PETER LEECH THE COMPOSER
A graduate of the Elder Conservatorium of Music at the University of Adelaide, Peter was awarded a degree in composition (studying with Richard Meale, Graeme Koehne and Peter Brideoake) in 1990, having previously gained a Bachelor of Arts in Modern European History at the same University in 1987. He was awarded three undergraduate prizes for his instrumental and vocal compositions.
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As a composer Peter has enjoyed considerable success in the UK and Australia with a variety of choral and orchestral works. One of Peter’s latest compositions, a Christmas Carol entitled Adam lay Ybounden, had its world premiére performance by the BBC Singers conducted by Peter Foggitt, on 20 July 2018 at St Paul’s Knightsbridge. The piece features on Harmonia Sacra's new CD of Christmas carols, In Dulci Jubilo, which will be launched on the Nimbus Alliance label in Autumn 2019.
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In April 2018 at the Venerable English College, Rome, Cappella Fede performed Peter’s new motet Gaudeamus omnes, composed for a special performance celebrating nine centuries of music dedicated to St Thomas Becket. The piece was also dedicated to the VEC and was very enthusiastically received.
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In 2017 Peter composed two new á cappella motets, Clamabat autem mulier and Senex puerum portabat, for choirs in The Netherlands, the venue for his most recent work, The holy glimmers of goodbyes, for the 75th anniversary of Operation Market Garden (#MarketGarden75)
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For a full list of Peter's compositions click here
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PETER'S OWN MUSIC
COMPOSITIONS
Copies are available by request from Peter
MAGNIFICAT (ALTERNATIM) (2017/2022)
SATB
a cappella
Dedicated to Alex Patterson and the choir of Salford Cathedral.
THERE IS NO ROSE (2021)
SATB
a cappella
Composed in memory of Christopher Manners, for Harmonia Sacra.
MARIA DURCH EIN DORNWALD GING (2020)
SATB
a cappella
Composed for Barbara Höfling and The German Choir of London.
DUC, ALMA LUXÂ (2019)
SATB
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Text: Saint John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
Lead, kindly light, amid the circling gloom, Lead thou me on; The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead thou me on; Keep though my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me.
Composed for celebrations to mark the Canonisation of Cardinal Henry Newman and dedicated to her Excellency, Sally Axworthy, British Ambassador to the Holy See.
Live concert recording by Cappella Fede in S Giorgio in Velabro, 13 October 2019
THE HOLY GLIMMERS OF GOODBYES (2019)
SSATB & Soprano solo
Mixed voices & piano
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Text: Wilfred Owen (1893 - 1918).
What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes. What candles may be held to speed them all? The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds. And each slow dusk, a drawing down of blinds.
Composed for the 75th anniversary of Operation Market Garden
ADAM LAY YBOUNDEN (2018)
SATB & Mezzo-soprano solo
a cappella
Anthem for Advent & Christmas.
World premiére performance by the BBC Singers conducted by Peter Foggitt, on 20 July 2018 at St Paul’s Knightsbridge.
Recorded by Harmonia Sacra on new CD In Dulci Jubilo (Global release Autumn 2019)
CLAMABAT AUTEM MULIERÂ (2018)
SSAATBB
a cappella
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Text: A woman of Canaan cried to the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of David, help me; my daughter is grievously troubled by a devil. Then Jesus answering, said to her: O woman, great is thy faith: be it done to thee as thou wilt. (Matthew 15:22 & 28).
Composed for Choral Evensong weekend, Huissen, Holland.
SENEX PUERUM PORTABATÂ (2018)
SSATB & organ
Text: An old man held up a child, but the child ruled the old man, Him whom the virgin had borne - after which she remained forever a virgin - she herself worshipped.
Composed for Evensong weekend choir, Brielle, Holland.
GAUDEAMUS OMNES (2018)
SATB
a cappella
Text: In which solemnity the angels rejoice, while the Archangels praise the Son of God.
Composed for Cappella Fede for a special performance in the church of the Venerable English College, Rome,celebrating nine centuries of music dedicated to St Thomas Becket.
DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE AND WEEP (2014)
SSAATTBB
a cappella​
Text based on a poem by Mary Frye.
IN FLANDERS FIELDSÂ (2014)
SAATBB
a cappella​
Text: John McCrae (1872 - 1918)
Composed to mark the 100th anniversary of the Christmas Truce on the battlefields of the Western Front in 1914, it was premiered by Collegium Singers in December 2014.
