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Annunciation (2005) [listen -- track 13, 3:13-4:01], an Advent carol, is a setting from the Holy Sonnets of John Donne (1572-1631) commissioned and first performed by Choros, a semi-professional chamber choir based in rural North Oxfordshire, and freelance professional conductor Janet Lincé.

Donne's text is as follows:

Salvation to all that will is nigh,
That All, which always is All every where,
Which cannot sinne, and yet all sinnes must beare,
Which cannot die, yet cannot chuse but die,
Loe, faithfull Virgin, yields himselfe to lye
In prison, in thy wombe; and though he there
Can take no sinne, nor thou give, yet he will weare
Taken from thence, flesh, which deaths force may trie.
Ere by the spheares time was created, thou
Wast in his minde, who is thy Sonne, and Brother,
Whom thou conceiv'st, conceiv'd thou art now
Thy Makers makers, and thy Fathers mother,
Thou hast light in darke; and shutst in little roome,
Immensity cloysterd in thy deare wombe.

Lonely Hearts is a setting of three poems by the novelist, Christie Dickason, each offering a different view of being alone. The poems are; (a) 'Autumn Migration' (b) 'Night Garden', and (c) 'Would like to meet'. These items for equal voice choir, (re-scored for chamber ensemble -- Orchestra Nova Ensemble) are sung by the St Catherine Singers, Haberdasher's Askes' Girls School and the South Hampstead High School Singers.

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Copyright © 9 March 2008 Howard Smith, Masterton, New Zealand

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