Compositions

Music composed or arranged by Stuart Forster. Published pieces show a link to the publisher’s site, most of which include recordings.

NEWEST PIECE premiered Christmas Eve, 2023

Fantasy on Gaudete — a Christmas celebration for brass quintet, timpani, tambourine, triangle, and organ. Available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/product-22747043.html 

RECENT COMMISSIONS

Psalm 139 a setting of two Anglican chants for TTBB unaccompanied voices, commissioned by Renaissance Men for Blue Christmas, 2023

Prayer contemplative organ solo piece, commissioned by J Parker

The St. Aidan’s Service a setting of the Magnificat and Nunc dimittis for SATB choir and organ, commissioned by Anker Lerret in memory of Jo Baker Lerret. Available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/product-22747061.html

It is well with my soul a hymn-anthem for SATB choir and organ, commissioned by Kathleen Coleman for the choirs of Christ Church Cambridge, Massachusetts, in honor of Barbara Halporn [upublished by Paraclete Press https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/it-is-well-with-my-soul/]

CHORAL MUSIC

Süßer die Glocken nie klingen a favourite German carol arranged for SSAATB choir and organ, with original German text plus an English paraphrase by Stuart Forster [under contract to be published by Paraclete Press in 2023]

“Eternal, mighty, gracious God” from The Seasons by Franz Josef Haydn, for STB soloists and SATB choir, with new organ arrangement of the orchestral accompaniment and new English translation by Kathleen Coleman available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/product-22747033.html

O Jesus Christe, wahres Licht by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, for SATB choir and new organ arrangement of the orchestral accompaniment

All my heart this night rejoices unaccompanied through-composed SATB arrangement of Johann Georg Ebeling’s delightful carol, as translated by Catherine Winkworth available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/product-22747056.html

Jubilate Deo festive anthem for SATB choir and organ, setting the text of Psalm 100 and the Gloria Patri available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/product-22747066.html

Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in B-flat by Charles Villiers Stanford, one of the most beloved sets of evening canticles in the repertoire, for SATB choir with a new organ accompaniment arranged from Stanford’s florid orchestration [published by Paraclete Press https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/the-service-in-b-flat-magnificat-and-nunc-dimittis/]

“Ev’ry valley” from The Nativity according to Saint Luke by Randall Thompson, for SATB choir with new organ arrangement from the composer’s orchestral manuscript

“And the child grew” from The Nativity according to Saint Luke by Randall Thompson, for SATB choir with new organ arrangement from the composer’s orchestral manuscript

O gracious Light unaccompanied setting of the Phos hilaron for SATB choir [published by Paraclete Press https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/o-gracious-light/]

By the Creator, Joseph was appointed anthem for SAB choir with organ accompaniment [published by Paraclete Press https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/by-the-creator-joseph-was-appointed/]

Sing to the Lord a new song Festival anthem for SATB choir and organ [published by Paraclete Press https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/sing-to-the-lord-a-new-song-2/]

Set me as a seal SATB unaccompanied motet for Baptisms, Weddings, and for general use [published by Paraclete Press https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/set-me-as-a-seal/]

The Passion according to John a setting of the Passion narrative for unaccompanied SATB choir with traditional plainsong parts for soloists

Rejoice in the Lord always Anthem for Advent or General Use for SATB choir with organ

Where is this stupendous stranger? Christmas motet for two-part treble choir with organ accompaniment

The little road to Bethlehem Christmas motet for two-part treble choir with organ accompaniment

O taste and see motet for SATB unaccompanied choir [published by Paraclete Press https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/o-taste-and-see/]. Scroll to the bottom of the Audio/video page to hear a recording (with slide show) of this piece: Audio/video page

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord festive anthem for SSAATB Choir with organ accompaniment [published by Paraclete Press https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/it-is-a-good-thing-to-give-thanks-unto-the-lord/]

How far is it to Bethlehem? Christmas motet for two-part treble choir with organ accompaniment

The Death of Christ Passiontide motet for SATB unaccompanied choir [published by Paraclete Press https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/the-death-of-christ/]

15 Anglican chants for psalms and canticles

Now is the healing time decreed Lenten hymn-anthem for SABar Choir with organ accompaniment [published by Paraclete Press https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/now-is-the-healing-time-decreed/]

On Springfield Mountain folk song arranged for TTBB unaccompanied choir

MUSIC FOR CONGREGATIONS

The Nicene Creed, a setting for unison voices (choir and/or congregation) with organ accompaniment [under contract to be published in 2020 by Selah Publishing Co.]

