SCHEDULED PERFORMANCES AT CHRISTMAS 2021
If you’re near Malvern, UK, see you at the Winter Glow throughout Dec!
Saturday 4th December 2021
Orchestre symphonique de l’Estuaire, Canada
Thomas Le Duc-Moreau, conductor
at Salle Desjardins Telus, Rimouski, Canada
Saturday 4th December 2021
Christmas Angels - Henry Desmond Orchestra
Henry Desmond, Founder & Musical Director
at St Nicholas Church, Sevenoaks, Kent
Saturday 4th December 2021
Hear the Angels Sing - Northern Doctors’ Chorus
Malcolm Moffatt, Musical Director
at St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle
Wednesday 8 December 2021
Child of the Stable’s Secret Birth
Glyndebourne Christmas Concert
Glyndebourne Festival Chorus & Tour Orchestra (conducted by Aidan Oliver)
Thursday 9 December 2021
Child of the Stable’s Secret Birth
Glyndebourne Christmas Concert
Glyndebourne Festival Chorus & Tour Orchestra (conducted by Aidan Oliver)
Saturday 11 December 2021
Child of the Stable’s Secret Birth
Glyndebourne Christmas Concert
Glyndebourne Festival Chorus & Tour Orchestra (conducted by Aidan Oliver)
Sunday 12 December 2021
Child of the Stable’s Secret Birth
Glyndebourne Christmas Concert
Glyndebourne Festival Chorus & Tour Orchestra (conducted by Aidan Oliver)
Sunday 12 December 2021
A Christmas Cracker
Sinfonieorchester Aachen - Theater Aachen
Saturday 18 December 2021
A Christmas Cracker
Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg
Theater Freiburg (conducted by Ektoras Tartanis)
Sunday 19 December 2021
A Christmas Cracker
Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg
Theater Freiburg (conducted by Ektoras Tartanis)
Thursday 23 December 2021
A Christmas Cracker
Philharmonisches Orchester Freiburg
Theater Freiburg (conducted by Ektoras Tartanis)
Sunday 26 December 2021
Solingen, 11am and Remscheid, 6pm
Christmas Angels
Bergische Symphoniker
COMING SOON
A BLESSING FOR TODAY
A new choral evocation for peace, justice and equality in today’s challenging world. Beautifully sung by the choir of St Stephen’s, South Dulwich & Director of Music Oliver Lallemant.
New Christmas Carol for 2021 - ‘LOVE IS THE ANSWER’
SATB & organ or piano (with solos and divisions)
“Hot off the press, this heartwarming carol will bring some much-needed cheer this Christmas. Soaring melodies and heartfelt lyrics seamlessly combine in this enchanting new carol from the pen of Thomas Hewitt Jones. Intended as an antidote to the gloom and confusion of the pandemic, Love is the Answer will inspire and uplift singers and audiences alike. A must-have addition to any choir’s Christmas celebrations this year.” (Stainer & Bell)
This title is available from publisher Stainer & Bell either as a printed title by post, or as a digital download with a single or 30-copy print licence. Click here to go to the publisher direct.
‘INCARNATION’ now on Spotify, Apple Music and all streaming services
This epic 7-movement work for large choir & orchestra was commissioned in 2012 by Sloane Square Choral Society and their conductor Oliver Lallemant. In this premiere recording of the work, the Sloane Square Chamber Choir are accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra of London, conducted once again by Oliver Lallemant. The work is followed by Thomas’s popular Christmas orchestral suite ‘A Traditional Christmas’, and closes with two short Christmas carols.
August 2021: CAN YOU HEAR ME? performed by Dr Lynda Hassler & The Capital University Chapel Choir, Ohio
July 2021: WE CAN MAKE IT
We Can Make It is a new single focusing on the mental health crisis faced by the young around the world today. One year on from the release of the anthem for kindness Can You Hear Me – composed by Thomas Hewitt Jones with words by Matt Harvey, and performed by the Choir of Royal Holloway with their conductor Rupert Gough – the composer, lyricist and choir have once again collaborated to release this important message. Thomas Hewitt Jones will be making a donation to Save The Children to further show his support.
