OUP Women Composers Orchestral, Opera, Chamber, Instrumental and Choral Catalogue

Becky McGlade - Becky

Becky McGlade - Becky McGlade - b. 1974 Cornish composer Becky McGlade studied music at Royal Holloway, University of London, and now leads a busy musical life as a composer, cellist, and teacher. McGlade’s unique compositional style, described as ‘beautiful’ by Gramophone magazine, is engaging and dynamic, with fluid vocal lines and unexpected harmonic twists within an immediately accessible sound-world. The majority of her compositions are choral pieces, many of which draw inspiration from her Christian faith. Her works include psalm settings, carols, and settings of other biblical and secular texts, as well as solo songs. Recent commissions include a carol for York Minster’s Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, and a secular work for the Eden Project, Cornwall. McGlade’s music has been performed throughout the UK, including by the Choir of St John’s College, Cambridge, the London Oriana Choir, the Choir of Ely Cathedral, and the BBC Symphony Chorus, and is recorded by Sonoro and the Choir of Truro Cathedral. In 2021 she signed a long-term agreement with Oxford University Press. 62

As the hart SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied Vocal Score 9780193555518 Digital 9780193555525 One of McGlade’s longer settings, As the hart begins simply, before expanding into a more complex central section with fluctuating time signatures and shifting tonalities. Ideal for advanced mixed-voice choirs in a sacred or concert setting, it is a fitting alternative to Herbert Howells’s famous setting of Psalm 42. 6 minutes Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied Vocal score 9780193540538 Digital 9780193540545 McGlade’s setting of ‘The Call’ by George Herbert is simple but effective, reflecting the directness of the original poem. The three-bar phrases create a feeling of expectancy throughout the verses, and are beautifully intensified by harmonic shifts in one verse and a soaring descant in another. 3 minutes I saw a new heaven SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied Vocal Score 9780193555532 Digital 9780193555549 Setting Revelation 21: 1–5, this short anthem is in McGlade’s typically fluid style, with harmonic twists, changing metres, and tempo fluctuations. With some divisi in the upper parts, it will be particularly welcomed by experienced church and cathedral singers as a new take on these well-known words. 3.5 minutes My beloved spake SATB (with divisions) unaccompanied Vocal score 9780193540590 Digital 9780193540736 This is a beautiful and dynamic setting of well-known words from the Song of Songs (or Song of Solomon). With a soaring soprano melody, McGlade’s fluid vocal lines drive harmonic twists within an immediately accessible soundworld. Perfect for concert performance. 3.5 minutes Choral Leaflets Sacred My song is love unknown SSATB unaccompanied Vocal Score 9780193544642 Digital 9780193544659 My song is love unknown is an expressive and fluid setting of the well-known Lenten text by Samuel Crossman, particularly suitable for performance on Good Friday. McGlade highlights the phrase ‘take frail flesh and die’ with a sighing musical motif, before the work closes with the affirmation ‘heaven was his home, but mine the tomb where he lay’. 3 minutes O Sing unto the Lord ATB unaccompanied Vocal Score 9780193551060 Digital 9780193551107 Scored especially for ATB to meet social distancing requirements, this piece has both special resonance and practical application in these uncertain times. McGlade's characteristic unaccompanied style offers flowing contrapuntal lines while the shifting tonalities throughout effectively capture both poignancy and joy. 2.5 minutes Becky McGlade 63