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Song

for soprano, mezzo, tenor or bass and piano. Anthony Ritchie Opus 54c

A simple and moving setting of Baxter's religious poem, arranged for solo voice and piano.
Versions are available for mezzo soprano, tenor, bass or soprano.

Listen to performance

Watch Bianca Andrew sing Song

Song is a setting of a poem by James K. Baxter, one of New Zealand's foremost poets. It tells the story of Jesus of Nazareth and the values of truth, love and mercy he espoused. The gentle regular pulse in the piano suggests the character of Jesus walking into the city.

Song was commissioned by Maureen Smith for the ordination of 7 Catholic priests at Holy Cross Chapel, in Mosgiel, New Zealand. It was originally scored for male voices in unison accompanied by organ. Subsequently it has been arranged for 2 part choir, both male and female, SATB choir with piano, SATB choir with piano, violin, 'cello and flute (all under opus 54a). It has also been arranged for solo voice and piano in versions for

It became popular particularly in the version for mezzo soprano and piano, and in 2008 was recorded by Anna Leese on the CD New Zealand Poets in Song: Songs by Anthony Ritchie (see http://www.anthonyritchie.co.nz/recordings.html).

It has been widely performed in multiple versions, both solo and choral.

Buy the right to download a pdf online for NZ$15.00 for one singer using one of these options:

Soprano and piano
Opus 54c1		 Mezzo-soprano and piano
Opus 54c2		 Tenor and piano
Opus 54c3		 Bass and piano
Opus 54c4

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