Bellbird Publications
229 Helensburgh Rd
Dunedin
New Zealand
(03) 476-2541

Bellbird Titles

  • A Prayer

    • A Prayer

    S.S.A.A.T.T.B.B. unaccompanied

    Although in 8 parts, this is a simple, evocative setting of Denis Glover's poem through the eyes of West Coaster, Arawata Bill. Suitable for adult or youth choirs

    More info, and to purchase . . .

  • As Long as Time

    • As Long as Time

    S.A.T.B. unaccompanied

    This set of 4 songs includes the well-known 'Time-piece', a striking setting of Cilla McQueen's quirky poem. Suitable for adult and advanced youth choirs. Note: 'Time-piece' may be purchased separately for $10.00.

  • Caricatures

    • Caricatures

    Bellbird Publications has just released Caricatures, a compilation of piano music by father and son composers John and Anthony Ritchie. The volume is designed for pianists of about Grade 8 level and above.

    Caricatures is named after John Ritchie's delightful Three Caricatures for Piano (1987). Originally written as incidental music for the Moliere comedy 'Le Malade Imaginaire', the movements are a Toccatina which describes a hypochondriac father, a sentimental Sarabande describing the devoted daughter, and a lively Jig poking fun at the medical faculty.

    The other pieces in the volume were written by Anthony Ritchie.

    Olveston Suite(1988), has six movements which evoke rooms in the historic Dunedin home, Olveston.

    There are three pieces from Anthony's early piano work Poems of Spring (1981): Yearning, Lover's Dance and Calm. These pieces complement the other five 'Poems of Spring' which were published by Promethean Editions in their volume entitled 'Firestarters'.

    Rounding off the volume is Music for Tristan (1988), named after the composer's son. It was composed for Sharon Joy Vogan and recorded by her on the SOUNZ CD 'Finemusic'. The slow and expansive outer sections contrast with the lively inner sections. Showing echoes of Ravel and Bartok, it is the most difficult of the pieces in Caricatures, and would be suitable for L.T.C.L. level.

  • Caroline Bay Suite

    • Caroline Bay Suite

    Caroline Bay Suite was commissioned in 1999 by the Timaru Branch of The Institute of Registered Music Teachers, and was written for young pianists of grade 3 or 4 level. There are four pieces, which were inspired by frequent stops at Caroline Bay while the composer was travelling between Dunedin and Christchurch.

    More info, and to purchase . . .

  • Carving

    • Carving

    S.A.T.B. and woodblocks

    This is a stirring, rhythmic song referencing Maori waiata, and a poem by Apirana Taylor. Suitable for high school and adult choirs.

    More info, and to purchase . . .
  • Cat in the Dark

    • Cat in the Dark

    S.A. and piano

    A delightful setting of a Margaret Mahy poem, designed for children's choirs as well as junior high school choirs.

    More info, and to purchase . . .
  • Christmas Carols

    • Christmas Carols

    For fifty years (1951-2000) John Ritchie composed a carol (or a snippet) for the Christmas cards he sent to friends all over the world. In recent times the Jubilate Singers, conducted by John Pattinson, performed many of them at concerts and included fourteen on a CD of Ritchie's choral music titled 'Winter and Rough Weather'.

    This publication of unaccompanied carols offers nine of them dating back to 1954. They cover a wide variety of moods in John Ritchie's unmistakeable style with its clear textures, surprising key changes and delightful word-settings.

    Good choirs will find them easy while average choirs (large or small) will be rewarded by thorough rehearsal. Many of the settings offer new slants on the seasonal message.


    ISMN M-9013201-3-0

  • Flute Concerto Piano Reduction

    • Flute Concerto

    The Flute Concerto was composed for flutist Alexa Still (Principal flute, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra) in 1993 while Ritchie was Composer - in - Residence with The Dunedin Sinfonia. Unlike the Symphony "Boum", written in the same year, this concerto is a generally happy and open-sounding work, and reflects aspects of Alexa Still's personality as well as her playing.

    The Flute Concerto is enjoying increasing popularity internationally. In 2006 the flute magazine Flute Focus included some articles on how to play this concerto (July, October issues).

    More info, and to purchase . . .

  • Dogwobble

    • Dogwobble

    S.A.B. and piano

    A delightful nonsense song to words by Cilla McQueen, designed for easy learning by adult or school/youth choirs.

  • Four Songs for Baritone & Piano

    • Four Songs for Baritone & Piano

    My Father Today - words by Sam Hunt
    The Bay - words by James K. Baxter
    Lament for Barney Flanagan - words by James K. Baxter
    Tangi - words by Hone Tuwhare

    These songs for baritone come from three different compositions by Anthony Ritchie.

    My Father Today and The Bay are from To Face the Night Alone (1990) for baritone, choir and orchestra, composed originally for the City of Dunedin Choir.