Benediction, an SATB setting of the blessing “Go forth into the world in peace” for choir and/or congregation with optional accompaniment; suitable for weddings, funerals, and regular Sunday services [published by Paraclete Press https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/benediction/]

Alleluia Responsory, a Sequence for cantor, choir, congregation, and organ; suitable for Feasts of Our Lord, including Eastertide, Ascensiontide, and Christ the King

Antiphons for psalms, a three-year cycle of metrical and plainsong antiphons for congregations to sing in response to Anglican chant and plainsong psalm verses

By the Creator, Joseph was appointed [Statuit Creator], a unison hymn-tune with organ accompaniment

The Cambridge Mass [Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus/Benedictus, Fraction Anthem, Agnus Dei] for unison congregation with organ accompaniment

Fraction Anthem for Advent [text by Joseph Robinson] for unison congregation with organ accompaniment [published by Paraclete Press https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/messe-basse-and-3-simple-anthems/]

Fraction Anthem for Epiphany [text by Joseph Robinson] for unison congregation with organ accompaniment [published by Paraclete Press https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/messe-basse-and-3-simple-anthems/]

A Lenten Mass a Messe Basse (Kyrie, Sanctus/Benedictus, and Fraction Anthem) for unison congregation with organ accompaniment [published by Paraclete Press https://paracletesheetmusic.com/product/messe-basse-and-3-simple-anthems/]

Arrangements of the following hymns
descants, harmonizations, and/or accompaniments

Hymns marked * are published, or under contract to be published, by Selah Publishing Co.
NEWS: The first 2 volumes are now available from Selah: 
http://www.selahpub.com/OrganKeyboard/OrganTitles/160-739-ForsterHarms.html

Hymns marked B have optional brass parts, some have percussion as well
Hymns marked O have optional orchestral parts
Hymns marked M feature multiple voice parts (e.g., SATB on the final stanza)

All creatures of our God and King [Lasst uns erfreuen] * B

All glory, laud and honor [St. Theodulph OR Valet will ich dir geben]
All people that on earth do dwell [Old Hundredth]
Alleluia, alleluia! Hearts and voices heavenward raise [Lux eoi]
Alleluia! sing to Jesus! [Hyfrydol] * B
Alleluia, song of gladness [Dulce Carmen] *
Amazing grace! [New Britain] * M

Angels from the realms of glory [Regent Square] *
Angels we have heard on high [Gloria] published by MorningStar Music Publishers https://www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/sku/20-122*; B M O

Angel-voices ever singing [Angel voices] *
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing [Salzburg] *
Awake, arise, lift up your voice [Richmond] *
Before the Lord’s eternal throne [Winchester New]
Be thou my vision [Slane] *
Blessed be the God of Israel [Thornbury]
Book of books, thy people’s strength [Liebster Jesu]
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning [Morning Star]
By all your saints still striving [King’s Lynn] *
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing [Truro]
Come down, O Love divine [Down Ampney] *
Come, labor on [Ora Labora] *
Come, thou Almighty King [Moscow]
Come, thou fount of every blessing [Nettleton] * B M

Come, thou long-expected Jesus [Cross of Jesus]
Come, thou Redeemer of the earth [Puer nobis nascitur] published by St. James Music Press https://www.sjmp.com/music/come-thou-redeemer-of-the-earth-1
Earth and all stars [Earth and All Stars]
For all the Saints who from their labors rest [Sine Nomine] *
For everyone born [Mann]
For the beauty of the earth [Lucerna Laudoniae]
Forty days and forty nights [Heinlein / Aus der Tiefe rufe ich] *
Go forth for God [Litton] *
God is love, let heaven adore him [Abbot’s Leigh]
God of grace and God of glory [Cwm Rhondda]
God rest you merry, gentlemen [God rest you] published by MorningStar Music Publishers; B M O  http://www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/sku/60-1008
God the Spirit, guide and guardian [Hyfrydol] B
God who made us make us still [Lucerna Laudoniae]
Hail the day that sees Him rise [Llanfair] *
Hail thee, festival day! [Salve festa dies]
Hail, thou once despised Jesus! [In Babilone] *
Hail to the Lord’s anointed [Es flog ein kleins Waldvögelein]
Hark! the herald angels sing [Mendelssohn] published by MorningStar Music Publishers https://www.canticledistributing.com/catalog/product/view/sku/20-106* ; B M
He is risen, He is risen! [Unser Herrscher] B M

Holy, holy, holy! [Nicaea] *
How shall I sing that majesty [Coe Fen] O
I come with joy to meet my Lord [Land of Rest] *
I heard the voice of Jesus say [Kingsfold] *
I’ll praise my Maker while I’ve breath [Old 113^th]
If thou but trust in God to guide thee [Neumark]
Immortal, invisible, God only wise [St. Denio] *
Jerusalem [organ arrangement of Elgar’s orchestration] B organ only version available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/product-22747071.html and organ+brass+percussion version available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/product-22747072.html

Jerusalem, my happy home [Land of Rest] *
Jerusalem the golden [Ewing] O
Jesus Christ is risen today [Easter Hymn] B M

Joyful, joyful, we adore thee [Hymn to Joy]
Judge eternal, throned in splendour [Rhuddlan]
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates [Truro]
Lo! he comes with clouds descending [Helmsley] published by St. James Music Press https://www.sjmp.com/music/lo-he-comes-with-clouds-descending-1
Lord Christ, when first thou cam’st to earth [Mit Freuden Zart]
Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing [Sicilian Mariners]
Lord of beauty, thine the splendour [Regent Square] *
Lord, you give the great commission [Abbot’s Leigh] * B
Love divine, all loves excelling [Hyfrydol] *

