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arrangements by michael neaum
reviews of some of the arrangements
publishers of the arrangements

michaelneaum

Michael Neaum.gif (14115 bytes)

Michael's arrangements are eminently singable. Although not a trained singer, through his work with Cantamus he understands what lies comfortably and gratefully in the various voices. In addition, by the use of various textures, he gives each part in a choir its share of the melodic material and interest.

His searching for colour and flavour within a conventional harmonic idiom - with the addition of some unexpected nuances - makes his arrangements greatly appealing to audiences.

If you wish to commission an arrangement, contact Michael Neaum direct (see contact details at bottom of this page).

Excerpts from songs marked or can be downloaded and played.
Each excerpt is between one and two minutes long (file size between 1.2MB and 1.8Mb)

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Songs marked with a CD symbol are commercial recordings available on CD or cassette. They can be ordered from the recordings page.

Those marked with a loudspeaker symbol are private recordings, demos or live concert recordings and are unfortunately not available to the public.

femalevoices

The following are available only directly from Michael Neaum:

acappella

Amazing Grace - trad
Amor Vittorioso - Giovanni Gastoldi [with drums]
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Paul Simon
Come Again, Come Sweet Love - Dowland
Come Back, Liza - West Indian
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Ewan McColl
Flow Not So Fast, Ye Fountains - Dowland
3 French Folk Songs
    J'ai Descendu Dans Mon Jardin
    O Ma Tendre Musette
    Quand J'étais Chez Mon Pere
Full Fathom Five - Johnson
Hail, Smiling Morn - Spofforth
The Lark In The Clear Air - English
Lasciatemi Morire - Monteverdi
Take, O Take Those Lips Away - M. Neaum
The Leaves That Are Green (Turn To Brown) - Paul Simon
The Lord Bless Thee And Keep Thee
Listen To The Lambs - spiritual
The National Anthem
Pavane - French 16th century
Rest, Sweet Nymphs - Francis Pilkington
Sanctus - Schubert
Singing Bird - Irish
True Love - Janacek
Vezzo Sette - Giovanni Gastoldi
What Then Is Love But Mourning? - Philip Rosseter
The Young May Moon - trad Irish

2part+piano

Danny Boy - Irish
Faithful Johnnie - Scottish
If - David Gates
Let’s Fall In Love - Cole Porter
Listen To The Lambs - spiritual
The Salley Gardens - Irish (Britten/Neaum)
The Way We Were - Hamlisch
When I’m Sixty-Four - Lennon/McCartney
When The Boat Comes In  - sequence of sea songs

3&4part+piano

Afton Water - trad. Scottish
Amazing Grace - trad [with organ and harp]
An Eriskay Love Lilt - trad Scottish Highlands
And So It Goes - Billy Joel
April, Come She Will - Paul Simon
Ave Maria - Schubert
Baloo Baleerie - trad. Scottish
6 Belgian Folk Songs
The Bold Hussars - trad Yugoslavian
Bonavist Harbour - trad Canadian
Caravan - Mike Batt
Cavatina (She Was Beautiful) - Myers
Cheann Dubhrann - trad. Irish
Deep River - spiritual
Dolina - Polish
Don't Cry For Me, Argentina - Andrew Lloyd Webber
Evening Blessing - Parry - Myfanwy [also SATB + piano]
Georgia On My Mind - Carmichael
Go Down, Moses - spiritual [with baritone solo]
Harry
Have You Seen But A White Lily Grow? - Johnson
Hey Jude - Lennon/McCartney
The Holy City - Adams
I Got A Robe - spiritual [5 parts]
I Got Rhythm - George Gershwin
I Will Walk With My Love - Irish (Hughes/Neaum)
Imagine - Lennon
Just The Way You Look Tonight - Jerome Kern [also SATB]
Land of The Silver Birch - trad Canadian
The Lark In The Clear Air - trad
Leaving On A Jet Plane - John Denver
The Lost Chord - Arthur Sullivan
Lullaby - Mozart
Lullaby Of Broadway
Ma Normandie - trad. French
Mary Ann - trad Canadian
Miss You Nights
Metyelitsa - Russian [with English version]
Night And Day - Cole Porter
On The Night You Were Born - M. Neaum
Peasant Cantata - Two Choruses - Bach
Pie Jesu (Requiem) - Andrew Lloyd Webber
The Rose/ Hello Again
Run Like The Wind - Mike Batt
Sanctus - Charles Gounod [arranged for 3-part upper voices]
She Moved Through The Fair - trad. Irish
Something - Harrison
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
The Stream's Song
That's What You Get (For Lovin' Me) - Gordon Lighfoot
Things We Said Today - Lennon/McCartney
Try To Remember
Venus and Adonis [extracts] - John Blow
The Cockle Gatherer - trad Scottish Highlands
The Very Last Day
This Nearly Was Mine - Rodgers & Hammerstein medley
Turn Ye To Me - trad Scottish
The Turtle Dove - trad. British
Who Knows Where The Time Goes - Sandy Denny
Yesterday - Lennon/McCartney
You Always Hurt The One You Love
The Young Sailor Boy - trad English