A year ago, nobody knew that the global effects of COVID would still be so prevalent now, with a huge and lasting effect on world economies and mental health on a scale that was unforeseen. Many feel that such an extended period of enforced isolation has had a devastating impact on the wellbeing of the younger generation in particular. It may be a long road to recovery for them, and We Can Make It is written in solidarity with all children and young people who are struggling at this time.
Watch the video below.
Get the single here: http://smarturl.it/THJWeCanMakeIt
Sheet music (voice & piano) here: https://stainer.co.uk/shop/y363/
Comic track ‘Funny Song’ currently mega-viral on Tiktok!
Composed and recorded by Thomas and published by Cavendish Music, this amusing novelty commercial track has been streamed over 280 million times and synched to over 200,000 unique videos on the platform (stats as of June 2021) - including a video reaction by music celebrity Jason Derulo and his wife.
You too can make a video to this amusing meme!
Simply go to Tiktok —> sound —> search ‘Funny song cavendish’
‘Can You Hear Me’ on BBC Songs of Praise - Sunday 21 February 2021, 1.15pm
Laura Wright and the Choir of Royal Holloway sing ‘Can You Hear Me’, the ‘anthem for kindness’ composed by Thomas with words by Matt Harvey.
Sheet music (original version): Hewitt Jones, Thomas: Can You Hear Me? (Solo or Unison Voices, SATB & Piano) - Stainer & Bell
Sheet music: (arranged for solo voice & piano): Hewitt Jones, Thomas: Can You Hear Me? (arr. Voice & Piano) - Stainer & Bell
As featured on Spotify Classical New Releases, 12 February 2021!
Just to cheer everybody up! NEW YEAR WALTZ
“Strictly speaking, this lively waltz has a few more musical twists and turns than you might expect. As well as capturing the glitz and glamour of a ballroom, the piece weaves in an uplifting airing of Auld Lang Syne, giving it the true spirit of a New Year celebration.”
Published 2021 by Encore Publications. Single out worldwide 8/1/21 on Vivum Music label.
New single ‘Constellation’ out now! As featured on Spotify’s ‘Classical New Releases’ playlist. Featuring the Carducci String Quartet.
Have you been on Tommy’s Magical Mystery Tour ? ? ?
A single to spread mental health awareness during COVID lockdown
Performed by soprano Laura Wright, the choir of Royal Holloway conducted by Rupert Gough.
Composed & Produced by me with words by long-time collaborator, poet Matt Harvey.
Thank you for supporting this project - it is an extremely important awareness campaign, and we are delighted that proceeds from the release are going to a selection of mental health charities.
The sheet music (vocal and piano) is available for instant download by clicking the banner below from Stainer & Bell. You can also order a hard copy if you prefer. Proceeds support mental health, of course.
Let’s all #STAYSTRONG in difficult times - please visit www.staystrong.org.uk for direct links to mental health support.
Remember, we all HAVE mental health. And there’s no shame in seeking help in times of distress.
The SHEET MUSIC is now available courtesy of acclaimed sheet music publisher Stainer & Bell Ltd. by clicking the relevant banners below for either the Unison voice & Piano or the Solo or Unison voices, SATB and Piano version:
…and here’s a little interview I did with Scala Radio about the track’s conception. Stay strong, everyone.
Sending #SOLIDARITY all around the world at this present time…
I’m making the sheet music for any melody instrument & piano available for free here - please use it to spread love and solidarity wherever you are in the world right now.
January 2020: New Album, ‘NEOCLASSICAL’ (Juice EMI)
Out now is my most recent EMI album. I’m a huge fan of Neoclassical music (in the non-contemporary-minimalistic sense of the word) - and much love has gone into this. I hope you enjoy it.
Performers include the fabulous Carducci String Quartet, Connor Smither (trumpet), Lois Nicholl (flute), Steve Payne (horn), Simon Hewitt Jones (violin), Annalisa and me!
“As with previous releases this disc reveals Hewitt Jones’s remarkably nimble, versatile, inventive and perhaps slightly eccentric ability as a composer" - British Music Society
Christmas Performances 2019
Here are a selection of some of the performances of my works that I am aware of in the next couple of weeks. If you know of any others, please hit me up!
