Here is our current repertoire.
Past repertoire items listed here.
Click on the "player" to the left of the song title for an audio extract where available. All extracts come from our CD.
Note that all links below - other than the audio extract and the lyric - are external links and open in a new window.
Agnus Dei
Music: William Byrd
From the "Mass for Five Voices".
All Night, All Day
Music: Traditional
Arrangement: after The Swan Silvertones
Ave Maria
Music: Franz Biebl
Ave Verum Corpus
Music: W A Mozart
Lyric: attributed to Pope Innocent VI
Ave verum corpus is a short Eucharistic hymn dating from the 14th century and attributed to Pope Innocent VI (d. 1362), which has been set to music by various composers. During the Middle Ages it was sung at the elevation of the host during the consecration. It was also used frequently during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
The hymn’s title means "Hail, true body", and is based on a poem deriving from a 14th-century manuscript from the Abbey of Reichenau, Lake Constance. The poem is a meditation on the Catholic belief in Jesus’s Real Presence in the sacrament of the Eucharist, and ties it to Catholic ideas on the redemptive meaning of suffering in the life of all believers.
History and impressions of Ave Verum Corpus by Conrad Askland
Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind
Music: John Rutter
Lyric: William Shakespeare (from "As You Like It")
California Dreaming
Music: John Phillips
Lyric: John and Michelle Phillips (The Mamas and the Papas)
Arrangement: Gary Smith
Deep River
Music and Lyrics: Old Negro Melody
Arrangement: Henry (Harry) Thacker Burleigh
"Respectfully dedicated to Miss Mary Jordan"
Din Din
Music and Lyrics: Anon
Arrangement: As sung by Zap Mama
Anonymous 16th century Spanish liturgical composition.
El Pueblo Unido
Music and Lyric: Sergio Ortega
Arrangement: Stephen Taberner
El pueblo unido jamás será vencido (The people united will never be defeated) was written in about 1970. It rose in popularity after Pinochet's 1973 coup. The song has been universally adopted as a protest song
Emabhaceni
Music and Lyric: Anon
Arrangement: Miriam Makeba
Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
Music: Michael Praetorius
Lyric: Traditional
This appears to be a 16th Century German Carol first published in Cologne in 1600. Michael Praetorius published his harmonization in 1609. The English translation is sometimes stated as "Lo how a rose e’er blooming" or "A spotless rose is growing".
German and English versions of the lyric.
Often sung to the popular English lyrics "A Great and Mighty Wonder".
Factory
Music and Lyric: Bruce Springsteen
Arrangement: Flying Pickets (transcribed by Stephen Taberner)
Bruce Springsteen grew up in working class Freehold New Jersey. It may be no surprise to anyone who has heard or read the lyric to this song that his father (Douglas) had a number of jobs including prison guard, bus driver and factory labourer.
(Thanks to ex-Cleffie Jacqui K for the arrangement memory jogging.)
Gaudate!
Music: Piae Cantiones (1582)
I Only Want To Be With You
Music: Michael Edwin Hawker, Ivor Raymonde
Jesus' Love Bubbles Over (Hallelujah)
Music: J Johnson after The Birmingham Sunlights
Hawaii Aloha
Music: Rev. Lorenzo Lyons (known as Makua Laiana)
Arrangement: Gary Smith
He's Sweet I Know
Musicand Lyric: Mahalia Jackson
Mahalia Jackson was born in New Orleans in 1911 and moved to Chicago in 1927 where she sang with the Johnson Brothers, one of the earliest professional gospel groups.
During her illustrious career she sang and co-wrote songs with Thomas Dorsey.
I Can See Clearly Now
Arrangement: Stephen Taberner
I'll Fly Away
Music and Lyric: Alfred E Brumley
This arrangement was passed on to The Cleftomaniacs in one furious Monday night session by the Amazing Grace Bros
Kyrie
Music: William Byrd, Edited Henry Washington
La Peregrinacion
Music: Ariel Ramirez
Lifeline (Harriet Tubman)
Music and Lyric: Walter Robinson
Arrangement: Janet Andrews
This song is about one of the most famous "conductors" of the "Underground Railroad"
The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes by which African slaves in the United States attempted to escape to free states, or as far north as Canada, with the aid of abolitionists. Other routes led to Mexico or overseas.
It is estimated that at its height between 1810 and 1850, between 30,000 and 100,000 people escaped enslavement via the Underground Railroad, though US Census figures only account for 6000.
See Wikipedia for more info on The Underground Railway
This song is about one of the most famous "conductors" of the "Underground Railroad"
The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes by which African slaves in the United States attempted to escape to free states, or as far north as Canada, with the aid of abolitionists. Other routes led to Mexico or overseas.
It is estimated that at its height between 1810 and 1850, between 30,000 and 100,000 people escaped enslavement via the Underground Railroad, though US Census figures only account for 6000.
See Wikipedia for more info on The Underground Railway
Locus Iste
Music: Anton Bruckner
Matona, Mia Cara
Music and Lyric: Orlando di Lasso
Written in the mid 16th century, this could be described as a baudy love song. Coming from somewhere vaguely in Southern Europe, scholars have debated an accurate English translation but it is something like the following:
"My dear Lady,
I'd love to sing a song below your window.
I'm a lancer,
and a good lad.
"Please listen to me,
for I sing well,
and I love you greatly,
as a Greek does his capon.
"When I go hunting,
hunting with a falcon,
I'll bring you woodcocks as fat as a kidney.
"Though I do not know so many elegant phases,
and know nothing of Petrarch,
or the fountain of Helicon.
"If you'll have me,
I'm no laggard,
I'll make love to you all night long,
thrusting like a ram."
Now Is The Month Of Maying
Music: Thomas Morley
O Quam Gloriosum (1572)
Music: Tomas Luis de Victoria (1548 - 1611)
Precious Lord
Music and Lyric: Thomas A Dorsey
Written by the father of gospel music in August 1932 following the tragic death of his wife and son who died during childbirth.
A simple prayer.
Right By Your Side
Music: Dave Stewart / Annie Lennox
Lyric: >Dave Stewart / Annie Lennox
Arrangement: Martin Harris
Rough and Rocky Road
Ruby
Music and Lyric: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Arrangement: Stephen Taberner
Suzanne
Music and Lyric: Leonard Cohen
Arrangement: Gary Smith
Take It To Jesus
Music and Lyric: Wayne Williams
Arrangement: Gary Smith after The Birmingham Sunlights
The Lord is My Shepherd (23rd Psalm)
Music: Bobby McFerrin
The Water is Wide
Music: Traditional
Arrangement: Yumiko Matsuoka
This is a Mean World
Music: Stanley J Lewis
Lyric: Sweet Honey in the Rock
Arrangement: Dale Caldwell
Up The Ladder to the Roof
Music: Dimirco & Wilson
Arrangement: Stephen Taberner
Wishin' and Hopin'
Music and Lyric: Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Arrangement: Rod Christian
Zombie Jamboree
Music: Harry Bellafonte
Arrangement: Rockapella
Transcribed: G Smith
Christmas Song List
- The Coventry Carol
- I Saw a Maiden
- Away in a Manger
- Cradle Song
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
- O Come All Ye Faithful
- Wie Schön Luechtet
- Es Ist Ein Ros Enstsprungen
- The Three Drovers
- The Fist Noel
- Ding Dong Merrily on High
- Silent Night
- The Silver Stars
- Riu Riu Chiu
- Joy To The World
- Christmas is Coming
- God Bless All
- Good King Wenceslas
- We Three Kings
We are always adding new and varied songs to our repertoire.
Past repertoire items listed here.