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New Cambridge Singers has been actively encouraging the commissioning and performing of new music since its inception in 1986. Successive Musical Directors have continued this practice, quite often engaging composers they knew professionally, as well as having some of their own compositions commissioned by the choir. The choir has also premiered new works which they did not commission.
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To discover out what new music we have commissioned and premiered over the years, please see below:
To discover out what new music we have commissioned and premiered over the years, please see below:
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Ben Ponniah: Paradise Carol
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Coming soon to 2024 |
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Commission coming soon to our December 2024 programme!
Commission funded by generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund. |
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Christopher Brown: De Profundis
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2023 |
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Arrangement: SATB choir
First Performance: Songs of Freedom 18 November 2023 at Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs, Cambridge First performance of new work to celebrate the composer's 80th birthday, inspired by the Prisoners’ Chorus from Fidelio. |
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Tim Watts: A Spell to Lure Apollo
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2022 |
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Arrangement: SATB choir and guitar
Text: Poem by Conrad Celtis (translated by Alex Wong) First Performance: Shakespeare on Song 18 March 2022 at Little St Mary's Church, Cambridge Commission funded by generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund. |
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Paul Newton-Jackson: Then the Angel Showed Me the River...
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2017 |
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Arrangement: SATB, Renaissance brass ensemble, audience chorus
Text: Revelation 22:1 First performance: Renaissance Reimagined 01 April 2017 at Trinity College Chapel, Cambridge Commission funded by the Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts, the RVW Trust and generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund. Winner of NCS' first-ever composition competition. |
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Giles Swayne: Everybloom
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2017 |
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Christopher Brown: Star Songs
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2013 |
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Arrangement: SATB choir
Text: Bob Devereux |
First performance: 22 June 2013
in Jesus College Chapel, Cambridge |
Commission funded by generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund.
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David Bedford: The Soft Stars that Shine at Night
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2012 |
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Arrangement: SATB choir and organ
Text: Poems by Kenneth Patchen and Tony Harrison |
First performance: 08 July 2012
in Jesus College Chapel, Cambridge |
Commission funded jointly by Making Music and generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund.
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Rory Boyle: His Name is Time
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2011 |
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Arrangement: SATB choir and cello
Text: Poems by Rabindranath Tagore |
First performance: 12 November 2011
in Jesus College Chapel, Cambridge |
Commission funded by generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund.
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Christopher Brown: Sunlight on a Pale Green Ocean
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2008 |
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Arrangement: SATB choir
Text: Poems by Henry Marsh |
First performance: 24 May 2008
in St Peter's Church, Horningsea |
Commission funded by generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund.
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Kelly Crandell: Waves and Imitations
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2007 |
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Arrangement: SSATBB choir, harp, organ and percussion
Text: Book of Psalms |
First performance: 27 June 2007
in Jesus College Chapel, Cambridge |
Commission funded by generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund.
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Six Composers: Adam Lay Ybounden
Arrangements by Joseph Atkins, Christopher Brown, Timothy Brown, Ruth Byrchmore, John Webb and Philip White
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2006 |
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Arrangement: SATB choir
Text: Anonymous (15th Century) |
First performance: 09 December 2006
in St Mary's Church, Linton |
Commission funded by generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund.
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Alicia Grant: Fire
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2005 |
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Arrangement: SATB choir and piano
Text: Dorothea Mackellar |
First performance: 13 March 2005
in Selwyn College Chapel |
Commission funded by the generous donation of Hatty Harris.
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Peter Maxwell Davies: The Kestrel Road
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2005 |
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Arrangement: SATB choir and piano
Text: Poems by George Mackay Brown |
First performance: 13 March 2005
in Selwyn College Chapel |
Commission funded jointly by Making Music and generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund.
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John Webb: Lux Aeterna
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2003 |
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Arrangement: SATB choir
Text: Anonymous (Communion Antiphon) |
First performance: 14 June 2003
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Commission funded by generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund.
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Paul Agutter: Ave Maris Stella
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2003 |
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Arrangement: SATB choir
Text: Anonymous (Marian Hymn) |
First performance: 14 June 2003
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This commission was the winner of the Koestler Award (2002).
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Christopher Brown: A-Courting We Will Go
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2002 |
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Arrangement: SSAATTBB choir, soli and piano
Text: Traditional English |
First performance: 16 June 2002
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First performed by New Cambridge Singers in 2002.
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Richard Rodney Bennett: The Glory and the Dream
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2001 |
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Arrangement: SATB choir and organ
Text: Imitations of Immortality by William Wordsworth |
First performance: 03 March 2001
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Commission funded by Eastern Arts Board and generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund and from other choirs from around the globe.
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Christopher Brown: Invocation (Op. 90)
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2000 |
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Arrangement: SSAATTBB choir, soli and organ
Text: Various Thomas Traherne, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Alice Meynell, D H Lawrence, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Edith Sitwell and The Buddha |
First performance: 08 Jan 2001
in The Church of Our Lady and The English Martyrs, Cambridge |
Commission funded by generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund.
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Jonathan Pitkin: Bring Us, O Lord God
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2000 |
First performed by New Cambridge Singers in 2000.
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Stefan Anderson: Hymn to St Cecilia
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1998 |
First performed by New Cambridge Singers in 1998.
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Christopher Brayne: Regina Coeli
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1998 |
First performed by New Cambridge Singers in 1998.
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Bruce Grindlay: The Storm
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1998 |
First performed by New Cambridge Singers in 1998.
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Ben Parry: September Song
An arrangement of the song composed by Kurt Weill
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1996 |
Arrangement: SATB choir
Text: Maxwell Anderson
Text: Maxwell Anderson
Commission funded by generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund.
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Thomas Adès: Fool's Rhymes
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1992 |
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Arrangement: SATB choir, harp, piano, organ and percussion
Text: John Donne and The Faber Book of Nonsense Verse |
First performance: 16 July 1992
in St John's College Chapel, Cambridge |
Commission funded by generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund.
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Jeremy Thurlow: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Formerly known as 'A Psalm in Praise of God's Omniscience'
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1992 |
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Arrangement: SATB choir
Text: Psalm 139 |
First performance: 16 July 1992
in St John's College Chapel, Cambridge |
Commission funded by generous donations to the NCS New Music Fund.