christmasmusic

Bethlehem - Polish [English text]
The Coventry Carol
The First Mercy - Warlock
Fum, Fum, Fum* - Spanish [with optional tambourine]
Little Drummer Boy [with flute and snare drum]
Lullaby Jesu - Polish
Lullay Myn Lyking
Pat-A-Pan* [with flute and snare drum]
Sing Lullaby* - Basque
Sleep, My Saviour, Sleep - Czech [English text)]
The Truth From Above* - trad English
Wassail Song - trad English [piano duet accompaniment]
We Wish You A Merry Christmas*

* a cappella

lyricsfor classics

with original texts by Don Read

At Midnight - Debussy (Claire De Lune) [also SATB)
Beautiful Miracle - Ravel (Pavane)
Child - Bach (Air On The G String) [unison/solo, violin solo/continuo, also SATB]
Childhood Days - Satie (Gymnopedie 3) [unison/solo, clarinet/cor anglais, bass]
Country Scene - Warlock (Pieds En l'Air; Capriol Suite) [SA + strings]
Danse Gastronomique - Saint-Saens (Danse Macabre) [SSA and SATB]
Drifting, Dreaming - Satie (Gymnopedie 1) [also SATB]
If We Were In Love - Chopin (Etude In E Major) [SA, occasional 4 part]
Long Live Love - Beethoven (Pathetique Sonata 2nd movement) [SA]
Mirage - Debussy (Reverie) [2 solos, SSAA choir]
Seascape - Satie (Gnossienne 1) [solo, SA choir, acoustic guitar and bass]
The Story Of Jean Pierre - Miles Davies
To A Wild Rose - Macdowell

The following are published as shown and orders may be placed either directly with the
publishers or through a retail outlet:

oxforduniversity press

2 American Folk Songs
    I Wish I Was A Child Again
    Sourwood Mountain
I Got A Robe [3-part]
Indian Love Song
Mexican Lullaby
2 Northumbrian songs
    Ma Bonny Lad
    The Keel Row
Sakura - Japanese folk song [with English version]
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child - spiritual
Winds Through The Olive Trees - Gascon, trad carol

robertonpublications cantamus choral series

All My Trials, Lord - spiritual
Be Still And Know I Am With You
Bonny At Morn - trad English
A Bunch Of Thyme - trad English [also SATB]
African Lullaby* - trad
Carol Of The Birds
The Cherry Tree Carol - trad English
Didn't It Rain! - spiritual [also SATB]
Ding Dong Merrily On High
Down In Yon Forest [published as The Bells Of Paradise]
Duerme Negrito - Argentinian
2 French Folk Songs
    A La Claire Fontaine
    Au Près De Ma Blonde
Gloucestershire Wassail [also SATB]
Graih Ma Chree* - trad Manx
2 Hungarian Folk Songs
    Szilvas Falu
    Alazatos Szolgaja
I Gave My Love A Cherry - trad Appalachian
I Once Loved A Lad - trad British [also SATB]
Japanese Lullaby - trad
The Last Rose Of Summer - trad Irish
Long Time Ago - trad American
Lowlands Away - shanty/ballad
My Love's An Arbutus - trad Irish
O Won’t You Sit Down? - spiritual
Oft In The Stilly Night - trad Irish
Pastime With Good Company [published as Two Songs Of Henry VIII]
Rise Up Shepherd, And Follow - carol
Riu Riu Chiu - carol
She's Like The Swallow - trad Newfoundland
2 Short Spirituals
2 Songs Of The Isles
    Morag's Cradle Song
    Air Falalalo
2 Spanish Traditional Songs
    A La Rurru Niño

    Boleras Sevillanas
Sweet Little Jesus Boy - spiritual [also SATB]
Tiree Love Song - trad Scottish
Tomorrow Is A Long Time - Bob Dylan
The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy - trad West Indian
The Virgin Mary Had A Little Baby - spiritual
The Water Of Tyne - trad English [also SATB and TTBB]
What Then Is Love But Mourning?

banksmusic eboracum choral series

Ballinderry - Irish
4 Belgian Carols [with English texts]
Calino Custore Me - trad Irish
Dance To Your Daddie - trad English [also SATB]
Easter Hymn - 1623 German [with English version]
Es El Amor Mariposo+ - trad Spanish
3 European Folk Songs
    Canto De Romeria - Spanish
    Charmante Marianne - French
    Psarapoula - Greek
Gaude Mater Polonia - 13th century Polish [Latin text]
Gaudete - 15th/16th century trad
A Gentle Maid+ - trad Welsh
The Heart Of A Rose* [SATB]
John's Gone To Hilo* - trad
Lisa* [SATB]
Mary's Lullaby - trad Austrian carol
Moonlight in Vermont* - [SATB]
My Lagan Love* - trad Irish
My Lord, What A Morning!* - spiritual
A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square - Manning Sherwin [also SATB]
O Sleep, Thou Heaven-Born Treasure
Shenandoah* [SATB]
Sprig Of Thyme - trad English
The Stuttering Lovers - Irish
What If I Never Speed?* - John Dowland
Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go?* - trad Scottish

