Choir
Gentle Flame Album [2024]
72:56 The range of choral works on this album spans the enormous output across the composer's life, performed with great flair by Ex Cathedra directed by Jeffrey Skidmore.
Click here for links to the album, behind the scenes film and more info
Choral Works
Christmas and Advent
Over decades of experience Liz Dilnot Johnson has built up an extensive repertoire for choirs of all levels, a large proportion of which is written specifically for the Christmas and Advent season which is now just around the corner. As composer-in-residence with Ex Cathedra Liz has created many works for professional choir, children's choir and for amateurs as well.
Click on the image below to view Christmas music for choirs of all types with links to scores and recordings.
Nimrod Reimagined [2024]
5 min - ‘Nimrod Reimagined’ combines two elements: the stunningly beautiful melodic shapes and rich harmonies of the original music by Elgar ('Enigma Variations') expanded onto a simple but poignant poem by Robert Louis Stevenson called ‘Requiem’.
Nimrod Reimagined for choir and piano:
Nimrod Reimagined for choir and harp:
Rain [2023]
A setting of Edward Thomas’ poem Rain commissioned by Hereford Chamber Choir for their project The Dymock Poets Reimagined.
A Wild Midwinter Carol [2022]
3 min - A folk-like eco-carol summoning up the different landscapes, trees, animals and weather of a British winter – from dawn until midnight on the Winter Solstice. The message is of hope and connection with the wild natural world.
For trebles with chimes and bells:
For SSAATTBB with bells:
On Malvern Hill [2022]
4 min 20 sec, tenor, bass, piano • Commissioned by Malvern Male Voice Choir to celebrate their 100th Centenary, setting lines from Piers Plowman the 14th Century evocation of Malvern Hill.
Gentle Flame Cantata [2019]
30 mins, Mezzo solo, choir, baroque orch • This is an early version of I Stand At The Door - a cantata for our times Words by Greta Thunberg and Kurt Masur – a call to action
★★★★★ ‘constantly gripping’ MidlandsMusicReviews
Featured on Classic FM
Blake Reimagined [2020]
3 mins, Choirs and Improvised Voice - Words by William Blake - a 21st century reworking of Parry’s ‘Jerusalem’ that Liz created specially for Ex Cathedra’s 50th Anniversary film, first broadcast on 5th September 2020 (starts at 29:00). Dedicated to the choirs director Jeffrey Skidmore.
‘sensational’ - Ex Cathedra
Gentle Flame [2018]
4 mins, SSAATTBB • Gentle flame, guide our way through the dark night… • Christmas words and music by Liz Dilnot Johnson
Featured on Gentle Flame - Divine Art Recordings
O Frondens [2018]
3 mins, Arranged for SSA or SATB • Hildegard of Bingen’s exquisite hymn of praise arranged for choir
For This Babe [2017]
4 mins, SATB • Joy for this babe – a Christmas carol.
When A Child Is A Witness [2022]
1 hr 30 mins, double choir, children’s choir, piano, organ, violin, refugee groups
Winner of the Ivors Composer Award for Community and Participation 2022
Liz developing new ‘Windows’ material with refugees
Ipsum Regem [2016]
4 mins, SATB • A Christmas carol celebrating the Virgin Mary
Agnus Dei [2015]
4 mins, SSAATTBB • Lamb of God, have mercy on us, give us peace. Broadcast live on the banks of the River Severn on BBC Breakfast with Petroc Trelawny
Sun Dances [2011]
5 mins, SATB choir and piano duet • A vibrant celebration of sun deities around the world, including Yoruba, Japanese, Aztec and Druidic gods
Lighten Our Darkness [2010]
4 mins, SATB • A gentle anthem for evening prayer
The Long Sky [2007]
3 mins, SSAA • A love song for female voices
Moon Incantations [2003]
17 mins, choir, piano, chimes • Five explorations of moon maps: craters and mountains, the dark side, moon seas and lakes, a list of cheeses and definitions of the moon. …I shall adorn myself with moons, crescents, O lunula… Written for Bournville Young Singers for Adopt-a-Composer
Ave Maris Stella [2002]
3 mins, SATB choir
Nesciens Mater [2001]
4 mins, ATTB
Accipe Coronam [2001]
3 mins, SSA choir
Forever
Improvisation, mixed voices
Negative Attitude
Improvisation, mixed voices
O Quam Dulcis [1993]
3 mins, double choir • Thy words are like a lantern…
My Heart Awakes [1991]
7 mins, choir with divisions • Three anthems of love for choir celebrating birth, love and death: Prayer for Alexandra (christening), My Heart Awakes (marriage), For Hester (funeral)
Evening Service [1989]
9 mins, double choir and organ • Magnificat – the song of Mary: My soul doth magnify the Lord and Nunc Dimitis the song of blind Simeon: Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
Letare Cantuaria [1987]
4 mins, choir with divisions • Celebrating the martyrdom of St Thomas a Becket
Preces and Responses [1991]
6 mins, double choir with divisions • Music for Evensong
O Vos [2000]
3 mins, 3 female voices • Spiralling voices inspired by the Fibonacci Series
