Composing

OP 08/15 Surb 2“clearly a composer to watch” – Organists’ Review

“Park has a desire to test and stretch the borders of conventional tonality and metre, but also to etch out the contrast by resolving back into broodingly conventional triadic harmonies and regular pulse.” – The Arts Desk

“Exciting, inventive, vibrant” – MusicWeb International

Recent works include a piece for VOCES8 and Rachel Podger (Antiphon for the Angels, 2018), a setting of Vinea mea electa (2018) for Bath Camerata, and a set of six songs for SATB and piano for Louth Choral Society (Sing to me, winchimes, 2018).

If you are interested in commissioning Owain to write a piece of music, please contact Kate Johnson, Creative Manager, Music Sales Ltd.
kate.johnson@musicsales.co.uk | +44 (0)20 7612 7445 | www.musicsalesclassical.com

Works are arranged alphabetically below in the following categories:

Chorus a cappella

Above the stars my saviour dwells (2017) – Soprano solo, SATB divisi Read More
A commissioned gift for Wendy Russell
Publisher: Novello
Recordings: The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge (live)
Duration: 3’45”

Ave maris stella (2014) – SSATB divisi Read More
Commissioned by Richard III Society, George Haynes and the St Peter’s Singers
Publisher: Novello
Recordings: Gabrieli Consort ‘A Rose Magnificat’ (2018)
Duration: 4’30”
Programme note
The repetitive, slightly jingly metre of this popular medieval hymn presents a challenge to the composer; Park does not attempt to camouflage the insistent metre but instead allows it to propel the music forward, retaining a pleasing simplicity in his melody (he acknowledges Grieg’s setting to be an influence), while clothing it with more sophisticated harmonies that would have delighted Francis Poulenc. The stanzas of the text are prefaced by bell-like repeated notes to the words ‘Ave maris stella’, rising from D via E flat and E natural to a final high G, leading to a luscious final Amen. – from notes by © John Rutter 2018

Ave Regina Caelorum (2017) – SATB Read More
Duration: 3’30”

Beati quorum via (2014) – SSATB Read More
Commissioned by Wells Cathedral Chorister Trust for the Countess of Wessex
Publisher: Novello
Duration: 4’30”

Coelos ascendit hodie (2017) – SATB divisi Read More
Commissioned by Stephen Layton and The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Recordings: The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge (live)
Duration: 3’30”

Footsteps (2016) – unaccompanied mixed choirs Read More
Commissioned by Tenebrae and Nigel Short
Publisher: Novello
Recordings: Tenebrae
Duration: 17’00”
Programme note
The narrative for Footsteps is a fusion of texts by eight different authors, five of whom contribute to the introduction of the work. On Leaving by Gertrudis Gomez de Avellaneda is a sonnet reflecting on the author’s moving from Cuba to Spain; ‘Sea Pearl’ could be describing the author’s homeland, but here, when fused with ‘the wanderer’s guiding star’ (E Brontë) alludes to the moon. Longer phrases which rise and fall in the upper parts of the semi-chorus are imitated more quickly in the main choir. – from notes by © Owain Park 2017. Full programme note.

For the fallen (2016) – SSAATTBB Read More
Commissioned by Joseph Wicks and the Beaufort Singers
Duration: 4’15”

I will lift up mine eyes (2011) – SATB Read More
Commissioned by Matthew Owens and Wells Cathedral Choir
Duration: 2’45”

Judas mercator pessimus (2014) – SATB divisi Read More
Commissioned by Stephen Layton and The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Publisher: Novello
Recordings: The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge (live)
Duration: 7’30”
Programme note

Justorum Animae (2017) – SSATBB Read More
Commissioned by Stephen Layton and The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Publisher: Novello
Duration: 4’30” 

Louisa (2014) – SATB divisi Read More
Commissioned by Dominic Pini
Recordings: The Choir of Royal Holloway (live)
Duration: 5’00” 

Phos hilaron (2015) – SATB divisi Read More
Commissioned by Stephen Layton and The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Recordings: Chant-only version: Cambridge Chorale (video)
Duration: 9’00”
Programme note

Shakespeare Love Songs (2013) – SATB divisi Read More
1. Love is a Smoke / 2. Love, whose month is ever May / 3. So sweet a kiss / 4. When love speaks
Commissioned by The Maesbury Singers and Iain MacLeod-Jones
Publisher: Novello
Recordings: Trinity Consort (live)
Duration: 10’00”

