.
The CD, Silêncio, also contains works by Ivan Moody and Joao Madureira. Silêncio is a project conceived as part of the commemoration of 25 years of activity of the Department of Historical and Artistic Heritage of the Diocese of Beja, Portugal.



The fantastic American vocal quartet

29 October 2008
The first snow of winter fell this morning and I realized that Christmas is less than two months off...

Some new publications are underway:
Veni redemptor gentium has just been published by Oxford University Press in a collection of contemporary carols entitled
The Ivy and the Holly. Details here.

Norsk Musikforlag are publishing several new titles later this autumn - details to follow.

Earlier this year I was commissioned to write an arrangement for choir of the last movement of Arne Nordheim's string quartet. Set to words by Salvatore Quasimodo, Epitaffio will be published by Edition Wilhelm Hansen, Copenhagen.

Oxford University Press will be publishing Christmas Song (The Truth from Above) in The Oxford Book of Flexible Carols
sometime in early autumn 2009.
 

17 March 2008
New work for vocal trio (SSA) and trumpet!
Bruma (Midwinter) was given its first performance at the Røros Chamber Music Festival on 6 March by Trio Mediæval and Arve Henriksen.
 

18 January 2008
Happy New Year!
New publications:
Missa in Solstitio (Norsk Musikforlag)
Stabat Mater (Norsk Musikkforlag)
Runde, Båten, Forlat oss vår skuld, Lyset (Musikk-Husets Forlag) arrangements of tunes by Melanie Svenneby to texts by Halldis Moren Vesaas. All scores available at www.norskkorsenter.com
Check out a couple of sound clips at www.myspace.com/andrewsmithsmusic

03 November 2007
I have just returned from New York and the first performance of Mater Dei, a cycle of pieces developed from the Mother of God project, performed by the outstanding male vocal quartet New York Polyphony and organist Robert McCormick. NYP's debut disc (see previous entry) has already received stunning reviews, including this one at Classics Today.com. A new piece for mixed choir, Stabat Mater, was premiered by the Grammy-nominated Ensemble 96 (Oslo) with their conductor Kjetil Almenning. The piece is due for publication at Norsk Musikforlag (Norway). Oxford University Press are about to launch their new collection of Flexible Anthems which includes my contribution There is no rose. Meanwhile Trio Mediæval are on the road to launch their new disc Folk Songs.

28 August 2007
The stunning new vocal ensemble New York Polyphony is shortly to release their first recording I sing the birth on Avie records.
The recording includes my arrangements of Veni Redemptor gentium and my setting of the Nunc dimittis.
Click on the picture for full track list, and here for the group's website (including sound samples).


In October New York Polyphony will perform a number of pieces by me, including a new setting of the Magnificat, as part of the sequence Mater Dei for the New York Early Music Celebration

27 April 2007
Two new works completed! Follow the link "music" above to see Missa in Solstitio and Laudes creaturarum.
An electronic copy of any unpublished piece will be sent to you on request!

16 March 2007
NEW CD! Consortium Vocale Oslo is happy to anounce the release of Exaudiam eum - Gregorian Chant for Lent and Holy Week
Click on the image for more information:

29 November 2006
It has been announced that Trio Mediaeval are to be performers in residence at the 2007 Bergen International Festival.
Their appearances will include a concert with the popular Tord Gustavsen Trio, a performance of medieval and contemporary works with video projections by the Danish video artist Signe Klejs, and a joint concert with the Hilliard Ensemble including the world premier of my Laudes creaturarum commissioned for the occasion.

*** Mother of God is now available from the Washington National Cathedral Museum Store ***

20 October 2006
You can pre-order a copy of the Mother of God disc by following this link to Washington National Cathedral Museum Store.
I've just completed an 8-part arrangement of the beautiful Norwegian folk song Den dag kjem aldri for Trio Mediaevaland the American male group Cantus for their joint concert in Minneapolis in November.

01 September 2006
Returned from a highly successful recording session in Washington DC - all the material for the Mother of Godproject has finally been committed to hard disk. Watch this space for news of the CD release, scheduled for medio November.

15 August 2006
Trio Mediæval have had a run of extremely successful concerts this summer, the last of which included the premier performance of 'Quam pulchra es' commissioned by the Trio. Their concert in Paros, Greece, received an ecstatic review which included the following comment:
"I especially enjoyed the four contemporary pieces, which, full of dissonance, tone clusters, and non-traditional harmony, nevertheless clearly had the Mediaeval modal style in mind; their modernity was used to give meaning to the words, and was immediately understandable." Jeffrey Carson, Paros Life

20 June 2006
Returned from the first performances of 'Mother of God' in Washington DC. The recording at the end of August is going to be fantastic in the wonderful acoustics of Washington National Cathedral.

07 May 2006
Visit to the University of York to hear Trio Mediaeval perform new works by Trygve Seim (Norway) and Bill Brooks (USA). Composition seminar for students at the University.

20 April 2006
Welcome to my new website! Some areas are still in the process of completion (I hope to add some pictures and mp3 samples); please send me an email and ask if you cannot find what you are looking for.

Andrew Smith © 2006