My Lord, what a morning [Spiritual]
My shepherd will supply my need [Contemplation]
New songs of celebration render [Rendez à Dieu] * B
Now thank we all our God [Nun danket alle Gott] *
O for a thousand tongues to sing [Azmon]
O God of earth and altar [King’s Lynn] *
O God, our help in ages past [St. Anne] *
O Jesus, crowned with all renown [Kingsfold] *
O praise ye the Lord! Praise Him in the height [Laudate Dominum] *
O source of vast creation [Thaxted]
O splendor of God’s glory bright [Puer nobis] *
O thou who camest from above [Hereford] *
O what their joy and their glory must be [O quanta qualia] O
O worship the King, all glorious above [Hanover]
O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling [O Zion, haste]
O Zion, tune thy voice [Darwall’s 148^th]
O Zion, tune thy voice [Eastview]
One bread, one body [Foley] * M
On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry [Winchester New] *
People, look East [Besançon Carol]
Praise the Spirit in creation [Finnian] *
Praise to God, immortal praise [Dix]
Praise to the Lord, the almighty [Lobe den Herrn] *
Rejoice! the Lord is King [Gopsal]
Round the Lord in glory seated [Rustington] *
Savior of the nations, come [Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland]
Shall we not love thee, Mother dear [Beatitudo]
Sing praise to God who reigns above [Mit Freuden Zart]
Sing we of the Blessèd Mother [Rustington] *
Sing, ye faithful, sing with gladness [Finnian] *
Songs of praise the angels sang [Northampton]
Songs of thankfulness and praise [Salzburg] *
Spread, O spread, thou mighty word [Gott sei Dank]
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord [Birmingham] *
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord [Woodlands] *
That Easter day with joy was bright [Puer Nobis] *
The day of resurrection [Ellacombe] B

The head that once was crowned with thorns [St. Magnus] *
The King of Love my shepherd is [St. Columba] *
The Lord, my God, my shepherd is [Crimond] *
The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want [Crimond] *
The sinless one to Jordan came [Solemnis haec festivitas]
The spacious firmament on high [Creation]
The strife is o’er [Victory] *
Thine be the glory [Maccabaeus] B
Thine for ever! God of love [Newington]
This is the day the Lord hath made [London New]
Thou whose almighty word [Moscow]
Through all the changing scenes of life [Wiltshire]
Through the Red Sea brought at last [Starf mich nicht] *
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness [Ton y Botel]
To God be the glory [To God be the glory]
To God with gladness sing [Darwall’s 148^th] *
We know that Christ is raised and dies no more [Engelberg] *
We walk by faith, and not by sight [St. Botolph] *
When Christ was lifted from the earth [St. Botolph] *
When I survey the wondrous cross [Rockingham] * M

 

When in our music God is glorified [Engelberg] *
When Jesus left his Father’s throne [Kingsfold] *
Where cross the crowded ways of life [Gardiner] *
Ye servants of God, your master proclaim [Paderborn]
Ye watchers and ye holy ones [Lasst uns erfreuen] *

ORGAN PIECES, ARRANGEMENTS, & TRANSCRIPTIONS

Sinfonia from Easter Oratorio, BWV 249 — Johann Sebastian Bach, arranged for 2 trumpets, horn, timpani, and organ available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/product-22747023.html

Toccata on Helmsley [published by St. James Music Press https://www.sjmp.com/music/toccata-on-helmsley]

Meditation on Veni Emmanuel [published by St. James Music Press https://www.sjmp.com/music/meditation-on-veni-emmanuel]

“Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity” from The Planets —Gustav Holst, arranged for organ available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/product-22747077.html

 

“Allegretto” from Symphony No. 7 — Ludwig van Beethoven, arranged for organ [published by MorningStar Music Publishers http://www.canticledistributing.com/organ/new-releases/morningstar-music-publishers/allegretto-symphony-no-7-opus-92.html]

 

Five Variants of ‘Dives and Lazarus’ — Ralph Vaughan Williams, arranged for organ available at https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/product-22747070.html

Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” — Antonín Dvořák, arranged for organ [published by Éditions Chantraine, Belgium] http://store.yahoo.com/ohscatalog/dvsyno9fneww.html

Adagio; Allegro molto

 

Largo

 

Scherzo

 

Finale

 

Blithe Bells — Percy Grainger [after Bach], arranged for organ

“In the hall of the Mountain King” from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 — Edvard Grieg, arranged for organ

OTHER

Fantasia quasi fuga for string quartet

Variations on an original tune for piano

See all of the Paraclete Press publications of Stuart Forster’s work at https://paracletesheetmusic.com/composer/stuart-forster/

See all of the MorningStar Music publications of Stuart Forster’s work at https://www.morningstarmusic.com/composers/f/stuart-forster.html

See all of the St. James Music Press publications of Stuart Forster’s work [may require registration] at https://www.sjmp.com/search/node/forster

See Stuart Forster’s sheet music available at sheetmusicplus https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/explore?q=stuart%20forster