Listen to Cantatas and Oratorios
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On this page:
A St Luke Passion - for baritone soloist, SATB choir, piano duet, percussion (2 players) and string orchestra
New Dawn - Oratorio for SATB soloists, SATB chorus and symphony orchestra including guitar ensemble. (Native American texts)
Christmas Cantata - Cantata in 7 short movements for SATB and orchestra.
Song of the Prairies - Cantata for SATB soloists, semi-choir of high voices, full chorus and orchestra
Cain and Abel - Dramatic Cantata in the style of a Greek tragedy, for treble, alto and bass soloists, SATB chorus and piano.
The Temple of Solomon - Cantata for baritone solo, SATB choir and brass band
Also listen to:
The Death of Goliath - Dramatic Cantata for Soprano, High Counter-Tenor/Mezzo-Soprano and Baritone soloists with piano
Or watch on youtube:
The Marshes of Glynn - tenor solo, chorus, orchestra
The Ballad of St Kenelm - soprano solo, narrator, actors and instrumental ensemble (fl/picc, ob, bsn, tpt, per, 4 vlns, 2 vlas, 2 vcs, db)
Read about:
Cantatas and Oratorios by Andrew Downes
A SAINT LUKE PASSION
The story of the death and resurrection of Christ set to music for baritone soloist, SATB choir, piano duet, percussion (2 players) and string orchestra. 2 performances below.
More Info
Here performed for the 10th anniversary of the Adrian Boult Hall, Birmingham by Bryan Rayner Cook with the Birmingham Conservatoire Choir and Orchestra, conducted by Steven Lloyd, in February 1997.
NEW DAWN
Oratorio for SATB soloists, SATB chorus and symphony orchestra including guitar ensemble. The texts are 19th century translations of traditional poetry from various tribes of North American Indians, predominantly of the New Mexico area.
Live student performance with Stephen Cleobury conducting The Millennium Scholars Chorus and Orchestra and The Birmingham Conservatoire Guitar Ensemble with soloists Paula Downes (soprano), Timothy Mead (countertenor), Richard Butler (tenor) and William Gaunt (bass), King's Chapel Cambridge, October 2001.
More info
NEW DAWN: Multitrack Promotional Recording
Oratorio for SATB soloists, SATB chorus and symphony orchestra including guitar ensemble. The texts are 19th century translations of traditional poetry from various tribes of North American Indians, predominantly of the New Mexico area. Multitrack recording by Paula Downes.
More Info
CHRISTMAS CANTATA
Cantata in 7 short movements for SATB and orchestra.
Composed for The Chamber Choir, Girls' Choir and Chamber Orchestra of Thames Valley College, Twickenham. Multitrack promotional recording by soprano Paula Downes.
More info
Premiere in 1974 recorded on a tape recorder: The Chamber Choir, Girls' Choir and Chamber Orchestra of Thames Valley College, Twickenham, directed by Andrew Downes, on December 18th 1974.
SONG OF THE PRAIRIES
Poem by William Cullen Bryant set to music for SATB soloists, semi-choir of high voices, full chorus and orchestra. Multitrack promotional recording by Soprano Paula Downes. More info.
CAIN AND ABEL
Dramatic Cantata in the style of a Greek tragedy, for treble, alto and bass soloists, SATB chorus and piano. The Midland Boy Singers, with soloists Roy Dickinson, Donald Young and
Richard Green, accompanied by Alvena Grant (piano) and conducted by
Peter Grant, first performed the cantata on 22nd August 1981 in the
Kaiser-Willhelm Gedaechtniskirche, Berlin, on their tour of Germany. More info
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THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON
Cantata for baritone solo, SATB choir and brass band.
Sacred
text compiled by Cynthia Downes from the First Book of Kings and the
Second Book of Chronicles describing the building of the first Temple in
Jerusalem. More info
Commissioned by the Birmingham Festival
Choral Society to commemorate the Restoration of Birmingham Cathedral,
and first performed by the choir, with John King, baritone soloist, and
the Birmingham School of Music (now Birmingham Consertoire) Brass Band,
under the direction of Jeremy Patterson, on 29th November 1980. Here is the premiere:
The Birmingham School of Music Chorus and
Brass Band, with baritone soloist, Michael Dowding, directed by Peter
James, performed the work in St Augustine's Church, Edgbaston,
Birmingham, in November 1982:
If you have performed in any of Andrew Downes' works or come to listen, please share your experiences in the Premieres Blog! Also see what others have said. Thank you so much for your contribution.