    Lament for Barney Flanagan (1981) is a stand-alone song, composed while Ritchie was still a student at Canterbury University. It was premiered by his friends Campbell McLachlan (baritone) and Alistair Lennie (piano), at the Cambridge Music School in the 1980s.

    Tangi comes from the chamber opera The Trapeze Artists (1995), commissioned by Louise Petherbridge and first performed at the Otago Festival of Arts, in 2000.

    These songs have been slightly edited and revised for this edition.

    The poems by Hunt, Baxter and Tuwhare deal in various ways with the themes of loss and death. My Father Today and Tangi are laments for lost loved ones. Lament for Barney Flanagan mourns the death of a publican in a more ribald manner, sounding a cautionary note to all heavy drinkers. The Bay mourns the loss of childhood innocence, with reflections on the poet's early days around the seaside town of Brighton, near Dunedin.

    These songs may be performed separately or as a group.

    Total Duration: approximately 20 minutes

  • God of Nations

    • God of Nations

    S.A. or T.B. or S.A.T.B. and piano

    This arrangement was the basis for the 2011 Rugby World Cup arrangement that helped see the All Blacks to victory!

    More info, and to purchase . . .
  • A Great Seamstress

    • A Great Seamstress

    S.S.A. and piano

    Apirana Taylor's words also feature in this imaginative song about creation, designed for adult or school/youth choirs.

  • The Heavenly Miracle

    • The Heavenly Miracle

    S.S.A. and piano

    A song that celebrates the beauty of Nature, using inspirational words by Apirana Taylor, designed for adult or school/youth choirs.

  • High Country Weather

    • High Country Weather

    S.S.A. unaccompanied

    Baxter's iconic poem is given an atmospheric setting in this song, which is suitable for senior high school and adult choirs.

  • Hine e hine

    • Hine e hine

    S.A. and piano

    This ever-popular song is given a simple setting in both Maori and English, with a descant in the second verse. Designed for children's choirs as well as junior high school choirs.

    More info, and to purchase . . .
  • I Am a Cold, Cold Wolf

    • I Am a Cold, Cold Wolf

    S.A.T.B. and piano

    Commissioned for the Big Sing, this song vividly describes of an animal in Winter. Suitable for senior high school and adult choirs.

  • In the Summer Fields

    • In the Summer Fields

    S.A.T.B. unaccompanied

    A lively and enjoyable arrangement of a popular Hungarian folk song, translated into English. Suitable for adult and youth choirs.

  • Magnificat

    • Magnificat

    S.A.T.B. unaccompanied

    A simple, reflective setting of the religious text, suitable for adult or youth choirs.

  • Out in the City

    • Out in the City

    S.A. and piano

    This blues-based song has been popular among high school choirs, but can be sung by a range of groups, from children's choirs to adults. Designed for easy learning.

  • Peninsula Suite

    • Peninsula Suite

    The work portrays six creatures found around the Otago region. Each piece aims to describe a feature of these creatures, as well as offering a variety of technical challenges to the pianist.

    The individual pieces are titled Sand-hoppers dance, Seals slither, Kereru swoop, Hoiho hip hop, Crabs scuttle, Albatross glide.
    Note: Kereru are NZ wood pigeons, Hoiho are yellow-eyed penguins.

    More info, and to purchase . . .

  • Song pdf

    • Song

    Song - poem by James K.Baxter
    A soulful evocation of the figure of Jesus Christ as a working man.

    This is one of Anthony Ritchie's most popular songs.

    More info, and to purchase . . .

  • Song of Hope pdf

    • Song of Hope

    S.A.T.B. unaccompanied

    Elena Poletti's vivid poem describes a scene from the Wahine ferry boat disaster, in a song about courage in the face of adversity. Suitable for adult or youth choirs.

    More info, and to purchase . . .

  • Tutira Mai pdf

    • Tutira Mai

    Tutira Mai is a traditional Maori song which has been arranged for female voices. It was written for the Rangi Ruru Chorale in 1988, and this original version was for sopranos, altos, solo flute, solo cello and piano.

    The piece proved so popular, particularly with school choirs, that a second version which didn't require the solo instruments was produced. The second version has identical vocal parts to the first, but only the piano for accompaniment. Both versions last one and a half minutes.

    More info, and to purchase . . .

  • Two Bird Songs

    • Two Bird Songs

    Two Bird Songs have been included in the Initial Grade of the Trinity College Singing Syllabus this year.

    Albatross, Flying So High by Anthony Ritchie
    Albatrosses are regular visitors to Dunedin, New Zealand. Each year the birds of the colony return from their ocean voyages to nest.

    Korimako, Bellbird by Sue Court
    The Korimako, or Bellbird, is native to New Zealand and is famous for its beautiful and complex bird-calls. These songs originally appeared in Moa Music, a collection of 18 children's songs with a common theme of New Zealand wildlife, by Anthony Ritchie and Suzanne Court. It was published by Trio Publications of Dunedin, in 1995, in book form and on cassette.

