Christmas Song and Carols of the Multitude of Voyces Volumes
by R. Rojas
Updated Nov. 26, 2024
Multitude of Voyces are three volumes of sacred music by women published in 2019 and 2020. The first volume was dedicated to SATB anthems, the second to Upper Voices anthems from S to SSSSAA, and volume three to Mixed Voices (mainly SATB) for Advent Through Candlemas. A fourth volume is planned to be dedicated to hymns.
But Multitude of Voices (VoV) is not just publications, it is a project/charity. It is described as:
Women have always composed sacred music, but their output has often been omitted from established
anthologies. In consequence, women are hugely underrepresented in this genre.
Our
Anthology series addresses this injustice in a bold way, presenting 63
women composers spanning 800 years of
music, across three printed volumes, with many historical works
published for the first time, and several works composed specially for
our volumes by both emerging and established composers.
Not only are the volumes published to promote the sacred works of women composer, but MoV also has a good YouTube (@multitudeofvoyces6516) and SoundCloud presence with performances of each entry in their volumes.
In Volumes 1 (2019) and 2 (2020):
Among the Christmas works in the volumes are:
Raphaella Aleotti's "Angelus ad pastores ait" (The angel [of the Lord] said to the shepherds):
"Angelus ad pastores ait"+
"Gebt in der Christnacht (Prayer on Christmas Eve)" by Fanny Hensel
"Gebt in der Christnacht"
"Weihnachtslied (Carol)" by Louise Reichardt (editorially reconstructed by Olivia Sparkhall):
I sing of a maiden SATB (divisi) by Alison Willis:
Alison Willis "I sing of a maiden"
"I sing of a maiden S"SS/A by Amy Bebbington:
Amy Bebbington "I sing of a maiden"
"Ave Maria": SAA Rebecca Clarke
Rebecca Clarke "Ave Maria"
"Hodie Christus natus est" SSA by Angelina Figus
Angelina Figus "Hodie Christus natus est"
Caroline Lesemann-Elliot "Regina Caeli" SS & continuo -See performance.
------------
Multitude of Voices Volume 3 Sacred Music by Women Composer (2020) is the volume that really has the seasonal works as it is title "Advent to Candlemas"
They include:
"Lo! The Star" by Judith Bingham
"A tender shoot" by Kerensa Briggs
A tender shoot by Kerensa Briggs
"Ivy Chief of Trees It is" by Sarah Cattley
"Ivy Chief of Trees It is" by Sarah Cattley
"The Shepherd" by Avril Coleridge-Taylor (lyrics by William Blake)
"Rhyfed, rhyfedd / Wonder, Wonder" by Rhian Samuel
"Gabriel’s Message" by Olivia Sparkhill
"Nunc dimittis" by Amy Summers
"Nunc dimittis" by Amy Summers
"Bethlehem’s Star / Betlehem’s stjärna" by Alice Tegnér, arr. Sarah McDonald
"There is no rose" by Alison Willis
"There is no rose" by Alison Willis
Elizabeth Poston
MoV is the official representative of the musical and
literary estate of Elizabeth Poston and the owner of her available
copyright. This is good news as much of her music has been unavailable. We are focusing a post on this soon.
For Christmas fans, this is "good tiding of great joy" as Poston was one of the predominant scholars and collectors of Christmas carols, writing three volumes dedicated to Christmas carols. This year (2024), MOV released a digital and print booklet of some of Poston's carols called "A Christmas Selection," which includes, free of charge, a copy of Poston's "Jesus the Apple Tree" as an encouragement to ensembles to do away with unauthorized and illegal copies of the carol.
MoV has also been newly licensed by Cambridge University Press to publish and distribute printed leaflets of Elizabeth Maconchy's 'Nowell nowell nowell' (also to be found in our anthology Vol 3). It can be purchased at this link.
