John Sheppard - Cantate Mass: The Sixteen
Two discs and only 4 of 20 tracks are the Cantate mass - there's also a good range of motets including many of Sheppard's best known pieces, such as the Christmas motet Verbum caro factus est and the beautiful Libera nos. If you need convincing of Sheppard's genius, just listen to the Amen of Jesu salvator saeculi, redemptis - taken individually some of the lines sound positively 20th century in their modernity, and in combination it takes your breath away - it's hard not to say 'he can't do that!' - but he does. Perhaps the only criticism is that the Sixteen underplay the clashes so they aren't quite as shocking as they could be. Even so, probably the best introduction to Sheppard now on the market.
Wedding Sheet Music
J. S. Bach
- Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring - probably the most requested anthem for weddings SATB/organ
William Byrd
- Ave verum corpus - arguably the most perfect anthem ever written: simply superb
Cesar Franck
- Panis Angelicus - the full SATB and organ setting of this very popular anthem
Howard Goodall
Goodall's setting of the 23rd psalm, written as the theme for the TV show The Vicar of Dibley makes a surprisingly effective anthem. It is available in a number of versions
- The Lord is My Shepherd (SATB)
- The Lord is My Shepherd (Upper voice arrangement: SSA)
- The Lord is My Shepherd (Male voice arrangement: TTBarB)
- The Lord is My Shepherd (Piano, vocal and guitar)
- The Lord is My Shepherd (Immediate Download - melody line, lyrics and chords)
Charles Gounod
- Ave Maria - well known solo arrangement of Bach for High Voice and piano (in G)
- Ave Maria - well known solo arrangement of Bach for Medium Voice and piano (in E flat)
- Ave Maria - well known solo arrangement of Bach for Low Voice and piano (in D)
Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Pie Jesu - the famous movement from Lloyd Webber's Requiem, for either 2 sopranos or soprano and treble with SATB chorus
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Ave Verum - the classic simple anthem in SSA arrangement
- Ave Verum - the classic simple anthem in full SATB arrangement (but consider the Oxford Easy
- Voi Che Sapete - aria from the Marriage of Figaro (Say Ye Who Borrow) for High Voice and Piano (B flat Major)
- Voi Che Sapete - aria from the Marriage of Figaro (Say Ye Who Borrow) for Medium Voice and Piano (A flat Major)
John Rutter
- A Gaelic Blessing - (unison) - probably Rutter's most popular anthem with its theme of "deep peace", but go for the SATB version if you've the resources
- A Gaelic Blessing - (SSA) - probably Rutter's most popular anthem with its theme of "deep peace"
- A Gaelic Blessing - (SATB) - probably Rutter's most popular anthem with its theme of "deep peace"
Franz Schubert
- Ave Maria - well known solo piece, popular at weddings, for High Voice and piano (in ? - says B flat, but presumably both high and medium aren't the same key!)
- Ave Maria - well known solo , popular at weddings, for Medium Voice and piano (in B flat)
- Ave Maria - well known solo , popular at weddings, for Low Voice and piano (in G)
Samuel Sebastian Wesley
- Lead me Lord - very simple, very short - good for beginners