These twelve short anthems were written over many years as opportunity arose with particular choirs. They are, therefore in a variety of styles, but are mostly relatively easy. A few are more demanding, but I hope repay the extra work. I believe all of them to have good tunes, interesting voice parts, and at least a little something ‘a bit different’.
They have mostly been performed by church choirs, but sometimes other choirs have been attracted to them, and they may make concert items as well as contributions to worship. Many of the words are my own; others are favourite hymns in a new guise.
Complete score (PDF)
© 2015, Tom Fryers
The poem was originally written in 1986 without though of music, but was given a melody later the same year and performed as a solo or duo song with guitar. The arrangement for full choir was made in 2004/5 and was first performed by the Allegri Singers, Kendal, in November 2010. Words and Music Tom Fryers (1986 & 2004/5).
Score (PDF)
Audio file (2:45) – rendered without words by MuseScore
This carol was written in December 1976 as a song with guitar, but immediately re-written for SATB for Mary Maiden and the Altrincham Methodist Church Choir. It has been performed many times by several choirs, the most surprising being for a 1978 Christmas broadcast on Kwara State Television, Nigeria, by the Ilorin University Staff Choir. Words and Music Tom Fryers (1976).
Score (PDF)
Audio file (2:10) – rendered without words by MuseScore
John Short’s beautiful poem had long been a favourite of mine, not least because my wife and I both worked in Salford for many years, and four of our children were born there. This setting for two unaccompanied voices had boy sopranos in mind, and certainly should be sung without vibrato, as in early music. It was sung, (transposed into C) by tenor and bass in Cheltenham, Christmas 2007. John Short had a serious mental break-down after the second world war, and lived as a recluse in Ambleside before he died. Words John Short; Music Tom Fryers (1975).
Score (PDF)
Audio file (2:08) – rendered without words by MuseScore
This carol was written as a companion piece and counterpoise to ‘Mary Watch Your Baby Sleep’. It was first performed at a Christmas concert in the Whitworth Gallery, Manchester, by the Manchester University Chamber Choir, in 1977. It has since been performed in Lancaster and Arnside and Ambleside. Some difficulties were experienced with the original layout of the score, with frequently changing time signatures; an alternative score almost entirely in common time, requiring only one minimal change in note length, proves much easier to conduct and rehearse, but loses the direct connection with the rhythm of the music. Neither version is to be preferred, but it is probably best sung without conductor! Words and Music Tom Fryers (1977).
Score (PDF)
Audio file (1:18) – rendered without words by MuseScore
This much loved Easter Hymn was given a new tune in 1964 and arranged simply for three voices (because of the dearth of men in choirs) in February 2004. It can be sung as a hymn just using that arrangement, printed here for verses 1, 2 and 4, and for this reason all the words are printed under the first verse. In this form it was first given by Ruth Bellis and the Stricklandgate Methodist Church Choir, Kendal. In May 2006 two other three-part arrangements were added for verses 3 and 5 respectively, to render it more suitable as a choir anthem. Words Cecil Francis Alexander; Music Tom Fryers (1964/2004/2006).
Score (PDF)
Audio file (2:17) – rendered without words by MuseScore
Written for & first performed by Ruth Bellis and the Stricklandgate Methodist Church Choir, Kendal, on Good Friday, 1995. Words Charles Wesley; Music Tom Fryers (1995).
Score (PDF)
Audio file (3:27) – rendered without words by MuseScore
An anthem for Good Friday, written in January 2006 for Ruth Bellis and the Stricklandgate Methodist Church Choir, Kendal and performed the following Easter. Words and Music Tom Fryers (2006).
Score (PDF)
Audio file (4:33) – rendered without words by MuseScore
The words and melody for this carol for the Easter season were written while waiting in Helsinki Airport in March 2004, and the music completed in April, in three parts because of the frequent dearth of men in church choirs. It was first performed on Easter Sunday morning 2005 by Ruth Bellis and the Stricklandgate Methodist Church Choir, Kendal. The piano accompaniment is somewhat independent and is not essential, but adds a lightness suited to the theme. Words and Music Tom Fryers (2004).
Score (PDF)
Audio file (1:39) – rendered without words by MuseScore
This was written as a companion piece to ‘Jesus, I fain would find thy zeal for God in me’, being another short two-verse hymn full of meaning. Its original ending was on a unison A flat, symbolising ‘one’ in the words, but an ending like the first verse on a chord of F major may be found more satisfactory. Both are included in the score, for performers to choose. Words John Hunter; Music Tom Fryers (2013).
Score (PDF)
Audio file (1:50) – rendered without words by MuseScore
This is a response to discovering, and using in worship, Wesley’s succinct, explicit, logical and passionate prayer for a true Christian life, imbued with the Spirit of God and committed wholly to others. It was composed in summer 2006 for either four individual voices or small choir. The rather jolly melody arose very spontaneously and it appears unvaried in each of the four voices in turn, so the two short verses are repeated. Other voices interleave syncopated counterpoint throughout, a bit like madrigal writing. Words Charles Wesley; Music Tom Fryers (2006).
Score (PDF)
Audio file (1:05) – rendered without words by MuseScore
This hymn tune was written for and sung at a youth weekend from the Albert Hall Methodist Church, Manchester, in 1965. The choir arrangement was made in 1998. Words George Matheson; Music Tom Fryers (1965/1998).
Score (PDF)
Audio file (1:57) – rendered without words by MuseScore
This song was written in March 1976 for Mary Maiden and the women’s and children’s voices of the Altrincham Methodist Church Choir and Junior Choir, who performed it that year. The piano accompaniment was thoroughly re-written in January 2003 for Ruth Bellis and the Stricklandgate Methodist Church Choir, Kendal, and performed by them later that year. Words and Music Tom Fryers (1976/2003).
Score (PDF)
Audio file (3:45) – rendered without words by MuseScore
Anyone wishing to perform this work may do so and make copies enough for that purpose. We would be grateful if we were told about any performances. Scores must not be sold and the music cannot be published in any form without permission from Tom Fryers’ estate.
Contact: barbara.fryers@gmail.com or paul.fryers@gmail.com