David Bednall’s compositional language is a result of a number of diverse influences. His love of late-romantic and 20th music is very apparent, as is his interest in emotive and evocative effects to communicate the text fully to listeners. Much of his recent music has been for choirs and his exceptionally wide field of musical tastes combined with considerable experience in the Cathedral Choral Tradition make for an exciting and reinvigorating approach to liturgical choral writing. Major inspirations include R. Strauss, Puccini, Ravel, Vaughan Williams, Howells and Cochereau. However his writing is no pastiche of these styles, but a distinctive and varied synthesis of these harmonic and rhetorical characteristics. Within his distinctive harmonic language there is considerable variety, from dense and evocative mysticism to innocent exuberance to timeless serenity. He is always interested in finding something distinctive and new in texts while never resorting to mere novelty or effect.

Copies of all works are available to purchase direct from the composer. Please click here to contact him.

“The Wells Service” (2005) (SSAATTBB, Organ)

Hail, Gladdening Light (2006) (SSSAATTBB)

Come, Holy Ghost (2002) (TTBB, Organ)

“The Gloucester Service” (2001) (SSAATTBB, Organ)

Douai Mass “Lux et Origo” (2005) (SATB with occasional divisions)

Easter Alleluia (2005) (SSAATTBB, Organ

Adagio for Organ (2002)

The above works have been recorded by the Choir of Wells Cathedral (Directed by Matthew Owens, Organ David Bednall) on Regent Records REGCD247.

Other works

If ye love me (2003) (SATB)

Behold, O God Our Defender – In Memoriam September 11th, 2001 (2001) (SSAATTBB)

Oh Jesu, Victim Blessed (2002) (SSAATTBB, Organ)

Carlisle Benedictus (2004) (SATB, Organ)

Psalm 150 – for All Saints’ Northampton (2006) (SSATB, Organ)

O Come, Let Us Sing – (2006) (SATB or Unison, Organ)

The Promise – Tenor and Violoncello (2006)

Missa Brevis for Douai Abbey (2006) (SATB, Organ)

Rejoice in the Lord O ye righteous (2007) (SATB, Organ)

Everybody Sang (2007) (SATB and Organ)

Missa Sancti Pauli – Messe Solennelle for St Paul’s Cathedral, London (2007) (SSAATTBB, Organ)

Salve Regina - Gregorian Paraphrase in homage to Jean Langlais - SSATB

Sonnet 98 - William Shakespeare (For Opus Anglicanum) - ATTBB
 
Missa XVII - Gregorian alternatim mass for Advent and Lent - (SATB, Organ)

Lord, I am not haughty - (SATB, Organ tbc)

From Heaven Above to Earth I come (2007) (SSAATTBB) -

Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis - The Wells Service (2008) (SSAATTBB)

Requiem for Treble Voices (2008) (SSA, Viola, Organ)

The Passion According to St Matthew (2008) (Soprano, Treble, ATB, Org, Org)

Put out into the deep for Opus Anglicanum (2008)

Alternative Evening Canticles "The Wells Service" (SATB, Organ tbc), World Premiere June 2008, Wells Cathedral

The Souls of the Righteous - Short Anthem or Introit (2008) (SATB with very occasional divisions) World Premiere Sunday June 2008, Tintagel Parish Church

The Argument of his Book (Madrigal) (SSAATTBB) - World Premiere June 2008, Wingrave Parish Church

Iubilum (2008) (Organ Solo) - World Premiere June 2008, The Temple Church, London - Greg Morris, Organ

Forthcoming works

The Law of the Lord - Short Anthem or Introit (2008) (SATB with very occasional divisions) - World Premiere Sunday 6th July, 10.30am, St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich

God, to whom all creatures bring Psalm and praise and thanksgiving (SATB, Organ tbc) - World Premiere Christchurch Cathedral, Oxford, 11.15am Sunday 7th September 2008

Missa de Angelis (Gregorian Alternatim Mass) (SATB) - World Premiere 4th October, Aloysius' Garnethill

Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (TB, Organ tbc) - For Sherborne School, Autumn 2008

Let all the world (SS, Organ tbc) - For Colston's Girls' School, Autumn 2008