Shakespeare Songs of Night-time (2014)– SATB divisi Read More
1. Light thickens / 2. Weary with toil / 3. Now it is the time of night / 4. Let fall the windows of thine eyes / 5. Be not afeard / 6. The Cloud Capp’d Towers
Commissioned by Stephen Layton and The Holst Singers
Duration: 20’00”

Shepherds’ Cradle Song (2013) – SATB divisi or AATBarBB Read More
Dedicated to Bryony MacLeod-Jones
Publisher: Novello
Recordings: The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge ‘Yulefest’ (2015)
Duration: 3’45”
Programme note
Owain Park’s Shepherds’ cradle song pays tribute to John Rutter’s influence, alongside Herbert Howells and others in the English school of carol-writing, with its sweet tune passing skilfully from voice to voice. – from notes by © Ted Tregear 2015.

Sweet Day (2010) – SSATB Read More
Commissioned by Stephen Layton and The Holst Singers
Recordings: The Tallis Scholars (live)
Duration: 4’45”

The Lord’s Prayer (2015) – SSAATTBB divisi Read More
Commissioned by Patrick Allies and Siglo di Oro
Publisher: Novello
Recordings: Siglo de Oro (video)
Duration: 7’00”

The Mother of God (2013) – SSATB Read More
Recordings: Reverie (live)
Duration: 2’45”

The Wings of the Wind (2015) – SSAATTBB divisi Read More
Commissioned by Stephen Layton and The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Publisher: Novello
Recordings: The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge (video)
Duration: 5’00”

Trinity Fauxbourdons (2017) – SATB divisi Read More
1. Magnificat / 2. Nunc Dimittis
Commissioned by Stephen Layton and The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Recordings: The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge (live)
Duration: 8’00”

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day (2013) – SATB double choir Read More
Commissioned by Stephen Layton and The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Recordings: The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge ‘Yulefest’ (2015)
Duration: 3’30”

Upheld by stillness (2015) – SSSAATTBB Read More
Commissioned by ORA and Suzy Digby
Recordings: ORA ‘Upheld by stillness’ (2016)
Duration: 3’30”

Vinea mea electa (2018) – SATB divisi Read More
Commissioned by Bath Camerata and Benjamin Goodson
Duration: 4’30”

Chorus with one instrument

A Confirmation Prayer (2008) – SATB with organ Read More
Commissioned by Westbury-on-Trym Parish Church and David Ogden
Recordings: Westbury-on-Trym Parish Church and David Ogden ‘All times and seasons’ (2011)
Duration: 3’00”

All this night bright angels sing (2010) – SATB with Organ Read More
Recordings: Cadenza and Jenny Sumerling (video)
Duration: 2’30”

Antiphon for the Angels (2018) – SSAATTBB with Violin solo Read More
Commissioned by VOCES8 and Rachel Podger
Duration: 7’30”

Cradle Lullaby (2012) – S divisi with Piano or Organ Read More
Commissioned by Wells Cathedral Chorister Parents Association
Publisher: Novello
Recordings: Wells Cathedral Choir (video)
Duration: 4’00”

Gentle Mary laid her child (2017) – SATB with Piano Read More
Commissioned by Wimbledon Choral Society and Neil Ferris
Publisher: Novello
Duration: 4’00”

Let Christians all with Joyful Mirth (2012) – SATB with Organ Read More
Publisher: Novello
Recordings: Music Sales Choral Sampler (2015)
Duration: 3’00”

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? (2014) – SATB with piano Read More
Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Recordings: Oxford University Press Choral Highlights (2015)
Duration: 5’15”

Sing to me, windchimes (2018) – SATB with Piano Read More
Duration: 20’00”

St Andrew’s Mass (2011) – SATB with Organ Read More
Recordings: Wells Cathedral Choristers, Wells Cathedral School Chapel Choir (live)
Duration: 10’00”

Sure on this shining night (2011) – SATB with Piano Read More
Recordings: Video
Duration: 5’00”

The Gloucester Service (2014) – SATB divisi with Organ Read More
Commissioned by David Ogden and RSCM Millennium Youth Choir
Duration: 13’00”

The Spirit Breathes (2017) – SATB with Organ Read More
Commissioned by Stephen Layton and The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge
Recordings: The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge (live)
Duration: 6’30”