"Nowell, Nowell, Nowell"
MoV is working with Cambridge University Press to reintroduce Dame Maconchy's "Candlemas Eve," which is based on the poem by Robert Herrick
(SS or TT into 4-part round).(Note 1)
Sarah McDonald
MoV has released printed octavos of Sarah
MacDonald's arrangement of Alice Tegnér's well-known Swedish
carol "Bethlehem's Star/Betlehems stjärna" which MoV commissioned specially
for it Anthology Volume 3. It can be purchased here. (Note 2)
Overall, MoV is at the front lines of promoting women composers and reintroducing "lost' works by woman composers. Here at Christmas Carols and Sacred Musics, we scour the new carol books and recordings and even though, in our count, women are writing and publishing more new carols than men, carol collections and recordings continue to lack women's works.
+ Most of the Youtube videos we embedded are from Multitude of Voyces YouTube channel, but where we could not find a video, we tried to find another video of a performance, but these may not actually be a performance of the music as published by MoV. Also, there may be some videos that do not allow embedding, but one can simply click on the link given and you will be taken to YouTube. Our intent is to give you a sample hopefully spurring you to purchase the volumes and sheet music for your ensemble or private use.
2. Two self-promotions from us at Christmas Carols Blog: Make sure to see our post "The Christmas Music of Sarah MacDonald," which we know needs some updating but gives you a good dose of MacDonald's Christmas and seasonal arrangements up to 2021. Last, see our post
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Inspiration, Discovery, and Resources for Women Composers
by R. Rojas
Updated: 10/27/24
Editor's note: We started off wanting to share five resources, but we went down a rabbit hole finding more resourceful information. We hope you will enjoy.
Here at the Christmas Carols Blog, keeping you informed of
what is new in the classical, sacred, and choral Christmas world is our job. We
cannot but notice the number of women composers producing so many new carols
and other Christmas and winter works.
Here are sixteen resources for women composers looking for
inspiration, education, and support, but it is also a good place for choirs to learn about
women composers, both of the past and contemporary, and explore their Christmas
and seasonal compositions.
1. Multitude of Voyces
Multitude of Voyces is a UK nonprofit whose goals are to promote: 1. "the advancement of education in the area of arts, culture and heritage by the increase of individual and collective knowledge and understanding of musical creativity, musical history and related matters; 2. the advancement of arts culture and heritage by promoting music and performance by and with those from underrepresented and marginalised groups."
They have put out three volumes of sacred works by women composers and the organization has a heavy presence on Youtube and Facebook. They have engaged on a project on Elizabeth Poston, and outside of their three volumes, they have other scores available from women composers. Aside from that, they engage in local community projects. They were recently made the official representative of the musical and literary estate of
Elizabeth Poston and the owner of her available copyright, of which I am very excited.
Like all nonprofits, existence continues and depends on your support: DONATE HERE.
The Compose Like a Girl Podcast has interviewed such luminaries as Rosephanye Powell, Reena Esmail, and Cecilia McDowall. Composer Jocelyn Hagen is the host of the podcast and also edits its choral series describe below.
The Compose Like A Girl Choral Series "seeks to empower composers who identify as women through mentorship, editorial direction, publication, and promotion. Compose Like A Girl titles are selected by Jocelyn Hagen, published through JH Music, and distributed by Graphite Publishing. Composers in the series receive a 50% royalty on the sale of each copy."
Regarding mentorship: Hagan offers mentorship "...for women at all stages in their compositional journey. Composers sign up for 30-minute zoom sessions during her designated “office hours.” These sessions provide composition lessons, engraving feedback, publishing and general career advice for composers of all ages. Contact Jocelyn if you’re interested in receiving mentorship."
You can support Compose Like a Girl through their Patreon.
3. ComposHer
Created in 2018, ComposHer is a platform a platform dedicated to women in classical music. Previously just an online presence led by French violinist Clara Leonardi, ComposHer has "... renew(ed) itself and restructure(d). In recent years, this site has been an online medium, nourished by many volunteers. From now on, it will be a resource centre dedicated to composers, designed in two poles: the editing and provision of scores of compositions, and the creation of resources relating to the composers and their repertoire."
