Selected compositions for ACDA Eastern Region 2026 composer fair
MIXED VOICES
Mixed voices (SSAATB)
Aleatoric soundscape based on the American song Shenandoah
recording of a performance by Icosa Chamber Choir, dir. Luke Mather, St Botolph-without-Newgate, London, April 2018
youtube of a performance by the Magpie Consort, dir. Sheena Phillips, King Avenue United Methodist Church, Columbus, Ohio, May 2025
Also available for upper voices
SATB a cappella
Composed for the Portugese choir Voz Nua in 2016, as a lament for Aleppo
recording of a live performance by echo chamber choir, directed by Sarah Latto, in the Thames Tunnel Shaft, September 2017
recording of a live performance by Icosa chamber choir, directed by Luke Mather, St Mary–at–Hill, London, October 2017
(the Icosa performance was aired on BBC Radio 3 in June 2018)
Published by Canasg Music Also available for upper voices Equal or mixed voices (five parts), narrator, flute obbligato Depiction of the sound of wind in trees, based on a poem by John Clare Composed for the 2016 CoMA Summer School Published by CoMA (Contemporary Music for All), UK.
Youtube recording of the first performance Easter Service Commissioned by First Congregational
Church, Columbus, Ohio, Music Director Tim Smith, for Easter 2006 1. Introit: Christ will rise SATB organ 2 trumpets 2 trombones timpani Words by Phillips Brooks Perusal score
Recording by the choir of First Congregational Church with Tim Smith, organ 2. Anthem: Easter Carol SATB organ Words by Christina Rossetti Perusal score
Recording by the choir of First Congregational Church
3. Offertory: Thanks be to God SATB organ 2 trumpets 2 trombones Based on words from the Easter
Proclamation Perusal score
Recording by the choir of First Congregational Church 4. Communion: The Voice of Jesus SATB flute Words by Horatius Bonar Perusal score
Recording by the choir of First Congregational Church with Sarah Lange, flute 5. Postlude: Rejoice O Earth SATB organ 2 trumpets 2 trombones timpani Based on words from the Easter
Proclamation Perusal score
Recording by the choir of First Congregational Church SSAATBB a cappella Cheerful quodlibet based on various songs and sayings about magpies Composed 2011 recording by the Magpie Consort, Columbus, Ohio Evening Prayer SATB divisi Concert setting of lyrics by Thomas Ken, with bell-like choral tolling, traditional bell-ringing patterns and a quote from Thomas Tallis Duration c. 5:15 Recording by Icosa Choir, dir. Luke Mather, London, June 2017 Other recent performances by The Exon Singers dir. Joseph Judge and by King’s Voices dir. Ben Parry Published by Canasg Music How Can I Keep From Singing? SATB a cappella Setting of the 19th c.
American hymn by Robert Lowry Commissioned by
the Lancaster Chorale, Ohio, dir. Robert Trocchia, May 2005 Recording
by the Magpie Consort, Columbus, Ohio Published by Canasg Music Mist-Covered Mountains (Chì mi na mòrbheanna) SATB, soprano recorder, optional piano 19th century Scottish song of homesickness and homecoming Gaelic chorus and English verses Published by Canasg Music To purchase unpublished music please email me (sheenaphillips at gmail.com). For most scores there is a modest fee per singer for permission to copy from a licensed PDF file.
UPPER VOICES
Garbe Rame (Dancing with Gourds) SSAA, flute obbligato, optional percussion Gujarati (N W India) folk song depicting goddess Amba dancing with gourds Published by
Roger Dean (also available for SATB voices) Selected for the Women's Voices Reading Session at the 2011 Ohio Music Educators Association Convention, Cincinnati, January 2011
recording (All Ohio Women’s High School Choir, Kent State University, 2010)
recording (Columbus Women’s Chorus, Ohio, 2010) Incantation SSA Traditional Gaelic invocation of St
Brigit Commissioned and first performed by
Canty of Scotland, 2002 Knitting Patterns SSAA a cappella Three ingenious 18th century canons by Caldara and Telemann, arranged with new lyrics about - yes - knitting Published (with online perusal scores) by
Canasg Music Women’s voices (six parts) Aleatoric soundscape based on the American song Shenandoah Also available for mixed voices recording of the SATB version by Icosa, dir. Luke Mather Scotch Snapshots SSA a cappella Settings of lyrics by Caroline Oliphant, Lady Nairne (1766 - 1845) and anon. (probably Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)) 1. Rowan Tree 2. The Laird o’ Cockpen 3. The Land o’ the Leal performance of Rowan Tree by Juice Vocal Ensemble Rowan Tree was selected by Juice Vocal Ensemble in a call for scores for performance in the series The Night With... curated by Matthew Whiteside, November 2018 Six Sea Shanties SSA, piano Suite of six traditional shanties, written for Christopher Bell and the NYCoS National Boys Choir, 2007. Includes notes on the origin of the shanties and optional narrations. Published by Boosey & Hawkes, 2014 Duration c 15 mins
"Sheena Phillips's Sea Shanties were a novel delight" (Keith Bruce, Arts Editor, The Glasgow Herald, 9 April 2007, reviewing a concert by the NYCoS National Boys Choir) SSAA a cappella A choral lament for Aleppo Original SATB version composed for the Portugese Choir Voz Nua, dir. Aoife Hiney, 2016 Premiere of the SSAA version by the National Youth Girls’ Choir, April 2018 recording of a live performance of the SATB version by echo chamber choir, directed by Sarah Latto, in the Thames Tunnel Shaft, September 2017 Published by Canasg Music Queer Faith Haiku SSAA a cappella Four haiku by Pat Deeney Premiered by the Columbus Women’s Chorus, Columbus, Ohio, April 2023 recording of the premiere by CWC To purchase unpublished music please email me (sheenaphillips at gmail.com). For most scores there is a modest fee per singer for permission to copy from a licensed PDF file.
