The Lost Words Cover Image

The Lost Words: Choral Works (Secular) - Upper Voices

$11.95 USD
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The Lost Words Cover Image
The Lost Words: Choral Works (Secular) - Upper Voices

The Lost Words: Choral Works (Secular) - Upper Voices

By James Burton / arr. Robert Macfarlane / Art by Jackie Morris

Item: 98-EP73416A
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Description

The Lost Words by composer James Burton takes its inspiration and text from the award-winning 'cultural phenomenon' and book of the same name by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris: a book that was, in turn, a creative response to the removal of everyday nature words like acorn, newt and otter from a new edition of a widely used children's dictionary. Both the book and Burton's 32-minute work, which is written in 12 short movements for upper-voice choir in up to 3 voice parts (with either orchestral or piano accompaniment), celebrates each lost word with a beautiful poem or 'spell', magically brought to life in Burton's music. At its heart, the work delivers a powerful message about the need to close the gap between childhood and the natural world. Burton's piece was co-commissioned by the Hallé Concerts Society for the Hallé Children's Choir and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The piano accompaniment version was premiered at the Tanglewood Festival in 2019 by the Boston Symphony Children's Choir, of which Burton is founder and director. The Hallé Children's Choir will premiere the orchestral version of the full work in Manchester, UK, post-pandemic.

  • Vocal Score
  • Co-commission by Boston Symphony and Hallé Concerts Society for their respective Children's Choirs.
  • Two versions - with orchestral or with piano accompaniment. The vocal score is the same for both versions.
  • James Burton is a composer but also a conductor. He is conductor of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus and choral director of the Boston Symphony.
  • The book The Lost Words, exquisitely designed, has won multiple awards and is an international best-seller. The vocal score includes Jackie Morris's beautiful imagery in its cover design.

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Additional Details
Series: Edition Peters
Publisher: Edition Peters
Page Count: 68
ISBN10: 0-577-01857-4
ISBN13: 979-0-577-01857-7
UPC: 9790577018577
SKU: 98-EP73416A

More about this title

About the Composer: James Burton

James Burton is a conductor and composer who has built his career at the intersection of choral music and education. He founded and directs the Boston Symphony Children's Choir, where he works with young singers on repertoire that challenges and inspires them. As conductor of the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Burton has established himself as an advocate for contemporary choral works that speak to urgent cultural conversations.

Why we love this

Burton's score captures the lyrical heart of Macfarlane and Morris's project without sentimentality. Each of the 12 movements breathes as its own entity, yet they cohere into a unified meditation on reconnecting children with the natural world. The upper-voice writing sits beautifully for developing singers, and the choice between orchestral and piano accompaniment means you can program this in almost any setting.

What to expect

The work feels like a conversation with the natural world, one word at a time. Burton's musical language is accessible yet sophisticated, layering simple melodic gestures into textures that seem to shimmer and shift. There's wonder here, but also a quiet urgency.

Who it's for

Middle school and high school treble choirs, children's choirs, and community ensembles with singers ready to engage thoughtfully with contemporary music. The three-part writing accommodates mixed levels of musical maturity without condescension.

How to get the most out of it

  • Spend rehearsal time with the texts first. Each poem is a 'spell' in Burton's conception, and singers who understand what they're incanting will find the vocal lines feel less like exercises and more like genuine utterance.
  • Use the accompaniment (whether orchestral or piano) to shape your rehearsal process. The parts are written to support the choir, but they also establish atmosphere; listen to recordings before you begin teaching the piece.
  • Encourage legit tone and gentle vibrato control, especially in unison or two-part sections. This repertoire thrives on clarity and vulnerability rather than power.

How to use it

Consider programming this as a complete 32-minute work for a concert dedicated to environmental themes, social-emotional learning, or simply the beauty of contemporary choral music. Alternatively, individual movements work as strong short concert pieces that pair well with traditional repertoire on a mixed program.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading in contemporary harmonic language (triadic and extended harmonies)
  • Sustaining legit tone across extended passages
  • Ensemble balance in two- and three-part writing
  • Text interpretation and diction in English poetry
  • Collaborative listening to orchestral or piano accompaniment

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