Shorter House News

Choral Singing and Healthy Voice Production 17.02.16


Choral Singing
This groundbreaking new book by David M.Howard explores the science behind good choral singing. It is now available from our shop.

As Dewe Premier 17.01.15


As Dewe (Deus factus est) by William Carslake was premiered at Evensong at Worcester Cathedral. This is a newly published version of As Dewe for mixed choir and organ. The piece was originally written for Trebles and orchestra for a performance at St Paul's Cathedral in aid of the The London Taxi Drivers' Fund for Underprivileged Children (LTFUC), who commissioned it for their 85th anniversary. William is donating his royalties to LTFUC.

01.10.14 New Titles for World War 1


Shorter House has published several collections by modern composers which commemorate the centenary of World War One with moving new settings of poems by poets caught up in the events of the Great War.

WW1 covers image
Find out more

04.08.14 World War 1 Anniversary broadcast


Two pieces by George Arthur were commissioned for a broadcast from Glasgow Cathedral on BBC1 on Monday 4th August at the service commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the start of the first World War.

The broadcast included Peace Again Based on the Tune "Rockingham" with the text "O God of love, O King of peace" by Henry W. Baker (1821—1877). Soul by Soul and Silently for Organ Voluntary based on "Thaxted"

"Peace Again" was sung by the Commonwealth Choir.

01.12.13 Hilary Campbell interviewed on BBC Radio 3's The Choir


Composer Hilary Campbell directed her choir Blossom Street for the 2011 Naxos recording of Sleep, Holy Babe a Christmas CD of repertoire from the Shorter House anthology of the same name. The title piece, Sleep, Holy Babe, by Alexander Campkin was also aired as part of this programme.

28.01.13 Two newly commissioned titles added to catalogue


Two recently commissioned titles have been added to the Shorter House catalogue. Whilst Shorter House specialises in choral anthologies, we are pleased to offer an increasing number of unique individual titles.

Matthew L Wood - Preces and Responses
Details: SATB - £2.25
Premiered at the Wedding of James & Erica Olley on 27th October 2012 at St Vedast
Trevor Ling - Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis

Details: SATB, Latin - £2.00
The newly commissioned Nunc Dimittis accompanies the Magnificat currently published in the collection Sleep, Holy Babe. The Nunc Dimittis is to be is to be premiered at a Candlemas Evensong at Charterhouse at 5.30pm on Sat 2nd Mar 2013 by St Michaels Chorale

22.11.12 Sing Evensong at Lambeth Palace


The last Sing Evensong of 2012 took place at the chapel of Lambeth Palace. The occasion was the Constantinople Lecture, organised Anglican and Eastern Churches Association. Read more about it on the Londinoupolis blog

Picture of Lambeth Palace rehearsal
Tom Shorter leading the Sing Evensong rehearsal at Lambeth Palace.
(Picture courtesy of Singers in London)



19.09.12 New Ballet by William Carslake


Shorter House is excited to publish our first ballet, The Stoning of Thomas of Winesbury, a forthcoming work by William Carslake. William was recently awarded a composition residency in Banff, Canada. His conducting work includes assisting at the Royal Ballet, Covent Garden. The story of Thomas of Winesbury is based on a folksong. More Information

William Carslake
William Carslake


27.08.12 Shorter House at ABCD 2012


Shorter House attended the annual Association of British Choral Directors Convention for 21012. The event took place in Leeds from 24–27 August.



22.08.12 Distribution for John Baird


Shorter House is now distributing The Anthem Book on behalf of John Baird.

The Anthem Book



20.08.12 The Book of New Canticles Volume 3 Now Available


The Book of New canticles Volume 3 cover image

The Book of New Canticles Volume 3 for upper voices, is a collection of six new or recent settings of Canticles and a setting of the Responses by composers including Ben Parry and Philip Moore.



20.04.12 Sing Evensong Project Launched


Sing Evensong April 2012
Sing Evensong event, April 2012. Andrew Earis conducts.

Following the publication of our latest book, Sing Evensong, a small dedicated team has started the Sing Evensong project.

