AK Grant and written in memory of the author.
Commissioned by the NZ Male Voice Choir Festival Committee for the 2001 festival, with funding from Creative NZ
2001
Love Song > for a capella TTBB choir 9'
Commissioned by the New Zealand Male Voice Choir Festival Committee, text by AK Grant.
Funding provided by Creative New Zealand
2000
Witches, Clowns, Promises > for childrens' choir & piano (or orchestra) 10'
Five song settings of poems by Margaret Mahy:
I. The Tin Can Band – II. Promises – III. The Pines – IV. A Witch Poem – V. Clowns
Commissioned by the Christchurch Schools' Music Festival Association, 2000
Performed by Juliet Reynolds–Midgley (singer) Malcolm McNeill (singer) and the CSO
2000
Shipwreck > version for male voice choir & piano with optional percussion 12'
Commissioned by the Nelson Male Voice Choir for the National Male Choir of New Zealand’s tour of Wales, June 2000
Excerpt performed by Fortissimo (Dilworth School, Auckland) – "The Southern Gale"
1995
Proud to call New Zealand Home > a tongue-and-cheek song for barbershop quartet 3'
Commissioned by Garden City Sound, NZ's 1994 champion barbershop quartet for performance at the
World Jamboree of Barbershop Quartets in Miami, Florida.
1995
Plumsong > for a capella SATB choir with optional brass & piano accompaniment 15'
Commissioned by the NZ Choral Federation and the National Youth Choir of NZ with assistance from Creative NZ.
Text by AK Grant in the style of selected NZ poets.
Performed by the NZ Secondary Schools' Choir from their CD 'Pastime with Plums and Pizzazz'
1992
Wenceslas > for treble voices & orchestra 15'
2 2 2 2 / 4 2 2 0 / timp, perc(3), hp / str
Commissioned by Christchurch Symphony Orchestra for their 1992 Christmas Crackers Concert
1991
Does No-One Care? anthem for two--part youth choir (SA + solos) & piano 3'
Commissioned by St Barnabas Youth Choir for TVNZ broadcast. Words by Jennifer Murray
1990
Shipwreck > version for SATB choir & brass ensemble 12'
3 trumpets, 2 horns, 2 trombones, tuba, timpani and cymbals
1989
Hunger Songs > for SSA choir 6' 30"
Commissioned by David Hamilton and Opus One, Epsom Girls, Auckland for their 1989 Finland tour.
Performed by Opus Choir
1978
Psalm CL for SATB choir & organ 6'
Written as a massed item for the Christchurch Community Choirs' Festival, 1978
1978
Measured Mass for TTBB choir & organ 8'
Based on material from the Measure for Measure score
1975
Surrealist Landscape for SATB choir & piano 5'
Text by Lord Berners
1975
Composition for Choir with Laryngitis for lost voices 4'