Bob Chilcott 5 Songs for Upper Voices

2
5
songs for
upper voices

5
songs for
upper voices
for online perusal only
b

1
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© Oxford University Press 2007
Bob Chilcott has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the Composer of these Works
for online perusal only
Database right Oxford University Press (maker)
First published 2007
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without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press,
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outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Music Copyright
Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above
Permission to perform the works in this anthology in public
(except in the course of divine worship) should normally be obtained
from the Performing Right Society Ltd. (PRS), 29/33 Berners Street,
London W1T 3AB, or its affiliated Societies in each country throughout
the world, unless the owner or the occupier of the premises
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Permission to make a recording must be obtained in advance
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or its affiliated Societies in each country throughout the world
ISBN 978–0–19–335920–8
Music origination by Enigma Music Production Services, Amersham, Bucks.
Printed in Great Britain on acid-free paper by
Halstan & Co. Ltd., Amersham, Bucks.

Contents
All for Love of One 4
The Truth is Great 10
Circles of Motion 13
All things pass 20
Red Boots On 27
Composer’s notes
for online perusal only
All for Love of One: My intention with this piece was to write a real
singing melody to reflect the passion and beauty of this fifteenthcentury
text. It is designed as a two-part piece, but can equally be
performed in unison by singing the melody at bar 24 in the soprano part
and at bars 31 and 55 in the alto part.
The Truth is Great: I wrote this piece for a festival in Denver, the
theme of which was nature and the environment. The lyrics reflect on
how small we are in the great scheme of things. To me the sentiment is
not earnest but wistful, with a touch of gentle humour. This piece can
also be performed as a unison song by omitting the alto part.
Circles of Motion: This poem, by the living native-American poet
Joy Harjo, has a wonderful strength and an affirming message, again
reflecting on the inevitable circle of life. I imagine this song being sung
with verve and a sense of empowerment.
All things pass: I love the profound yet simple wisdom in this poem,
which, as in the lyrics of the previous two songs, suggests that
ultimately we have very little control over our destiny. I find this kind
of sentiment very strengthening and comforting, so have written music
that will hopefully inspire positive and empowered singing.
Red Boots On: This text was written by the English poet Kit Wright
while he was living in Canada. I love this poem; it needs to be sung with
a spikey, cheeky confidence, and have a touch of Joni Mitchell or the
Chenille Sisters in the sound! The piece is written for four parts, but it
can be sung with only two by omitting certain lines, as detailed in the
footnote on the first page.

for the ABCD North West Honour Choir, Summer 2007
All for Love of One
Anon. 15th cent.
BOB CHILCOTT
SOPRANO
ALTO
With conviction q = 92
PIANO
mp espress.
5 mp espress.
unis.
I must go walk
the wood
so wild
And
wan
for online perusal only
- der here and
there
9 poco rit.
In dread and dead
- ly fear,
For where I
trust -ed
I am
be - guiled.
mf
And
If performing in unison, sing the soprano line in bars 24–31 and the alto line in bars 31–39 and 55–63.
© Oxford University Press 2007. Photocopying this copyright material is ILLEGAL.

13
all,
a tempo
and all
for
love
of one,
and
All for Love of One
all for love of
5
16
one,
and all, and all for love
of one,
for
love
of
for online perusal only
20
one.
24
mf
S.
Thus am I ban
A.
Thus am I ban
mf
- ished from
mf
my bliss
By
craft
and false
- ished
from my bliss
pre
By
-

6
All for Love of One
27
- tence,
craft
and false
pre
-
-
Fault less, with -out
of - fence, As of
-
tence,
Fault less, with-out
of-fence,
re
-
30 poco rit.
- turn
no
no
cer
cer
- tain is.
- tain is.
And
a tempo
all,
And
all,
and all
and
for
poco rit.
a tempo
33
all
for online perusal only
for love
of
one,
and
all
for
love
of one,
and
all
for love
of one,
and

36
f
love,
f
all,
f
40
S./A.
and all
and
for
all
love
of one,
for
for
love
love
of
of
one.
one.
All for Love of One
unis.
The run-ning
streams
shall
be
my drink,
A -
corns shallbe
my
7
43
food.
-
No thing may do
me
good
But when
of your
for online perusal only
46
dim.
beau
- ty I
do
poco rit.
think.
And
a tempo
p dolce
all,
and all
for
dim.
p dolce

8
All for Love of One
49
love
of one,
and
all for love of one,
and
52
all,
and all
for
love
of one,
for
love
of
S.
55
one.
for online perusal only
mp espress.
And
all,
and
all
for love
of
A.
one.
And
mp espress.
all,
and all
for
love
of one,
and
mp espress.