LOWER VOICES
Cowboy Songs TBarB, piano Tenor range suitable for cambiata voices 1. The U-S-U Range (traditional) perusal score 2. Billy the Kid (traditional) perusal score 3. Tall Men Riding (lyrics by S. Omar Barker) perusal score
Total duration c. 10:00 Premiered by the changed voices section of the National Boys Choir of Scotland, 2014 Published by Canasg Music
From Sweet Dundee TTB, piano, optional flute Traditional shanty arrangement Winner of the 2013 Cambiata Composition Initiative sponsored by the Cambiata Institute at the University of North Texas Six Sea Shanties TBB and piano Tenor range suitable for cambiata voices Suite of six traditional shanties, duration c. 15 minutes Published by Canasg Music
1. Santiana 3. Boney Premiered by the changed voices section of the National Boys Choir of Scotland "Sheena Phillips's Sea Shanties were a novel delight" (Keith Bruce, Arts Editor, The Glasgow Herald, 9 April, 2007, reviewing performance by the National Boys Choir in Glasgow City Hall) The Pear Tree Ballad TBB a cappella Traditional N E Scotland ballad Published by Santa Barbara Music Press Recording by
the Magpie Consort, Ohio, from the album The Garden, solo Dane Chavers Two Welsh Carols (Awake they were only and The best of mornings) TTB Published by Canasg Music
To purchase unpublished music please email me (sheenaphillips at gmail.com). For most scores there is a modest fee per singer for permission to copy from a licensed PDF file. CHRISTMAS
A Christmas Carol SATB a cappella Setting of a poem by G.K.Chesterton Commissioned by the Lancaster Chorale, Ohio, 2006
Published by Santa Barbara Music Press
Recording
by the Lancaster Chorale, Ohio, dir. Robert Trocchia, 2007 Video extract
by Glasgow University Chapel Choir, dir. Katy Lavinia Cooper, 2018 Dies Natalis Invicti Solis (the birthday of the
undefeated sun) SATB Words by Peter Hill Published by Canasg Music
Recording
by Rudsambee Company of Singers from the album Dies natalis invicti solis En Etsi Valtaa, Loistoa (Not Power or Glory, but Peace on Earth) SATB, folk fiddle Setting of a popular Finnish Christmas text Performance by VocalEssence, Minneapolis, dir. Philip Brunelle, with Sara Pajunen, fiddle, 2014
Love Came Down At Christmas SATB, alto and baritone soloists, guitar Arrangement of the traditional tune, with words by Christina Rossetti Published by Canasg Music
Recording
by the Magpie Consort, Ohio, from the album The Garden Taladh Chriosda (lullaby to the Christ Child) SAB Arrangement of the traditional Gaelic lullaby Published by Canasg Music
Recording
by Rudsambee Company of Singers from the album Dies natalis invicti solis The Christmas Bird SATB, flute Setting of lyrics by Katharine Tynan Winner of the 2012 Welcome Christmas Carol Contest sponsored by VocalEssence (Minneapolis) and the American Composers Forum Premiered by VocalEssence, dir. Philip Brunelle, with Michele Antonello Frisch, flute, December 2012 Recording of the premiere (extract)
Recording by the Gesualdo Consort, 2021
Published by Multitude of Voyces in Volume 3 of Sacred Music by Women Composers, 2021
Can be licensed by the composer The Sans Day Carol (Now the holly bears a
berry) SATB, guitar and/or treble instrument (guitar part realised
by Eugene Braig) Traditional Cornish Published by Canasg Music
Recording
by the Magpie Consort, Ohio, from the album All hayle to the days Two Welsh Carols (Awake they were only and The best of mornings) TTB Published by Canasg Music
Wind Song
Magpies
River Song
Songs of Sorrow