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) (Published by Faber Music)

Come, Holy Ghost (2002) (TTBB, Organ) (Published by Novello and Company)

“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 Hail, gladdening light, Regent Records REGCD247.

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

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

Everyone Sang (Words by Siegfried Sassoon) (2007) (SATB (occasional divisions), Organ)

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

Psalm 150 – for All Saints’ Northampton (2006) (SSATB, Organ) (Published by Faber Music)

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

"The Wells Service" (2008) (SSAATTBB)

• Magnificat
• Nunc Dimittis
• Cantate Domino
• Deus misereatur

The Souls of the Righteous (2008) (SATB (occasional divisions)) (Published by Faber Music)

The above works have been recorded by the Choir of Wells Cathedral (Directed by Matthew Owens, Organ - Jonathan Vaughan) on Flame Celestial, Regent Records REGCD320.

Requiem (2008) (SSA, Viola, Organ)

Let all the world (2008) (SSAA, Organ)

Salvator Mundi (2008) (SA (occasional divisions), Organ)

The above works have been recorded by The Schola Cantorum of St Mary's Calne with Edward Whiting (Director), Philip Dukes (Viola) and David Bednall (Organ) on Regent Records REGCD327

Other works

If ye love me (2003) (SATB) (Published by Faber Music)

Carlisle Benedictus (2004) (SATB, 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)

Salve Regina (2007) Gregorian Paraphrase in homage to Jean Langlais (SSATB)

Sonnet 98 (William Shakespeare) (2007) (For Opus Anglicanum) (ATTBB)
 
Missa XVII (2007) Gregorian alternatim mass for Advent and Lent - (SATB, Organ)

Lord, I am not haughty (2007) (SATB, Organ tbc)

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

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

Put out into the deep for Opus Anglicanum (2008)

The Argument of his Book (Madrigal) (SSAATTBB)

Iubilum (2008) (Organ Solo)

The Law of the Lord (2008) Short Anthem or Introit (SATB (occasional divisions))

A Hymn of George Bell (2008) (SATB, Organ)

Missa de Angelis (2008) (Gregorian Alternatim Mass) (SATB)

Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis "The Sherborne Service" (2009) (TTBB, Organ)

Trio for Organ, Clarinet and Basson (2009)

• Prelude
• Adagio
• Dance

I am the light of the World (2009) (SATB (occasional divisions), Organ)

Chanson d'Amour (2009) (Clarinet and Piano)

Walter Hussey Festival Mass (2009) (SATB, Organ) Walter Hussey Centenary Commission  - World Premiere Sunday 21st September 2009, St Matthew's Church, Northampton

Aspire to God my Soul (2009) (SATB) World Premiere as above 

A Song for St Cecilia’s Day, 1687 (2009) (SATB with very occasional divisions, Organ or Organ, Brass and Percussion) – World Premiere 2^nd January 2010, London International Choral Festival

Magna voce cane et magno cum jubilo (2009) (Organ)

The Lord is King (2009) (SATB, Organ)

The 2 works above were commissioned to mark the dedication of the rebuilt Lewis organ in the church

The Saint Mary's Cathedral Centenary Eucharist (2009) (SATB and/or Congregation, Organ)

Festival Te Deum (2009) (SSAATTBB, Organ or Organ, Brass and Percussion)

O lux beata Trinitas (2010) (SATB (occasional divisions), Organ)

Fanfare - Processional (2010) (Organ) (Published by Novello and Company as part of the Organists Charitable Trust Little Organ Book)

Never was so much (2010) (SATB (very occasional divisions), Organ)

How Sleep the Brave (2010) (SATB (optional unison), Organ, Violoncello (optional))

Rise up, my love – Wedding Anthem (2010) (SATB (occasional divisions), Organ, Trumpet (optional))

Rhapsody for Organ (2010) - World Premiere 24th October 2010, 4.45pm, Sebastian Thomson - Organ

St Mary's Service (2010) – Magnificat and Nunc dimittis for Upper Voices for St Mary's, Calne – World Premiere 14th March 2011, St Paul's Cathedral, Edward Whiting (Director) and the Chamber Choir of St Mary's, Calne

Noe, noe – Carol (2010) (SATB (occasional divisions), Organ)

The Sea is Calm Tonight – Song cycle (Full orchestra, Tenor)

Pater superni luminis (Anthem for St Mary Magdalene) (SSAATTBB)

The Seventh Angel (SATB (optional unison), Organ, Trumpet (optional))

Fanfare on the Name of JEHAN ALAIN for 2 organists

Welcome All Wonders - A Christmas Cantata (Choir, Organ, Trumpet) - World Premiere 26th November 2011, The Queen's College, Oxford

I. Prelude  II. Alleluia  III. A Virgin Shall Conceive  IV. Ye heavens! from high the dewy nectar pour   V. Today is the Beginning of our Salvation  VI. Oh! little blade of grass  VII. Journey to Bethlehem and Hodie Christus natus est  VIII. I saw a stable  IX. Shepherds, rejoice!  X. See how from far, upon the eastern road  XI. Tribus miraculis ornatum  XII. Slaughter of the Innocents  XIII. But peaceful was the night  XIV. Ave maris stella  XV. In the beginning was the Word

Forthcoming Works 

String Quartet

Piano Sonata