Right from the earliest years there has been a sense that the festival should not only celebrate what is familiar in church music, but also look to explore and add to the repertoire by commissioning new works.
Each year, the generosity of individual benefactors and the Edington Festival Music Society makes it possible to commission a new piece for the festival from a composer at the forefront of composition. Some of the festival’s past commissions have been absorbed into the mainstream of church music repertoire, while others lie waiting to be rediscovered. Many of the composers will be familiar names –Grayston Ives, Simon Preston, Matthew Martin, Francis Pott, John Harper, Andrew Gant, Francis Grier, Patrick Gowers, Nico Muhly, David Briggs, Francis Jackson and Philip Radcliffe to name but a few. It is not only anthems which are added to the repertoire; responses and psalm settings take their place too.
List of Commissions
2019
David Bednall Seek him that maketh the seven stars
2018
Joanna Ward War
Simon McEnery Idyll
2017
Robert Walker Beati Misericordes
Piers Kennedy Blessed are the peacemakers
2016
Francis Pott Mihi autem nimis
2015
David Briggs Festival Magnificat
Marco Galvani Tantum ergo
2014
Alec Roth Et organo
Joseph Phibbs Nun freut euch, lieben christen g’mein
2013
Neil Cox The fruit of silence is prayer
2012
Ed Rex Beneath the Cross
2011
John Harper Preces & Responses
2010
Graham Ross Ut tecum lugeam
2009
Francis Jackson Most glorious Lord of Lyfe!
2008
Nico Muhly Pater noster
2007
Grayston Ives Come, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire
2006
Antony Pitts Before Abraham was, I AM
2005
Judith Bingham Magnificat and Nunc dimittis
2004
Elena Vorotko Sancte Pater Benedicte
John Streeting Salvator mundi
2002
Simon Whalley Petrus
2001
John Barnard Blessed are the merciful
Matthew Martin Domine Jesu Christe
2000
Andrew Johnstone Scandenti supra sidera
Andrew Johnstone En Christi fit memoria
1999
John Streeting The Name
1998
John Streeting Magnificat
1997
John Streeting Nunc dimittis
1996
Ruth Byrchmore In manus tuas
Ruth Byrchmore Manus tuam fecerunt me
1993
Andrew Gant The Mercy of God
1990
Andrew Gant I sat down under his shadow
1988
Andrew Gant Blessed are the pure in heart
1987
Francis Grier Dilectus meus mihi
1986
Francis Pott O merciful Saviour
1985
Philip Moore Salutatio Angelica
Helen Roe Five Edington Monodies
1983
James Simpson New heaven and new earth
James Wood Ad honorem Sancti Bartolomai
1982
James Simpson Cibavit eos
1981
John Hardy Nunc dimittis
David Harvey Four Lyrics
1980
Duncan Fraser Sanctus
Patric Standford Sequence
1979
John Hardy Four Canticles
John Harper Missa Brevis super Cunctipotens Genitor Deus with parts used for Litany of the Saints
1978
John Hardy Hail Mary ich am sory, Whenne ich see on on roode
John Harper Ecumenical Eucharist Anglican form
John Harper Edington Responses Series Three
1977
John Hardy Four Propers for solo flute
John Hardy Four Propers for solo oboe
John Harper Four variations for solo flute
John Harper Four Requiem Paraphrases for solo oboe
Grayston Ives Four Propers for solo flute
Grayston Ives Four Propers for solo oboe
Grayston Ives Four Propers for flute and oboe
Philip Radcliffe Missa Brevis Edingtoniensis
1976
John Hardy Tenebrae seven pieces for solo flute
John Joubert Proper Anthems for the feast of Saint Augustine
1975
Grayston Ives Magnificat and Nunc dimittis
1973
John Harper Mass of Textures Series Three
Grayston Ives Two Anthems for boys’ voices
1972
John Harper Nunc dimittis
Grayston Ives And behold, a white horse
Grayston Ives Proper Anthems
Philip Radcliffe Responses
1971
Grayston Ives Missa Brevis
John Rutter Communion Service Series Three
1970
Christopher Brown Proper Anthems
Patric Standford Luturgy
1969
Patrick Gowers Paean
1968
Simon Preston Magnificat and Nunc dimittis
1967
Simon Preston Missa Brevis
1966
Simon Preston Five sets of Proper Anthems
1965
Simon Preston Psalm 119: 73–104
1960
Philip Radcliffe God be in my head
1959
Sydney Watson O most merciful
1958
Philip Radcliffe O bone Iesu