Musical Works

Peter Tranchell set this famous text (from Edward Fitzgerald’s version of Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám of Naishápúr) to music in May 1978, shortly before the death of Geoffrey Thornton, the Caius Chapel organ scholar who succumbed to melanoma. Peter knew it was inevitable and although there's nothing on the score it was conceived very much as an In Memoriam.

The composer’s note at the end of the manuscript reads: ‘‘The Virgoan Responses were composed late August* 1972 for ATBrBB unacc, revised 1976, re-written for SATBrBB unacc in late August 1987. P.A.T.’’ 

Peter Tranchell wrote this setting of Psalm 122 in 1966 for unison voices and organ, with optional trumpet and horn.

A responsorial setting of Psalm 128 written in 1966 for unison voices and organ.

For Bass Solo, SATB Choir and Organ [Revised Version 1988].

Peter Tranchell composed the Thackeray Ditties for the Cambridge University Madrigal Society’s May Week Concert in June 1962, which was conducted by Raymond Leppard. The concert traditionally took place on the Backs with the choir in punts on the Cam while the audience sat on the riverbank.

Peter Tranchell wrote this setting of Psalm 121 in 1962 for unison voices and organ in B flat. The score published here is a later 197? transposition in A. 

A responsorial psalm setting written in 1962 and revised in 1968 and 1976, the latest version now published by CMS in "Peter Tranchell, Three Responsorial Psalms" (CMS 046)