All for Love of One 9
58
one,
all
for love
of
one,
and
all
for
and
mf
love,
mf
all,
and all
and
for
for online perusal only
mf
61
all
love
of
one,
for
for
love
love
of
p
of
one,
p
one,
p
64
S./A.
rit.
unis.
for
love
of
pp
one.
pp

10
Commissioned by The Young Voices of Colorado for the 2008
Sing a Mile High Children’s Choir Festival, Artistic Director Jena Dickey
The Truth is Great
Coventry Patmore (1823–96)
BOB CHILCOTT
SOPRANO
ALTO
PIANO
Gentle, but with conviction q = 63
unis. p espress.
Here,
p
in this lit
- tle Bay,
4
for online perusal only
Full
of
tu - mul-tuous
life and great
re
-
pose,
7
Where, twice a day, The pur
-pose
-less,
glad o - cean comes
and
goes,
If performing in unison, omit the alto line when the parts divide.
© Oxford University Press 2007. Photocopying this copyright material is ILLEGAL.

10
poco cresc.
The Truth is Great
poco cresc.
3
Un -der
high cliffs, and far from the huge town,
I
11
13
poco rit.
a tempo
mp
S.
A.
sit me down.
mp
For
want
of
me
the
world’s course
for online perusal only
16
will
not
fail:
When
all
its
19
work
is
done,
the
lie
shall rot;
mf
espress.
The

12
The Truth is Great
22
truth
is great,
the
truth
mf espress.
is great,
and shall
pre - vail,
25
f
poco rit.
the
truth
is great,
the truth
is great,
and
f
for online perusal only
a tempo
28
mp dolce
poco rit.
mf
shall
mf
pre-vail,
unis.
When none cares whe-ther
it pre-vail
or not.
mp dolce
32 a bit slower
rit.
p
p
The truth
is
great.

Joy Harjo (b. 1951)
Commissioned by The Young Voices of Colorado for the 2008
Sing a Mile High Children’s Choir Festival, Artistic Director Jena Dickey
Circles of Motion
13
BOB CHILCOTT
SOPRANO
ALTO
PIANO
Fervently h = 78
mf
con Ped.
4
unis.
mf
To
pray you o - pen your whole self To
7
sky,
to
for online perusal only
earth,to
sun,
To
one
whole
voice
that
is
11
you.
mp
And know there is
Music: © Oxford University Press 2007; Words: ‘Eagle Poem’ from In Mad Love and War © 1990 by Joy Harjo, reprinted with
permission by Wesleyan University Press. Photocopying this copyright material is ILLEGAL.
mp sonore

14
15
A.
more That you can’t see,
can’t hear,
Can’t
Circles of Motion
S.
18
mf
know ex
-cept
in
mo
-
ments
and in
mf
S.
A.
21
mp
Cir - cles of mo - tion,
cir - cles of mo - tion.
mp
mp
for online perusal only
25
p
f con forza
p
Like
ea
f con forza
- gle that Sun - day morn
-
ing
p
f con forza

Circles of Motion
15
S./A.
29
Cir
- cled in blue sky,
swept
our
hearts
clean With
sa - cred
33
wings.
37
S.
mp
A.
We
see
you,
see
our - selves
and
mp sonore
41
S.
know
for online perusal only
p dolce
That
A.
we
must
take
the
ut - most care
p dolce
p dolce
And

16
45
Circles of Motion
kind
mp legato
- ness in
all
things.
Breathe
mp legato
49
in,
breathe
in,
mp legato
53
for online perusal only
know -ing
we
are
made
of
All
this,
and

