Men and Angels, optional violin part Cover Image

Men and Angels, optional violin part: Violin(s) & Other Instruments

$7.95 USD
$7.95 USD
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Men and Angels, optional violin part Cover Image
Men and Angels, optional violin part: Violin(s) & Other Instruments

Men and Angels, optional violin part: Violin(s) & Other Instruments

By Alec Roth

Item: 98-EP72824A
$7.95
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Description

English composer Alec Roth sets George Herbert's poem Antiphon II for his atmospheric piece for unaccompanied SSATBB choir. The duration is 4'30” and if performed with the present optional violin part the duration is expanded to 5'30” with the opening minute being a short prelude in which the violin establishes the mode and introduces the musical ideas which are taken up by the singers. Herbert sets his verses out like a play script, with parts for ‘Chorus', ‘Men' and ‘Angels'. Roth's setting gives voice to the characters with soprano and alto singing the words of the Angels, the tenor and bass the Men, and both groups combining as the Chorus.

  • Violin part to accompany EP72824 (vocal score – available separately)
  • A commission from 2014 from the Farrant Singers (UK).
  • Version with violin was commissioned by VOCES8 premiered in the LIVE from London online festival in 2020.
  • Alec Roth's vocal and choral music has been commissioned, performed and recorded by musicians such as Mark Padmore, Ex Cathedra, VOCES8 and The Sixteen.


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Additional Details
Series: Edition Peters
Publisher: Edition Peters
Page Count: 8
ISBN10: 0-57-702154-0
ISBN13: 979-0-57-702154-6
SKU: 98-EP72824A

More about this title

About the Creator: Alec Roth

Alec Roth is a British composer whose choral and vocal music draws from both sacred and secular texts, often setting poetry with particular attention to text-setting and harmonic color. His works have attracted commissions from ensembles including Ex Cathedra, VOCES8, and The Sixteen, and his music has been recorded and performed by leading soloists such as Mark Padmore.

Why we love this

The violin part transforms what could stand alone as an unaccompanied choral work into something with genuine orchestral presence. Rather than doubling the voices, Roth uses the opening minute to establish harmonic and melodic territory that the choir then inhabits, creating a piece that feels architecturally complete while respecting the singers' independence.

What to expect

Atmospheric and contemplative, with the violin's opening establishing a sense of space before the choir enters. The piece has the lyrical quality of English cathedral music reimagined for contemporary ears, moving between the ethereal (Angels) and grounded (Men) with a chorus that draws the voices together into moments of striking harmonic resonance.

Who it's for

Advanced high school and college choirs with access to a skilled violin player and the vocal score (EP72824). Directors seeking to expand a standard choral program with substantial contemporary sacred music that rewards singers with sophisticated harmony and text-setting.

How to get the most out of it

  • Let the violin prelude breathe without rushing; it's establishing the modal world the choir will enter, so clarity of line matters more than tempo certainty.
  • Balance the violin against six voices by considering where it doubles or complements rather than competes; the accompaniment works best when integrated rather than prominent.
  • Use the poem's dramatic structure as your guide; the Angels and Men have distinct characters, and the violin's opening theme should reflect that same clarity of voice.

How to use it

Program this as the centerpiece of a concert exploring George Herbert's influence on contemporary composition, or pair it with other settings of his poetry spanning different periods. The five-and-a-half-minute duration makes it ideal for a concert's second half, where its atmospheric quality can create a reflective moment without feeling like filler.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and sustaining harmonic progressions in modal contexts
  • Balancing unaccompanied ensemble sound while incorporating optional instrumental accompaniment
  • Text-driven interpretation with distinct character voices (soprano/alto as Angels, tenor/bass as Men)
  • Ensemble precision with sustained notes and slow harmonic movement

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