James Whitbourn

Short bio James Whitbourn

Birthday: 1963

Active: 1990s - 2010s

Genre: Classical

Full biography James Whitbourn

James Whitbourn is a renowned composer hailing from the United Kingdom, born on August 17, 1963, in London. He is best known for his choral music compositions and has gained recognition for his unique compositions that blend traditional choral music with contemporary styles.

Whitbourn's interest in music began at a young age, and he initially learned to play the piano. He later studied music at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was appointed organ scholar. It was during this time that he discovered his love of choral music and began composing his own pieces.

One of Whitbourn's most popular compositions is "Annelies," a large-scale choral work that sets texts from "The Diary of Anne Frank" to music. This piece has been performed in many prestigious venues, including the Lincoln Center in New York City and the Sydney Opera House.

Aside from "Annelies," Whitbourn has also composed several other choral works, including "Luminosity," "Son of God Mass," and "The Seven Heavens." In addition to choral music, he has also composed music for film, television, and dance productions.

Whitbourn has received numerous awards and accolades for his work, including a Grammy nomination in 2007 for Best Choral Performance for his work "Requiem Canticorum." He also won the British Composer Award for his composition "Living Voices" in 2013.

Overall, James Whitbourn is a highly esteemed composer whose innovative compositions have earned him recognition in the world of music. His unique blend of traditional choral music and contemporary styles continues to captivate audiences across the globe.

Compositions featuring James Whitbourn

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Sanctitude, with chants and improvisations for 2 sopranos, saxophone & chorus	13:13 min	Vocal Music	2019
2	Set Me as a Seal, for chorus & organ	4:56 min	Choral	2017
3	Beatus vir, for chorus	5:24 min	Choral	2017
4	Veni et illumina, for chorus, brass ensemble & percussion	6:05 min	Choral	2015
5	The Magi's Dream, for chorus & organ	3:27 min	Choral	2011
6	Requiem canticorum, for chorus, saxophone & organ	13:28 min	Choral	2010
7	Festival Alleluia, for chorus	4:04 min	Choral	2010
8	Winter's Wait, for chorus & organ	4:09 min	Choral	2010
9	Annelies, for soprano, chorus, clarinet, violin, cello & piano (chamber version)	69:44 min	Choral	2009
10	All shall be Amen and Alleluia, for chorus, percussion, piano & organ	4:11 min	Choral	2009
11	A Prayer from South Africa, for chorus	1:59 min	Choral	2009
12	He carried me away in the spirit, for chorus	6:00 min	Choral	2009
13	Alleluia jubilate, for chorus & organ	4:25 min	Choral	2008
14	Luminosity, for dancers, chorus, viola, organ & percussion	30:25 min	Choral	2008
15	A brief story of Peter Abelard, for chorus, saxophone & organ	7:31 min	Choral	2006
16	Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (Collegium regale), for chorus & organ	12:09 min	Choral	2005
17	A Prayer of Desmond Tutu, for narrator, chorus & percussion	1:43 min	Choral	2003
18	Eternal Rest, for chorus & organ (also an orchestral version by the composer)	3:51 min	Choral	2002
19	Give us the wings of faith, for chorus & organ	2:39 min	Choral	2002
20	A Great and Mighty Wonder, for chorus (after Praetorius)	2:53 min	Choral	2002
21	The Mystery of Love, cantata for tenor, chorus & chamber ensemble	25:01 min	Choral	2001
22	Son of God Mass, devotional concert piece for chorus, saxphone & organ	25:18 min	Choral	2001
23	Living Voices, for narrator, chorus & saxophone	3:15 min	Choral	2001
24	Hodie, carol for chorus & organ	2:36 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	1999
25	Crown my heart, for chorus & organ	2:01 min	Choral	1999
26	This is my commandment, for trumpet, chorus & organ	3:33 min	Choral	1997
27	Glory to Thee, for chorus	1:00 min	Choral	1995
28	Song of Hannah, for soloists, chorus & organ	3:32 min	Choral	1994
29	Of one that is so fair and bright, for chorus	3:27 min	Choral	1992
30	Of one that is so fair, carol for chorus	3:00 min	Miscellaneous (Classical)	1992
31	Pater noster, for chorus	4:18 min	Choral	-
32	Pure river of water of life, for chorus	2:41 min	Choral	-
33	Missa Carolae, for chorus	20:02 min	Choral	-
34	Come to the wedding, for tenor soloist & chorus	1:48 min	Choral	-
35	Blessings on you, for chorus	2:13 min	Choral	-
36	There is no speech or language, for chorus	3:10 min	Choral	-
37	Adagio for string quartet	3:02 min	Chamber Music	-
38	Venite, for chorus	2:15 min	Choral	-
39	A brief Story of Peter Abelard, for saxophone & organ	8:49 min	Chamber Music	-

Albums featuring James Whitbourn

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Westminster Williamson Voices, James Jordan (3), James Whitbourn – Aurora(CD, Album)	2020	GIA Choralworks
2	James Whitbourn, Cor Cantiamo, Eric A. Johnson – The Seven Heavens(CD, Album)	2020	Divine Art
3	Blake, Bussi, Kats-Chernin, Pelecis, Secco, Voogt, Whitbourn, Habemus Quartet, Eduardo Frias, Stamen Nikolov – Whispering Colors(CD, Album)	2020	Non Profit Music
4	James Whitbourn, Westminster Williamson Voices, James Jordan (3) – Carolae: Music For Christmas(CD, Album)	2016	Naxos
5	Gemma, Gyöngyösi, Whitbourn – Missa Lux Et Origo - Son Of God Mass(CD, Album)	2016	Not On Label (Gemma Choir Self-released)
6	Bob Chilcott, Paul Mealor, Gustav Holst, James MacMillan (2), Tarik O'Regan, Cecilia McDowall, John Tavener, James Whitbourn – The Song of the Stars(CD, Album)	2015	Naxos
7	James Whitbourn - Arianna Zukerman, Westminster Williamson Voices, The Lincoln Trio (2) With Bharat Chandra, James Jordan (3) – Annelies	2013	Naxos
8	Tavener, The Choir (3), James Whitbourn – Choral Ikons(CD, Album)	2011	Opus Arte
9	Living Voices And Other Choral Works(CD, Album)	2011	Naxos
10	James Whitbourn - Commotio (2), Matthew Berry (4) – Luminosity And Other Choral Works(CD, Album)	2010	Naxos
11	James Whitbourn, Choir Of Clare College, Cambridge, John Harle, Robert Tear, Timothy Brown (3) – A Finer Truth(CD, Album)	2001	Etcetera (3)