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Tim
Porter's choral works. Tim lives near Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds
in England. These days, his time is spent lecturing in mediaeval history
and buildings, and music. He writes:
"I've
been lucky enough to have two careers; nowadays, I'm a freelance lecturer,
mainly in mediæval studies, though I do speak about music also.
But until 1986, I was a musician, and the theatre was my field. This started
in late teenage, when my first opera was staged by friends and local musicians.
After a spell studying at Dartington College of Arts, I embarked on a
series of music-dramas, and the twice-yearly productions became ever more
committed, until in 1976 the Green Branch Theatre Company was founded,
and I'm still immensely grateful to all those involved, who performed
enormous quantities of his work to a very high standard over the next
ten years. The larger-scale productions were usually based in Bristol,
but most work took place on tour, including forays to Germany and Austria.
Myth and history always formed the subject-matter, though related to present-day
issues. An abiding love of Scotland has been another guiding light for
me, which is reflected in my choral pieces, most of which are early pieces
written before the formation of Green Branch."
For
more details of the Green Branch Theatre Company, please see www.greenbranch.org.uk.
Tim eschews computers, so to contact him, contact me (oliver.barton@virgin.net)
and I'll try to put you in touch!
Christmas
pieces
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As
sunne through glass
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words:
Mediaeval music:
Tim Porter, 1970 |
The music is adapted from a chorus in Tim's folk opera "Sir
Gawain and the Green Knight".
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Hark
how all the welkin rings
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words:
Charles Wesley music:
Tim Porter, 1967 |
One of two carols (with "Sweet was the song") that Tim
wrote early in his time as a student at Dartington College. In "Three
Carols".
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Sleep
in Peace
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words:
Hebridean music:
Tim Porter, 1968 |
This is a gem; if you only look at one's of Tim's pieces, look at
this. It is the earliest piece of his I know that really hints at
what was to come in his operas. In "Three Carols".
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Sweet
was the song the Virgin sang
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words:
W Ballet music:
Tim Porter, 1967 |
With "Hark how all the welkin rings", written at Dartington
College. In "Three Carols".
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There
is no rose
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words:
Mediaeval music:
Tim Porter, 1970 |
Extracted from Tim's folk opera "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight".
In that, it is sung by three wassailers as they arrive at Sir Bertilak's
castle. Very simple, very effective.
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Other
choral pieces
A
Cradle Song
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words:
WB Yeats music:
Tim Porter, 1969 |
Written for a christening, a gentle, still little piece.
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Farewell
to the Highlands
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words:
Robert Burns music:
Tim Porter |
This is the first of a proposed set of choral pieces. Good practice
for choirs for achieving accurate timing with slow triplets!
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Invocation
to the Sun and Moon
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words:
from the Gaelic music:
Tim Porter, 1974 |
The Invocation was written for the wedding of two friends. It is
a substantial piece that shares some material with "With joy
we leave thee" (see below).
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Jesu
source of all my joy
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words:
Hebridean music:
Tim Porter, 1974 |
A simple and lovely hymn.
| Forces:
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SATB |
PDF
download :
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Click
here |
| Duration: |
about
1'40" for all 3 verses |
MIDI
download :
|
Click
here |
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Jesu
the very thought of thee
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words:
E Caswell music:
Tim Porter, 1975 |
For three voices, with an interesting couple of bars where the bass
rises in a whole-tone scale that takes a little courage to execute!
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The
Rune of the Four Winds
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words:
Fiona MacLeod music:
Tim Porter, 1978 |
This is a substantial and extraordinarily atmospheric piece. It
should ideally be sung by a large chorus in a resonant building.
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With
joy we leave thee
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words:
Duke of Monmouth music:
Tim Porter, 1974 |
This is the final chorus from Tim's opera "The Duke of Monmouth's
Maggot". A maggot is, of course, an old English country dance,
not what you were thinking. The opera is a full-scale opera, with
full chorus and orchestra. To date, it has never been performed
as a whole, which is a great shame, for it is a fine piece. The
stage directions are included in this chorus, and they are good
reading!
| Forces:
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SATB
(+SATB solos optionally) + Piano |
PDF
download :
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Click
here |
| Duration: |
about
3'15" |
MIDI
download :
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Click
here |
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