Thursday 12 December - ‘A Christmas Cracker’ - Singapore Symphony Orchestra @ The Esplanade, Singapore
Friday 13 December - ‘A Christmas Cracker’ - Singapore Symphony Orchestra @ The Esplanade, Singapore
Saturday 14 December - ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ PREMIERE! - CORO @ St Clement Danes RAF Church
Sunday 15 December - ‘Child of the Stable’s Secret Birth’ - St Peter’s Church, Leckhampton, Cheltenham
Saturday 14 December - ‘Love Came Down at Christmas’ - The Handful Singers @ St Mary’s Bathwick
Sunday 15 December - ‘Lullay, my liking’ - Voce Chamber Choir @ Grosvenor Chapel, Mayfair
Friday 20 December - ‘A Christmas Cracker’ - Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, Bloomington, IL
Saturday 21 December - ‘A Christmas Cracker’ - Illinois Symphony Orchestra @ UIS Performing Arts Center, Springfield, IL
Sunday 22 December - ‘Loving Wisdom’ - Service of 9 Lessons & Carols @ Brentwood Cathedral
Thursday 26 December (am) - ‘A Christmas Cracker’ - Bergische Symphoniker @ Konzerthaus Solingen
Thursday 26 December (pm) - ‘A Christmas Cracker’ - Bergische Symphoniker @ Teo Otto Theater, Stadt Remscheid
…also, do listen out for the premiere of ‘Christmas Waltz’ (below) on Classic FM soon!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
CHRISTMAS WALTZ! (from EMI PM ‘World of Waltzes’)
New upbeat Christmas Carol for 2019: ‘The Holly and the Ivy’
Sheet music here: https://www.rscmshop.com/books/A3836/hewitt-jones-the-holly-and-the-ivy
Listen to a performance by the Bromley Radio Choir below:
27/8/19: Latest album on EMI Juice featured by Santa Rosa Records
https://santarosarecords.com/2019/08/album-spotlight-electro-cello-by-thomas-hewitt-jones
July 2019: New Carol for Christmas 2019: ‘The Holly and the Ivy’.
Performed below by Thomas Hewitt Jones & Bromley Radio Choir. Published by the RSCM.
June 2019: New album on Juice / EMI Production Music - ‘Electro Cello.’
Listen here: https://www.emipm.com/en/browse/labels/JM/208
March-April 2019: New album on Juice / EMI Production Music - ‘Contemporary String Quartet’.
Performed by the internationally-acclaimed Carducci String Quartet. Take a listen here!
February 2019: ‘The Portsmouth Service’ premiered at Portsmouth Cathedral. Commissioned in memory of Trevor Owen, former lay clerk in Portsmouth Cathedral Choir.
January 2019: My new string piece ‘Momentum’ has just been recorded by the Manchester Sinfonia. I was thrilled to conduct them in this premiere recording - and to feature on this new CD alongside several esteemed composer friends & colleagues!
Happy Christmas one and all! Here's my final festive playlist for 2018! Happy Christmas to you wonderful friends, followers, colleagues & collaborators…
December 2018: As we all know, many Christmas Carols began as folk tunes or drinking songs in taverns. I’ve always maintained that melody is king in Christmas music. I’ve put together a Spotify playlist of some of my most tuneful carols - I hope you enjoy it!
November 2018 - ‘Three Messages’ commissioned by new vocal ensemble ‘Seraphim’ released as the first three tracks of their debut EP:
October 2018 - ‘The Theory of Time’ - from ‘Into the Stillness’ EP with the Carducci Quartet
August 2018: Greater Love - The 12 Ways of Goodness
Sneak preview of our first run through below!
'Oculi Omnium' performed by Bath Spa University Chamber Choir as part of the 70th Anniversary of the Bath Festival at Bath Abbey. Conducted by Francis Faux.
Sheet music (SATB, no divisions) available from Boosey & Hawkes or RSCM Music Direct.
New ballet 'Chrysalis' written for English National Ballet 'Dance Journeys' 2018 now on Spotify and iTunes!
Premiered at Sadlers' Wells, April 2018.
Conducted by Jacques Cohen, performed by the RCM JD Contemporary Ensemble
Mini documentary about the score below:
You can here the premiere broadcast from the Three Choirs Festival below. Sheet music available here.