Circles of Motion 17
57
breathe,
breathe in,
61
mf cantabile
know -ing
We are tru - ly blessed
be -
65
- cause we Were born,
be - cause we Were born,
be -
mf cantabile
be - cause we Were born,
be - cause we Were
mf cantabile
for online perusal only

18
Circles of Motion
69
- cause
we
Were
born
with-in
a
born,
be
-
cause
we
Were
born
with-in
a
73
mp
cir - cle of mo - tion,
mp
cir
-
cle
of
mp
for online perusal only
76
mo - tion.
p
80
S./A.
unis.
p
Like

84
ea
- gle round-ing
out the morn
-
ing,
Circles of Motion
We
19
88 S.
poco rit.
A.
pray
it
will
be
done
for online perusal only
92 a tempo
dolce
unis.
In
beau
-
ty,
dolce
in
beau
-
ty,
96 rit. slow
in
beau
-
ty,
in
beau - ty.

20
Commissioned by the Ames Children’s Choirs, Founder and Conductor Sylvia Munsen,
for the Midwest Children’s Choir Festival, Bob Chilcott, Guest Conductor 27 April 2007
All things pass
Lau-Tzu (6th-cent. BC)
BOB CHILCOTT
SOPRANO
ALTO
PIANO
With conviction q = 80
poco rit.
mp poco rubato
con Ped.
for online perusal only
unis. a tempo
4 mp espress.
All
things pass,
A
espress.
sun-rise
does not last all morn -ing.
All
things pass,
A
7
cloud-burst
does not last
all day.
mf
All
things pass,
Nor a sun - set all night.
mf
© Oxford University Press 2007. Photocopying this copyright material is ILLEGAL.

10
mp
13
S.
A.
All
mf espress.
mp
All things
things
pass.
poco rubato
mf espress.
All
pass,
things,
All things pass
mf espress.
15
All
All
things pass,
for online perusal only
things
pass.
A
all
things
pass.
sun - rise does not last
A cloud-burst
does not last all day.
f
All
f
all
21
morn -ing.
things
f
All
things pass,

22 All things pass
18
pass.
dim.
All things
poco più mosso
pass.
Nor a sun - set all night.
dim.
All things
pass.
Ped.
for online perusal only
poco più mosso
mp
S.
A.
21
mp
What al- ways chan -
ges?
(Ped.)
24
What al - ways chan - ges?
(Ped.)
unis. mf
Earth,
mf legato

27
sky,
thun - der, moun
- tain, wa
All things pass
-
ter,
23
29
S.
A.
Earth,
31
sky,
thun-der,
moun
- tain, wa-
ter,
for online perusal only
f
34
Wind, fire,
lake.
unis. mp espress.
These
f

24
All things pass
37
change,
And if these do
not last,
mp legato espress.
40
and
if
these
do
not
last,
for online perusal only
42
Do man’s
vi
- sions last?
44
Do man’s
il
- lu - sions last?

46
S.
A.
p
Take things as they
come,
Take things as they come,
All things pass 25
take things as they
p
p
for online perusal only
poco rit.
48
come.
take things as they come.
poco rit.
50 Tempo I
poco rit.
S./A.
mp poco rubato

26
All things pass
53
unis a tempo
ṁp espress.
All
espress.
things
pass,
A
sun
- rise does not last
all morn - ing.
55
All things pass, A cloud burst
- does not last
all day.
mf
All
things
pass,
for online perusal only
mf
58
mp
Nor a sun - set all night.
All things pass.
mp
61 rit. slower
p
All things pass.
p

27
For the 30th Anniversary of the St Louis Children’s Choirs, Artistic Director Barbara Berner.
A gift from Carna Manthey for Adrienne Broyles’ Level I Children’s Choir
Red Boots On
Kit Wright (b. 1944)
SOPRANO
ALTO
Funky q = 128
BOB CHILCOTT
PIANO
mf
for online perusal only
4
mf
unis.
Way down Gen- e - va,
All
a-long
Vine,
7
Deep-er
than the snow drift
Love’s eyes
shine:
Ma-ry
Lou’s
walk-ing
In the
Music: © Oxford University Press 2007; Words: © Kit Wright, used by kind permission of the author. All rights reserved.
Photocopying this copyright material is ILLEGAL.
If performing in two parts, sing the first and second soprano lines in bars 19–22 and 37–44, and the second soprano and
second alto lines in bar 48–51.