    Anthony Ritchie wrote songs for his young son Tristan, based on their shared experiences. Suzanna Court found inspiration for her songs in her various pets and childhood memories.

  • Two Songs for Mezzo-Soprano pdf

    • Two Songs for Mezzo-Soprano

    These songs have been very popular amongst singers in both recitals and competitions, and have had notable performances by Deborah Wai Kapohe, Jenny Wollerman and Pepe Becker. They are easy to learn and offer satisfying vocal lines, combined with lovely texts by two of New Zealand's most well known writers.

    Song - poem by James K.Baxter
    A soulful evocation of the figure of Jesus Christ as a working man.

    More info, and to purchase . . .

    He Moemoea (A Dream) - words by Keri Hulme
    Portrays a quintessential New Zealand image, a child dancing on a beach. It is lively in character and provides a nice contrast with 'Song' which is slower.

    The piano part in both songs is colourful but not too demanding technically.

    He Moemoea is also available in a higher key (a tone higher) for sopranos.

    More info, and to purchase . . .

  • Two Word Poem

    • Two Word Poem

    S.A.T.B. and piano

    Imaginative images through the eyes of a child: Laura Ranger's short poem is given an energetic and fun setting. Designed for adult or school/youth choirs.

  • Viola Concerto

    • Viola Concerto

    The Viola Concerto was written while Ritchie was Composer-in-Residence with the Dunedin Sinfonia in 1994, and first performed in Dunedin the following year, with Donald Maurice as the soloist.

    It is a personal work in which the viola takes on various characters, and describes human relationships. The solo part speaks in a natural and uncontrived voice, and consequently there are few shows of virtuosity in the concerto.

    The first movement, allegro tempestuoso, opens in turmoil and includes an idea inspired by one of Bach's Brandenburg concertos. A lighter, folk-like theme emerges and acts as a link to the second main theme which is cooler in mood and tinged with sadness.

    The long theme at the start of the slow movement began life as a solo piece, and unfolds slowly on the dorian mode.

    The third movement, a cadenza, follows and acts as a link to the finale. Dance-like in character, the finale provides a resolution to the tensions of the previous movements. Some of the themes are influenced by popular music styles, and near the end there is a slightly slower section which recalls Bluegrass music; this was inspired by the American group, the Blue Sky Mountain Boys. The concerto comes to a conclusion with strident and jazzy chords.

    The viola concerto has become a popular work, and was first recorded commercially by Timothy Deighton with the Penn's Woods Festival Orchestra for a CD of NZ viola music Atoll ACD 202.

    Read the New Music Connoisseur review of this CD.

  • Viola Sonata pdf

    • Viola Sonata

    This work began as a viola concerto, written for Donald Maurice and the Dunedin Sinfonia as part of the composer's residency with the orchestra in 1994. Its popularity led first to a piano reductin of the orchestral score, then to this sonata.

    It is a personal work in which the viola takes on various characters, and describes human relationships. The solo part speaks in a natural and uncontrived voice, and consequently there are few shows of virtuosity in the concerto.

    More info, and to purchase . . .

  • What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor? pdf

    • What Shall We Do With a Drunken Sailor?

    S.A. OR T.B. and piano

    John Ritchie's lively arrangement is revised by his son Anthony, and made available for female and well as male voices. 3 verses, with harmony parts in the chorus. Suitable for a range of choirs.

    More info, and to purchase . . .

  • Widow's Songs

    • Widow's Songs

    S.A.T.B. unaccompanied

    Commissioned by Voices NZ, this is a challenging set of 3 songs to words by Cilla McQueen exploring the theme of grief. Suitable for adult and advanced youth choirs.

    More info, and to purchase . . .

Nota Bene

Waiteata Press

Trio Publications

Treble Clef Music

Promethean Editions

Centre for NZ Music (SOUNZ)

Pro Arte Publications

Bellbird Publications

Massey University Press

Playmarket

The Hanging Bulb

Cheryl Cam has written a study guide to Hanging Bulb for Years 11 to 13 (Form 5 to 7) with accompanying CD. It is part of the SOUNZwrite series.

SOUNZwrite is a series of study guides to works by New Zealand composers written especially for use in NZ schools. They are produced by the Centre for New Zealand Music and are written by composer and educator Cheryl Camm.

The guides contain:

Available from Sounz

Melancholia

Ears Wide Open : Taringa Areare

This latest SOUNZwrite Resource supports the music discipline in the new arts curriculum from levels 1 to 4. Researched and trialled by Cheryl Camm, it consists of:

Ears Wide Open : Taringa Areare has many activities which link to other arts disciplines - drama, dance and visual arts - and other areas of the curriculum including science, social studies and English. Each activity has suggested learning outcomes and assessment ideas.

Learning experiences include:

Available from Sounz