(‘‘Twas the week before Christmas…’) As we move into the final days of Advent, I want to share my setting of the historic Great ‘O’ Antiphons. This is a collection of seven short verses used as a prelude to the reciting of the Magnificat at Vespers in the Catholic Church since the sixth or seventhContinue reading “The Great ‘O’ Antiphons”
Author Archives: metmaestro71
Music Education – In Defence of the ‘Generalist’ Primary School Teacher
I’ve just come out of the Music Mark ‘Big Meet’ to discuss the recent announcements about the upcoming curriculum review. Amongst the honourable mentions were the standard passing implication of poor practice amongst primary schools. It continues to be a huge source of exasperation that those who set the agenda in a manner almost designedContinue reading “Music Education – In Defence of the ‘Generalist’ Primary School Teacher”
Music Education – The Ofsted Parable of the Sower
In light of the recent announcements about the upcoming curriculum review, I would like to share this story… One day, a Sower went out to sow some seeds. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the birds came and ate them up. Some fell on stony ground, where they hadContinue reading “Music Education – The Ofsted Parable of the Sower”
Pied Piper update!
Three months and 175 pages after I began, the first draft of my setting of the Robert Browning poem ‘The Pied Piper Of Hamelin’ for adult and children’s choirs is finally complete! It’s been a lot of hard work, but also a lot of fun converting pages of notes and sketches into a (hopefully) satisfyingContinue reading “Pied Piper update!”
Save the date – update!
Well that’s all the rats gone! What could possibly go wrong? The first draft of the cantata is well on its way to being completed. Don’t forget to join us all at the premier performance of ‘The Pied Piper of Hamelin’, my setting of the Robert Browning poem for adult and children’s choirs, which willContinue reading “Save the date – update!”
Save the date!
Saturday 9th May 2026 7:30 p.m. The premier performance of ‘The Pied Piper of Hamelin’, my setting of the Robert Browning poem for adult and children’s choirs will take place at: The Great Hall, Liverpool Hope University, Creative Campus, L6 1HP and will feature: The second half of the concert will be a performance ofContinue reading “Save the date!”
Further recordings from Liverpool
On 22nd July 2025 I had another opportunity to enjoy the mighty Walker organ at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. First up, I recorded a personal favourite – the original (1856) version of Liszt’s Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H. It took about an hour to work out the registrations for the different sections – far longer thanContinue reading “Further recordings from Liverpool”
New recordings from Liverpool
On Saturday 28th June I had the opportunity to record a couple of the recent additions to my ‘St Paul of the Cross Little Organ Book’ project on the grand organ of Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. First up is the Eastertide Flourish, which is based on two themes: the special dismissal sung at the end ofContinue reading “New recordings from Liverpool”
Big News for Summer 2026!
Major new choral work ‘Hamelin Town’s in Brunswick, by famous Hanover city…’ Summer 2026 marks the 650th anniversary – according to the Robert Browning poem – of the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. I have been charged with setting the famous Browning poem as a cantata for adult and children’s choir. This will receiveContinue reading “Big News for Summer 2026!”
Music For A Summer’s Evening
This coming Saturday (28th June) Hope Metropolitan Singers and Orchestra are putting on a concert of light music at Ullet Road Church in Liverpool. Details about the concert, including how to obtain tickets can be found by following the QR Code below.
Mike Stubbs, Composer 