Friday 7 August 2009

Baa Baa Black Sheep Kyrie

Yesterday I uploaded to the Choral Public Domain Library a setting of the Kyrie which I originally planned to be part of a Missa Bone Pastor. I wrote this at Easter 2008, and while I think it is one on my more successful compositions, it became apparent that it sounds very silly and could not be performed as part of the liturgy.


The reason why is that it is based on the nursery rhyme 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' as the cantus firmus! While it may not be inappropriate for a mass dedicated to the Good Shepherd, one could imagine the reaction of the clergy on the sanctuary at a high mass on hearing it. Well, here is the webpage it is at, and you can listen to it here.



On a more serious note, today I have also just uploaded the Missa Brevis for 2 voices and organ I wrote four years ago: here is the webpage.

2 comments:

berenike said...

You're not responsible for the Missa Sonus Musicae, are you?

Oliver Hayes said...

No, no, I assure you I am not! There is a copy of it in the Oratory choir library, and it was written by a German composer: I can't remember her name. As a composition it is in fact very faithful to the rules of species couterpoint, unlike mine which are full of consecutive fifths and octaves...