28
10
Red Boots On
win ter
- - time.
13
Red boots
She’s got
on,
f
Red
f
boots
on,
she’s got
Kick-ing
up the win- ter Till the win-ter’s
gone.
16
Red
boots
on,
she’s got
Red boots
for online perusal only
on,
she’s got
Red
boots
on.
19
S.
A.
Red boots
on,
Oh Red boots
on.
mf

22
mf
- -
Go by On ta - ri o,
Look down Main,
mf
Red Boots On
You can look down
If you
Main,
29
for online perusal only
25
can’t
find
Come back a - gain:
Ma-ry
Lou,
back a-
gain:
You can come
Sweet
light
burn -ing
In
28
win ter’s
- flame.
She’s got
She’s got
f
Snow
f
in
her eyes,
got
A

30
31
Red Boots On
tin gle
- in her toes
f
She’s got Red
boots
And new red
on,
boots
on Wher - ev- er she goes.
she’s got Red boots
on,
34
Red
boots
on,
she’s got Red boots on,
for online perusal only
she’s got
she’s got
Red
Red
boots on.
boots on.
Red boots on,
Red boots on,
38
Oh Red boots
on.

Red Boots On
31
41
All
a-round
Lake
Street,
Up by
St Paul,
Quick-er
than the white
wind
44
Love takes
all:
Ma -ry
Lou’s
walk-ing
In the big
snow
fall.
for online perusal only
47
S.
A.1
A.2
She’s got
She’s got
She’s got
Red boots on, she’s got Red boots on,
Red boots on, she’s got Red boots on,
She’s got Red boots
on,

32
Red Boots On
50
Kick ing
- up the win-ter
Till the win-ter’s
gone.
Kick-ing
up the win-ter
Till the win ter’s
- gone.
she’s got Red boots
on,
Red
Red
boots
boots
on,
on,
she’s got
she’s got
53 1.
Redboots
on,
A.2
S./A.1
for online perusal only
she’s got
she’s got
Red
Red
1.
boots
boots
on.
on.
She’s got
She’s got
2.
2.
Red
Red
boots on.
boots on.
55b
S./A.
She’s got
Red
boots
on.
S.
ff
A.
She’s got Red
ff
boots
on.

This exciting and accessible collection for upper voices (scored for SA
choir and piano) features five brand-new songs by celebrated choral
composer Bob Chilcott. Drawing on five very different texts, Chilcott
guides the voices through a number of styles and moods; the songs
include the rousing ‘All for Love of One’, gentle ‘The Truth is Great’, and
thought-provoking ‘All things pass’. The central song, ‘Circles of Motion’,
is a fervent and positive setting of Joy Harjo’s well-known ‘Eagle Poem’,
and the collection is completed by the funky ‘Red Boots On’, which uses
jazzy rhythms and harmonies to bring Kit Wright’s text alive. This is
Chilcott at his very best—a welcome addition to the repertoire of any
upper-voice choir.
Bob Chilcott has been involved with choral music all his
life, first as a Chorister and then a Choral Scholar at King’s
College, Cambridge. Later, he sang and composed music
for 12 years with the King’s Singers. His experiences
with that group, his passionate commitment to young and
amateur choirs, and his profound belief that music can
unite people, have inspired him both to compose full-time
and, through proactive workshopping, to promote choral
music worldwide.
Have you tried?
A Little Jazz Mass (SSA) (BC76)
Catch a falling star (BC83)
Butterfly’s Son (BC101)
The Marvellous Birth (SA) (BC102)
This Day (BC106)
ISBN 978-0-19-335920-8
1
9 780193 359208
Cover image: © ImageState