ComposHer pushes playlists by women composers and pushing scores by woman composers. Most recent they, with the Hensel Pushers, are pushing scores by Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel.
ComposHer is on Facebook @ComposHER and their website is at ComposHer. Their Instagram is @officialcomposher .
4. Furore
"In 1986 business woman, Renate Matthei, from Kassel in Germany founded a music publishing house which was dedicated exclusively to music and books written by and about women from various centuries... Today Furore is still the only music publisher of its kind, publishing in the region of 2.000 compositions from various epochs by approximately 170 women from Europe, America, Asia and Australia." Furore's website is at: https://furore-verlag.de/en/start/. About Furore.
A group for those who would like to discover and enjoy music by women composers of the classical genre as well as share information regarding their life and work - from Ancient/Medieval to Contemporary.
6. Amplify Female Composes
Amplify Female Composers "...is a new platform created by Carolyn Craig and Janet Yieh that seeks to encourage the performance of sacred music by women composers and arrangers. Our hope is to expand the rich repertoire of music in liturgical music programs, and to send this excellent music out into the world as a helpful resource for all church musicians and music lovers alike."
Their Advent Calander Project The Advent Calendar Project presented this collaborative initiative that lets listeners listen to daily video broadcasts of Advent and Christmas choral music by female composers and arrangers, sung by participating parish, cathedral and university choirs from the US and UK.
Hildegard Publishing Company's "...mission is to seek out and publish compositions by women composers which display the highest level of excellence and musical merit. Because works by women composers have been historically overlooked and undervalued, our hope is to make these gems more widely available for concert performance. Our publishing mission reaches to all centuries including the present day and extends to a wide range of musical forms and genres."
9. Cathedrals, Chapels, Organs, Choirs: A personal view by Sarah MacDonald
Cathedrals, Chapels, Organs, Choirs: A personal view is a book off August Press LLC. Publisher's description: "Millions of people love the music of the cathedrals, chapels, organs and choirs of English church music—and the musicians who emerge from that world onto the broader stage. Sarah MacDonald, from her unique perspective as Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge and Director of Girl Choristers at Ely Cathedral shares how this music is created and how its performers are nurtured. She writes with a gentle sense of humor and deep love for the institutions and people she serves—young children, movie stars, students, scholars, choral singers, composers—and so many more. This is a book for all those who make this music, love this music, and for those who love them."
' (T)his book is both a perfect opportunity to dispel myths and
open up, to everyone, a form of music-making often shrouded in secrecy.
I recommend it wholeheartedly.'
-Paul Mealor, Composer
'(Sarah) has demonstrated her potential to train first-rate choirs and organists
with much success, enabling her to tackle a large, varied and complex variety
of music. All of these challenges have required her to be an inspirational
teacher, and I can testify that this is how so many of her students and choristers
regard her. I salute her and thank her for somehow finding the time
devise this collection which I thoroughly commend'
-Paul Trepte, Director of Music
Ely Cathedral 1992-2019
Forward is by John Rutter.
10. Book: Singing Through Change: Women's Voices in Midlife, Menopause, and Beyond
Co-authored by Nancy Bos, Cate Frazier-Neely, and Joanne Bozman, 2020.
Publisher's Description: Singing Through Change is a must read for anyone who is a singer,
voice teacher, singing specialist, or medical professional. What an
incredible resource for all those involved with voice in any way. As a
practicing Otolaryngologist I regret not having information such as this
early on in my practice. ... I appreciate women more than I ever have
after reading this book, not just pertaining to voice, but to the
obstacles in all aspects of life. Perhaps this should be a must read for
all men.Dr. Curt R Stock Otolaryngologist, NCVS trained Vocologist.
In the May 12, 2024, episode Singing in Pregnancy, Choral Chihuahua Podcast interviews Dr Jenevora Williams and Charlotte Mobbs "...about how physical and mental changes affect singing, with contributions from several female colleagues."