"This entertaining (in a suitably spiritual way) setting of the evening canticles manages to be witty, responsive to the text and respectful of the tradition all at once. Commissioned for the Worcester Three Choirs Festival in 2017, the composer responded to the occasion with elan: the drama of the Magnificat and the plangency of the Nunc Dimittis are fully explored with delightful originality. There are unexpected features, such as the ‘ahs’ at the opening and the ‘amens’ diminishing in power at the end. The composer’s deft touch with textures includes interesting choices for vocal scorings such as the four-part Can/Dec trebles at the beginning of the Nunc Dimittis. There are almost filmic moments, including a nod in the direction of Bernard Herrmann, and a wholly natural, even visceral, interpretation of the text. It may be fairly difficult and demanding, but the rewards are high and the composer gets the choir on his side with directions such as ‘very lush’ and ‘treacly smooth.’ The organ part is both busy and delicate, commenting with colour on the ‘action’, sometimes with a shimmering numinous glory and it makes the final gestures of each canticle: at the end of the Magnificat suggesting the fluttering away of Gabriel’s wings followed by Mary sitting down, surprised, with a bump. The same fluttering seems to carry Simeon’s spirit away at the end of the Nunc Dimittis (no bump this time). I asked Peter Nardone, dedicatee of the work, for a comment: ‘The setting is certainly fun and festive, as I had hoped it would be when I commissioned it. Tommy seemed to appreciate that it was very much a Festival piece for Three Cathedral Choirs whilst giving us something we could use in the repertoire’. It should be taken up where choirs look for an exciting, imaginative challenge that retains liturgical probity."
[Rebecca Tavener, Organists' Review]
PANATHENAIA - A SYMPHONY IN STONE - live from the British Museum
Season's greetings!
Here are some Christmas performances this December - it would be great to see you at one or other of them if you happen to be free! Merry Christmas one and all...
2/12/17, 7pm Seraphine Carol Concert - Birmingham Cathedral - *new carol premiere, ‘Come, Sing with Joy’
8/12/17, 7.30pm - St John’s Church, Malmo, Sweden - Malmo University Orchestra - ‘A Christmas Cracker’ (Swedish premiere)
9/12/17, 3pm - St John’s Church, Malmo, Sweden - Malmo University Orchestra - ‘A Christmas Cracker’
9/12/17, 6pm - St John’s Church, Malmo, Sweden - Malmo University Orchestra - ‘A Christmas Cracker’
9/12/17, Opernhaus Graz, Germany - ‘A Christmas Cracker’ (Germany premiere)
tbc/12/17 - Open University Orchestra, ‘A Christmas Cracker’ (Milton Keynes premiere..!)
12/12/17, 7.30pm - Toledo Symphony Orchestra @ St. Joseph Catholic Church, Maumee, Ohio - 'A Christmas Party' - concerto for Violin and orchestra (USA premiere)
13/12/17, 7.30pm - Toledo Symphony Orchestra @ St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Napoleon, Ohio - 'A Christmas Party' - concerto for Violin and orchestra
14/12/7, 7.30pm Toledo Symphony Orchestra @ St. Wendelin Catholic Church, Fostoria, Ohio - 'A Christmas Party' - concerto for Violin and orchestra
17/12/17, 6pm - Nine Lessons and Carols, St John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong - ‘On Christmas Night’ (Hong Kong premiere)
21/12/17, Ayr Town Hall, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra - ‘A Christmas Party’ - concerto for Violin and orchestra (Scottish premiere)
22/12/17, Glasgow City Hall, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra - ‘A Christmas Party’ - concerto for Violin and orchestra
24/12/17 - BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra on BBC Radio Scotland - ‘A Christmas Party’ - concerto for Violin and orchestra
24/12/17, 11.30pm - Midnight Mass, St John’s, Upper Norwood - ‘What Child is this?’
24/12/17, 11pm - Midnight Mass, St John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong - ‘On Christmas Night’
25/12/17, 10am - Christmas Morning, St John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong - ‘On Christmas Morn’
9/2/18, 7.30pm - Seraphim choir Launch - Swiss Church, London - *premiere of ‘3 Blessings’
You can get some of Thomas's most recent Christmas releases here or on iTunes
Listen to more of Thomas's media music on the music for the moving image page.
More of his music can be found on the media page.
