New Music 2020

Overview

Support from the Friends of Christ Church Cathedral enabled us to pursue a major new initiative to commission several composers to write fresh and original liturgical music which, after the pandemic interruption, was finally performed by the choir in 2021 and 2022.

Call for Proposals

Over thirty composers responded to our Call for Proposals, which invited thoughtful and though-provoking responses to different seasons of the church year. We were delighted to commission the following composers:

Sarah Rimkus

http://www.sarahrimkus.com/

Sarah is an award-winning composer of music which is performed both here in the UK and in her native USA. She has brought her characteristic understanding of text to a new work for Pentecost: The God Who Sees Me.

Bertie Baigent

http://www.bertiebaigent.com/

A former Organ Scholar of the Cathedral Singers, Bertie is now rapidly developing an international career as conductor and composer. The anthem Rise heart was first performed at Easter 2022.

Alison Willis

http://www.alisonwillis.com/

Alison’s award-winning music has been performed across the country and beyond. The Eastertide anthem Regina caeli was first performed in April 2022.

Ben Rowarth

https://www.benrowarth.com/

Not only in demand as a singer in some of the UK’s top vocal ensembles, Ben is also an award-winning and authoritative composer whose work is widely performed. His anthem A New Year Carol was premiered in December 2021.

Grayston Ives

Bill Ives

We’re delighted that Grayston Ives brought his contemporary and accessible musical idiom to bear on a new mass setting for the choir and its organist. The choir has enjoyed singing his music for many years, and looks forward to making the Missa Aedis Christi a regular part of its repertoire.