12. Kassian Choral Series
The Kassian Choral Series on Banks Music Publications, is a choral series "...highlighting the writing of women composers. This series will include original compositions and arrangements and will cover different genres and styles and different voicings - some will be accompanied and others will be a cappella."
Furthered, "The series is named after Kassia (also known as Kassiani) who was a ninth-century abbess, poet, composer and hymnographer, born in Constantinople around 810 AD. She was born into a wealthy family and grew to be very intelligent and beautiful. Kassia is notable for writing in her own name and is one of the earliest medieval female composers whose music has survived to the present day. Around 50 of her hymns exist, along with a wealth of verse and epigrams. The most famous of her compositions is the eponymous Hymn of Kassia."
13. Voices Found: Women in the Church's Song
Voices Found: Women in the Church's Song is "... written in congregational hymn style and is intended for normal parish use. Some music is arranged for women's voices and is useful for women's groups or small choirs of treble voices. The book is a unique compilation of contemporary and historical materials that crosses boundaries of geography, time, and culture as it represents the diversity of the gifts of women and seeks to affirm and expand the spirituality of all women and men as they find new voices in the church's song."
14. Boulanger Initiative
"The Boulanger Initiative advocates for women and all gender-marginalized composers. We foster inclusivity and representation to expand and enrich the collective understanding of what music is, has been, and can be. We promote music composed by women through performance, education, research, consulting, and commissions." The initiative runs the Women Composers and Gender-Marginalized Composers Repertoire Database. Its Redefining the Canon Initiative "... is an unprecedented initiative
which aims to update the most widely-used orchestral audition excerpts
to include excerpts by historically underrepresented composers."
15. Choral Music by Women Composers database
The Orange County Women's Chorus' Choral Music by Women Composers database is a "...searchable, sortable database lists sample repertoire for all voicings by women composers of all eras, and is intended to be an ever-evolving resource for conductors interested in programming music by women. It is not a complete catalog of any composer’s works, nor is it an endorsement of any particular composer or composition." Additions and corrections are always welcome.
16. The Philomel Project: Women Composers Database
The Philomel Project: Women Composers Database is a free database of solo and chamber works by women composers, searchable by type, instrumentation, language, and more. Our mission is to eliminate the legwork so musicians (particularly conservatory students) who have no prior knowledge of music by women composers are able to find pieces suited to their needs. We want to hear more music written by women, and our belief is that this will be achieved from the ground up: by normalizing their work in the pedagogical process.he Philomel Project is a free database of solo and chamber works by women composers, searchable by type, instrumentation, language, and more. Our mission is to eliminate the legwork so musicians (particularly conservatory students) who have no prior knowledge of music by women composers are able to find pieces suited to their needs. We want to hear more music written by women, and our belief is that this will be achieved from the ground up: by normalizing their work in the pedagogical process.
Women Composing Carols
For a good review of women who are currently composing carols, see the Christmas Carols Blog annual "New Carols, Premiered Carols, Resurrected Carols, Premiered Christmas Music, and New Commissions" posts. Here are the links from 2023 and 2022.
Our continuously updated Working List Choral Collections Focusing on Composer Christmas Works is a working list of entire albums dedicated to one composer's Christmas works. A few years ago, there were none dedicated to female composers. Now there are albums by Joanna Forbes L'Estrange, Sasha Johnson Manning, and Elizabeth Poston. None from a woman from the States or Canada, but were crossing our fingers (e.g., French, Parker, Betinis, Powell, MacDonald, Quartel, Shaw (Carolyn not Robert) Beach to name a few). In fact, Forbes L'Estrage is posting comments on the pieces in her latest recording her Instgram @joforbesmusician.
Post Script, October 27, 2024
One we missed:
17. Illuminate Women's Music
Illuminate Women's Music "...is a project to promote the work of emerging women composers and performers. It also gives a platform for historical repertoire by women composers to sit alongside new works. The project has been set up by Dr Angela Elizabeth Slater in 2017, a freelance composer who is a strong advocate of the promotion of women’s music both past and present. The project continues with the support of fellow composers Blair Boyd and Sarah Westwood."