A small taster of 'Amuse Bouche' - two suites of Parisian miniatures for Bass Trumpet and Piano, commissioned by John Shaddock (trumpeter with the orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden)
Performed by John Shaddock, Bass trumpet & Thomas Hewitt Jones, piano.
Come join me on Spotify!
...or iTunes / Apple Music...
...and now YouTube, at https://www.youtube.com/thomashewittjones!
Thomas's new 'Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis', commissioned by Worcester Cathedral, receives its premiere in July from the Three Choirs' Festival, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 Choral Evensong
January 2017 - a new ballet for English National Ballet's education department.
December 2016 - 'The Violin Channel' blog interviews Thomas about the composition of 'Christmas Party', his new Christmas Violin Concerto: https://theviolinchannel.com/thomas-hewitt-jones-christmas-violin-concerto-blog/
With product marketing manager Daniel Spreadbury at the launch of new composing software Dorico (photo (c) Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH)
Christmas Party now available from digital music outlets here, or as a physical CD release from Presto Classical
The Star-Spangled Banner rewritten to suit our times.
"I'm so sad about how angry some people are, when as the Beatles so rightly put it, All you need is love."
You can play it yourself (Piano/Kbd. & any melody instrument) by downloading the sheet music here.
Some forthcoming performances this December :
'There is no Rose' - Friday 2 December, Caius Choir, London Tickets here
Rumpelstiltskin (musical) - 3-10 December, Criterion Theatre, Coventry Tickets here
'What Child is This' - 12 December, The Sitwell Singers, Derby Tickets here
A Christmas Cracker - Toledo Symphony Orchestra, USA, 13, 14, 15 December Tickets here
'What Child is This?' - 17 December, Chester Bach Singers Tickets here
A Christmas Hamper, Christmas Angels - Hertfordshire Schools' Symphony Orchestra, 22 December Tickets here
New Recordings for 2016:
A Christmas Party available on CD here!
('Christmas Party' Violin Fantasy, Child of the stable's secret birth, Cameron's Lament, Christmas version)
Also just out:
'A Voice from Heaven' - British Choral Masterpieces
The King's Consort directed by Robert King. (Includes 'Oculi Omnium')
'A Wells Christmas'
Wells Cathedral Choir directed by Matthew Owens. (Includes 'What Child is This')
You can hear many other recent recordings of Thomas's music on iTunes by clicking below.
Thomas improvises (switching between Piano and Cello) for Classic FM
The performance, attended by over 300 people, took place on Thursday 4 June 2015. This film includes the full work and accompanying sequences showing the details of the sculptures and frieze.
‘Panathenaia’ was composed by Thomas Hewitt Jones with words by Paul Williamson.
You can see the full event programme and libretto here.
The work is in eight movements:
1. Prelude – instrumental 00'30
2. The Temple – choir 03'30
3. The Weaver’s Song – soprano 11'25
4. Lyric Suite – instrumental 19'05
5. Prometheus –soprano, mezzo-soprano 22'20
6. Shadows in a Dream – choir 29'00
7. The Birth of Pandora – mezzo-soprano, soprano, choir 34'50
8. Coda – instrumental 40'30
This event and recording was generously supported by Molly Lowell and David Borthwick.
Performers:
William Kunhardt – conductor
Paulina Pfeiffer – soprano
Karolina Blixt – mezzo-soprano
Hugo Ticciati – violin
Joanna Stark – bassoon
Christine Stevenson – continuo (electric harpsichord)
VOCES8:
Andrea Haines – soprano
Emily Dickens – soprano
Chris Wardle – countertenor
Barnaby Smith – countertenor
Oliver Vincent– tenor
Sam Dressel – tenor
Paul Smith – baritone
Dingle Yandell – bass
Arensky Chamber Orchestra in collaboration with O/Modernt Kammerorkester
To find out more about the performers go here.
Take a virtual tour of the Parthenon Gallery on Google Street View here.
“Brilliant composer Thomas Hewitt Jones”
“Powerfully Moving”
“Wit, charm and great songs”
“These are all highly accomplished works with immense commercial appeal, which deserve to be included in the festive programmes of every symphony orchestra and chorus.”
“How refreshing to discover a living composer who dares to write music that possesses both splendid melody and well-crafted conventional harmony - and avoids being considered twee, populist or crossover”