"His first Mayweek", or, "The scholar's progress: a speculation with music in five scenes". For male and female soloists, male-voice chorus, and two pianos. Words and music by Peter Tranchell.

From the Caius Psalter, Chant 21A by "M.W. Scot-Higson", an anagram of Moscow Nights.

Score available here.

Prelude and Passacaglia for Organ, on 'Liebster Jesu, wir sind Hier' and 'Who would true valour see', Peter Tranchell, 1952

IN PREP

Music for the service of Holy Communion : written for Fitzwilliam House, 1960

Peter Tranchell, 1960

IN PREP

Seven Pieces in Alphabetical Order. 1947 revised 1960. For piano.

Note on title page:
'These pieces are designed to be played in the order given, on a piano which has the top C.
It is said that in Hindu music certain notes are named after creatures.
This work, first written in July 1947, was re-written in September 1960'.
Note on title page of original: 'The notes of the Hindu scale are called after various birds and animals: C. Peacock - D. Rainy season bird - E. Goat - F. Crane - G. Cuckoo - A. Frog - B. Elephant. The music attempts to illustrate the animals and suggest the appropriate key'.

Fortunare Nos was composed in 1986 for the wedding of one of Tranchell's students. It incorporates the hymn tune Wish Road originally written for Eastbourne College in 1950. The words are from a hymn by Henry J. Buckoll (1803-71) in Psalms and Hymns for Rugby School Chapel, 1850, and the Latin verse is a translation, presumably by Tranchell, of Verse 1.

The full anthem Cantantibus organis for St Cecilia’s Day was written by Peter Tranchell in 1987 for use by the choir of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he was Precentor (Director of Music), and it was sung at Evensong (presumably on St Cecilia’s Day, 22 November) that year. It was written for S.A.T.T.B. and Organ.

IN PREP

An eyebrow-raising harmonisation, written 1988.

Several versions of this quadruple chant are known. Three are found in the Cambridge University Library archive: 

• The earliest version (1970) is the quadruple chant for Psalm 12. ATBB & organ in C minor.
• Then we have quadruple chant for Psalm 12. SATB & organ in E minor, Chant 12b from the 1970s/80s Caius Psalter in E flat minor for SATB*, and the version for Psalm 13 for SATB & organ in E flat minor. The SATB versions might be assumed to date from the period 1982-1989 when the Gonville & Caius College Choir added a soprano line.

Two (and possibly three) versions of this triple chant are found in the Cambridge University Library archive: 

• The earliest version (197-?) appears to be the triple chant for Psalm 127. ATBB & organ in C major.
• Then we have MS.Tranchell.3.68, the version for SATB & organ in E flat major. This version might be assumed to date from the period 1982-1989 when the Gonville & Caius College Choir added a soprano line.
• The archive also records MS.Tranchell.3.67 "For ATBB & organ in E minor [sic]. Photocopy of MS.Tranchell.4.86 with holograph revisions". Cataloguing error seems possible here, but we have not had a chance to check.

Four versions of this double chant are known. Three are found in the Cambridge University Library archive: 

• The earliest version (undated) appears to be the double chant for Psalm 75. ATBB & organ in A major.
• Then we have double chant for Psalm 75. SATBrB & organ in D major and the version for SATBrB & organ in E flat major. These versions might be assumed to date from the period 1982-1989 when the Gonville & Caius College Choir added a soprano line.

The Libran Preces and Responses were composed in October 1972. We are publishing the original ATBrBB version and a transposed version for SATB.

Peter Tranchell's Sonatina for pianoforte (1949) is a little mysterious - Tranchell didn't mention it in letters home, and was at the time talking more about his piano concerto (which either never materialised or has been lost). Two versions of the Sonatina exists in the CU archive; one bearing the dedication "For Jane" is presumed by Peter Marchbank to be the definitive version.

Some confusion surrounds Peter Tranchell's Sonata (or Sonatas) for piano.

The Sonatina for flute and piano was written for and dedicated to Henri and Juana Fromageot in May 1966. Juana later became a well-respected concert and recording pianist under the name Juana Zayas.

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

IN PREP

Peter Tranchell wrote The Mayor of Casterbridge for the Festival of Britain in 1951. 

DAISY SIMPKINS

or

THE SPINNING HOUSE

A Concert Entertainment in One Act

IN PREP

"The Robot Emperor" is an "entertainment" in 5 scenes for solos, chorus and orchestra, with words and music by Peter Tranchell, written in 1965.

"Heaven!", for voice and piano, was written in 1954 for performance in "Just as it Comes" at Trinity College, Cambridge. The lyrics are by Simon Phipps (Chaplain at Trinity College 1953-57 and Bishop of Lincoln between 1974 and 1987).

Peter Tranchell wrote this setting of Psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd) in 1962 for unison voices and organ, revised it in 1970 for two-part male-voices and organ, and again in 1976 for ATBrB choir and organ. The score published here has been arranged for SATB by Peter Marchbank.

IN PREP

Probably Peter Tranchell's best known work at present, "If ye would hear the angels sing" was written in 1965, setting words by Dora Greenwell to music for SATB and organ.

Four Piano Duets (One Piano – Four Hands), by Peter Tranchell (1922 – 1993). Composed in May 1953.

Martin Neary, who went on to become Organist and Director of Music at Winchester Cathedral and then Westminster Abbey, was the incumbent organ scholar when PAT succeeded Professor Patrick Hadley as Precentor in 1962.

When PAT eventually bought a television he became obsessed with the Australian TV soap Neighbours (among other things!). He arranged the well-known theme tune (by Tony Hatch) as an Anglican chant - it was heard at least once in Caius chapel services, receiving the reaction ‘that seems faintly familiar...’ although the harmonisation is pure Tranchell. The composer's name is an anagram of "Neighbours", and the arranger "I'm astraan" i.e. Australian. The chant was probably written around 1987.

Tranchell's Festive Overture was written in 1966 for Peter Marchbank and the Basingstoke Musical Society Orchestra (now the Basingstoke Symphony Orchestra).

Peter T wrote the music for two Cambridge Greek plays, including Antigone of Sophocles in 1959.

Peter T wrote the music for two Cambridge Greek plays, including The Bacchae of Euripides in 1956.