Musical Works

Variations for brass, percussion and organ, based on the Ten Commandments, by Peter Tranchell, composed 1956

Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis in G for Men's Voices (TTBB) were composed for use by the choir in the regular round of evening services in the Chapel of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. The set was written in 1967, and the Magnificat was revised in 1969.

Dazzling Darkness, an anthem by Peter Tranchell for tenor/baritone solo, ATBrBrBB choir and organ, written in October 1976. Words: James Cotter; music: Peter Tranchell.

Composed at the age of 20, while Tranchell was in hospital suffering from iritis, Nativitates is a dissonant and challenging work for organ in two movements.

Hamble Bridge, Peter Tranchell's setting of Hymn 636: May the grace of Christ our Saviour. Original unison setting, and an arrangement for SATB choir.

Peter Tranchell's Te Deum in E for AAAATTBB or SSAATTBB choir, piano, organ and two violins, written in 1974.

Peter Tranchell's hymn tune CURDRIDGE LANE, to accompany O Holy City, seen of John, words by W. Russell Bowie

Tranchell's 1950 Organ Sonata, in four movements: I Prelude, II Scherzo, III Threnody (en petite passacaille), IV Finale

Wish Road, a hymn written by Peter Tranchell for Eastbourne College in 1950, later used in the anthem Fortunare Nos

Peter Tranchell's Music for the service of Holy Communion: written for Fitzwilliam House, 1960, now published in a new arrangement by Geoffrey Webber for SATB choir and organ, with the gradual hymn "Lord, be thy word thy rule" (Tichfield).

An anthem for SSATB and organ, piano or harmonium, composed by Peter Tranchell for the Wedding Service on 10 July 1982 of Jeremy Mark Davies and Catherine Hudson Wilks.

Twice A Kiss, an operetta in one act for seven soloists, piano and electronic organ, with libretto by Maurice Holt, was written for Peter le Huray and St Catherine’s College to perform in May Week in June 1955.

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.

An eyebrow-raising harmonisation, written 1988.

An excellent quadruple chant, well-known from the Psalms from St Paul's recordings where it's used for Psalm 103. Three typeset editions are published here.

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 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 likely here, but we have not had a chance to check.

Four Voluntaries for Organ by Peter Tranchell (Pastorale, Fantasy, Prayer, Epilogue), first performed by Basil Ramsey (later to be Editor of The Musical Times and Choir and Organ) in 1952

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.

This beautiful setting of Psalm 133 incorporates verses from Colossians 3. The setting can be purchased from OUP/CMS, in Peter Tranchell, Three Responsorial Psalms (CMS 046)

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.

The Sonatina for Organ was written for Martin Neary in 1964, then revised in 1967. 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.

For unison voices & organ, in E major. With antiphon: Praise the Lord, Halleluia.

First composed in 1968, with versions [...Read More]

These settings were composed by Peter Tranchell, Precentor (Director of Music) at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, for use by the chapel choir in the regular round of evening services. Although written three years apart and for a slightly different disposition of voices, Tranchell clearly saw them as a ‘set’ since they were recorded together in 1981 for private release on the LP recording ‘Music from Caius’ in 1985.

Peter Tranchell composed this 1958 Sonata for Organ (his second) for, and partly based on the name of, Peter Le Huray, a fellow lecturer in the Music Faculty of Cambridge University, and Director of Music at St Catharine’s College.

The Carol Voluntary is a light-hearted piece with a serious side, melding eight different carols (at the last count) with unexpected results. It was first written for Tranchell's friend David Isitt (later The Reverend) in 1948, then revised in 1964.

The 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, with Soprano, Tenor and Bass solos.

People, look East was composed in 1982 for the Gonville and Caius Choir and originally scored for AATBrBB (though with a note on the cover saying 'If necessary, the first alto part may be sung by sopranos'). The version performed by St. John's College Choir in the 2015 Advent Carol Service was arranged for SATB by Peter Marchbank in 2013.

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].

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

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)