Recorded by Harmonia Sacra on Lux Memoriaque (Nimbus Alliance label)
DORMI JESU (2014)
SATB
a cappella​
Text: Sleep, sweet babe! my cares beguiling: Mother sits beside thee smiling; Sleep my darling, tenderly! If thou sleep not, mother mourneth, Singing as her wheel she turneth: Come soft slumber, balmily!
Recorded by Harmonia Sacra on Lux Memoriaque & In Dulci Jubilo (Nimbus Alliance label)
SICUT CERVUS (2012)
SATB
a cappella
Text: As the deer long for the springs of water, so my soul longs for you, oh God.
Recorded by Harmonia Sacra on Lux Memoriaque (Nimbus Alliance label)
O MAY I JOIN THE CHOIR INVISIBLEÂ (2011)
SSAATBB & Soprano solo
Organ, Bongos and Timpani
Text: George Elliot (1819 - 18880) & Peter Leech b.1967. O may I join the choir invisible of those immortal dead who live again in minds made better by their presence. O may I see the light indelible of an eternal love which shines anew in hearts made purer by his presence. O may we find the joy intangible of an enduring peace, which lasts for those made better by his presence.
Composed for Trinity Singers
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM (PER MARE, PER TERRAM) (2011)
SATB
a cappella​
Movement from 'Far the Fallen' Requiem. Recorded by Harmonia Sacra.
Text: Laurence Binyon
Recorded by Harmonia Sacra on Lux Memoriaque (Nimbus Alliance label)
FOR THE FALLEN (2011)
SSAATTBB
a cappella, one movement with organ
A Requiem composed and dedicated to 40 Commando, Royal Marines. Collegium Singers performed the world premiére of ‘For the Fallen’ in October 2011 at Kings' College Chapel, Taunton
For the Fallen was recorded on CD by Collegium Singers and released in 2013, with the very kind support of Help for Heroes.
QUOD ERGO DEUS IUNXIT, HOMO NON SEPARETÂ (2010)
SSATB
a cappella
Wedding anthem.
Text: What therefore God has joined together, let no-one put asunder (Mark 10:9).
Composed for Peter's own marriage to Suzie.
SET ME AS A SEALÂ (2009)
SSATB & soprano solo
a cappella
Text: Set me as a Seal upon thine heart, for love is strong as death; Set me as a Seal upon thine heart, upon thine arm. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.
Wedding anthem for Alison & Simon Dawson.
Recorded by Harmonia Sacra on Lux Memoriaque (Nimbus Alliance label)
ASCENDIT DEUSÂ (2000)
SSAATTBB
a cappella
Text: God is gone up with a merry noise:
and the Lord with the sound of the trump, alleluia. The Lord has prepared his seat in heaven, alleluia
Copyright 2000 by Parish Publications, Cheltenham.
OÂ SOFT, SELF-WOUNDING PELICAN (1998)
SSATB & soprano solo
a cappella​
Anthem for the feast of Corpus Christi.
Text: based on Adoro te devote (Aquinas) by Richard Crashaw (1613 - 1649). O soft self-wounding pelican! Whose breast weeps balm for wounded man. All this way bend thy benign flood to' a bleeding heart that gasps for blood. That blood whose least drops sovereign be to wash my worlds of sin from me. Come love! Come Lord! And that long day for which I languish, come away. When This dry soul those eyes shall see, and drink the unseal'd source of thee. When Glory's sun faith's shades shall cease, and for thy veil, give me thy face.
Copyright 1998 by Parish Publications, Cheltenham.
O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM (1998)
SSATBB
a cappella​
Christmas motet for mixed voiced.
Text: O great mystery and wonderful sacrament, that beasts should see the new-born Lord lying in a manger. O blessed virgin, whose body was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia
Copyright 1998 by Parish Publications, Cheltenham
VIDENTES STELLAM
SSAATTBB
a cappella
Christmas motet for mixed voiced.
Text: Seeing the star, the Wise Men rejoiced with great joy, and entering the house they offered the Lord gold, incense and myrrh.
PRECES & RESPONSES (1994)
SATB
a cappella​
Book of Common Prayer
TE DEUM (1994)
SATB & organ
Book of Common Prayer
NUNC DIMITTIS (1994)
SATB &Â organ
Book of Common Prayer, dedicated to Timothy Marks