Work
Plumsong
for SATB choir
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About
"Plumsong was brilliant - I grew to adore it." said choristers in the New Zealand National Youth Choir, which commissioned this work for SATB choir with optional brass and percussion interludes. "...the sort of commission which makes the commissioning body sigh with relief." Evening Post 30-8-95
With brass and percussion section the duration of this work is 14'. The texts are humorous parodies written by A.K. Grant of particular NZ poets - all based on the nursery rhyme Little Jack Horner.
Commissioned note
Commissioned by New Zealand Choral Federation and the New Zealand National Youth Choir for performance by a combined massed choir at a Gala Concert of the inaugural NZ Festival of Youth Choirs on 26th August 1995. Funding assistance provided by the Arts Council of NZ: Toi Aotearoa (now Creative New Zealand).
Difficulty note
Recommended by the composer for the Big Sing competition
Contents note
- Little Jack Horner - traditional
- The Evader as Plum Puller - Anne French
- Eating Scared - Sam Hunt
- Reading the Plum - Jenny Bornholdt
- A Song about the Pie - Bill Manhire
- Strictly Plumsville - David Eggleton
- A Good Boy - Michele Leggott
- Little Jack Horner (reprise) - traditional
Text note
Based on texts selected from The AK Grant Anthology of New Zealand Verse written, researched, edited, compiled and favourably reviewed by A.K. Grant in The Listener, March 23 1992.
Performance history
26 Aug 1995: Performed at the New Zealand Festival of Youth Choirs; Wellington Town Hall
05 May 2007: Canterbury Philharmonia: May 2007
27 Apr 2008: BOP Music School Final Concert
17 Aug 2012: Performed by Rangitoto College's <i>The Fundamentals</i> conducted by Jonathan Palmer, at The Big Sing National Finale, in Wellington.
Performed by the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir, conducted by Roger Stevenson in 1996
Recorded in the Assembly of God Church and St Mary's Pro-Cathedral, New Plymouth by the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir, conducted by Elise Bradley, between April 1-4 2002