Choral / Voice
Karen Wimhurst has written extensively for voices, from art songs through to large scale choral works drawing inspiration from classical, traditional and jazz genres. Collaborating with poets alongside writing her own material she works through the lens of poetic imagery and found text to create melody, polyphony, experimental harmony and dramatic use of texture.
A selection of works...
A Letter to the World
Settings of poetry by Emily Dickinson for choir.
Commissioned by the Norwich and Norfolk Festival. Premiere May 2004. Next performance Festival of the Voice, Plymouth University 2006.
Unearthing
Three a cappella choral pieces, due to be performed at the Sing Eden at the Eden Project September 2020.
Pelt
Song settings of poems by Micheal Symmons Roberts for baritone and piano. Commissioned York Late Music Festival 2007
Heartwood Inside Out Festival
Heartwood was initially commisioned for the Inside Out Festival in collaboration with ecologist and sound artist Dr Adrian Newton. Later performed again at the Springhead Ash Conference 2017. The work consists of a choral procession for bass soloist, choir and children’s choir, celebrating the Ash tree. It is set in the future when only a few specimen trees are left in Great Britain. The libretto is drawn from a number of sources spanning modern poetry to Norse legends.
Inside Out
Jazz, Voice, guitar and Clarinet
Ideas of Flight
One of four composers contributing choral works to the Ideas of Flight project. Commissioned by the Voice Project. Premiered Norwich and Norfolk and Festival 2013
Silver Messenger
Large scale choral work commissioned by Common Ground for the Confluence Project. Libretto James Crowden. Soprano solo Frances Lycnch, conductor Howard Nelson. Performance includes chamber ensemble, choir, small vocal groups, DMS percussion ensemble, DMS windband, organ.
We Breath Trees
SATB, chamber choir (SSAATTBB), children’s choir, 8 piece brass ensemble (4 tpt, 2tmb,btmb,tba) db,pf,perc
c.12(small version without chamber choir);c.20’(extended version)
WP. Plymouth Choral soc. 2009. Bristol Choral Society Dec. 2007
Libretto Claire Williamson
City Songs
Song cycle for orchestra, children’s choir; string quartet and soprano. Commissioned by Welsh National Opera. Premiered April 2003, Bristol. Second performance Cardiff Nov 2003 as part of the British Council Conference ‘A Sense of Place’. 3rd performance Birmingham Hippodrome June 2007
WP. Plymouth Choral soc. 2009. Bristol Choral Society Dec. 2007
Libretto Claire Williamson and children involved in the performance
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Blue
Settings of Emily Dickinson poems performed by Voces, director Martyn Warren
Carmens dream
Electric Voice Theatre vocal ensemble and piano, silent movie accompaniment
Code Name Electric
Work for electric string quintet, piano and children’s choir Commissioned by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Premiere Dec 2003.
A Candle
One of four composers contributing choral works to a song cycle celebrating Amnesty’s 50th anniversary 2011. 14 performances through UK 2011 – 2012 with finale at South Bank Festival of the Voice. Ashley Wood Festival 2013. PRSF commission for VoiceProject.
Observatory
Norfolk and Norwich festival commision 2015, for the voice project. One of four composers writing for this site specific work.
The Song Of The falling Angel
(In memory of Lockerbie). Choir, harp, sax, soprano and child soloist. Premiered 1991. STV Broadcast networked December 1991. Commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival. Libretto Douglas Lipton. Paintings Kieth McIntyre.
The Human Net
SATB a cappella Libretto Juliet Wimhurst
The Ring Cycle
Large scale performance work commissioned by Seachange Arts. Soprano Sianed Jones, Macfalls string quartet
Translated by Reeds
Choral work celebrating the Waveney Valley. Collaboration with poet Joanna Guthrie. Commissioned by Waveney and Blyth Arts. Premiered 2012.
Blue Pearl
Work for jazz orchestra and children’s choirs. Commissioned by the Pyramid Trust and Common Ground. Premiere May 2000.
Dragon Pageant
Choral work. Bournemouth Sinfonietta and the
Norwich Festival Chorus Premiered October '94, St.Andrews Hall, Norwich. Commissioned by the Norwich and Norfolk Festival
Commissioned by the Norfolk and Norwich Festival.
There Are So Few Angels That Sing
A cappella SSAATB
c.15
WP.Vocem 1993, 1994
I Have Lived On This Mountain
(In Memory Of Greenham)
arr.SSAA
c.3
WP.WNO chorus 2006
Tree Songs
childrens choir
Love Fragments
Soprano and piano
Last Journeys
3 flutes, soprano
c. 10’
WP.Frances Lynch 2003
Wedding
Alto ,pf, words by Alice Oswald
The Punt
Soprano, pf, words by HB Joyce
c. 5’
WP. Sarah Leonard 2002
Winter Psalm
SATB, pf, words by Juliet Wimhurst
c.5’
2010
Evening
SATB, words by Juliet Wimhurst
Lark
SATB, words by Juliet Wimhurst
c. 3’
Big Sky 1998/2000
Lilli Marlene
Setting for unaccompanied male voice choir
c. 4 mins
WNO 2008