The project, "Aims of Illuminate touring concert series To provide opportunities for living women composers to have their work performed, particularly focusing on emerging composers. To provide a platform for emerging women performersTo promote the enjoyment and appreciation of the womens' music of today and from the past to new audiences across the UK."
Facebook: @illuminatewomensmusic
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Special Shoutout: We do a special shoutout to Multitude of Voyces who we briefly mention down below for their recent efforts of promoting and publishing Dame Maconchy's music.
Dame Elizabeth Maconchy was an Irish-English composer who is
considered one of the best composers to come out of the United Kingdom and Ireland. She was
born in Hertfordshire to Irish parents and was raised in both Ireland and England.
She began her musical studies in Dublin, Ireland, later moving to London in 1923 to
enroll in the Royal College of Music.
There she studied under Charles Wood and
Ralph Vaughn Williams. As young female composer, she found options limited, but
she did gather with other female composer of that time in London for support. Some of these included some of her classmates, creating one of the first women's composer groups for self-support.
She later served as chair of the Composers Guild of Great Britain. Dame Maconchy was
very productive in composing for many types of ensembles including orchestras, string quartets,
choirs, brass, and more, as well as for solo voice.
In the 1960s, she was given the Cobbet Medal for
chamber music. She was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in
1977. She was elevated to Dame Commander in 1987. She passed away in 1994.
Dame Maconchy’s Christmas works are limited but good. She has a
few winter-themed works. Most of her scores are available via Wise Music, Multitude of Voices, and other music publishers,
including some for which, I could not find videos.
Christmas Works
"A Winter's Tale: soprano and string quartet [text: Kenneth Gee](1959 or 1949) - Chamber and voice. There may be not score for this.
"Christmas Morning: a Carol Cantata, soprano, treble/female voices and piano" (1960-2?)(SSAA)
"I Sing of a Maiden" from Two Carols (1966, Faber Music)(Mixed Voices)(carol for unaccompanied mixed voices)
"This Day" from Two Carols (1966)(Mixed Voices)(carol for unaccompanied high voices). Text: anonymous (c.1450)
"Down with the Rosemary and Bays: Twelfth Night Carol," 2-part chorus (1966). Also known as "Twelfth Night Song". Text: Robert Herrick. Commissioned for The Cambridge Hymnal.
"Nowell sing we now all and some: carol, 3-part chorus" (1967)(Note 2):
"Christmas Night: carol, 4 voice" (1975) in A Garland of Carols, text: Harleian Mss. (c.1375). Filed under 'Chappell'; Carol: 'Jesu my sweet son dear'. Warner Chappell Music.
"There is no rose" (1984) (SATB). Written for the Witham Choral Society:
"On Stephenses Day" (1989)(SSA choir). Written for the 70th birthday of Stephen Wilkinson:
"The Bellman/Bellman's Carol: carol, chorus (1983[5?])" (1985) (SATB), Written for Angela Dugdale and the Broadland Singers. Although I have found several videos of this carol. I have not found one credited to Maconchy. It is included in the Chester Book of Carols. text: R. Herrick.
"Christmas Eve"
In 2024, Multitude of Voyces announced that they were working with Cambridge
University Press to reintroduce Dame Maconchy's 'Candlemas Eve' on the poem by Robert Herrick (SS or TT into
4-part round). Source: Facebook Page.
Winter
"For Snow" (1978, published 1979) [SATB chorus a cappella], from Four Miniatures, no. 2:
The Land, Suite for Orchestra: No. 1, Winter. Lento (1929, 1930)(Universal Publishing Group):
"Our Life is Nothing but a Winter's Day" (1975):
Manconchy also has a "Cradle Song"(1952) (Solo Childrens). I have not found a video of this.
Also, "Prayer Before Birth" (1971) may be of interest also:
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