Adam Lay Y Bounden
SSATB & hand drum
“Thomas Bell has arranged this 15th century English carol for unaccompanied mixed chorus with percussion. The mixed meter complements the normal inflection of the text and provides an incredible energy that will have your audience on their feet”.
Hinshaw HMC2259
Advent Hymn
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SATB + congregation
A hymn based on the Seven Great O Antiphons for Advent. Both text and music by the composer.
Available from composer
All for Jesus
SATB
A simple homophonic setting suitable for smaller choirs. The unfussy melody has a Appalachian feel to it, a delightfully unpretentious appeal.
Alliance AMP 0711
Angel Gabriel, the
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SATB, soprano and tenor solos
A cheerful carol which neatly balances solos for both Joseph (tenor) and Mary (soprano) with a buoyant choral refrain. The music has an appealing rusticity.
Available from composer
The Easter Garden
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SATB + Handbell
For unaccompanied choir and handbell, the simplicity and beauty of Jesus meeting Mary Magelene in the Easter garden is conveyed through four lovely verses.
Available from composer
Gaudete!
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SA(A)TB
A surprisingly quiet introduction and conclusion contrast the buoyant energy of this popular carol. The divisi parts are simple.
Available from composer
Here, o My Lord, I See Thee
SATB + organ
A tender communion anthem. The solo soprano voice floats over a delicate but important organ accompaniment in the first verse before the music opens up for the full choir.
Kelman Hall 01/2023
Holy Spirit, Holy Wisdom
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SATB
Taking a lovely Welsh tune as it’s point of departure, this motet explores many unusual and beautiful images for the Holy Spirit. Suitable for Pentecost.
Available from composer
Huron Carol, the
S(S)ATB(B)
A tender arrangement of a beloved carol. The divisi parts are tailored to smaller choirs.
Available from composer
In Dulci Jubilo
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SSATBB
An effervescent arrangement of this well-known German carol. The outer verses sparkle with energy while the third verse (a canon between sopranos and tenors) provides a gentle moment of repose.
Available from composer
King of Glory, King of Peace
SATB
Three uncomplicated verses allow the richness of George Herbert’s beautiful poetry to shine through. Short opportunities for solos are provided in each of the four voice parts. Suitable for most times of the church year.
Alliance AMP 0552 or from the composer
Kyrie
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Unison/SATB + organ
Suitable for congregational and/or choral use.
Available from
Love
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SATB
The first of two settings of George Herbert’s magnificent poem. Solos for soprano and tenor voices. Performed by the Choir of St. Jude’s Oakville at St. Thomas Fifth Avenue, New York.
Available from composer
Love III
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SATB
The nuanced dialogue of the poem finds a fitting expression in the music. More sophisticated than the first version but – I trust – well worth the effort!
Available from composer
Love’s Fire
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SATB + optional saxophone.
A text suitable for Pentecost is sung to a hymn-like setting by Tomas de Victoria (1548-1611). Works very well with a soprano saxophone improvisation over the simple choral parts.
Available from composer
The Lord’s Prayer SATB
The Lord’s Prayer – Full Score
A simple unaccompanied setting of the Lord’s prayer.
Maranatha
SATB and congregation
The hope of the Advent season is captured in this composition. Its brevity and appropriateness for the season allow it to be used numerous places in the liturgy.
G.I.A G-7540
Michael’s Drum
SATB, keyboard, C instrument + percussion + drum
Based on a French-Canadian melody, “Michael’s Drum” is a choral setting of Smyttan’s well-known Lenten text “Forty Days and Forty Nights.” Alternate choral harmonies are provided on some verses. Percussion part is for tambourine and hand drum.
G.I.A. G-7539
Once, As I Remember
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SATB + organ
Winner of the Amadeus Choir of Toronto Carol competition. Verses for soprano and tenor solos complement gentle choral refrains at the end of each verse. A piece dear to my heart!
Gordon V Thompson VA-4024 or
from the composer
Pilgrim’s Carol, the
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SATB + percussion
Henry VIII’s song ‘Past time with good company’ finds a new life as a church or concert item. The text by the composer has resonances of Pilgrim’s Progress. A perennial favourite at St. Paul’s Bloor Street, Toronto.
Available from composer
Prayer of St. Brendan the Voyager, the
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TTBB + piano
This setting for male voices has an attractive Celtic flavour, as suits the prayer. Commissioned by the wonderful Canadian Men’s Chorus.
Available from composer
Sinnes Round
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S(S)A(A)TB(B)
Rarely set to music, this wonderful penitential poem contains much rich imagery. The music has a deliciously dark flavour. Suitable for the Lenten season.
Available from composer
Song of Rest
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SATB
English texts (“Come unto me all of you who are heavy laden”) have been added to Palestrina’s music, a masterpiece of quiet simplicity. Suitable for communion.
Available from composer
St. Paul’s Bloor Street Service
Sanctus Benedictus Agnus Dei
Click HERE to view PDF of Kyrie
Click HERE to view PDF of Sanctus-Benedictus-Agnus Dei
SATB + organ
Written for the choir and acoustic of St. Paul’s Bloor Street, Toronto. The opening choral fanfares of the Sanctus lead to a more lyrical Benedictus with a soprano solo. The hymn-like Agnus Dei is underscored by an important organ part. A similar level of musical ease as Darke in F! English text. The service includes choral settings of the Kyrie, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei.
Available from composer
Take My Life
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SATB + organ/piano
Using Frances Ridley Havergal’s hymn of dedication the fours verses play on the same tune but in different metres and choral voicings.
Available from composer
This I know!
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SATB + organ
A grand Easter hymn with organ fanfares and exuberant choral singing. Confidence is everything! Chosen by the London Festival of Contemporary Church music.
Available from composer
To be a Pilgrim
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SATB + organ
A relentless energy which matches the resolute march of our pilgrim. Surprises abound, not least in the organ entry towards the end, lifting the music to an exuberant conclusion. Singers enjoy this work. Performed at the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music and the Sewanee Church Music Festival.
Available from composer
The Work of Christmas
The Work of Christmas – marked Full Score
SATB (div) two soprano soloists
After the angels cease their song the choir ushers in the real music of Christmas. The poem forms the central section of this piece, wrapped at either end by the song of angels.
The poem, abridged: “When the song of the angels is stilled, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To release the prisoner, To make music from the heart.”
Thomas Bell Music 