The aim is to bring evensong to new places & spaces, or bring back evensong to places where it is not sung regularly. The event is free, all music is taken from the Shorter House book, and anyone can join in! Follow these events on Facebook



03.03.12 Sing Evensong now Available in UK and USA


Sing Evensong cover image

Sing Evensong is a new complete book for Evensong. Containing over 30 accessible new titles by composers including: Jeremy Jackman, David Orr, Ben Parry and Will Todd. An essential new collection for all choirs who sing Evensong


17.12.11 Classic FM: Christmas CD of The Year 2011


CD Cover

Sleep, Holy Babe is the Classic FM Christmas CD of the Year, as featured on today's New CD Show. The show's presenter David Mellor reviewed the CD in the Mail on Sunday on November 27th.

"My Christmas CD of the year...I love it"
David Mellor, Mail on Sunday (read more)

The cd is based on the Shorter House book Sleep, Holy Babe.


24.11.11 BBC Radio 3 In Tune


Sean Rafferty
Sean Rafferty

Today's edition of In Tune featured Blossom Street choir singing live from Sleep, Holy Babe. Sean Rafferty also interviewed two Shorter House composers, Dan Burges and Hilary Campbell, about the new album and the Shorter House book on which it is based.


03.09.11 Naxos to release Sleep, Holy Babe CD


Sleep, Holy Babe is a CD based on the Shorter House anthology of the same name. Recorded earlier this year by Blossom Street choir, and produced by Naxos, it is due for release in November. Samples from the recording can be found here. The album will be available to buy through the Shorter House website.


28.08.11 Shorter House at the ABCD Convention


Duggan, Burges and Shorter at ABCD 2011Duggan, Burges and Shorter at ABCD 2011
Above: Composers John Duggan and Daniel Burges with Tom Shorter holding copies of
The Book of New Canticles II at the ABCD Convention.


Shorter House attended the 25th annual ABCD (Association of British Choral Directors) Convention, where The Book of New Canticles Volume II went on sale for the first time. This year the Convention was held in Birmingham (26 – 28 August, 2011.)



06.05.11 The Book of New Canticles available in the USA


Shorter House editor, Tom Shorter, visited the USA in April, meaning our USA distributor was among the first to get copies of The Book of New Canticles (published in April). Copies are now available to customers in the USA via the Edition Peters website, and will shortly be available through stores. An excellent companion to The Book of New Responses (also distributed in the US by Edition Peters), The Book of New Canticles will consist of 3 volumes, with volumes II and III published later this year.

The Book of New Canticles Image



13.12.10 Shorter House on BBC Radio 3's "The Choir"


A feature on contemporary Christmas music for BBC Radio 3 programme "The Choir", broadcast yesterday, featured recordings of several pieces from Sleep, Holy Babe, performed by Pegasus. The show also included an interview with Shorter House founder, Tom Shorter, and composer Daniel Burges.

link to you tube video of The Book of New Responses; images and recordings, extracts.



18.11.10 Sleep Holy Babe reviewed in Choir & Organ

Choir & Organ magazine says of Shorter House and Sleep Holy Babe: "Hallmarked by rare degrees of care and attention to content and presentation... the stylistic mix and creative approaches applied to the genre by composers as diverse as Finzi, Kontz and Bevan should hold an audience for at least half or even a full concert programme."

 

10.09.10 Shorter House Launches with music

On the 1st of September, Shorter House was joined by around 90 guests at our launch party in the Great Chamber at Charterhouse in Central London.

shorter house singers

The Shorter House Singers, conducted by Andrew Earis

Guests Singing at Shorter House Launch

Guests join in, singing Why impious Herod

Composer, Francis Pott

Composer Francis Pott (centre) at the launch

The Book of New Responses

Guests inspecting copies of The Book of New Responses

Tom with Halston

Tom Shorter and Alexia Anastasiadis of Shorter House with Tony Whitehead and Chris Smith of printers Halstan



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New Publication: John Duggan: The Leeds Mass (Missa Brevis)

This new Mass Setting for Upper Voices & Organ is now available through our online shop.

Broadcast live on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday worship Sunday 20 November at 8.10am

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