The Redcliffe Magnificat (2014) – SATB with Organ (Chamber Organ) Read More
Commissioned by Andrew Kirk and the Choir of St Mary Redcliffe
Recordings: The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge (live)
Duration: 4’45”

The Wells Service (2013) – SATB with String Orchestra (or Organ) Read More
Commissioned by Wells Cathedral Choir and Matthew Owens
Recordings: Wells Cathedral Choir; Athenaeum Chamber Orchestra of the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague (live)
Duration: 11’00”

While Shepherds Watched (2010) – SATB with Organ (or String Quartet) Read More
Commissioned by David Ogden and Holy Trinity Church, Westbury-on-Trym
Recordings: Wells Cathedral School Chapel Choir (video)
Duration: 3’30”

Upper voices

As now the sun’s declining rays (2012) – SS a cappella Read More
Commissioned by Wells Cathedral Choir and Matthew Owens
Duration: 2’00”

Away in a manger (2010) – Upper voices with Piano Read More
Publisher: Novello
Recordings: Mastersingers City of Palms Youth Choir (video)
Duration: 2’30”

Preces and Responses (2013) – Upper voices with Organ Read More
Commissioned by Diocesan Choirs Association of Wells and Bath
Duration: 4’30”

Lower voices

Fantasia on English Children’s Songs (2013) – ATTBB Read More
Commissioned by Opus Anglicanum and John Rowlands-Pritchard
Duration: 10’00”

Lully, lulla (2012) – ATB divisi Read More
Commissioned by Wells Cathedral Choir and Matthew Owens
Duration: 3’00”

On the Infancy of our Saviour (2014) – ATTBB Read More
Commissioned by Opus Anglicanum and John Rowlands-Pritchard
Publisher: Novello
Recordings: The Gesualdo Six (video)
Duration: 4’30”

Sequence: ‘In Parenthesis’ (2015) – ATTBB and Narrator Read More
Commissioned by Opus Anglicanum and John Rowlands-Pritchard
Duration: 13’00”

Shepherds’ Cradle Song (2013) – SATB divisi or AATBarBB Read More
Dedicated to Bryony MacLeod-Jones.
Publisher: Novello
Recordings: The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge ‘Yulefest’ (2015)
Duration: 3’45”
Programme note
Owain Park’s Shepherds’ cradle song pays tribute to John Rutter’s influence, alongside Herbert Howells and others in the English school of carol-writing, with its sweet tune passing skilfully from voice to voice. – from notes by © Ted Tregear 2015.

There stood in heaven a linden tree (2012) – AATTBB Read More
Duration: 4’00”

Arrangements for chorus

Ain’t that a kick in the head? (2015) (Van Heusen/Cahn) – SSSAATTBBB

Have yourself a merry little Christmas (2013) (Martin/Blane) – SATB divisi

Molly Malone (2012) (Traditional) – AATTBB

Mood Indigo (2014) (Ellington/Bigard) – SATB divisi

My Funny Valentine (2015) (Rogers/Hart) – SATB divisi

Silence is Golden (2013) (Crewe/Gaudio) – SSATBB or AATTBB

Step we gaily, on we go (2013) (Trad. Scottish) – SATB divisi with piano

The Very Best Time of Year (2014) (John Rutter) – SATB divisi

Wither’s Rocking Hymn (2014) (Traditional, from RVW) – SATB divisi

Organ solo

Hymn to Theotokos (2017) Read More
Commissioned by Sebastian Thomson for Angels of Creation
Duration: 7’00”

Images (2015) Read More
Duration: 5’00”

Macht weit die Pforten in der Welt (2015) Read More
Publisher: Carus-Verlag | Perusal score
Duration: 3’00”

Méditation (2011) Read More
Publisher: Novello
Recordings: Owain Park (video)
Duration: 4’00”

O Gott, dein Wille schuf die Welt (2017) Read More
Publisher: Carus-Verlag | Perusal score
Duration: 5’00”

Prelude on ‘O little town of Bethlehem’ (2014) Read More
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Recordings: Owain Park (live)
Duration: 3’00”

Realms of Light (2012) Read More
Duration: 5’00”

Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist (2015) Read More
Recordings: Owain Park (live)
Duration: 4’00”

Chamber

Full moon and little Frieda (2011)

The Snow Child (2016) – Chamber Opera

The Erl King (2017) – Chamber Opera

The Whale Sailed (2015) – Piano trio

Orchestral

Fanfare for Sidney (2015)