* a cappella
+ 2 part

alliancemusic publications usa

Land Of The Silver Birch - trad. Canadian
The Star Of Belle Isle - trad. Newfoundland

arrangementreviews

"Heaven! What a clever pianist/arranger!" (Sakura)
Terry Edwards (Chorus Master of Royal Opera, Covent Garden)
"Lovely arrangement, part of a thoroughly good programme." (A Bunch of Thyme)
Richard Stilgoe
"A superbly simple arrangement - the art that conceals art." (A Bunch of Thyme)
Michael Brewer (Director of National Youth Choir)
"Congratulations to Michael Neaum on his fine arrangements."
Iain Burnside (Presenter on TV and radio, musicologist, journalist and critic)
"A beautiful arrangement which will add a touch of magic to any Christmas programme." (Sweet Little Jesus Boy)
BFYC Newsletter
"Effective, yet not too complicated... A great arrangement, which would enhance any choir's repertoire." (I Once Loved A Lad)
BFYC Newsletter
"A typically deft arrangement." (Tiree Love Song)
The Singer
"Gaudete is a song that you can really enjoy singing." (Gaudete)
BFYC Newsletter
"A cracking arrangement." (Gloucestershire Wassail)
Goodmusic
"Rhythmical, jazzy and extremely effective." (Virgin Mary Had A Little Baby & Ding Dong Merrily On High)
Organists' Review
"Particularly effective are Neaum's folk-song settings, which at their best have a Grainger-esque quality. 'John's Gone To Hilo' is typical of his best work, with its adroit manipulation of vocal combinations. Neaum is always aware of the need to create variety...." (John's Gone To Hilo)
The Singer
"A poignant setting." (My Lagan Love)
The Singer
"'The Water Of Tyne' is a sublime arrangement. With the rippling waters of the accompaniment and the wonderfully rich harmonisation and part writing, there is no better way of expressing the mood of this beautiful folk-song. This is clearly not a one-off either. Many of Neaum's other arrangements are equally successful, so strong in their mood and spirit and showing a wonderful understanding of the singing voice. 'A Mexican Lullaby' sets a beautiful melody. In Neaum's inimitable style, what begins so simply grows in character and beauty... All in all this is a stunning arrangement, not too difficult to sing, but undoubtedly effective. Not to be missed.

'Indian Love Song' is a most effective piece, gentle, warm, simple and romantic; it could add an inspired moment to any concert programme.

I have no hesitation in recommending '2 American Folk Songs' to you. They complement each other well and will bring undoubted pleasure to anyone who meets with them. 'I Wish I Was A Child Again' is full of yearning and 'Sourwood Mountain' is full of life, energy and humour. I have no doubt that it will put a real smile on the faces of the singers.
(from an article by George Adamson in Music Teacher, March 2001)
The choristers in my choir just LOVE your arrangements
Madeleine Humer (Victoria Children’s Choir)
My Women’s choir, Bel Canto, adores If We Were in Love and begs to sing it; it is really lovely. The voice leading is so kind to the young women’s instrument.
Your arrangement is beautiful – all day I have been leaving my work and returning to the piano to go over it again and again….. each time I find it pleases me more. It is so sensitive and to the character of the song and so lovely to sing. The girls will be thrilled. We feel so fortunate to have someone like you writing for us.
Elaine Quilichini (Calgary Girls Choir)
We performed Last Rose of Summer last week and it was so gorgeous; everyone loved it!
Elaine Quilichini (Calgary Girls Choir)
I have fallen in love with your wonderful arrangements!
Elaine Quilichini (Calgary Girls Choir)

musicpublishers

Michael Neaum, 14 Stainsby Drive, Mansfield, Notts NG18 3EX, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1623 631658
E-mail: michael.neaum@ntlworld.com
Oxford University Press, Music Department, Walton Street, Oxford. OX2 6DP, UK
Website: www.oup.co.uk/music
Roberton Publications (a part of Goodmusic), PO Box 100, Tewkesbury.
GL20 7YQ, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1684 773883 - Fax: +44 (0)1684 773884
E-mail: sales@goodmusic-uk.com
Banks Music Publications, The Old Forge, Sand Hutton, York. YO41 1LB, UK
E-mail: banksramsay@cwcom.net

Alliance Music Publications Inc., PO Box 131977, Houston, Texas, USA
Tel: 77219-1977